* This article was first posted in February 2024 before the Busch Light Clash in LA. It has been updated since that time with new information following other races which were delayed.
With rain in the forecast for Los Angeles, its a good time to review the NASCAR betting rules that sportsbooks use for delayed races. Los Angeles gets on average 36 days of measurable rain a year. That means the average month gets just three days of rain. The Busch Light Clash is this weekend at the LA Memorial Coliseum. So in a throwback to the way the 2023 season started, the forecast for LA is calling for three straight days of rain. Predictions call for the rain to start Saturday evening and continue until Wednesday. In this article I’m going to go over the rules for delays for eight of the most popular sportsbooks, FanDuel, DraftKings, BetMGM, Superbook, ESPN Bet, Caesars, Bet365, and BetRivers (Kambi).
Not all sportsbooks treat delays the same.
Given the regulation of the sports betting industry, it may surprise some readers to know not all books will treat a delay the same. State regulators set broad rules that books must follow. Each book is free to establish its own “house rules” though. This means that depending on where you bet the delay may effect your bet differently. So, lets look at the different rules across a few popular books. (Disclaimer: This is my interpretation of the rules as of February 2, 2024, using the rules published by each book for Virginia or Maryland)
FanDuel
FanDuel has the strictest rule on delays. The rule is very likely to come into play this weekend. At FanDuel the race must start within 24 hours of the scheduled start time. If a race does not start within 24 hours of the original start time, all bets are void.
This rule came into play for the 2024 Daytona 500. After rain drenched Daytona International Speedway, the Xfinity Series United Rentals 300 was pushed from Saturday to Monday. When the Daytona 500 was then forced to be moved due to continuing rain it moved the Daytona 500 from Sunday at 2:30, to Monday at no earlier than 4:00pm. Following these rules FanDuel voided all bets on the race. For those who used bonus bets or FanDuel cash there were mixed results in getting those credits back.
BetMGM
MGM gives more wiggle room for a race to be delayed than FanDuel. The rule is still fairly tight though and could come into play this week for the Clash. At MGM the race must take place within 72 hours of the original start time for bets to be action.
DraftKings
At DraftKings the rule is a bit more lenient and is unlikely to void bets this week. DraftKings requires a race to “be completed” within one week of the scheduled start.
Bet365
At Bet365 the race must “be run” within one week of the scheduled start time for bets to be action.
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Superbook
Superbook requires a race to “be completed” within eight days of the scheduled date. The Superbook rule reads:
ESPN Bet
At ESPN Bet the rules are different depending on when you placed the bet. Bets placed more than a week in advance of a race are action as long as the race is run in the championship season. Bets placed the same week as the race are action only if the race is held within 7 days of the scheduled start time.
BetRivers, Unibet, and other Kambi books
Kambi is a company that, despite not running a sportsbook under its own name, has a significant impact on the US sports betting market. Kambi sells its services setting odds and evaluating bets to sportsbooks that can’t or don’t want to set their own lines. Kambi’s influence has gone down over time, books such as DraftKings and ESPN Bet were once Kambi customers, but now set their own lines. However BetRivers and Unibet both use Kambi to provide odds. When BallyBet returns to the market Kambi will provide the odds.
Like ESPN Bet, if a bet is action with Kambi is dependent on when the bet was placed. At Kambi books bets placed more than a week before the race are action if the race happens in the championship season. Bets placed the week of a race are action if the race is run within 7 days of the scheduled start time.
Caesars
Of the books covered today, Caesars has the most permissive rule. At Caesars bets are action if the race happens during the championship season, no matter when the bet was placed.
So remember, check the rules of the books before you bet and be aware of the different rules for different books.
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