If a player or coach is found to have placed a bet on any baseball game in which he/she participated, he/she will be permanently banned from Major League Baseball. The same applies to any person affiliated with a team or the league, including players, umpires, club and league officials and employees. This is known as Rule 21 and it is posted on dugout walls throughout the league.
MLB offers bets on individual events, totals and matchups during a game. The odds for these wagers change constantly, so be sure to keep up with the latest lines.
Over/Under Totals – These are wagers on the number of total runs scored in a game. The total is set by the sportsbook and the over/under pays if the total is reached or surpassed, regardless of how the game ends (e.g. a shortened game that still counts as an official one will usually pay).
Head-to-Head Player Props – These bets are made on specific player performance during a game, against a particular opponent. The player(s) must be in the starting lineup and the game must be official for these bets to have action.
First Hit/HR/etc. of the Game – An inning will count towards this market if either team has recorded three outs in that inning or the team batting second scores more runs without recording three outs than the team batting first. This bet is settled using the 8.5 innings rule.
In addition to being a national sponsor of Responsible Gaming, MLB is an active partner in the American Gaming Association’s Have A Game Plan. Bet Responsibly campaign.