A push in sports betting is when the final result exactly matches the betting line. This means there’s no winner or loser between you and the sportsbook, and the bet is graded as a tie. When a push happens, your original stake is returned in full – you don’t win or lose any money.
What is a push in sports betting?
A push in sports betting occurs when neither the player nor the sportsbook wins due to the game’s result landing exactly on the set betting line.
You’ve likely watched many games or events in which the end result was a push for bettors.
That time when the Giants kicked a FG while down 10 with two minutes remaining against the Cowboys, only to never get the ball back and go on to lose by 7? Well, if the line was Dallas -7/New York +7 in that game, you witnessed a push.
In that scenario, Cowboys bettors would be fairly upset because they had been on track to cash their bets. Meanwhile, Giants bettors would likely be relieved to escape with a push considering the late deficit by 10. When this happens, both sides receive their initial stake back and the bet is treated as if it never happened.
What happens to your bet when it pushes?
When your bet pushes, your full stake gets returned to your account balance. You don’t win or lose any money – again, it’s like the bet never happened. This is much different from losing a bet, where you lose your entire stake, or winning a bet, where you get your stake back plus your winnings.
Hard Rock Bet Sportsbook makes it easy to keep track of any pushes that occur on any of your bets. When one of your bets results in a push, it will be graded as such within the ‘My Bets’ tab. As far as your stake goes, it’ll typically appear in your account balance within minutes of the event ending.
How pushes work in point spread betting
Point spread betting assigns a handicap that the favorite must win by, or the underdog must stay within, for the bet to cash. The point spread bridges the gap between teams with different skillsets, allowing games to be more competitive from a betting perspective. When the final margin exactly matches the spread, you get a push.
Let’s head to the NBA and consider a game featuring the Orlando Magic vs the Miami Heat in which the Magic were favored by 5 points (a -5 spread). With the Heat trailing by eight with 18 seconds left, Tyler Herro drains a three-pointer, and the game ends with a 108-103 Magic win. This game would result in a push and all bettors would be credited with the original amount they wagered, whether it was on the Magic -5 or the Heat +5.
When totals result in a push
Over/under bets, also known as totals, involve predicting whether the combined score of a game will be higher or lower than the line set by the sportsbook. When the total score lands exactly on that number, it’s a push. This only happens with whole numbers; totals ending in a half-point will always result in a clear winner or loser.
Consider a baseball game between the Yankees and Red Sox with a total set at 8 runs. In the bottom of the 9th, with the score sitting at 5-1 in favor of the Red Sox, Aaron Judge belts a 2-run homer to make it 5-3 (exactly 8 runs). This is another example of a push – the total lands right on the number, and all bettors get their stakes refunded.
How pushes impact your parlays
Parlay bets allow players to combine multiple selections (also known as legs) into one big wager, in which all legs must hit in order for the bet to cash. But what happens if one or more of these selections results in a push?
When any leg of your parlay pushes, it gets removed (voided) from the ticket and your parlay continues with the rest of the legs. The odds get recalculated based on your remaining selections, treating the wager as if that leg was never included in the first place.
Imagine you have a 4-leg parlay with odds of +1200 that would pay $120 on a $10 bet. If one leg pushes, you now have a 3-leg parlay that might pay +600, or $60 on that same $10 bet. You can still win, but the payout is smaller because you have fewer legs.
Here’s an example of how a four-leg parlay plays out if one of the legs is a push, both in terms of the game results and the different payouts scenarios.
| Side | Odds | Final Score | Bet Result |
|---|---|---|---|
| Dolphins +6.5 | -110 | 27-20 MIA | WIN |
| Buccaneers ML | -120 | 27-24 TB | WIN |
| Lightning -1.5 | +120 | 5-2 TB | WIN |
| Heat -3 | -105 | 103-100 MIA | PUSH |
| Parlay Result | Odds | Profit on $10 Bet |
|---|---|---|
| 4 Legs Win | +1403 | $140.30 |
| 3 Legs Win, 1 Losses | +1403 | $0 |
| 3 Legs Win, 1 Pushes | +670 | $67 |
FAQ about pushes in sports betting
Still have some questions about pushes in sports betting? We’ve got you covered:
Is a push the same as a loss?
No. When a loss occurs, you lose your stake. With a push, your money is returned. It’s essentially the same as if the bet never happened.
Can a push happen with prop bets or only with spreads and totals?
Yes. Prop bets can and will result in a push from time to time, as long as the betting line in question consists of a whole number.
For example, if you bet on a player to go over 83.5 total rushing yards, this bet cannot end in a push. If the line was set at 83 flat, however, the player could end up notching that exact amount of yards, meaning all bets would push.
What happens if multiple legs in my parlay push?
If more than one leg in your parlay pushes, each of these legs is voided (removed) from the ticket. Your parlay’s odds are then recalculated based on the remaining active legs and the bet is graded based on those results.
Are pushes possible when live betting?
Yes, pushes can absolutely happen when live betting. Whether you place your wagers before kickoff or live bet during the game, the rules remain the same.
Can moneyline bets end up in a push?
It’s possible, but games in most major sports (NHL, NBA and MLB) actually can’t end in ties. The lone exception among the ‘Big Four’ is the NFL, which sees games end in ties after one full overtime period.
Soccer games can and will end in ties, but your bet only pushes if you select the 2-way “draw no bet” market. Soccer’s 3-way moneyline is the most common market in the sport, with a draw being offered as an option to bet on, thus removing any chance of a push.
Another popular sport that sees moneyline bets push from time to time is MMA, specifically UFC odds. Although it is generally pretty rare, UFC judges can call the fight a draw, in which case all bets on either fighter’s 2-way moneyline would result in a push.
