How to push in betting?, Tips for the different kind of sports
Most wagers in sports betting will result in either a win or a loss. However, for many types of standard wagers, there are three possible outcomes. No matter the type of event, a push in betting means that the wager result is neither won nor lost.
When a bet results in a push, there is a tie between the bettor and the bookmaker. Like in blackjack, when the player ties the dealer, the wager amount is returned if the hand results in a push.
In sports, a push in betting is most common when making spread and totals bets, but it can also be the result in other situations. For example, if a bookmaker sets a line for a spread or totals bet that is a whole number, the possibility of a push will exist.
As a result, sportsbooks will sometimes add a half-point (.5) to these lines to ensure only two outcomes for the event. Those who mostly wager on spreads and totals prefer to wager on lines with a half-point added to eliminate the possibility of a push.
Points Spreads
One of the most popular wagers on football is the point spread bet. If the result falls precisely on the sportsbook’s posted line, the game’s result is a push. For example, if the Las Vegas Raiders are -4 favorites against the Kansas City Chiefs, this means the Raiders must win by at least five points to cover the spread.
The Chiefs can cover the spread by losing by less than four points or winning the game outright. If the Raiders win by exactly four points, then the result of the wager is a push. There is no winner or loser, and the original stake is returned to the bettor.
Totals or Over/Unders
Pushes can occur on over/under bets in almost all sports markets. Sportsbooks provide a line based on the total number of points expected for both teams combined for the game. A wager on the over means the bettor believes the total will be higher than the number set by the sportsbook. A bet on the under means the bettor thinks the total will be under that predetermined number.
A push in betting will happen when the total number of points scored is exactly the same as the bookmaker’s line. For example, if the over/under on the Raiders and Chiefs is 44 points, and the Raiders win 24-20, the result is a push, and the amount of the wager is returned.
Moneylines
Players with a sports betting strategy of wagering moneylines only have two instances where the bet can result in a push. The first is if the game ends in a tie or if a draw is not one of the betting options. In a standard two-way moneyline, where the only options are to bet on one team or the other, a tie game results in a push.
In soccer betting, a three-way moneyline is offered where the bettor can wager on either team as well as the game ending in a tie. If the game results in a tie, the wager will count as a loss since there is an option to bet on the draw.
Props and Parlays
When looking at how to read betting odds, wagering on player and game props with an over/under line can end in a push on any line that’s a whole number. For example, if Raiders quarterback Derek Carr’s line for total passing yards is O/U 250, the bet is a push if he throws for exactly 250 yards in the game.
A parlay wager also has the possibility of resulting in a push. For example, if one of the results in a four-team parlay is a tie, the online bookmaker will remove that leg from the parlay, and the bet will be settled using the remaining three legs. It will also be paid as a three-team parlay instead of the original four teams.
How to Avoid A Push As The Result
A push in sports betting is similar to a tie in the NFL, and the result is always disappointing. Online bookmakers often post odds and add a half-point to the betting line so it won’t result in a push. This can be a successful way to avoid pushes, as there’s no such thing as a half-point in any sporting event.
Players love to wager on lines with half-points because they don’t have to worry about watching a game for three hours only to break even on a wager. This is what bookmakers post lines with the extra half-point, also known as the “hook.” Like bettors, sportsbooks don’t like pushes either, and adding the hook ensures a winner and a loser for every event.
Avoiding pushes isn’t difficult, as players need to only bet on those half-point lines. Even if oddsmakers don’t add a hook into the odds, it’s usually possible to buy half a point that might cost a small price in the vig. The price is generally worth it to take -130 odds to get -2.5 instead of -110 odds at -3.
When wagering on moneylines, even though it is possible, the chances of a push are much less. Leagues like the NBA, NHL, and MLB don’t have ties. There was one tie in the NFL this season, and the league regularly has seasons with no ties at all.
Pushes In Specific Sports
When betting on baseball, a game that has been shortened because of rain after teams have played at least five innings is considered a completed game. Moneyline wagers on baseball are also regarded as valid after five innings. Bets on the runline and total are only considered action once nine innings are completed. If the game is shorter than nine innings, the result is a push, and wagers are returned to the bettor.
There is never a push in the final score of a baseball game because teams play extra innings if the game is tied after nine innings, with the home team getting the final at-bat. In the NHL and NBA, if the game is tied at the end of regulation, it goes to an overtime period.
Also in the NHL, if the game is still tied after overtime, the teams go to a penalty shootout to determine a winner. However, in the NBA, teams will continue to play five-minute overtime periods until one team comes out on top.
The rules on tennis pushes vary depending on the sportsbook. For example, a player who retires early in a match may be required to play a certain number of games or sets before the match is considered a push.
Three-way betting is available in sports where ties are more likely, such as soccer. Bettors can wager on either team or that the result will be a tie, which also typically pays much higher odds. In a three-way moneyline, if picking one team to win and the result is a tie, the wager results in a loss.
Conclusion
In sports betting, a push isn’t a bad result and gives players another piece of data to consider when making future wagers. But, of course, that’s only if the bookmaker refunds pushes to the bettor. Players should also read and understand all terms and conditions before placing wagers on any sports betting platform to learn how pushes will affect each type of bet.
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Push in betting FAQs
If a wager results in a push, it’s the same as no bet being placed at all. The sportsbook calls this “no action,” meaning any money wagered is returned to the player without any exchange. Although this result can sometimes be disappointing, it’s much better than losing the bet outright.
This depends on the sportsbook. However, most bookmakers will not refund the amount wagered on a push if the bettor uses bonus funds or free bet credits. The same applies when winning a wager with bonus funds.
Bettors only receive the amount won on wagers made with bonuses of free bets and will not get back the original stake, as when betting with real money. However, players should check each sportsbook’s terms and conditions to learn their policies.
If any leg of a parlay is a push, the bet is then reduced by one leg and will be paid at those odds. So, for example, if one leg is a push, a four-leg parlay is then reduced to a three-leg parlay and is paid at the lower odds if the parlay wins.
Most bookmakers will cancel a wager if betting on a player that gets injured before an event and return the amount staked, similar to a push.
A push occurs when the bookmaker’s line on the game matches the exact outcome. For example, if a team is favored to win by seven and the result is a win by exactly seven points, the bet is a push.
