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How sports prediction markets settle: overtime, ties and postponed games

On both Kalshi and Novig, full-game winner contracts include overtime, and a tie pays each side 50¢. Postponed games are the main difference: both use a 48-hour window, then settle at a fair-value price instead of refunding.

How sports prediction markets settle: overtime, ties and postponed games

Key takeaways

  • Overtime counts for full-game markets on both exchanges.
  • A tie pays 50¢ to each side (on Kalshi, when no tie outcome is listed).
  • A game postponed more than 48 hours settles at a fair price, not a refund.
  • Novig usually settles within about 30 minutes; Kalshi pays no later than the day after expiration.

Most games end with a clear winner and a quick payout. The rules matter for the rest: overtime, ties, weather delays and the occasional cancelled game. Kalshi and Novig publish these rules in their contract terms, and they mostly agree.

Settlement rules, from each exchange's contract terms (checked October 23, 2026)
SituationKalshi (football game contract)Novig (college football winner contract)
OvertimeAll overtime periods countFull-game markets include overtime
TiePays $0.50 to each side if no tie outcome is listedPays $0.50 to each side
Postponed gameSettles on the rescheduled game if it starts within 48 hours; otherwise at the last fair priceVoid unless rescheduled to start within 48 hours; void settles at fair value
Suspended or abandonedBefore 55 minutes of play: last fair price, unless the league declares a final. After: settles on the result to that pointVoid unless play resumes within 48 hours (45 days in the postseason)
ForfeitBefore kickoff: last fair price. After kickoff: the official resultA forfeit not decided on the field is void
When you get paidNo later than the day after expirationTypically within about 30 minutes of the official result

Does overtime count?

Yes, on both exchanges. Kalshi's football game contract says "all overtime periods are included," and a team wins by scoring strictly more points than its opponent. Novig's full-game winner and total contracts include overtime too. On Novig, quarter markets exclude overtime and second-half markets include it.

What happens if a game ends in a tie?

College football has no ties, but the rule matters for leagues that do. On Kalshi, if the market lists a "Tie" outcome, it resolves Yes; if it doesn't, Yes and No holders are each paid 50¢. Novig pays 50¢ to each side on an official tie.

Spreads and totals on Novig always use half-point lines, so they can't push.

What if a game is postponed?

Both exchanges use a 48-hour window for regular-season games:

  • Kalshi: if the rescheduled game starts within 48 hours, the market settles on that game. Otherwise it settles at the "last fair market price."
  • Novig: the contract is void unless the game is formally rescheduled or starts within 48 hours. Postseason games get a 45-day window.

Neither exchange simply refunds you. A void Novig contract settles by fair value: the time-weighted price over the 30 minutes before the disruption. If you bought at 40¢ and the market was trading at 55¢ when the game was called off, you collect about 55¢.

What happens to a parlay if one game is cancelled?

On Novig, a pushed or voided leg settles at its fair value price and the parlay's payout is recalculated. On Kalshi, combos pay the product of their legs' settlement values, and a player who never enters a game settles that prop leg at its last fair price. See parlays explained.

How fast do winnings pay out?

  • Novig settles automatically from the official league result, typically within about 30 minutes. Stat corrections issued after grading don't change outcomes.
  • Kalshi pays no later than the day after the contract's expiration, unless the outcome is under review. Expiration moves earlier once a winner is reported, and Kalshi honors official corrections made before expiration.

Frequently asked questions

Does overtime count on Kalshi?

Yes. Kalshi's football game contract says all overtime periods are included.

What happens if a game is postponed on Novig?

A regular-season game that is not rescheduled to start within 48 hours is voided and settled at fair value: the time-weighted price over the 30 minutes before the disruption.

How long does it take to get paid on Novig?

Novig says contracts typically settle within 30 minutes of the official result.

Sources

  1. Kalshi: Football game contract terms
  2. CFTC filing: Novig NCAAF winner contract
  3. Novig Support: What is fair value settlement?
  4. Novig Support: How does settlement work?
  5. Novig Support: How parlay legs settle

Facts that change, such as fees, rules and where each exchange operates, were checked on the date above. Check the exchange's own pages before you trade.

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