Booking points in betting: how many points is a card?
Short answer
In booking points markets a yellow card is worth 10 points and a red card 25, and 35 is the most one player can count for. That is the rule at all four bookmakers whose booking points rule we could confirm: Ladbrokes, Coral, Unibet and Betfred (each from its own rules, checked 18 Oct 2026). A player sent off for two yellows counts as 35 at Ladbrokes, Coral and Betfred.
Confirmed for 4 of 10 bookmakers from their own terms. Last checked
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How often this rule matters
How often a red card comes into it
- 11%
- of Premier League matches had a red card147 of 1,393 matches, straight reds and second yellows
Coverage: Premier League event figures use the 1,393 of 1,900 matches (2021-22 to 2025-26) that have full event data from TheStatsAPI. 507 matches have no event data, and 2023-24 has only 110.
Historical figures, not a prediction. Source: TheStatsAPI, seasons 2021-22 to 2025-26How we count this
The rule at each bookmaker
In our fixed table order, never by commission. Each row links to the bookmaker's own page we read.
| Bookmaker | Yellow card | Red card | Sent off for a second yellow | Most per player | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| bet365 | We couldn't confirm this from bet365's own terms on the pages we checked on 18 Oct 2026. We don't guess. | None found | |||
| Sky Bet | We couldn't confirm this from Sky Bet's own terms on the pages we checked on 18 Oct 2026. We don't guess. | None found | |||
| Paddy Power | We couldn't confirm this from Paddy Power's own terms on the pages we checked on 18 Oct 2026. We don't guess. | None found | |||
| William Hill | We couldn't confirm this from William Hill's own terms on the pages we checked on 18 Oct 2026. We don't guess. | None found | |||
| Ladbrokes | 10 points | 25 points for a direct red | 35 points: 10 for the first yellow plus 25 for the red | Not stated separately. The highest value it lists for one player is 35 | Ladbrokes' terms on help.ladbrokes.com, opens in a new tabChecked |
| Coral | 10 points | 25 points for a direct red | 35 points: 10 for the first yellow plus 25 for the red | Not stated separately. The highest value it lists for one player is 35 | Coral's terms on help.coral.co.uk, opens in a new tabChecked |
| Betfred | 10 points | 25 points | 35 points: 25 for the red plus 10, however many yellows were shown | 35 points | Betfred's terms on betfred.com, opens in a new tabChecked |
| Unibet | 10 points | 25 points | Not stated separately | 35 points | Unibet's terms on unibet.co.uk, opens in a new tabChecked |
| 888sport | We couldn't confirm this from 888sport's own terms on the pages we checked on 18 Oct 2026. We don't guess. | None found | |||
| BoyleSports | We couldn't confirm this from BoyleSports' own terms on the pages we checked on 18 Oct 2026. We don't guess. | None found | |||
Booking points and cards markets are different
A cards market counts cards, and there a red card counts as 1 or 2 depending on the bookmaker. A booking points market gives each card a value instead, so a match with 3 yellows and 1 straight red is 55 booking points (30 plus 25) at the four bookmakers above. Our red card page compares the cards markets.
Ladbrokes and Coral also have separate yellow and red points markets
Besides combined booking points, Ladbrokes and Coral list a yellow card points market, where each yellow is 10, two yellows are 20 and a direct red is 0, and a red card points market, where each red is 25 and a sending-off for two yellows counts as one red. So the same player can count differently depending on which points market you bet on.
Which cards count
Ladbrokes and Coral count cards in regular play only, not extra time, and ignore cards shown to managers, coaches and players who aren't active, and cards shown before kick-off or after the final whistle. Cards shown at half-time count towards second-half and full-time markets. Unibet counts only cards shown to players on the pitch at that moment, and ignores disciplinary action taken after the game. Betfred's card markets exclude extra time and ignore cards shown to coaching staff, unused substitutes and players already substituted.
Where we couldn't confirm a rule
bet365, Sky Bet, Paddy Power, William Hill, 888sport and BoyleSports didn't give booking points values on the pages we read on 18 Oct 2026. William Hill's Match Action market uses its own points scale (3 for a yellow, 10 for a red), but that market also counts goals, corners and penalties, so it isn't a booking points market.
Questions
How many booking points is a red card?
Is a second yellow card 20 or 35 booking points?
Do booking points include extra time?
Do cards shown to managers count for booking points?
Related
- Does a red card count as 2 cards?
- Does extra time count in football bets?
- Ladbrokes football rules
- Unibet football rules
- Premier League betting rules
Rules change. This is what each bookmaker's own terms said on the date shown. Always read the full terms before you bet. 18+ only.
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