In basketball betting, "who wins?" is a simple question with a complicated answer — because the answer changes depending on whether overtime counts. Unlike football, where nearly every match market covers 90 minutes by default, basketball uses two distinct settlement frameworks: regulation only (where a tied game is possible) and including overtime (where the game plays until one team leads at the final buzzer). Understanding which framework applies to your bet is the single most important concept in basketball betting.
What is the basketball moneyline?
The moneyline is the straightforward winner market: you pick Team A or Team B, and the bet settles on whichever team leads when the game ends — including all overtime periods. There are two outcomes. There is no draw.
Moneyline is the dominant basketball market because basketball does not end in a tie. If the game is level at the end of regulation, overtime is played until one team leads at the buzzer — so the game always produces a winner.
Example: Lakers vs Celtics. You pick the Lakers on the moneyline. The game ends 108-105 in regulation — Lakers win, your bet wins. If the game were tied 104-104 at regulation and the Lakers then won 112-108 in overtime, your moneyline bet still wins.
What is the 1X2 market in basketball?
Some bookmakers offer a basketball 1X2 market, operating on the same three-outcome structure as football:
- 1 — the home team leads at the end of regulation
- X — the game is tied at the end of regulation
- 2 — the away team leads at the end of regulation
The critical difference from the moneyline is that 1X2 settles on the regulation score only — before any overtime. If the game is level at the end of 40 minutes (FIBA/NCAA) or 48 minutes (NBA), the X (draw) wins regardless of what happens in overtime.
Example: Game ends 100-100 at regulation. X wins. Team A then wins overtime 108-104 — that does not change the 1X2 result. The draw (X) was already settled.
What does "including overtime" mean in basketball betting?
"Including overtime" means the bet settles on the final result after all overtime periods are played, not on the regulation score. This is the most important settlement distinction in basketball betting.
When a market says "including overtime" (or "incl. OT"), your bet cares only about who leads when the clock expires — however many overtimes that takes.
When a market says "regulation" or "excluding overtime", the bet settles at the end of the standard game time. A tied game at regulation is a valid result — and on a 1X2 market, X wins.
Why this matters: A game can be tied at regulation (1X2 → X wins), go to overtime, and be won by the away team (moneyline / incl. OT → Away wins). The same game settles two different ways on two different market formats.
How to identify which applies: Look at the label on the bookmaker's betslip:
- "Winner (incl. OT)" or "Match Winner" — includes overtime, two outcomes
- "1X2" or "Result (Regulation)" — regulation only, draw possible, three outcomes
- "To Win Outright" — includes overtime
- "Regular Time" or "Regulation" — excludes overtime
When the label is ambiguous: a market with three outcomes (1, X, 2) almost always settles on regulation; a market with two outcomes (Team A / Team B, no draw) almost always includes overtime.
How does overtime settlement work?
If the game is tied at the end of regulation, teams play a 5-minute overtime period. If still tied, another 5-minute period follows — and so on, until one team leads at the final buzzer.
For moneyline / including overtime markets, all overtime points count. The final score after all OT periods determines the result.
For regulation / 1X2 markets, the score at the end of regulation is final. Everything in overtime is irrelevant to settlement.
For second-half markets that specify whether overtime is included, see Basketball Quarter and Half Markets Explained.
For the full overview of basketball markets, see Basketball Betting Markets Explained.
For football's equivalent 1X2 and draw structure, see Football Betting Markets Explained.
Frequently asked questions
If I bet the moneyline, does overtime count? Yes. Moneyline bets settle on the final result including all overtime periods. There is no draw outcome on a standard moneyline.
Can a basketball 1X2 market end in a draw? Yes. If the game is tied at the end of regulation, the 1X2 market settles as X (draw), even if overtime is played and a winner is decided afterwards. The 1X2 market ignores overtime entirely.
What is the difference between "Match Winner" and "Result"? On most bookmakers: "Match Winner" includes overtime (two outcomes), while "Result" or "1X2" covers regulation only (three outcomes, draw possible). Always confirm with the specific bookmaker's market description — the label varies by platform.
Does NBA overtime differ from FIBA overtime in betting terms? The settlement concept is the same — 5-minute periods added until a winner is determined. The regulation time differs: NBA games are 48 minutes, FIBA games are 40 minutes. This does not change how overtime affects betting settlement. The market labels and the including/excluding overtime distinction apply identically in both formats.