Grading Futures

[Golokhov]

Historically, I know that futures are all graded at the end of the season. You bet a team to win a division and regardless of whether they have clinched or not earlier in the season, the bet is graded after the regular season.

But seriously, do we not live in the modern day and age of technology?

If a team has clinched the division, why wouldn't you win your bet right then and there? Say you had the Cincinnati Reds or Texas Rangers or Minnesota Twins, why would you have to wait until the end of the season to have access to those funds? They can't vacate wins, for crying out loud.

I think it's ridiculous that these futures can't be graded on the fly; maybe I'm just ranting because I've had an experience with this but seriously, when do we get to use a high-tech sportsbook that manage to grade futures bets when they actually win/lose and not when the season ends?

[skrtelfan]

Many MLB futures have a rule that 160 games must be played for the bet to have action.

[Hareeba!]

Some books do settle wagers when determined notwithstanding that the season hasn't concluded

Betfair is one notable example

[DevilCheese]

yep, frustrating, makes me feel like my money would be better off in a CD

[Chuck Sims]

5Dimes, The Greek, CRIS/Bookmaker have all graded division futures the day teams clinched. The 160 minimum games played for action rule are for RSW.

[Golokhov]

Thanks for the input - I will check out BetFair. A sportsbook won't grade a regular season win total even though the over has been hit (Chicago White Sox over 82.5). Not a big deal, just a bit old school in my opinion.

[skrtelfan]

I've seen books with the 160 games requirement for divisional futures too although that mightn't be the norm. They can't grade CHW ov82.5 because CHW's next 3 games could get rained out and as they only played 159 games, the market would be void. The book would be screwed if they graded the over a winner and then had to refund all of the voided unders.

I'd guess a lot of exchanges don't bother with the minimum games requirement because I remember Tradesports used to grade my season win o/u bets after they'd "clinched." One year I had some football team ov5.5 who started something like 6-4 and they'd already graded it a winner by week 11 or so.