In this article, we will guide you through what happens to a bet if the game is suspended or there is a canceled game (spoiler alert: you will have your stake refunded in the majority of cases). Continue reading to learn more!
- 13 Reasons Why a Bet Has Been Canceled
- Best USA Betting Sites in 2023
- What Is a Canceled/Void Bet?
- What Happens to Free Bets When a Game Is Canceled?
- What Happens To My Bet If a Game Is Postponed?
- What Happens If a Game Is Canceled or Postponed in a Parlay?
- Common Causes for Game Postponements or Cancellations
- 7 Tips for Dealing With Canceled or Postponed Bets
- Canceled/Postponed Bets Policies of Top Betting Sites
- ThePuntersPage Final Say
13 Reasons Why a Bet Has Been Canceled
If you have had your bet canceled, there are a number of reasons that could be behind it. They include:
- Your bet was placed after the event began, or it was placed after the event's result had already been determined.
- There was an obvious pricing error for your betting choices.
- There was an error in the transaction.
- Regulatory requirements have restricted you from placing a bet.
- Your betting choices are not compatible with being part of a multiple bet
- The terms and conditions were breached.
- There were technical issues on the website.
- An event was postponed or abandoned.
- Your bet was placed on a non runner (a competitor unable to take part in an event).
- Your intended selection is not available for wagering.
- Results cannot be determined.
- There was an issue with the data supplier.
- The markets or information for an event in question were incorrect.
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What Is a Canceled/Void Bet?
The term canceled bet refers to a wager that has been declared effectively void. We will go into further detail about the reasons why later on in this article.
The good news is, that whenever a bet is canceled, you have your stake refunded to you.
The bookmaker with whom you placed your bet may send you an email to notify you. If they have not gotten ahold of you, it is a good idea to check your account history to see how your bet has been affected. You also want to find out whether your stake has been returned to your account balance.
Canceled bets are declared void in their entirety, which means that you do not win or lose anything. The only exception to this rule involves free bets.
What Happens to Free Bets When a Game Is Canceled?
If you place a wager on an event using a free bet and the event ends up getting canceled, your bookmaker may or may not refund it to you.
In these cases, it's best to check the general terms and conditions. If they say that free bets that have been voided will not be returned to the customer, then your only option is to contact customer support. They can tell you whether or not you are eligible for any compensation.
What Happens To My Bet If a Game Is Postponed?
A postponed game is usually classified as a non-starter unless it was played within a time frame specified the betting site.
For instance, bet365 considers postponed games to be non-starters if they are not played in the same week. If a game that is scheduled for a weekend is played on the following Monday, all placed bets stand.
Meanwhile, Mr Green cancels bets that are placed on postponed games if the game is not played within 12 hours of the originally scheduled starting time. Whenever a postponed event is canceled, your stake is returned in full.
What Happens If a Game Is Canceled or Postponed in a Parlay?
Parlays allow punters to combine a variety of wagers into one bet, potentially resulting in bigger payouts if successful. The downside to parlays is the fact that the entire wager is lost if just one bet choice loses.
So what happens to them if a game is postponed?
Generally speaking, most bookmakers will not cancel your parlay along with the specific game that was postponed/canceled. What usually happens is that the specific selection is removed from the bet. If you had a five-game parlay, you now have a four-game one. When this happens, the odds are adjusted, and the payout is lowered in accordance with the new number of selections in the bet.
If you are dealing with a one-game parlay wager, the event cancellation will void the entire bet. In this case, you will not lose your entire one-game parlay. Instead, the bookmaker will refund the amount of your bet.
Regarding the way that odds are recalculated for parlays with canceled games, it is important to note that the bookmaker will void the game that is canceled and then calculate your new odds based on the remaining games in your bet.
Common Causes for Game Postponements or Cancellations
There are various factors that can disrupt sporting events, many of which can come out of nowhere and which can even present risk to those competing, as well as any spectators present. We've listed the most common of these below.
Adverse/Dangerous Weather Conditions
Adverse or outright dangerous weather conditions are one of the biggest causes of events being canceled. If playing surfaces have been rendered unsafe or issues such as wind and lightning make it unsafe to carry on with an event, postponement and cancellation can occur.
Civil Unrest
Cases of civil unrest in the area where an event is scheduled to take place can also lead to postponement and cancellation. Oftentimes, these events will be rescheduled or moved to a new location.
Health Concerns
In recent years, a common cause of postponed and canceled events have been issues related to public health. The recent pandemic heightened concerns regarding the safety and well-being of participants and attendees, especially since large gatherings tend to become hotspots for transmission. As a result, if there happens to be an ongoing outbreak of an infectious disease, the event will either be canceled, postponed, or held without an audience.
7 Tips for Dealing With Canceled or Postponed Bets
To condense some of the key points mentioned throughout this guide, we have listed seven useful tips to keep in mind regarding bets on events that have been canceled or postponed.
- Always Make Sure Your Carefully Read the Terms and Conditions: One of the best ways to make sure you avoid mistakes that can lead to canceled bets is to carefully read through the terms and conditions of the specific bookmaker that you have chosen.It is important to remember that different online betting sites have different policies regarding free bet cancellations, games that have been abandoned, and games that have been postponed.Terms and conditions that may apply to one bookmaker might not apply to another. It is a good idea to become familiar with the general T&Cs at the site you're registered with.
- Take Full Advantage of Accumulator Options: Look for the opportunity to put together a parlay bet with a good offer that includes an extra selection with a strong chance of winning. This will help you meet the minimum requirements of the offer and lower the impact of any bet that is canceled.
- Check the Weather Forecast: Keep an eye on the weather forecast, and check for any upcoming conditions that could prevent a game from taking place. You want to avoid putting money down on events that are likely to be postponed or abandoned.
- Make Sure to Construct Your Parlay the Right Way: Parlays are a popular option with punters because they offer the opportunity for bigger potential payouts. With this said, it is essential that they are constructed correctly when it comes to avoiding issues with canceled bets.The main thing to remember is that you must always construct your parlay in accordance with the bookmaker's rules. Like this, you'll be able to avoid any complications later on regarding any voided bets.
- Always Abide By the Sportsbook’s Rules: Always be sure to comply with your chosen bookmaker's wagering rules. Failure to do so can result in your bets being canceled.
- Keep an Eye on the Latest Injury News: Keep track of the latest injury news for the teams and athletes taking part in the event you want to bet on. Staying informed can help you avoid issues with canceled bets that can stem from unforeseen changes in player availability. .
- Do Not Place Bets on Events That Have Begun: Avoid placing bets on any event that has already begun. Odds are known to fluctuate during the course of an event, and if you have not been watching from the beginning, you will be less able to make predictions based on evolving circumstances.
Canceled/Postponed Bets Policies of Top Betting Sites
The majority of online betting sites state that voided or canceled bets will either be refunded or pay out at a rate of 1/1. When it comes to parlays, if one of your selections is voided or canceled, your bet will be modified from a quadruple to a treble, or from a treble to a double, and so on.
DraftKings
- If an event gets canceled before it begins, all related bets are void, with bettors refunded.
- Games that are abandoned due to bad weather, crowd issues, or injury will stand for all bets that were settled up until the time of abandonment.
FanDuel
- In any individual event, match, fixture, race or similar, all bets on markets will be void if not completed within 48 hours after the scheduled date for completion.
- The exception is betting on any markets that have been determined unconditionally.
BetMGM
- Canceled events that have not started or have not met the minimum length for an event to be official, will result in straight wagers being refunded.
- Parlays involved in a canceled event are reduced to the next lowest number of selections.
PointsBet
- If a game is canceled before any action has taken place, all bets are void.
- The exception is if the match is replayed within 48 hours of its original advertised start time. These bets will stand.
William Hill
- If a game gets canceled, all of the bets that have been placed on it are declared void.
- There are some matches that are exceptions to the previous rule, though, such as games played within two days of the scheduled start. In this case, bets will stand.
- Bets that have been placed on events that have already occurred will stand in the case a game is abandoned.
- If a game is canceled, you will get a full refund on single bets. In the case of multiple wagers, the canceled selections are dealt with as non-runners.
bet365
- Placed stakes are refunded for canceled games.
- Games that are postponed are considered non-runners unless played within the same week of the initial date. If a game was initially scheduled for a weekend and has been postponed to the next Monday evening, all placed bets stand.
- Games that are abandoned before completion will have all bets canceled except those whose result was already decided.
- If you placed an accumulator bet and one or more selections have been canceled, the bet stands and will be settled on those that remain.
Unibet
- Games that do not commence within 12 hours of their scheduled start time will have their bets canceled. This also includes games that have been postponed because of bad weather or crowd issues, among other possibilities.
- If a game is canceled, your stake will be refunded to you.
- Bets placed on abandoned games will stand if and only if the events regarding the bets have already occurred.
- Abandoned games must be completed within 36 hours of abandonment, or they must yield an official result within this same frame of time for settlement of Draw No Bet, Match and Double Chance bets.
- If you have an accumulator and one or more selections are canceled, the bet remains valid and is settled on the ones that remain.
888sport
- Canceled bets are settled at odds of 1.00.
- If you have an accumulator and one or more of your selections are canceled, your bet stays valid and is settled on the remaining selections.
- If betting has been affected after an event has commenced, all bets that have been placed will be canceled.
- The operator reserves the right to declare bets void under circumstances that include:
- Technical errors, syndicate betting, influence betting or the occurrence of criminal activity. It is also important to note that bets can be voided if a public announcement has been made that then significantly alters the odds related to the bet.
Betway
- You will get your full stake back if a game is canceled for single bets.
- If you placed multiple bets, your bets would stand for the additional selections.
- Games that are postponed or abandoned are deemed void regardless of rescheduling to a new date unless specifically noted.
Canceled Bets FAQs
Canceled bets refer to wagers that have been declared to be effectively void for one or more reasons.
Yes, you will have it refunded to you. It is worth noting that wagers placed using free bets may not be refunded.
If your game has been postponed, it will be classified as a non-runner – unless it takes place later on within an approved time frame specified by the betting site in question.
If a game is abandoned, your bet will stand if an event has already occurred in due accordance with an official result.
The best thing to do here is check the terms and conditions of the offer itself, or the general T&Cs of the bookmaker you've placed your bet with. You can also contact customer support to verify whether or not you are eligible for any type of compensation.
The outcome of parlays in the case of postponed events depends on the duration of the postponement. If the game is postponed beyond the specified time limit for canceling bets, the parlay will pay out at 1/1. However, if the postponement is of a shorter duration, you will need to wait until the bet is settled.
Voided bets that are part of parlays pay out at 1/1. This can have an effect on the total payout of a parlay, but it will not automatically cause you to lose your acca.
Canceled fights and other types of voided bets will either pay out at 1/1 or refund your stake.
There are many reasons that a bet can end up getting canceled. Common ones include non-runners, postponement, abandonment, rules changes, and human error.
ThePuntersPage Final Say
The best betting sites available online all maintain relatively similar policies regarding voided, canceled or non-starting bets. However, we always recommend that you review the general terms and conditions of your bookmaker beforehand before placing any wagers.
Whenever a bet does get canceled, most bookmakers will refund your stake in full. That said, when it comes to postponed games, different operators may have varying definitions for determining the official cancellation time. In addition, free bets (being promotional offerings) may have specific conditions themselves, and could be an exception to the general refund rule.
Always be as informed as possible from before to avoid any unwanted surprises later on. Be sure to bookmark this page as a handy guide if you're just starting out!