Understanding why wagers are void (cancelled) is crucial to comprehending the landscape of sports betting and how sportsbooks operate within it. Here, we examine void bets and the terminology surrounding wager settlement once your wager has been graded.
The majority of wagers are graded as wins, losses, or draws; we’ll examine each in turn (with a nod to half-win/half-loss wagers in Asian handicaps).
What is a Void Bet?
A voided sports bet is one that your bookmaker (and, in rare cases, you) has cancelled.
Your stake is returned to your account when a wager is declared void. You do not lose any money, but you also do not gain any. This is also the case for the bookmaker. In all practical respects, it’s as if it never happened.
Why Was My Bet Cancelled?
Bets may be declared void for various reasons, typically due to a technical factor beyond the sportsbook’s control.
Bets are frequently nullified due to event postponements, cancellations, or abandonments, as well as venue changes. There is some similarity in how different books handle various situations, but there is also considerable variation.
We must emphasise that a sportsbook’s rules will ultimately determine which wagers are void and why. Some bookmakers in India will give you the opportunity to cancel bets yourself if something substantial changes, like a venue change or postponement, while others won’t.
In either case, below, we’ll go through some of the main reasons why your bet is void.
Change of Location
Typically, the decision in this situation depends on whether one side has an advantage over another. If the Chennai Super Kings match is rescheduled away from M. A. Chidambaram Stadium, it is likely that your bets will be void, and a new bet will be issued closer to kickoff.
If the change of location has no impact on either team, like matches in the FIFA World Cup, the bet is likely to go forwards as scheduled.
Match/event Postponements
Imagine an unexpected rainstorm descending upon Wankhede Stadium. Due to unplayable conditions, the Indians postpone the game a half-hour before kickoff.
The majority of cricket bookies have a one-week rescheduling window. As long as the match is concluded within the same week, wagers stand.
Some sportsbooks have a 48-hour window for wagering. Bets are void if a postponed event is rescheduled more than 48 hours in the future.
Match or Event Cancelled
Now suppose that the same storm strikes during the second half, rendering it unsafe to continue the game. Again, the officials make the call.
Typically, if the majority of the match is played, all bets will stand. If less than half the time remains on the game clock, all bets are void, even if a team has already determined the winner. This will also depend on the betting market, as the over/under bets on the total will be void, while player of the match bets might continue.
Injuries/No-shows/Must Play
It should not come as a surprise that the causes for voiding wagers vary by sport. In individual sports such as tennis and golf, if a player withdraws prior to the event, the wager is void. In tennis, this results in a walkover victory for the opponent
The "We reserve the right..." disclaimer
bets are void because the match never occurred.
However, if a player retires during a match, the outcome of your wager may differ. On a tennis moneyline wager, for instance, the amount of play will determine the payout.
Different sportsbooks have distinct rules for tennis, so we recommend comparing the best tennis betting sites. Some will take action after the first played ball, while others require one set, two sets, and sometimes the completion of the entire match. This may lead to situations in which you have essentially placed a winning wager, but it may be declared void if a player withdraws.
Fishy Betting Patterns
Human error exists. If a wager offers so much value that it seems too good to be true, it likely is.
Almost every bookmaker will state in their rules that any wagers that result from an error on their part when quoting the odds will also be voided.
This is also the case when sportsbooks suspect market manipulation or event rigging
Void Bets While Using a Bonus
Free bets and bonus money are two of the most common bonus types, but bonuses typically come with restrictions compared to wagering your own money. We recommend you check the exact rules before signing up for betting sites with bonus, so you know exactly what happens when a bet is void.
If you place a wager with bonus funds or a free bet feature, and that wager is voided, you may forfeit the free bet. However, contacting the sportsbook may be worthwhile, as they want to ensure your satisfaction.
Similarly, it is unlikely that void wagers will qualify for additional promotional bonus funds.
How do I Know if a Bet is Void?
If a bet becomes void, you will normally receive a notification if you are using a betting app or on SMS or email. You should also be able to see this when you log into your betting account.
If you don’t receive any notification when a bet is cancelled, you should probably look for a different bookmaker.
Knowledge Before Placing the Bet
The best way to determine whether a bet should be voided or not is to read the terms and conditions of the betting site with whom you placed the wager. It is imperative that you do this because bookmakers can have different terms and conditions.
For instance, terms and conditions may vary significantly if you have placed a wager on an injured tennis player who cannot continue the match.
Depending on the bookmaker, the wager may be settled as a loser regardless of when the injury occurs. However, other bookmakers may stipulate that a minimum of one set must be completed before a winner will be paid out. In this case, you would receive your stake back. Again, these rules can either benefit or hinder you.
Arjun Jindal | Last Modified: September 1, 2022
