Specials
The following rules include reasons for voiding bets.
If a bet is placed after the relevant result or outcome is known, then the bet will be void.
Reality TV and Talent Shows
General
These rules apply to TV shows including but not limited to Strictly Come Dancing, The X Factor, The Voice, Dancing on Ice, Survivor and Big Brother.
These competition-based reality shows typically feature gradual elimination of participants, either by a panel of judges, by the viewership of the show, or by the contestants themselves.
If a contestant is eliminated from the competition, removed by the show or leaves of their own accord, bets on that contestant will be settled as a loser. If that same contestant is readmitted at a later date, they will be treated as a new contestant, and previous bets will not stand.
Bet settlement will be based on the official result as declared on the day. Any subsequent events will be disregarded.
For talent shows, all bets are settled on how the contestant originally entered the competition. Any deviation, for example, a solo artist joining a group, will be deemed as a losing bet.
Additional competitors may be added at a later stage.
Abandonments, Cancellations and Postponements
If a competition is cancelled before an official winner is declared, then all bets will be void except for those that have been unconditionally determined.
Outright Markets
Offered on an ‘all-in compete or not’ basis.
Dead heat rules may apply where more winners are declared than were originally specified.
Head-to-Head Markets
Unless otherwise stated, these will be settled on whoever achieves the best final position in the competition.
Awards Ceremonies
General
These rules apply to awards ceremonies including but not limited to Sports Personality of the Year and the Oscars.
Settlement of bets will be based upon the official result as announced at the ceremony on the day. Any subsequent appeal or disqualification will not count.
If an award is refused or not accepted, this will be disregarded for settlement purposes, and that selection will be deemed the winner regardless.
If an award is given jointly, then dead heat rules will apply.
Abandonments, Cancellations and Postponements
If an award ceremony or event is cancelled or abandoned, then all bets placed will be void unless the result of the specified market has already been announced.
Head-to-Head Markets
Bets will be settled based on the official voting figures released after the award ceremony.
Eurovision Song Contest
General
For both the final and semi-finals, settlement will be based on the official results on the night of the final (semi-final results will not be published by the governing body until after the final. Only qualified countries will be announced, and in no particular order).
Non-Runners, Withdrawals and Disqualifications
Bets are settled as losers if a country does not finish a competition, for example, through disqualification.
Head-to-Head Markets
Bets will be settled on the country that finishes highest in the official result in the final or semi-final, as stated in the match.
If both countries fail to qualify, then the best position in the semi-final will count. If one country makes the final and one doesn’t, then the qualified country will be settled as the winner.
Group Betting
Bets will be settled on the country that finishes highest in the official final result. If all countries in the group fail to reach the final, all bets will be void.
Country to get Nul Points
Bets on this market apply to the final only.
Music Charts
Bets will be settled based on the chart declared by the relevant country’s official chart company.
Featuring artists do not count. Whether or not a song is considered to be a duet or, alternatively, a song that includes a ‘featuring artist’ will be determined by the official chart company. In particular, it will be determinative if the word ‘featuring’ (or similar) is used before an artist's name. Where a duet has a realistic prospect of achieving the number one spot, we will endeavour to offer a selection in respect of that duet (for example, Calvin Harris and Sam Smith).
Where multiple versions of a particular artist's song include different secondary artists (and those multiple versions are considered by the official charts company to represent a single entry), it is only the primary artist that will be deemed, for settlement purposes, to be included in the entry. For example, the official Christmas Number One in 2017 was Ed Sheeran's ‘Perfect’ (albeit that such song achieved its placing as a consequence of separate versions, which included Beyonce and Andrea Bocelli). In such circumstances, Ed Sheeran alone would be considered to have achieved the official Christmas number one.
Weather
Bets may be offered relating to weather, for example, temperature, rainfall and snowfall. All settlements will be based on official statistics published for the specified country; including the following websites:
- Metoffice.gov.uk (UK)
- Dwd.de (Germany)
- Aemet.es (Spain)
- Met.ie (Ireland)
Other Novelty Markets
The betting rules for other novelty markets are often very specific and will usually be displayed on the same page as the betting market in question.
The Sportsbook General Rules will apply for any category of bets or markets not referred to in these Specific Sports Rules.