Football matches often come with their fair share of excitement, and a flurry of cards from the referee can add extra interest for many fans.
The idea of booking points is a popular feature in certain betting markets, but it can be a confusing concept if you have not come across it before.
This blog explores what booking points are, outlines how yellow cards are scored within this system, and looks at why these points matter. If you are new to football betting, or just keen to learn more about how booking points work in the UK, you may find this guide useful.
What Are Football Booking Points?
Football booking points are a simple way to give a value to cards shown by the referee during a match. Bookmakers created this system to make markets around cards shown in a game easier to follow and bet on.
Each card, yellow or red, has a set number of points that feed into markets, such as total booking points or team booking points. In football, a booking means a player has been shown a yellow or red card by the referee for breaking the rules.
When you see betting markets offering booking points, they are giving you the chance to bet on how many points you think will be shown during the match, rather than just counting the number of cards. Scoring and settlement rules can vary by market, so it can be worth reading the specific rules for the bet you are considering.
How Many Booking Points Is a Yellow Card?
In most UK betting markets, a yellow card is worth 10 booking points. This is the basic value used when calculating total booking points in a football match.
For example, if three yellow cards are shown, that would be 30 points in total. With that in mind, how are red cards treated?
How Many Booking Points Is a Red Card Worth?
A yellow card in football is typically worth 10 booking points and is shown for less serious offences such as dissent, time-wasting, or minor fouls. If a player receives two yellow cards in the same match, they are sent off and shown a red card.
A straight red card, given for serious foul play or violent conduct, is worth 25 booking points. When a player is dismissed for two yellows, the total value is 35 points — 10 points for the first yellow and 25 for the resulting red.
For example:
- One yellow card = 10 points
- Two yellows leading to red = 35 points
- One straight red card = 25 points
How Do Booking Points Work in Football Betting?
Booking points are used to settle specific markets by converting disciplinary decisions into a clear points total. Bookmakers assign a value to each yellow and red card, then settle bets based on the combined points from all cards awarded during the match.
You might see markets like Over or Under a set number of booking points, a head-to-head on which team you think will record more points, or a line where points are grouped into ranges.
The referee decides which cards are shown, the points are added up at full time, and that total is used to settle bets. Cards shown to managers or non-playing staff are usually not included in booking points markets.
Why Do Bookmakers Use Booking Points?
Bookmakers use booking points to add more choice to football betting beyond match result or goals. By turning yellow and red cards into a simple points total, they can offer markets that are easier to follow and quicker to settle.
This framework also makes it possible to offer more precise markets, such as ranges of points and team comparisons, rather than relying only on the number of cards. The result is a structured way to track discipline across a match without needing to weigh up every incident in isolation.
Are Booking Points Counted the Same in All Competitions?
Understanding how booking points are counted in different football competitions can help make betting markets clearer. The basic values tend to be consistent, but settlement can depend on competition formats and the rules attached to a specific market.
Domestic Leagues vs International Matches
Most bookmakers use the same points scale in both domestic and international football, with 10 points for a yellow and 25 for a red. While refereeing styles can differ between competitions, the method used to convert cards into points usually remains the same, so the markets feel familiar whether it is a league fixture or an international.
Cup Games and Extra Time Rules
In many cup ties, booking points are counted during the regular 90 minutes, including stoppage time, but not during extra time or penalty shootouts.
Some bookmakers may offer separate extra-time markets, which are settled on those additional minutes only. It is sensible to check the market rules for the competition you are betting on, so you know exactly which periods of play are included.
Do Booking Points Include Second Yellow Cards?
Booking points are intended to reflect all relevant cards shown to players during a match, but second yellow cards have a specific treatment in many markets.
Where a player receives two yellows that lead to a red, the common approach is to count one yellow card for 10 points and the red card for 25 points, giving a maximum of 35 points for that player. This avoids counting the second yellow separately once the dismissal has been issued.
Some markets use a different method, so if a bet involves second yellows, it is worth checking how that specific market settles them. With the standard points scale in mind and the treatment of second yellows understood, booking points become a straightforward way to follow discipline in a match. Read the market rules before you bet, and set limits that work for you. Always gamble responsibly.
