Sportsbook Betting Pauses on College Games Last Longer Than Those on NFL Games

2024-12-02

It’s common for sportsbook operators to temporarily pause acceptance of wagers on certain games if large, odds-altering money has come in on those contests. There’s no uniformity for how long these halts last, but recent trends suggest pauses on college football games take longer to be lifted than they do on NFL contests.

Michigan Wolverines college football Washington
Former Michigan coach Jim Harbaugh hoists the national championship trophy. A research firm said betting suspension times on college football games last longer than those on NFL games. (Image: Getty)

Bettormetrics, an odds data and intelligence provider, recently published a report analyzing halt times from Week Eight of the college football season and Week Nine of the NFL, indicating that it takes sportsbook operators longer to adjust odds on college games than on NFL matches after significant money comes into the market.

The analysis found that while operators exhibit short suspensions during NFL games, there are still significant improvements to be made on suspension times during college football game,” according to the research firm.

Bettormetrics’ analysis targeted the largest domestic online sportsbook operators, which are as follows (in alphabetical order): Bet365, BetMGM, BetRivers, Caesars Sportsbook, DraftKings, ESPN Bet, Fanatics, FanDuel, and Hard Rock.

Cutting Halt Times Can Help Sportsbook Profits

Football is the most wagered-on sport in the US, and the NFL is the leader over college football, but the latter is popular among bettors and a potential money-maker for gaming companies.

There are 134 FBS teams — the NCAA’s highest football division — and 129 FCS teams, underscoring the point that there are ample opportunities for bettors. Profit-focused gaming companies need to provide access, meaning reducing pause times is essential.

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