Ever wondered what booking points actually mean when looking at football bets? You might have seen markets that mention cards and points without being sure how it all fits together.
There’s a simple system behind it. Below, we explain how many points a yellow card is worth, how reds are treated, and how the main markets work. Read on to learn more.
What Are Booking Points in Football Betting?
Booking points are a way of turning yellow and red cards into a match total. Instead of just counting how many cards were shown, each type of card is assigned a set number of points, and these are added up to settle certain markets.
In practice, that means incidents like a booking for dissent or a straight red for denying a clear chance don’t just affect the match; they move the booking points total too. For example, using the most common scale, three yellows and one straight red would settle as 55 points.
The exact scoring and what counts could vary between bookmakers. Most only include cards shown to players on the pitch during normal time, and they set out their card rules in the market information. It might be worth checking those details before you potentially place a bet so you know precisely what is and isn’t included.
How Many Booking Points Is a Yellow Card Worth?
A yellow card is usually worth 10 booking points. It’s a clear, easy-to-follow value that helps you see how the total is building as the game goes on.
If two different players are booked, that would add up to 20 points. Over a lively ninety minutes, those tens can stack up quickly, which is why you’ll often see bookmakers offering lines such as over 30 or over 40 points.
Cards shown to managers, coaches or substitutes generally do not count for booking points markets. Most bookmakers focus on cards shown to players taking part in the match, and they explain this in the market rules.
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How Many Booking Points Is a Red Card Worth?
A straight red card is commonly set at 25 booking points. Because a dismissal has a bigger impact on the game, it carries a higher value than a single yellow.
Where a player is sent off for two bookable offences, the settlement can differ by bookmaker. Many treat that sequence as 35 points in total, while others count both yellows and then add the red, which would make 45. The approach will be stated in the site’s rules for card markets, so a quick check there could help to remove any uncertainty.
As with yellows, cards shown to non-playing staff or unused substitutes are usually excluded from booking points totals.
How Do Booking Points Bets Work?
Booking points bets look at the combined points from cards shown during a match. You’ll often see lines like Over/Under 40 or Total Booking Points with a specific number to go above or below. Settlement is based on normal time, including stoppage time, unless the market states otherwise.
Some bookmakers also price up team totals or head-to-heads, where you predict which side will have more booking points. Others offer ranges, such as 31 to 40 points, which might be handy if you expect a moderate number of cards without wanting to pick an exact figure.
To picture how this plays out, imagine a match with four yellows and one straight red. On the common scale, that would be 65 points. If the line was set at over 50, that bet would settle as a winner.
Booking Points vs Player Cards: What’s the Difference?
Both options involve cards, but they settle in different ways. Booking points add up every qualifying yellow and red shown in the match to create a running total. It doesn’t matter who is booked, only how many and of which type.
Player card bets are about individuals. You’re backing a specific player to be shown a card. If that player is booked, the bet wins regardless of what happens elsewhere. If they go the full match without a card, it doesn’t matter how many others are shown, the bet loses.
Because the focus is different, the information you check before placing a bet differs too. With booking points, you’re weighing up the overall tone of the match. With player cards, you’re thinking about the role, playing style and likely match-ups for that particular player.
Can You Bet on Total Booking Points in a Match?
Yes. Most bookmakers offer Total Booking Points and Over/Under lines for many fixtures, covering the combined bookings for both teams in normal time. You might see options like Over 35.5 or Over 40, or settled bands such as 31 to 40 points.
Some sites also list exact totals at bigger prices. Availability can vary, and the cut-off numbers used for lines or bands are set by each bookmaker. The market rules will also confirm what counts, such as whether cards shown after the final whistle are included or excluded.
What Happens If a Player Gets Two Yellow Cards?
If a player receives two yellow cards in one match, the second yellow leads to a red and the player is sent off. For booking points, many bookmakers treat this as 35 points in total for that player. That approach avoids double counting beyond the common per-player maximum. Some sites may apply a different method, so it might be a good idea to check how they settle this situation.
To see how this can affect a bet, imagine a game where one player is dismissed for two yellows, and there are three other single yellows across the match. Using the typical values, that is 35 for the dismissal plus 30 for the other bookings, which gives 65 booking points in total.
