Unique Rules and Quirks to Know for KBO Betting

1. KBO Tie Rules in Regular and Postseason

The 2002 MLB All-Star game was one for the books. The game ended in a tie when both teams ran out of starting pitchers. The outrage from the tie led to the MLB commissioner changing the All-Star game rules—from 2003 to 2016, the winner of the All-Star game would get home-field advantage in the World Series.

However, the KBO doesn’t have the same reservations. KBO games have allowed for ties in every season but 2008. The league tried to ban ties in 2008 but changed the rule back to allow tie games after the season.

In 2025, the new KBO rules made it even easier for a game to finish in a tie. Following the 11th inning, the game will be ruled a final score from the 2025 season onward. This is a change from the 12th-inning tie rule previously.

In the postseason, the official tie is determined following the bottom of the15th inning. So, what happens at this point? If necessary, to determine a series winner, the two teams will do it all over again and play a new game!

Tie games can lead to a lots of bets pushing, so be aware of the potential for a tie game while betting on the KBO. Luckily, tie games occur less frequently during the playoffs due to the different rules.

2. Foreign Player Limit

As a method to protect Korean-born baseball players and offer them more opportunities, there is a strict foreign player limit for every club.

KBO teams are only allowed to have a maximum of three foreign-born players on their roster. Also, no more than two of them can be pitchers.

While many former Major League players from other countries, including Yasiel Puig, play in the KBO, teams can’t breach the foreign player limit rule. Therefore, clubs need to be careful when constructing their rosters.

Let’s check in on Yasiel Puig…yup, not much as changed. pic.twitter.com/LODS1Ho7IL

— BaseballHistoryNut (@nut_history) January 12, 2025

It’s an extra little kink that forces front offices to implement a unique strategy. Despite the rule targeting foreign-based players, all 10 KBO clubs had an foreign starting pitcher on Opening Day in 2025!

3. Direct Ticket to Championship Game for No. 1 Seed

The regular season carries extra weight compared to Major League Baseball. While top teams in the Major Leagues skip the Wild Card Series, they don’t have an automatic invite to the World Series.

However, in the KBO, the team that finishes at the top of the standings will be granted an auto-bid to the KBO Korean Series. The 2nd seed gets to skip the first two rounds. In short, the regular season is crucial for teams in the KBO League.

Consequently, the postseason structure is quite unique and outlined below:

• • KBO Wild Card: 5th vs. 4th Seed (Best of 3*)
  • KBO Semifinals: Wild Card winner vs. 3rd seed (Best of 5)
  • KBO Third Round: Semifinal winner vs. 2nd seed (Best of 5)
  • KBO Korean Series: Third-round winner vs. 1st seed (Best of 7)

4. 4th Seed Starts with 1-0 Series Lead

Another KBO rules quirk to note is that the KBO Wild Card matchup involves a crazy twist. The 4th seed team is automatically granted a 1-0 lead in the Best of 3 series.

With this in mind, the 5th seed must win back-to-back games to advance to the semifinals. If the 4th seed team wins or ties in Game 1, they head to the next round. This unique format puts added pressure on the 5th seed in the KBO Wild Card!

5. Bat Flips Are Encouraged

The KBO is much more than electric crowds and monster bat flips! That being said, it sure makes things a lot more exciting for spectators.

Although bat flips are viewed as disrespect towards opposing pitchers in MLB, they are encouraged in the KBO League. If you’re a pitcher and want to prevent a bat flip in the KBO, it’s simple: don’t allow a home run!

And, if you’re Joon-Seok Choi, make sure the ball is a home run before flipping the bat. He knew it. A home run. He could feel the ball collide with the sweet spot of the bat. So, Choi did what any KBO player would do: he flipped his bat.

It was a great bat flip, too.

There was just one problem though. The ball went foul by about 70 feet. So instead of a moment of exhilaration, it was a moment of embarrassment for Choi.

Choi calmly walked over to his bat, sheepishly picked it up off the ground, and returned to give it another go.

While it was just one foul ball, it helped demonstrate the exciting highs of the Korean Baseball Organization — a league where bat flips are a way of life, each player gets their own personal chant from the fans, and every game is a celebration.