What Does Off The Board (OTB) Mean in Sports Betting?

Have you ever wanted to wager on an event and seen OTB instead of the regular odds? This can be confusing, especially if you are new to sports betting.

As a sports bettor, you need to understand various betting terms, as the knowledge can significantly improve your chances of success. Off the board is one of those crucial terms you need to know in sports betting.

A bookmaker can suspend a market and display OTB for various reasons. In this article, I will clarify what OTB means, why sportsbooks use it, and what it implies for your betting strategy.

So, let’s cut to the chase and find out what is the definition of OTB in sports betting.

🔑 Key Takeaways

Check our flexible strategies to benefit from OTB.
Discover the Off the Board Betting slang terms explained.

OTB Definition

OTB stands for Off the Board in sports betting. Off the board (abbreviation OTB) simply refers to a situation where a sportsbook no longer accepts bets on a particular game or market. It could also mean the bookie removing an event from their offerings, even if they had listed it before.

→ When a game is OTB, the bookmaker has suspended betting on that event, and the odds are no longer available.

So, how do you know a game is off the board?

When you see “Off,” “OTB,” or “Off the Board” displayed next to it on the sportsbook or odds board.
When you are unable to place a bet on the game despite it being previously available
When you see lock signs instead of odds beside the event.

There are several reasons sportsbooks may remove a game from the schedule; let’s look at them below.

Common Reasons for Games Going Off the Board

While legal sportsbooks uphold fair play, they are entitled to remove any game or event from their offerings at any time without prior notice. If they receive just a hint of information about an emerging issue that could impact the outcome, they will swiftly stop taking bets on the game until they clearly understand the situation.

Based on my experience, here are some common circumstances that lead to a game being taken off the board:

Uncertain Playing Conditions: As uncertainty grows surrounding a match’s playing conditions, the bookie can remove it from their offerings until the situation becomes clearer. For instance, a weather condition that could potentially lead to a delayed or postponed match or give a team an unfair advantage can make the sportsbook remove the odds.
Bookie not Ready to List: Sometimes, a game can be off the board because the sportsbook has not yet decided on the betting line. For example, a highly anticipated boxing match is announced, but the bookie hasn’t yet posted the odds because they are waiting for more information about the fighters’ training and conditions.
Player Injuries: The Los Angeles Lakers are set to play the Boston Celtics in a crucial NBA matchup. However, Lakers star player LeBron James is listed as questionable due to a knee injury. As news breaks that LeBron might not play, bettors start to wager heavily on the Celtics.

The sportsbook takes the game off the board until LeBron’s status is confirmed. This way, they avoid taking on too much risk and can adjust the odds accordingly once they know whether LeBron will play. As soon as the sportsbook confirms that LeBron will sit out the game, they might re-list it with adjusted odds, reflecting the changed circumstances.

For example, the Celtics might become the favorite, with shorter odds, while the Lakers’ odds become longer.

Remember that sportsbooks are businesses out to make money, too. Taking events off the board is a legal measure they use to protect their financial interests while ensuring a fair and transparent betting experience for their customers.

The Impact of OTB on Betting Strategy

It can be disappointing when highly anticipated games or events important to your betting strategy are taken off the board. However, as a savvy bettor, you need to understand how to navigate the challenges and ‘spot the silver lining’ in the cloud of OTB situations.

When bets are suspended on a crucial game in your betting strategy, you need to adjust your plan since the initial approach is not visible.

The key to OTB situations is to have a flexible strategy and be able to pivot quickly.

OTB situations can create market imbalances, leading to more favorable odds on other games or prop bets.

You can capitalize on these opportunities to turn the OTB into an advantage.

Additionally, OTB can serve as a reminder for you to diversify your betting portfolio. It ensures that your wagering strategy is not reliant on a single game or outcome. By spreading your bets across multiple games, you can minimize the impact of an event taken off the board.

How to Respond When a Bet Goes Off the Board

As stated earlier, turning OTB situations into opportunities depends on the flexibility of your wagering strategy. It also hinges on how prepared you are to adjust your bets and find alternative options.

Here are some practical steps I adopt whenever I encounter an OTB scenario:

Stay calm and reassess: Take a moment to review your strategy and consider or research the reasons why the game was removed from the board. This information will help you decide on your next move.
Monitor Market Movements: While researching why your event was removed from the board, watch how the market reacts to the development, as this can reveal new opportunities.
Explore alternative games: Meanwhile, you can wager on matches with similar odds. It doesn’t have to be the same sport or market. Just ensure that you have done your homework on the new game you want to add to your selection.
Consider Prop Bets: Depending on why the game was initially taken off the market, you may want to check out the event’s available prop markets. For instance, if the match was taken OTB due to a key player’s injury rumors, you might find prop bets related to that player’s or the team’s performance without them.
Hedge your bets: When the game gets unlocked or relisted, there is a high possibility that the odds will have changed significantly. The favorites may now be the underdog or vice versa, or the odds between the two may have reduced. Ensure you place opposing bets to cover your initial wager and manage your risks.

So, What Do You Think About the OTB Situation?

Chances are you have experienced an OTB situation at least once. While it can be frustrating when sportsbooks pull the line, getting the reasons behind it and learning how to adapt can turn OTB scenarios into an advantage.

Remember to stay informed, have a flexible betting strategy, and consider alternative events. When the game appears in the betting site offerings again, ensure you bet responsibly.

Ever heard of PPD, another vital term in sports betting? It can also impact your wagering strategy, just like OTB. Check our Betting 101 section for more information.