NFL Hall of Fame Game Bets Voided and Refunded After Early End 

Hundreds of thousands of U.S. sports bettors were left combing their chosen sportsbook’s fine print on Thursday night. That’s after inclement weather forced an early stoppage to the annual NFL Hall of Fame game in Canton, Ohio.

The Chicago Bears were called the early 21-17 winners over the Houston Texans after stormy conditions forced the players off the field late in the third quarter. Many bettors subsequently had their wages voided and refunded, although some first half-only and unders bets were paid out. 

Las Vegas-based Circa Sports Director of Operations Jeff Benson was forced to defend the sportsbook’s rules against angry and confused bettors on social media. 

“I didn’t have arguing football House Rules on Aug 1st on my bingo card, but here we are,” Benson wrote.

“This stuff is extremely simple, guys. No, we didn’t call in a lighting strike because we were heavy on the under. No, we aren’t going to pay out your over. It was a great Summer & now it’s over.” 

The Wagers 

The responses to the called-off game varied by sportsbooks and their bespoke terms and conditions. However, major U.S. sportsbooks commonly carry a rule that 55 minutes of a football game must be completed before any wagers are paid out. 

Therefore, most of those who placed straight up or moneyline bets on the end result of Thursday night’s game found those wagers voided and refunded. 

Bettors who had the over were also refunded, as were those who had bets on the second half or the third or fourth quarters. However, many sportsbooks refunded bettors who wagered on the first half only, as well those with specific unders, such as prop bets that had already been settled because a player was off the field.

Fantasy sports operators Underdog and PrizePicks, however, did not feature the 55-minute rule, and thus paid out on picks involving the Bears.

The Game 

Sometimes called the first NFL game of the season, the Hall of Fame game was, as usual, played at the Tom Benson Hall of Fame Stadium in Canton, Ohio.

Eventual winners the Chicago Bears were heavy underdogs going into the matchup. There was also much debate among fans and professionals about the new kick-off rules going into the 24/25 NFL season, and how that would change proceedings. 

The odds were also influenced by the starting lineups of both teams, which featured barely any regular season starters on the field, including backup quarterbacks on both teams. 

The Pro Football Hall of Fame Game has been played since 1962. It usually takes one team from the AFC and one from the NFC that have connections to a former player being inducted into the Hall of Fame that year.