Betting Strategy Guide
What Is a Push in Betting?
Key takeaways
- A push happens when a result lands exactly on the line, such as a 7-point win on a -7 spread; the bet neither wins nor loses and the stake is returned.
- Lines with a half point, such as -6.5 or a total of 44.5, cannot push.
- At most sportsbooks a parlay leg that pushes drops out and the parlay pays at the odds of the remaining legs; the house rules give the exact treatment.
A push is a bet that ties: the result lands exactly on the number, so the bet neither wins nor loses. The sportsbook returns your stake in full, with no profit and no loss.
Push examples
| Bet | Result | Outcome |
|---|---|---|
| Favorite -7 | Favorite wins by 7 | Push |
| Underdog +3 | Underdog loses by 3 | Push |
| Over 44 | Final score 24–20 | Push |
| Over 44.5 | Final score 24–20 | Loses |
Say you bet $110 on Favorite -7 at -110. A win by 8 or more returns $210, your stake plus $100. A win by exactly 7 returns your $110. Anything less loses the $110. The point spread and totals guides cover the basics.
Can a moneyline push?
Only when the game can end level. On a two-way moneyline, a tie is commonly graded as a push and the stakes are returned. On a three-way soccer moneyline the draw is its own outcome, so a bet on either team simply loses. Rules differ by sport and market, so check the house rules.
Half-point lines cannot push
A line with a half point, called the hook, removes the push. At -6.5 the favorite either wins by 7 or more or it does not, and no final score adds up to 44.5. Whole-number lines leave three outcomes, which matters most around common margins such as 3 and 7 in football.
What a push does to a parlay
At most sportsbooks a leg that pushes drops out and the parlay pays at the odds of the remaining legs. A $100 three-leg parlay at -110 per leg would win about $595.79; if one leg pushes, it becomes a two-leg parlay that wins about $264.46. If one leg of a two-leg parlay pushes, the other is paid as a single bet: $100 at -110 wins $90.91. Treatment varies, so check before you bet.
Why pushes matter
A push is not a win, but it beats a loss. Taking +3 instead of +2.5 turns a 3-point loss from a losing bet into a returned stake, which is why the exact number can matter as much as the side. Teasers can handle pushes differently, so read their rules too.
Betting at Betcris Arizona
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Frequently Asked Questions
What does push mean in betting?
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A push is a bet whose result lands exactly on the line, such as a 7-point win on a -7 spread. It neither wins nor loses.
Do you get your money back on a push?
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Yes. The stake is returned in full, with no profit.
What happens to a parlay if one leg pushes?
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At most sportsbooks the leg is removed and the parlay pays at the odds of the remaining legs. Treatment varies, so check the house rules.
Can a bet on a half-point line push?
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No. A line such as -6.5 or a total of 44.5 cannot be matched exactly by a final score, so the bet either wins or loses.
