Thread Index, Image Upload Guide, Handicap Explanations & Essential Rules

IMF sportsbook topic list

Dedicated sports threads.
Gambling on other sports.
Other sports discussion. Don't just list games—you actually have to provide some analysis (short or long).

Soccer gambling.
Event commentary topic. Don't just list games—that's boring. You actually need to include some analysis, whether it's short or long.

NBA gambling.
NBA discussion. The biggest league on the planet.

Basketball gambling.
Basketball topic that isn't The Basket—just everything else. No mindless lists allowed; you actually have to provide some analysis, whether it's short or long.

Gambling on tennis.
Rackets and balls discussion. Don't just list gear here—keep it interesting. Analysis is mandatory, whether you're keeping it short or going deep.

Gambling on hockey.
A gambling thread about the sport that’ll leave you toothless. Don't just list the games—give me some actual analysis, whether it's a quick thought or a deep dive.

Important topics.
Chat
Just like the title says, this is an open space for chat or any random questions that don't really fit into the usual threads.

Generals after the battle.
Event commentary topic. Keep it clean—no vulgarity or trash talk.

Gambling at American sportsbooks.
Everything related to gambling at American sportsbooks (Lottery, DraftKings, Favorite, Playground...).

Online gambling.
Anything regarding online gambling.

Winning tickets.
Quick heads-up: just post the screenshots. Make sure they include all the essentials—total odds, your stake, the payout, and the ticket ID. No chatting or extra commentary here; if you want to hype it up or talk shop, head over to the event commentary topic. Also, watch the file size—keep images under 640 pixels. Alright, look. I see everyone rushing to post their winning tickets when they aren't even active on the subforum. It kind of defeats the whole purpose of these threads.
So, we're implementing rule 2 immediately: only people who have actually posted a few of their own analyses on this subforum within the last month can post winning tickets. And just to be clear, copy-pasting someone else's work doesn't count as an analysis.

Breaking down the IMF sportsbook special unit (SPAT).
This thread is for specialized analysis on specific leagues, and only select members can post here. Check out the intro post first.

Some pretty interesting and insightful topics here.
Money Management.
How to handle money management.

Martingale—uncovering the hot water.
Some reading material you definitely need if you want to figure out which bets to absolutely avoid.

Discussion for those looking to dive deeper. No handouts here.
Really insightful stuff here. Lots of little secrets tucked away in this thread.

Other topics.
other bookmaker topics
A little thread about those shadowy figures behind the scenes pulling the odds.

Sure Bet
A thread about guaranteed profits—just keep in mind they might decline your bet

Systems
All Q&As regarding systems (links to similar threads)

1/2 and 2/1 Transitions
A thread for interesting bets with great odds on halftime/fulltime outcomes

Casino, roulette, and stuff

Poker

Lottery

Weekly slip by IMF sportsbook
Drop your picks here for the weekly slip

"One leg ruined my slip" club (images only)
Post nothing but screenshots of slips that failed because of a single game.
No links, just all the info needed (total odds, stake, ticket ID—first 3 digits being 999- for online slips or 100- for those from a physical location), no chatting or commentary (use the event commentary topic for that), and watch the image size (max 640 pixels)

A quick breakdown on how the basketball handicap works.

Basketball.
US sportsbooks always use decimal handicaps. It means you’re looking at two possible outcomes—either 1 or 2—since there’s no possibility of a draw with those numbers. Some international books offer whole number handicaps where a tie is actually on the table, but let's just stick to these decimal ones for now.

When you're looking at the basketball handicap, that number always applies to the home team. As for the sign? That just depends on who the favorite is. If the home team is the favorite, you'll see a minus sign. If the away team is the favorite, it’s a plus. Simple enough.

If there's a plus sign, you add points to the away team. If it's a minus sign, you subtract them from the home team. Here are two examples to show you how that works:

Example: Cleveland (h+3.5) vs. Boston
Looking at that first example, you can tell the away team is the favorite based on the basketball handicap. It’s not really like starting a game at 0:0 when Cleveland is already sitting on a 3.5-point head start.

It’s basically a choice between 1 or 2. You take 1 if you think Cleveland won't lose by 4 or more, or grab 2 if you're betting on Boston to win by at least 4.

Cleveland vs. Boston ended 90-93.
So, you take that final score and apply the basketball handicap. Since Cleveland was sitting at +3.5, you just tack those points onto their total. That puts them at 93.5. Now the math looks like this: 93.5 to 93. If you bet on Cleveland, you win. If you went with Boston, you lose because 93.5 beats 93. Simple enough.

Indiana (-9.5) vs New Jersey
In the second example, the home team is the favorite. This game starts at 0-9.5 because the visitors are getting a 9.5-point spread.

Bet 1 if you think Indiana covers a 10-point spread. Bet 2 if you're betting against New Jersey losing by double digits.

Indiana vs New Jersey wrapped up 106-99. Time to factor in the basketball handicap.

Indiana loses by 9.5 points, so we take 106 minus 9.5 to get 96.5. Final score looks like 96.5 to 99. Betting on Indiana was a bust, but New Jersey hits because 96.5 is less than 99.

Tennis.
Unlike basketball, tennis actually gives you two different ways to play the handicap—you can go with sets or games.

Basketball handicap.
Pointless to look at the final score when you're playing the basketball handicap. It’s all decimals anyway. You could watch the favorite completely choke the game, yet somehow still walk away with the bet.
A basketball handicap can be either plus or minus. Just remember that the spread always applies to whichever player it’s listed next to. For example:
Karlovic (-3.5) - Kavcic
Right at the jump, Karlovic loses 3.5 gems, which basically means Kavcic gets an extra 3.5 gems.
It doesn't matter who wins here. This bet is all about total games. For instance, the Karlovic vs. Kavcic match just wrapped up:
Karlovic 7 6
Kavcic 6 3
When you land 13 points for Karlovic (7+6) and only 9 for Kavcic (6+3), that puts the final score at 13-9 for Karlovic.
So, you take the total number of games played in the match and then just add or subtract that 3.5 game basketball handicap they offered. Simple enough.
Karlovic (13-3, 5)=9.5 - 9 Kavcic
Betting on Karlovic pays out, but betting on Kavcic is a loss because 9.5 > 9.

Set betting handicap.
The weird thing about this basketball handicap is the possibility of a draw—you can actually bet on a double chance including X. Believe it or not, when you're looking at set handicaps, that's totally on the table.
We're looking at whole number basketball handicaps here, like in this matchup:
There’s a chance to place a bet on R. Bautista Agut-Jouan.

Handicap 0:1.With this basketball handicap, you could bet on:

• 1
  Bautista needs to win by two sets—a straight 2:0—for the bet to actually hit. Why? Because the match didn't start at 0:0; it started 0:1. He has to clear that one-set deficit just to break even.

• X
  For this bet to hit, Bautista needs to win by exactly one set—a 2:1 score. Why? Because once you apply that +1 handicap to his opponent, the match ends in a 2:2 tie, which lands on X.

• The bet wins if Jouan either takes the match or loses by just one set.

handicap 1:0, here’s what you can bet on:

• X
  Jouan has to pull off a 2:1 win for this to pay out.

• 2
  Jouan needs a clean 2:0 sweep to win. Since we're starting at 1:0 instead of 0:0, he actually has to win by two sets just to make up that initial deficit. It's basically the same logic as the first example.

• 1X
  Bautista wins the bet if he either wins the match or loses by only one set.

The match between R. Bautista Agut and R. Jouan wrapped up 2:1.
With a 0:1 handicap, the winning bets are X and X2.
With a 1:0 handicap, the winning bets are 1X.

How to post a picture on the forum

These instructions are for Windows, since that's what most people use. I assume Mac users and Linux users already have this figured out.

There are plenty of free screen capture programs online—even standalone versions that don't require installation—where you can just select a specific area to snap. Most work by letting you pick an input, selecting the best region, and then marking exactly what you want to save. Once you've marked the area, save the image somewhere on your hard drive (just remember where, so you can upload it later).

Here is a link for a free standalone version of a program called SnapaShot; it's actually pretty easy to use.
Once you download the free version, just save the exe file to your disk.

When you open the program, a transparent rectangle will appear on your screen, like this:

That "rectangle" is the tool you can move over whatever part you want to capture. You can stretch it, shrink it, or resize it however you like. Once you've positioned it over the spot you want to save, just click the floppy disk icon
basically the Save as option, to save the shot (again, remember where you put it so you can upload it). When you're done, just close the program by clicking

You could also just hit the Print Screen key and use Paint, but I really don't feel like explaining that. Paint is kind of a disaster (if anyone wants to write up those instructions, let us know and we'll add them).

After the image is saved, you need to upload it to a hosting site. Here are the steps for Imgur, which is free and doesn't require you to sign up.
Go to http://imageshack.us/?no_multi=1
First, pick your image size. Under Image resize, select 640X480, which is the maximum size allowed on the forum:


Then, click Choose File
which should open your file explorer. Find your image and click on it; once selected, click upload Now to start the process.


Once the upload finishes, you should see an "upload successful" message along with the image details.


Click on the forum Code

once the code turns blue, copy it (ctrl+c), go to your forum post, paste it (ctrl+v), and voila—your image is on the forum.

Important Notes

Since I’m seeing the same few questions popping up over and over again—questions that have, frankly, been answered plenty of times already (and I shouldn't really have to point out that you can find all this by just actually reading the rules of the sportsbook where you placed your bet)—I decided to consolidate everything here in one spot. If I’ve missed anything—and let's be honest, I probably have—just shoot me a DM and I'll add it later. Just a heads-up: this specifically refers to local, brick-and-mortar sportsbooks, because their rules can vary quite a bit from the online ones.

MATCH INTERRUPTIONS AND POSTPONEMENTS:

DraftKings states:
INVALID EVENTS
Article 32.
1) An event is considered invalid:
a) if the outcome does not occur
b) if it isn't played to completion and isn't declared finished in sports with pre-determined playing times (like football, hockey, basketball) and, exceptionally, in tennis, table tennis, and snooker.
c) if the bet is placed on specific individuals or teams, and they don't actually participate in the event
d) if it's played at the home stadium of the team listed as the visitor, unless that venue is being used as the home ground for both teams.
This rule doesn't apply to competitions held at neutral venues (various tournaments, World Championships, European
Championships, ski cups, etc.). It is assumed that all participants in such competitions are playing at a neutral site, regardless of whether they are from the host nation. Playing at a neutral venue doesn't affect the validity of the bet, even if it wasn't explicitly mentioned in the offering.
e) if the bet was placed incorrectly (this doesn't apply in cases mentioned in Art. 15, point 13)
f) if the bet was finalized after the event had already started (except for live betting).
g) if it didn't take place within the scheduled time or within the window specified in Art. 15, point 10.

DraftKings states:
Article 15, point 10.

10) If an event does not occur at the time announced by the organizer, the bet remains valid provided the new start time falls within three consecutive calendar days of the last announced time. For progression in tournament-style competitions (like tennis tournaments), the bet stays valid until the end of the tournament because, given how those systems work, an interruption usually means postponing things for a few hours, to the next day, or until conditions allow for a restart. The sportsbook may continue accepting bets on that event. An exception to this rule is betting on baseball in the American and >.

DraftKings states:
h) in other cases regulated by these Rules
2) In "solo" bets, players will always have their stakes returned, minus any manipulation fees, if the
event is invalid according to point 1 of this article.
3) In parlay and special bets, if any of the events are invalid according to point 1 of this
article, the payout is calculated based only on the events that were successfully completed, and for the invalid events,
a odds of 1.00 is applied. If all events on a parlay ticket are invalid, the stakes are returned
Watch out for those sneaky hidden fees. If you're looking at the specifics for special bets, you'll find all the fine print laid out right there in the individual descriptions for each type.

DraftKings Joshua Garcia8 said:8) Just a heads-up on how things work if a game gets cut short or doesn't reach the final whistle—if certain segments like the first half, the first quarter, or even the first set actually finished completely, those specific results are still considered valid. Basically, if that chunk of play wrapped up, it counts.
Look, here’s how it works if a game gets cut short or just doesn't reach the final whistle—something that happens more often than you'd think. If you placed a bet on something specific, like the first goalscorer or the outcome of the match itself, that bet still counts based on what actually happened before the stoppage. Basically, if your pick hit before they called it quits, you're golden. But, if the result you were rooting for hadn't happened by the time the game was halted, then the bet is dead. It’s all laid out in rule 2. Simple enough, right?
Look, here’s how it works if things go sideways—say a game gets cut short or just doesn't finish—when you're looking at those over/under totals for points, goals, or whatever else we're tracking. If the total score hits that "over" mark before they call it quits, then yeah, your bet stands and you win. But, if by the time the whistle blows early, the total is still under or exactly equal to the number set, the bet is basically dead—voided, per rule 2. Just something to keep in mind so you aren't left wondering why a play didn't count.

DraftKings Joshua Garcia8 said:LATE DECISIONS
15) In the event that any subsequent referee decision or ruling from the officiating commission comes down—you know, the kind of thing that actually shifts the outcome—that impacts...
Look, regarding the final standings—that decision isn't going to be taken into account.
It’s basically treated as an afterthought—you know, that potential penalty or disqualification that comes down the line and ends up flipping the final result on its head.
Standings and rankings. If that kind of decision actually goes down, we're looking at using the first official results from the official record.
The organizing bodies of the competition.

DraftKings said:Article 20.
Football, hockey, handball, water polo, American football—just a massive list of sports to dive into.
When it comes to how an outcome is decided, we always look at what happens during regulation time—standard rules apply there—unless the bookmaker explicitly states beforehand that they’re going with a different final result for a specific event.

DraftKings said:Article 17.
Tennis.
Just so we're all clear—we only consider an event's outcome official once it’s been formally announced by the league.
Rule 2: If a match gets called off before tip-off because one of the players pulls out, the bet is void (per Article 32).
3) If things go sideways and a match gets cut short because someone calls it quits—you know, an injury or just a straight-up retirement—here’s how we handle that...
If things go south—like a disqualification or whatever—the bet is just dead. Period. It’s basically null and void under the standard rules.
When you're looking at betting on a basketball handicap or the exact score, things get a little weird if one of the players decides to pull out mid-match—you know, just walks off the court and calls it a day.
Once the event kicks off, the bet is officially void—per rule 2.
Look, here’s how it works if a game gets cut short and doesn't actually finish—just a heads-up so nobody's confused later. If you placed a bet on the total number of games, that bet still counts as a win only if the actual total reached before the interruption was already higher than the number you picked. But, if the total score at the time they stopped playing ended up being less than or equal to your number, then that bet is basically dead—it's voided. It's all laid out in Rule 32, so there's no guesswork involved.
c) When you're betting on the outcome of the first set—say in tennis—if the match gets interrupted during that first set, the bet is
void (per article 32). However, if the first set actually finished before the interruption happened, then those first-set bets stay valid.
4) If an event gets cut short and doesn't resume before the tournament officially wraps up, the bet is void (article 32). But, if things get paused and then pick back up before the tournament ends, the bets are still good.

DraftKings said:Article 19.
BASKETBALL
1) For any event result, we always look at the score determined by the official regulation time rules, unless the bookmaker specifically states that a different final result applies to a particular game.
2) Regarding betting on a head-to-head player matchup, the bet stands as long as both participants actually step onto the court for the game.
3) If a player is listed on the roster but spends the whole game sitting on the bench without actually playing, they aren't considered to have participated—meaning any bets placed on them are void.
4) In a head-to-head scenario where both players are official participants, the winner is whoever racks up more points, assists, etc. (depending on what the specific bet was for).
5) If both players officially play and end up with the exact same stats, the winning result is X (a draw), unless a draw isn't offered in the betting options. In that case, the bet is void (article 32).
6) For bets regarding individual player totals or player matchups, overtime counts toward the total, unless the bookmaker explicitly states otherwise in the offer.
6a) For team point totals or the total points scored in the entire game, only regulation time counts, unless the bookmaker specifies otherwise in the offer.

Could we please make it a habit to check this thread first before dropping questions about the rules? These are the rules from DraftKings, and they're pretty much identical to what you'll find at most other major US sportsbooks.

Link to the rules

Since I keep seeing people ask whether overtime counts toward the totals—whether we're talking about the final team score or individual player points—in basketball (and occasionally handball too), I figured I'd put together this quick visual breakdown to clear things up:



The info here comes straight from DraftKings (which is pretty much how most local sportsbooks handle it), though you should always double-check your online books since their rules can sometimes vary slightly.