I recently fielded a complaint against Pinnacle (and found they did nothing improper). The player disagrees strongly with my conclusions, so I thought I'd field it to everyone else here.
The Yankees-Orioles game began on June 28th. Baltimore led 6-4 at the end of the 7th inning (the last completed one of the day). At the start of the 8th, the Yankees took an 8-6 lead. The game was suspended, and completed on July 27th with the Yankees winning 8-7.
The rule governing this dispute is:
The result of a game is official after 5 innings of play unless the home team is leading after 4.5 innings. If a game is called or suspended, the winner is determined by the score after the last full inning unless the home team scores to tie, or takes the lead in the bottom half of the inning, in which case the winner is determined by the score at the time the game is called. Monies will be refunded if the home team ties the game and it is then suspended. Events will not carry over to the following day unless otherwise specified.
The rule anticipates a cancellation or suspension, but makes no mention of a resumption of the game. The problem with this rule is that with a “strict” reading, it is ambiguous enough that a player could expect it to be graded the way the player argues. I have reviewed the same rule at other sites, and every single one has this same problem.
When a rule is ambiguous as this one is, we look at two other factors to decide how a rule should be applied. First, is there an “industry standard”? There is, and the standard (and Las Vegas rules, which are referred to in General Rules Paragraph 8) is to treat a game as completed at the last finished inning if it is suspended. This factor favors Pinnacle. The second factor is “what is most reasonable?” Both players and sportsbooks want bets to be resolved sooner than later. No one would expect a baseball game wager to take a full month to resolve. The most reasonable interpretation favors the prompt grading of wagers. Both “tiebreakers” suggest Pinnacle handled this situation properly.
I am recommending that Pinnacle (and all other sportsbooks) clarify this rule – this might require two rules – one for “callings”, and another longer one for suspensions
The Yankees-Orioles game began on June 28th. Baltimore led 6-4 at the end of the 7th inning (the last completed one of the day). At the start of the 8th, the Yankees took an 8-6 lead. The game was suspended, and completed on July 27th with the Yankees winning 8-7.
The rule governing this dispute is:
The result of a game is official after 5 innings of play unless the home team is leading after 4.5 innings. If a game is called or suspended, the winner is determined by the score after the last full inning unless the home team scores to tie, or takes the lead in the bottom half of the inning, in which case the winner is determined by the score at the time the game is called. Monies will be refunded if the home team ties the game and it is then suspended. Events will not carry over to the following day unless otherwise specified.
The rule anticipates a cancellation or suspension, but makes no mention of a resumption of the game. The problem with this rule is that with a “strict” reading, it is ambiguous enough that a player could expect it to be graded the way the player argues. I have reviewed the same rule at other sites, and every single one has this same problem.
When a rule is ambiguous as this one is, we look at two other factors to decide how a rule should be applied. First, is there an “industry standard”? There is, and the standard (and Las Vegas rules, which are referred to in General Rules Paragraph 8) is to treat a game as completed at the last finished inning if it is suspended. This factor favors Pinnacle. The second factor is “what is most reasonable?” Both players and sportsbooks want bets to be resolved sooner than later. No one would expect a baseball game wager to take a full month to resolve. The most reasonable interpretation favors the prompt grading of wagers. Both “tiebreakers” suggest Pinnacle handled this situation properly.
I am recommending that Pinnacle (and all other sportsbooks) clarify this rule – this might require two rules – one for “callings”, and another longer one for suspensions
