What is a Push in Sports Betting?
In sports betting, there are three possible outcomes for a wager: a win, a loss, or a push. The first two outcomes are straightforward—a bettor wins money or loses their stake. However, a push is a less understood result. A push in sports betting occurs when the outcome of the game or match lands precisely on the betting line, resulting in neither a win nor a loss for the bettor or the sportsbook. In simple terms, the bettor receives their money back.
While a win is undoubtedly the most favorable result and a loss is the least desirable, a push in sports betting lies somewhere in between. Although it doesn’t result in any winnings, it’s certainly better than losing the bet. This article will explore what a push is, how it manifests in various betting scenarios, and provide practical examples from sports like cricket, focusing on point spreads, totals, moneylines, props, parlays, and teasers.
Understanding the Concept of a Push
A push occurs when the result of a bet falls exactly on the sportsbook’s line, meaning neither side wins. Bettors receive their original wager back in the event of a push. For example, in a football match, if the point spread is set at -3 and the final score lands exactly on that three-point margin, the bet pushes.
Example in a Cricket Match:
Let’s take an example from cricket to clarify this concept. Suppose there is a match between India and Australia, and you place a bet of INR 10,000 on a point spread where India is favored by 100 runs (-100). If India wins by exactly 100 runs, the result is a push. The bettor gets their INR 10,000 wager back, but doesn’t win any additional money.
Push Scenarios in Different Types of Bets
A push in sports betting can happen in different types of bets, including point spreads, totals (over/under), moneylines, props, parlays, and teasers. Each of these betting types can result in a push under specific circumstances, and understanding when a push occurs is critical to any successful betting strategy.
1. Push in Point Spread Betting
Point spread betting is one of the most common types of wagers in sports betting. The point spread is a handicap given by sportsbooks to make a matchup more balanced for betting purposes. A push in sports betting occurs in point spread betting when the game or match result lands exactly on the spread.
For example, consider a cricket match between India and England. You place a bet of INR 5,000 on India with a point spread of -50, meaning India has to win by more than 50 runs. If India wins by exactly 50 runs, the bet results in a push, and the bettor receives their INR 5,000 back without any winnings or losses.
Why Point Spreads Can Push:
Pushes happen only when the point spread is a whole number, such as -3, -10, or -100. If the spread includes a half-point (e.g., -3.5 or -7.5), the bet cannot push because there is no way for the final score or outcome to land on a half-point.
2. Push in Totals (Over/Under) Betting
In totals betting, also known as over/under betting, bettors wager on whether the combined final score of both teams will be over or under a number set by the sportsbook. A push in sports betting occurs when the combined final score matches the total number exactly.
Example:
Let’s say you are betting on a cricket match between Australia and South Africa. The sportsbook sets the over/under line for total runs scored in the match at 500. You bet INR 8,000 on the “over,” expecting more than 500 runs to be scored. If the total number of runs scored by both teams adds up to exactly 500, the result is a push, and your INR 8,000 wager is refunded.
Totals and Pushes:
Just like point spread betting, pushes can only occur when the total number is a whole number. If the over/under line is set at 500.5, a push becomes impossible since there’s no way to score half a run.
3. Push in Moneyline Betting
Moneyline betting is simpler than point spreads or totals, as it involves betting on which team will win outright. However, ties can sometimes lead to a push in sports betting.
Example in a Cricket Match:
You place an INR 7,000 bet on India to beat Pakistan in a one-day international (ODI) match. The moneyline odds are India -150 and Pakistan +130. If the match ends in a tie, the bet results in a push, and your INR 7,000 wager is refunded.
Moneyline Pushes:
While ties are rare in many sports, they can still happen in cricket, particularly in limited-overs formats. In games that offer three-way moneylines, where “draw” is an option, a push won’t occur if you didn’t bet on the draw. In this case, your bet would simply lose if the game ended in a tie.
4. Push on Prop Bets
Prop bets, or proposition bets, are wagers on specific events within a game rather than the overall outcome. Although less common, a push in sports betting can happen in prop bets as well.
Example:
You place a prop bet on Virat Kohli to score more than 50 runs in an IPL match against the Kolkata Knight Riders. If the line is set at exactly 50 runs and Kohli scores precisely 50 runs, the bet results in a push, and you are refunded the amount you wagered.
Avoiding Pushes in Prop Bets:
Sportsbooks often use half-points (e.g., over 50.5 runs) in prop bets to eliminate the possibility of a push.
5. Push in Parlays
A parlay is a bet that combines multiple selections into one wager. In order to win a parlay, all legs of the bet must be successful. A push in sports betting can affect a parlay in different ways, depending on the sportsbook’s rules.
Example:
Imagine you place a three-leg parlay with the following bets:
- India to beat Sri Lanka (moneyline)
- Australia to win by more than 60 runs (point spread)
- The total runs in the England vs. South Africa match to be over 600
You wager INR 3,000 on this parlay. If one leg of the parlay results in a push, such as if the total runs in the England vs. South Africa match exactly equals 600, the sportsbook will often remove that leg from the parlay, leaving you with a two-leg parlay.
Push Handling in Parlays:
Most sportsbooks treat a push as though that leg never occurred, reducing the parlay’s size. However, if the parlay involves multiple legs that push, you might lose your entire wager, depending on the sportsbook’s rules.
6. Push in Teasers
Teasers are similar to parlays, but they allow bettors to adjust the point spread or totals in their favor for a lower payout. A push in sports betting during a teaser bet can impact the overall result.
Example:
You place a teaser bet on a cricket match where India is favored by -100 runs against England, and you adjust the point spread to -90. If India wins by exactly 90 runs, the bet results in a push, and depending on the sportsbook’s rules, this could result in a “no action” (money refunded) or the teaser being recalculated without that leg.
Understanding House Rules for Pushes
It’s essential to familiarize yourself with the sportsbook’s rules before placing any bets, as different sportsbooks have varying ways of handling pushes. Here’s how different sportsbooks typically manage pushes:
- Point Spread and Totals: Most sportsbooks will refund your wager if the bet pushes.
- Moneyline: A push results in a refund, but only for two-way moneylines. For three-way moneylines, a tie or draw will result in a loss unless you specifically bet on that outcome.
- Parlays and Teasers: The number of legs is reduced in a parlay if a leg pushes. In a teaser, the push may result in the entire bet being canceled or adjusted depending on the rules.
How to Handle a Push Emotionally
Handling a push in sports betting can feel very different depending on the context. If your team was losing badly and you end up with a push, it may feel like a relief because you avoided a loss. However, if your team was dominating and let the lead slip at the last moment, a push can feel frustrating.
Regardless of the emotional impact, a push is not a loss. While you don’t win any money, you also don’t lose any, which makes it a better result than losing the bet entirely.
Conclusion: The Importance of Understanding Pushes
A push in sports betting is essentially a tie between the bettor and the sportsbook. When a push occurs, bettors receive their initial stake back without any profit or loss. While not the most desirable outcome, a push is much better than losing money.
Pushes can happen in point spreads, totals, moneylines, props, parlays, and teasers, and understanding when they might occur can help bettors manage their expectations and avoid unnecessary frustration. Whether you’re betting on cricket, football, or any other sport, recognizing how and why pushes occur is an essential part of becoming a successful sports bettor.
