In sports betting, a
"push" occurs when a bet results in a tie or exact match with the betting line, meaning there's no winner or loser. When this happens, your original stake is returned to you - you don't win or lose money.
Common Push Scenarios:
Point Spreads: If you bet on a team with a -3.5 point spread and they win by exactly 3.5 points (impossible with .5), or if the spread is -3 and they win by exactly 3 points.
Totals (Over/Under): If you bet over 2.5 goals and exactly 2.5 goals are scored (impossible), or over 45 total points and exactly 45 points are scored.
Moneyline: Less common, but can occur in sports that allow ties if the bookmaker offers three-way betting.
How UK Bookmakers Handle Pushes:
Most major UK bookmakers like
Bet365,
William Hill,
Ladbrokes, and
Paddy Power handle pushes by:
- Refunding your stake immediately
- Treating it as a "void" bet
- In accumulator bets, the push leg is typically removed and odds recalculated
Avoiding Pushes:
UK bookmakers often use half-point spreads (like -2.5, -3.5) specifically to eliminate the possibility of pushes, forcing a definitive win/loss outcome.
Understanding pushes helps you better evaluate betting lines and potential outcomes when placing wagers with licensed UK operators.