Which sports can end in a draw in a 2-way market?
When you place a bet on a 2-way Match Odds market (one that does not offer a draw as a selectable outcome), knowing whether the sport can produce a draw after overtime is essential. A draw settlement on a 2-way market typically means half-win/half-lose, which directly affects your matched betting position.
Here is a sport-by-sport breakdown.
AFL
Regular season matches can end in a draw. Most bookmakers settle 2-way AFL bets as half-win/half-lose if the match finishes level. Finals matches go to extra time (two 3-minute periods) and then sudden death until a winner is found, so a draw is not possible in finals.
NRL
Regular season matches go to a 10-minute golden point period if scores are level at full time. If no team scores during golden point, the match is a draw. This happens rarely but it does occur. Finals matches continue until a winner is found, so no draw is possible in finals.
NBA
Draws are not possible. Overtime periods of 5 minutes are played repeatedly until a winner is found. There is no limit on the number of overtime periods. A 2-way NBA bet will always produce a result.
NFL
Regular season matches can end in a draw. Each team gets one possession in a 10-minute overtime period, and if scores remain level after both possessions the game is declared a draw. Playoff matches continue until a winner is found.
Tennis
Draws are not possible. Matches continue until a winner is found regardless of how many sets are required. Tiebreaks are used to decide sets, and in most tournaments a match tiebreak or full deciding set is played if sets are level.
Rugby Union
Test matches and most domestic competitions can end in a draw. If scores are level at full time in a regular match, the result stands as a draw. Knockout competitions use extra time and sometimes kicking competitions to find a winner.
Cricket
Test cricket can result in a draw when a match is not completed within the allotted days. Limited-overs formats (ODI and T20) generally produce a result, with a Super Over used as a tiebreaker in most knockout situations. A Super Over can itself tie, in which case further Super Overs may be played or boundary countback rules may apply depending on the competition.
NHL (Ice Hockey)
Regular season matches go to a 5-minute 3-on-3 overtime period, followed by a shootout if still level. A result is always determined. Most bookmakers offer 3-way markets for regulation time only. 2-way NHL markets are settled including overtime and shootout.
Basketball (NBL and most other leagues)
Draws are not possible. Overtime periods continue until a winner is found, the same as the NBA.
A note on bookmaker rules
Individual bookmaker rules vary, particularly around exactly when a market is settled. Always check the specific market rules before placing. Terms like "including overtime," "90 minutes only," or "regular time" in the market description will tell you how the bookie will settle the bet.