Sportsbook Betting Pauses on College Games Last Longer Than Those on NFL Games
It's typical for sportsbook operators to briefly halt the acceptance of bets on specific games if significant, odds-changing money has been placed on those events. There isn't a standard duration for these interruptions, but recent patterns indicate that breaks in college football games tend to last longer to resume than those in NFL games.
Bettormetrics, a provider of odds data and intelligence, recently released a report examining halt times from Week Eight of college football and Week Nine of the NFL, showing that sportsbook operators require more time to adjust odds on college games compared to NFL games once substantial money enters 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' evaluation focused on the biggest domestic online sportsbook operators, listed here (in alphabetical order): Bet365, BetMGM, BetRivers, Caesars Sportsbook, DraftKings, ESPN Bet, Fanatics, FanDuel, and Hard Rock.
Reducing Halt Times Can Boost Sportsbook Earnings
Football is the sport with the highest betting volume in the US, with the NFL surpassing college football; however, the latter also attracts bettors and can be profitable for gaming firms.
There are 134 FBS teams — the NCAA’s top football division — and 129 FCS teams, highlighting that there are plenty of chances for bettors. Gaming companies that prioritize profit must ensure accessibility, which means it’s crucial to minimize downtime.
“Those who excel at suspension in collegiate games will ultimately succeed,” stated Sabin Brooks, chief revenue officer at Bettormetrics, in the announcement. "Accomplishing this is mutually beneficial as the bettor will enjoy a better betting experience, encouraging them to return, while the operator can generate increased handle, leading to a cycle of enhanced product, customer satisfaction, and sportsbook profitability."
Regarding suspension durations in the previously mentioned periods, DraftKings and FanDuel recorded the shortest or optimal times for NFL games. In college sports, FanDuel ranked first, trailed by DraftKings. In the referenced timeframe, the suspension durations for operators were 8.7% longer in college football games than in their NFL counterparts, based on Bettormetrics data.
Reasons for Shorter Pause Times in NFL Games
Bettormetrics did not explain why NFL game halt times are generally less than those in college games, but understanding the reason is not complicated.
Among the different domestic wagering markets, the NFL is very liquid, indicating that it requires substantial sums of money to trigger odds adjustments. Similarly, although some NFL games might not attract a lot of interest from fans or gamblers, there is no team in the NFL that can be considered "obscure." That isn't true in college football.
Although Bettormetrics did not address this aspect, it’s conceivable that the longest betting intervals on college football matches happen outside the limits of the four major conferences. In a theoretical situation, if significant wagering caused a halt on an SEC game and a similar event transpired during a Sun Belt Conference game, it’s probable that the delay for the latter would extend longer because of insufficient liquidity.
