A three way moneyline is a sportsbook market with three possible outcomes instead of two: the home team wins, the away team wins, or the game ends level at the end of the specified period. You’ll see it most often in soccer and in regulation-time hockey betting. The key difference from a standard moneyline is simple but important: a draw is its own betting result, not a push.
What three way moneyline Means
A three way moneyline is a sportsbook market with three possible results for betting purposes: the home team wins, the away team wins, or the game ends tied at the end of the listed period, usually 90 minutes or regulation time. It is also called a 3-way line or 1X2.
In plain English, you are not just picking a winner. You are picking one of three exact outcomes based on the sportsbook’s stated grading window.
That grading window matters a lot:
- In soccer, it usually means 90 minutes plus stoppage time
- In hockey, it often means 60 minutes of regulation
- In some markets, the sportsbook may label it as full-time result, regulation line, or 1X2
This term matters because it changes both bet settlement and price comparison. A team bet on a three way moneyline can lose even if that team later wins in overtime, extra time, or penalties. For bettors, it affects strategy and payout expectations. For sportsbooks, it affects pricing, margin, and how the market is displayed on the board or app.
How three way moneyline Works
A three way moneyline works by dividing the result into three separate outcomes for a specific time period.
The basic mechanic
A sportsbook posts three prices:
- Home win
- Draw
- Away win
You place a bet on one of those results. Your wager is then graded based on the score at the end of the listed betting period.
If your selected outcome happens, the bet wins. If not, it loses.
Settlement logic
The most important part of this market is the time limit used for settlement.
For example:
- A soccer three way moneyline is usually settled after 90 minutes plus injury time
- A hockey three way moneyline is usually settled after 60 minutes
- Extra time, overtime, or penalty shootouts usually do not count, unless the operator specifically says they do
That is why many bettors get caught by surprise. They back a team they expect to “win the game,” but the sportsbook only cares about the score at the end of regulation or normal time.
Why it is different from a standard moneyline
A standard moneyline in US-facing sportsbooks often means an outright winner market. In many sports, that includes overtime or shootouts if needed.
A three way moneyline is different because the draw stays alive as a separate result.
That means:
- If you bet Team A on a three way moneyline
- And the game is tied at the end of regulation
- Your bet loses, even if Team A wins later in overtime
This is the single biggest difference bettors need to understand.
How sportsbooks display it
Depending on the operator, the same market may appear under different labels:
- Three way moneyline
- 3-way line
- 1X2
- Full Time Result
- Regulation moneyline
- 60-minute line in hockey
The underlying idea is the same: three possible outcomes for the listed period.
How the pricing works
Because there are three outcomes instead of two, the sportsbook must assign probability to:
- Home win
- Draw
- Away win
The posted prices reflect those probabilities plus the bookmaker’s margin.
A quick example using American odds:
- Home: +145
- Draw: +240
- Away: +185
You can turn those into implied probabilities:
- +145 = 100 / (145 + 100) = 40.8%
- +240 = 100 / (240 + 100) = 29.4%
- +185 = 100 / (185 + 100) = 35.1%
Total implied probability = 105.3%
That extra 5.3% above 100% is the sportsbook’s approximate overround, also called margin or hold. Exact margin treatment varies by operator and market.
How it works in live betting
In-play or live versions of a three way moneyline follow the same principle, but the odds move constantly based on:
- Current score
- Time remaining
- Red cards, penalties, or power plays
- Team strength
- Match state and momentum
For example, in a tied soccer match late in the second half, the draw price usually shortens because there is less time for a winner to emerge before 90 minutes ends.
How it appears in sportsbook operations
On the operator side, three way markets are usually created and managed through trading platforms and odds feeds.
A typical workflow looks like this:
- A sportsbook or data provider creates a 1X2 market
- Traders set or approve prices for home, draw, and away
- The market is published to retail boards and online apps
- In-play models update prices during the event
- The settlement engine grades bets using official event data and house rules
That means clear market naming is important. If a sportsbook labels a market poorly, it can create customer disputes, especially in hockey and knockout soccer where extra time changes the final winner but not the three way result.
Where three way moneyline Shows Up
The three way moneyline shows up mainly in sportsbook environments, not in casino table games, poker rooms, or slot play.
Online sportsbooks
This is where most bettors see it today. On mobile apps and desktop sportsbooks, it often appears in:
- Soccer match pages
- Hockey game pages
- Live betting menus
- Popular markets or main event tabs
Online books may display it as 1X2 or full-time result, especially for soccer.
Retail sportsbooks in casinos and resorts
In land-based casinos with sportsbooks, the three way market may appear on:
- Digital odds boards
- Betting kiosks
- Printed sheets
- Ticket writer screens
In retail settings, market naming matters even more because casual bettors often assume “moneyline” means simply picking the winner. If the board says regulation only or 3-way, that detail changes the bet entirely.
Soccer betting
Soccer is the most common home for this market because draws are naturally common in regular time.
Typical soccer use cases include:
- Domestic league matches
- International fixtures
- Cup matches settled at 90 minutes for betting purposes
- In-play full-time result markets
In knockout soccer, this is especially important because a team can advance after extra time or penalties while still failing to win the three way moneyline if the score was tied after 90 minutes.
Hockey betting
In hockey, three way moneyline often appears as a regulation line or 60-minute line.
This market is popular because it lets bettors choose among:
- Home team wins in regulation
- Game tied after 60 minutes
- Away team wins in regulation
That is separate from the usual moneyline, which often includes overtime and shootout results.
Trading, pricing, and B2B platform systems
Behind the scenes, this market is common in sportsbook technology stacks. It is a standard market type in:
- Odds feeds
- Trading platforms
- Market templates
- Settlement engines
- Risk dashboards
From an operator perspective, three way moneyline markets need clean mapping between market name, event timer, official data source, and settlement rule.
Why It Matters
For bettors
The three way moneyline matters because it changes what you are actually betting on.
If you misunderstand the market, you can make a losing bet even when your team eventually wins the game. That is why bettors should always check:
- Whether the market is regulation only
- Whether a draw is a separate outcome
- Whether extra time or penalties count
It also affects value. Because there are three outcomes, odds can look more attractive than a standard moneyline, but that does not automatically make the bet better. You are taking on a different risk profile.
For sportsbooks
For operators, the market matters because it gives them:
- Another core betting option on draw-capable sports
- More precise pricing around regulation outcomes
- Additional margin opportunities compared with simpler two-way markets
- A standard market type for global sports like soccer
It also creates exposure that must be managed carefully, especially live. A draw price can become a major liability late in a match if betting volume stacks onto one side of the market.
For risk, compliance, and operations
This market also has operational importance.
Clear house rules help reduce disputes around:
- Official scoring period
- Match abandonment or postponement
- Extra-time treatment
- Data corrections
- Void rules in parlay and single bets
Legal availability, bet limits, and market naming may vary by operator and jurisdiction. Some books also restrict certain market types in specific regions or events.
Related Terms and Common Confusions
Here are the terms most often confused with a three way moneyline:
| Term | What it means | How it differs |
|---|---|---|
| Standard moneyline | Bet on the outright winner | Often includes overtime or shootouts; draw is not a separate option |
| 1X2 | Home win, draw, away win | Usually the same market as a three way moneyline; 1 = home, X = draw, 2 = away |
| Regulation moneyline | Result after regulation only | Often effectively the same as a three way moneyline in hockey |
| Draw no bet | Pick a team, and a draw refunds the stake | A draw is a push/refund, not a winning side |
| Double chance | Covers two of the three outcomes | Lower payout because you are covering more than one result |
| Point spread / handicap | One side starts with a line advantage or disadvantage | Changes the scoring basis rather than simply pricing home/draw/away |
The most common misunderstanding
The biggest mistake is thinking a tie means your bet pushes.
On a three way moneyline, a tie is not a push. It is one of the three actual outcomes.
So if you bet the home team and the match ends level after the listed period, your bet loses.
Another common confusion is mixing up:
- Full-time result
- To qualify
- To advance
- Match winner
These are not the same market. In tournament play, a team can fail to win the three way moneyline but still qualify for the next round.
Practical Examples
Example 1: Soccer three way moneyline
A sportsbook lists these odds for a cup match:
- Home win: +150
- Draw: +220
- Away win: +190
You bet $100 on the draw at +220.
At the end of 90 minutes, the score is 1-1. The home team then wins in extra time.
Your bet still wins, because the three way moneyline was settled at the end of normal time.
Your payout is:
- Profit: $220
- Total return: $320
If you had bet the home team at +150 in the same market, that ticket would lose, even though the home side eventually won the match after extra time.
Example 2: Hockey regulation line
A sportsbook offers this 60-minute market:
- Home: +135
- Draw: +310
- Away: +155
You place $50 on the away team at +155.
The score is 2-2 after 60 minutes, and the away team wins in overtime.
Because this was a three way moneyline settled after regulation, your away bet loses.
If someone had bet $50 on the draw at +310, that ticket would win:
- Profit: $155
- Total return: $205
If this had been a standard moneyline that included overtime, the away side would have been the winning result instead.
Example 3: Comparing market types on the same game
Suppose a hockey game offers two markets:
Standard moneyline – Home: -115 – Away: -105
Three way moneyline – Home: +145 – Draw: +320 – Away: +175
At first glance, the three way prices may look better because the team odds are higher. But that higher price comes with a condition: the team must win inside regulation.
So if you are betting a team you expect to win eventually, the standard moneyline may fit better. If you specifically think a team will win within regulation, or you think the game is likely to be tied after regulation, the three way market may better match your opinion.
Example 4: Simple margin check
Using these three way odds:
- Home: +145
- Draw: +240
- Away: +185
The implied probabilities add to about 105.3%, not 100%.
That matters because it shows the sportsbook is building margin into all three outcomes. When comparing books, even small price differences on the draw or one side can materially change your expected return over time.
Limits, Risks, or Jurisdiction Notes
Three way moneyline rules are not identical everywhere, so readers should verify the market before betting.
What can vary
Depending on the sportsbook and jurisdiction, the following may differ:
- Market label: 3-way line, 1X2, full-time result, or regulation line
- Settlement period
- Overtime and penalty inclusion or exclusion
- Abandoned match rules
- Rescheduled event treatment
- Whether cash out is offered
- Bet limits and parlay eligibility
Common mistakes
The most common mistakes are:
- Assuming a draw means refund
- Betting a team in regulation when you really wanted the outright winner
- Confusing to qualify with full-time result
- Not checking whether penalties count
- Comparing prices across books without confirming the same settlement rule
What to verify before placing the bet
Before you confirm a wager, check:
- What exact time period is being graded
- Whether overtime, extra time, or shootouts count
- How the operator settles abandoned or postponed games
- Whether the market is legal and available in your jurisdiction
- Whether bonus, promo, or parlay rules treat the market differently
As always, odds, limits, features, and procedures can vary by operator and jurisdiction. If you are betting live, remember that prices can change quickly before the wager is accepted. If gambling stops feeling fun or controlled, use your sportsbook’s limit tools or self-exclusion options where available.
FAQ
What is a three way moneyline bet?
A three way moneyline bet lets you pick one of three results: home win, away win, or draw at the end of the listed period. It is common in soccer and regulation-time hockey.
Does a tie count as a loss on a three way moneyline?
Yes, if you bet either team. In a three way moneyline, the tie is its own outcome, so a tied score at the end of the grading period means team bets lose and draw bets win.
Is three way moneyline the same as 1X2?
Usually yes. In most sportsbooks, 1X2 is simply another name for the same market: 1 = home win, X = draw, 2 = away win.
Does overtime count in a three way moneyline?
Usually no, but you should always check the house rules. Soccer three way markets are typically settled after 90 minutes plus stoppage time, while hockey three way markets are usually settled after 60 minutes.
What sports use three way moneyline markets?
Soccer is the most common. Hockey also uses them frequently as regulation or 60-minute lines, and some sportsbooks may offer similar three-outcome markets in selected sports or special markets.
Final Takeaway
The key to understanding a three way moneyline is remembering that the draw is a real betting outcome, not a refund. If you know the settlement window, compare it correctly against standard moneyline and draw no bet options, and verify house rules before betting, you’ll avoid the most common and costly mistakes.
