Have you ever wondered what a push in sports betting is or perhaps how to push in sports betting? You’re not alone.
A bet push isn’t a very common occurrence, but it does happen from time to time. It’s important to understand when a push bet can arise so you’re not left confused.
It’s a good thing a push in sports betting is really quite simple to understand. After reading this article, you’ll know how to spot an impending push bet in no time.
Read on so you can learn what a push bet is, why it happens, and exactly how to avoid them when betting online.
Contents
What is an Explanation of Push in Sports Betting?
A push in sports betting is when the bettor and the sportsbook tie. In other words, when a wager ends in a draw, it’s labeled a push.
With online sports betting, it’s a match between the bettor and the bookmaker. A push bet doesn’t necessarily mean the actual match or event ended in a tie — only the bet.
A bet push isn’t necessarily a bad thing for the bettor, although it may be frustrating.
When you have a push bet, the online sportsbook will refund all of the money wagered with no extra fees. It’s as if the bet never occurred in the first place.
How Does a Push Work?
A push in sports betting may seem straightforward, and for the most part, it is. However, there are factors you should still consider.
For instance, not every bet type (moneyline, handicap, over/under) can end in a push. A bet push can only materialise within a specific set of circumstances.
Also, online sportsbooks don’t want a bet to end in a push because they won’t make any money.
If you think about it, a sportsbook spends resources setting up lines, refunding money, and other costs associated with their operation. When a push bet occurs, the online sportsbook theoretically loses, while the bettor walks away with just a bit of frustration.
How To Push in Sports Betting
Now that you have a better idea of what a push bet is, you’re probably wondering how to push in sports betting. Here’s a look at the three most common bet types where a bet push can happen.
Spread (Handicap) Bets
If you’re unfamiliar, spread betting is when the bettor wagers on whether or not the score differential set by the bookmaker is accurate or not.
If you feel the book got it right, then you bet with the spread. If you think the point differential is too high, you would bet against the spread.
For example, imagine an NBA basketball game between the New York Knicks and the Miami Heat. You might see a line like:
- New York Knicks (-5) vs. Miami Heat (+5)
The spread is five points, and the (-) sign indicates that the New York Knicks are the favourite.
For the New York Knicks to cover the spread, they would need to win by at least 6 points.
On the other side of the line, the Miami Heat would need to either win straight up or not lose by more than 5 points.
But what happens if the New York Knicks won by exactly 5? You guessed it, this scenario would end with a bet push.
Over/Under (Total) Bets
A push bet in an over/under marketplace works the same way as to spread bets. The only real difference is the bet type itself.
Also known as a total bet, an over/under bet is when the bettor predicts if the combined final score of a match will be over or under the figure set forth by the bookmaker.
Here’s an example from Ice Hockey on Parimatch:
The oddsmaker set the total at 5 goals.
Say the match ended 3-2, totaling 5 goals scored in the event. Since the combined goals were not over or under 5, no matter what option you selected, it would end in a push bet.
Parlay Bets
A push in parlay works slightly differently than the other bet types previously mentioned.
First, a parlay bet is when the bettor strings together multiple bets with a single stake. For the bet to pay out, all bets in the parlay must be correct.
So what happens if you place a 3-way parlay, and two of the picks are correct, but one ends in a push?
It’s really simple, your wager wouldn’t end up a push bet. Rather the odds would be recalculated as if it were a 2-way parlay. In other words, you would still receive a payout, just slightly less.
Logically, if all three bets in your parlay ended with a push, the entire parlay would result in a push bet.
How to Avoid a Push
A push in sports betting can be frustrating. After all the research you’ve done, it feels like a waste of time when a push bet manifests.
Luckily, Parimatch has a solution. We simply add a decimal point to the lines, making a tie impossible.
Take a closer look at this example from Parimatch:
This line is from the over/under (total) marketplace concerning an NBA game. You can see the bookmaker set the total at 222.5 points.
In basketball, teams can only score with whole numbers. By adding a decimal point, a push bet becomes impossible.
Another way to avoid push in sports betting is to move the line. Some sportsbooks allow you to buy half a point.
Again, when there is a decimal involved, a push bet becomes an impossible outcome.
Summary
A push in sports betting isn’t necessarily good or bad. It’s — well — just a push.
A push bet may be frustrating, but luckily you don’t have to worry about losing your money. It’s a different story for the bookmaker, they still incur the cost to set up the lines and refund you.
See — it could be worse.
Part of why smart bettors across Africa, especially in Tanzania, log in to the Parimatch betting app is so they can avoid this sports betting purgatory.
If you want to check out what the stellar odds look like on Parimatch, you can head over to our website or download our free betting app. It’s fun, easy, and most importantly, fair!