A short primer helps you understand why 3-way markets differ from the two-outcome moneylines common in some sports. This guide explains how a 3 way moneyline works, why settlement timing matters, how to read American and decimal odds, and what to check before placing a selection. The aim is practical clarity: you will learn the arithmetic to convert quoted prices into profit and total return, the settlement language to search for in house rules, and a checklist that reduces surprises when results are graded.

A 3-way moneyline offers three outcomes and is commonly settled at regulation time in soccer.

American odds show stake or profit relative to 100, while decimal odds give total return per unit staked.

Always check the operator's settlement clause to confirm whether 'full time' includes extra time or penalties.

Quick answer: What is a 3-way moneyline (1X2)?

Plain-language definition

A 3 way moneyline, often shown as 1X2, is a market with three mutually exclusive outcomes: home win, draw, or away win. The Draw is a distinct outcome that only wins if the match is level at full time. In many soccer contexts this market is graded on regulation time only, so the result after 90 minutes plus stoppage time determines settlement, not extra time or penalties DraftKings Help Center.

Close up top down view of a digital betting slip showing 3 way moneyline American and decimal odds side by side with a calculator and notebook in a minimalist Funded Plays style

Because the market includes a Draw option, payout and risk differ from a two-way moneyline that only offers two outcomes. If you back Draw and the match is decided in extra time or on penalties, a regulation-only 3-way selection still loses.

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Consider confirming the market settlement wording before you place a prediction, so you know whether your selection must be level at full time to win.

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When and why bookmakers offer a 3-way market

Bookmakers display a 3-way market on sports where a draw is a plausible, routinely occurring outcome, most commonly association football. Market makers price home, draw, and away outcomes separately, which changes implied probabilities and staking compared with markets that omit the draw.

How settlement timing works: regulation time vs overtime

IFAB definition of regulation time

In soccer the timing basis for settlement is the match duration defined by the Laws of the Game as two 45-minute halves plus any stoppage time added by the referee. This is the standard reference for what operators mean by 'full time' when they grade markets on regulation IFAB, Law 7.

Minimalist 2D vector soccer match clock showing regulation 90 minutes with a highlighted stoppage wedge and a faint outer ring indicating extra time and penalties excluded for 3 way moneyline

How sportsbooks commonly apply the 90-minute rule

Many sportsbook house rules explicitly state that 3-way soccer markets are settled on the score after 90 minutes plus stoppage time and exclude extra time and penalties unless the market description says otherwise. That text is usually found in a sport or market-specific rules section and is the language you should check before placing a wager DraftKings Help Center.

Contrast with two-way markets that may include overtime

By contrast, certain two-way moneyline markets in other sports are commonly settled including overtime unless the operator specifies a regulation-only clause. That difference means the same match can be quoted differently depending on whether the market allows a draw or assumes play continues into overtime for settlement FanDuel sportsbook rules.

Reading odds: American and decimal formats

What negative and positive American odds mean

American odds express the relationship between stake and profit in a rule-driven way: negative odds show how much you must stake to win 100, while positive odds show how much profit you would receive on a 100 stake. This convention is a consistent mathematical rule used across moneyline prices Investopedia moneyline definition.

How does a 3-way moneyline work?

A 3-way moneyline is a market with three outcomes, usually graded at regulation time in sports like soccer; convert American or decimal odds into profit and total return before staking, and confirm operator settlement rules.

How decimal odds show total return

Decimal odds give total return per unit staked: multiply your stake by the decimal price to get the full return, and subtract the stake to find profit. The decimal format is often easier for quick mental checks and for use in spreadsheets Investopedia decimal odds.

When to use which format

Choose the format you find easiest for arithmetic. Many platforms display both and let you select a preference. American odds are common in North America while decimal odds are widespread in other regions and for calculation tools.

How to calculate payouts on a 3-way moneyline

Formulae for American and decimal odds

For American odds, the calculation follows a simple rule: at positive prices the profit on a 100 stake equals the positive number, while at negative prices the stated number is the stake required to win 100. For decimal odds the total return equals stake times the decimal price, and profit equals stake times (decimal odds minus 1). Use the American rule when prices are given with plus or minus signs and the decimal rule when prices are shown as a single number Investopedia moneyline definition.

Worked steps you can copy

American positive example: if the price is +150, a 100 stake yields 150 profit and returns 250 total. American negative example: at -120 you must stake 120 to win 100, so a 120 stake returns 220. Decimal example: at 2.50 a 100 stake returns 250 total and 150 profit, because profit equals 100 times (2.50 minus 1) Investopedia decimal odds.

How draws affect payout outcomes

A Draw selection in a 3-way market only pays if the match is level at full time under the settlement rule for that market. If the market is regulation-only, a result reached in extra time or on penalties does not convert a losing Draw into a winner. Always confirm the settlement timing before assuming a later match event will affect your payout DraftKings Help Center.

Market rules and operator variations you must check

Common settlement notes in sportsbook house rules

Operators typically include a settlement clause in their general or soccer-specific rules that explains whether markets are graded on full time, include extra time, or include penalties. That clause is the definitive rule for whether a 3-way selection wins or loses when a match goes beyond 90 minutes DraftKings Help Center.

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Examples of operator differences

Some operators explicitly sell separate markets labelled '90 minutes' to make the settlement window clear, while others offer markets labelled 'incl. extra time' when they include extended periods. The exact phrasing determines settlement, so find the market note on the bet slip or the operator's rules page FanDuel sportsbook rules.

How to find market notes before placing a bet

Before you place a selection, open the market description or help pages linked from the operator interface to find settlement rules. Those pages tell you whether the market is a regulation-only 1X2 or something that includes additional time periods.

Practical strategy: when a draw is the best play

Situations that increase draw probability

Draws tend to be more likely in matches where both teams are defensively organized, when incentives encourage cautious play late in a competition, or when team strengths are closely matched. These are general patterns and not guarantees; use match context and models to estimate probability rather than intuition DraftKings Help Center.

How odds reflect draw likelihood

Draw prices often reflect a lower implied probability than the two opposing results because the market splits probability across three outcomes. If your independent model favors a higher draw probability than the market implies, the Draw can be a value play; size stakes with conservative bankroll rules to allow for variance.

Bankroll considerations when backing draws

Because draw outcomes are typically lower-probability events compared with a favored side winning, treat Draw stakes as part of a diversified plan. Use fractional stake sizing and set limits so a string of losing draws does not unduly damage your bankroll.

Common mistakes and how to avoid them

Misreading settlement time or market notes

A frequent error is assuming extra time or penalties are included when the market is actually graded on regulation. Always read the operator's settlement clause to confirm whether 'full time' means 90 minutes plus stoppage or something else DraftKings Help Center.

Confusing two-way and three-way settlements

Another mistake is treating a 3-way market like a two-way bet. The Draw option changes implied probabilities and payout mechanics. If you are used to two-way moneylines that include overtime, remember a 3-way market settled on regulation will behave differently when a match extends.

Overstating confidence from a single result

A single successful prediction does not prove long-term edge. Use record keeping and measured sample sizes to evaluate whether you genuinely have an advantage before increasing stake size.

Tool: quick calculator workflow to check a 3-way payout

Intro

Use this workflow with a basic calculator or spreadsheet to check potential profit and total return before you stake.

Calculate profit and return for a 3-way selection

Stake
Odds
Odds Format
Selected Outcome

Test with the operator's displayed returns

Inputs you need

Collect three basic inputs: stake, the quoted odds, and whether those odds are American or decimal. Also note which outcome you are backing. With those values you can apply the arithmetic steps below and compare the result to the operator's displayed return.

Step-by-step calculation workflow

1) If odds are American and positive, profit on a 100 stake equals the positive number. 2) If American and negative, the absolute value is the stake required to win 100. 3) If decimal, total return equals stake times decimal odds and profit equals stake times (odds minus 1). 4) If the market is regulation-only, the result after 90 minutes plus stoppage determines whether the payout occurs. Test the math with a small example and confirm against the operator's bet slip where available Investopedia moneyline definition.

Validating your result against operator returns

After computing profit and total return, compare with the operator's displayed payout on the bet slip. If the numbers differ, recheck whether the operator applies any special rules or commission-like deductions for the market.

Worked examples: three real-style match scenarios

Low underdog home win example with American odds

Example 1: back a home underdog listed at +150 with a 100 stake. Under American rules a +150 price pays 150 profit on a 100 stake, returning 250 total. That arithmetic follows the standard positive American conversion and applies only if the selection wins in the settlement window specified for the market Investopedia moneyline definition.

Draw-priced match with decimal odds example

Example 2: a Draw is priced at decimal 2.80 and you stake 50. The total return equals 50 times 2.80, which is 140, so profit equals 90. Remember this pays only if the match is level at full time under the market's settlement rule; a later deciding goal in extra time does not change that outcome for a regulation-only market Investopedia decimal odds.

Away favorite example and stake scaling

Example 3: an away favorite priced at -120 requires a 120 stake to win 100. If you prefer to scale stakes by target profit, you can use the negative price to determine how much to stake to achieve a target return. If the market is 90 minutes settlement only, a result settled after extra time will not affect this payout rule DraftKings Help Center.

3-way vs 2-way moneyline: key differences and when each applies

Definition and settlement differences

A 3-way market offers home, draw, away and is commonly graded on regulation time for sports like soccer. A 2-way moneyline omits the draw and in some sports it is settled including overtime. That structural difference affects both pricing and the way you calculate stakes and returns DraftKings Help Center.

Sports and markets that typically use each format

As a pattern, association football uses 3-way 1X2 markets because draws are common. Many North American sports default to two-way moneylines because games are usually decided with overtime mechanisms built into settlement rules.

How this changes staking and risk

Having a Draw option generally pushes each side's price higher than in a two-way market, which changes implied probabilities and requires different staking approaches to manage variance and expected return.

Responsible checklist before placing a 3-way bet

Verify settlement timing and market notes

Check the operator's settlement clause for regulation-only grading and any exceptions. If the language is unclear, look for markets explicitly labelled '90 minutes' or similar to avoid surprises DraftKings Help Center.

Confirm odds format and calculate expected return

Make sure you know whether the price is American or decimal and run the quick calculation workflow so you know potential profit and total return before you stake.

Apply bankroll rules and evaluate edge

Set a stake size that fits your bankroll plan and only increase exposure when a repeatable edge is demonstrable. Treat platform participation as performance testing rather than guaranteed income.

Quick glossary: terms to know for 3-way betting

Short definitions for technical terms used in the article

Draw: a match result that is level at full time and wins the Draw selection in a 3-way market. Regulation time: two 45-minute halves plus stoppage time, commonly used to settle soccer 1X2 markets IFAB, Law 7.

Stoppage time: extra minutes added by the referee at the end of each half to account for interruptions. Extra time: an additional playing period used in certain knockout matches but usually excluded from regulation-only 3-way markets unless the market explicitly includes it. American odds and decimal odds: two common ways to express prices; see earlier sections for conversion rules Investopedia moneyline definition.

Special cases: abandoned matches, extra time markets, and edge cases

How abandoned or postponed matches are usually handled

Operator house rules commonly explain when an abandoned or postponed match will result in voided markets, suspended settlement, or application of special timing clauses. These rules are operator-specific and are the authoritative reference in a dispute DraftKings Help Center.

When extra time or penalties are included in a market

Some markets are explicitly sold as including extra time or penalties. The market label and the operator's rules determine whether such periods count for settlement, so read the market description to know which window applies.

Practical steps if your selection is affected by a match anomaly

If a settlement looks incorrect, keep a screenshot of the market and match status, gather the operator's market wording, and contact support. Operators use their published house rules to resolve disputes.

Wrap-up: key takeaways on how a 3-way moneyline works

Three concise summary points

A 3-way moneyline offers home, draw, and away outcomes and in soccer is commonly graded at regulation time, meaning the score after 90 minutes plus stoppage decides payout DraftKings Help Center.

American and decimal odds provide straightforward arithmetic to convert quoted prices into profit and total return; learn both conventions so you can check operator returns before staking Investopedia moneyline definition.

Always verify the market's settlement clause, confirm odds format, and apply disciplined bankroll rules when backing any 3-way selection.

What exactly counts as 'full time' for a 3-way soccer market?

Full time generally means two 45-minute halves plus stoppage time. For settlement, operators reference the Laws of the Game when they grade regulation-only markets.

Does a draw selection pay if a team wins in extra time or penalties?

Not usually. If the market is regulation-only, a Draw only wins if the score is level at full time; extra time or penalties do not change that result unless the market specifies inclusion.

How do I convert American odds to the payout I will receive?

For positive American odds, profit on a 100 stake equals the positive number. For negative odds, the absolute value is the stake required to win 100; convert accordingly to compute profit and total return.

A 3 way moneyline is straightforward once you know the settlement window and the odds conventions. Treat each market's wording as the final authority, convert prices into expected returns before staking, and apply disciplined bankroll limits. If you keep records and compare your calculations with the operator's displayed returns, you reduce the chance of unexpected outcomes and can evaluate whether your predictions produce a repeatable edge.