What Happens If A Parlay Leg Pushes? With Examples

Parlay betting is one of the best ways for sports betting. Generally, those who are pro-level betors participate in the parlay. This is one of the best ways to make a lot of money who you bet on sponsor’s money. A parlay is a single bet that combines multiple individual bets together. Each of these individual bets is called a leg. For a parlay to win, all the legs must win. However, sometimes, one of the legs might end in a push. Let’s dive into what happens if a parlay leg pushes and how this can affect your bet.

What is a Push?

Before we talk about parlays specifically, it’s essential to understand the push in sports betting. A push happens when the result of a bet is a tie, or neither side wins. In most cases, this means you get your money back for that particular bet. For example, if you bet on a football game and the final score is exactly what the point spread was, the bet is considered a push.

What happens if a parlay leg pushes?

Now, let’s talk about what happens when one of the legs in your parlay ends in a push. 

Pushes and Reductions

If a leg in your parlay pushes, that leg is simply removed from the parlay. The parlay then continues with the remaining legs. This means that the parlay is still alive, but the payout is adjusted as if you never included the pushed leg in the first place.

Example of a 3-leg Parlay

Let’s say you placed a 3-leg parlay:

Leg 1: Team A to win

Leg 2: Team B to win

Leg 3: Team C to win

If Leg 2 ends in a push, your parlay becomes a 2-leg parlay with Leg 1 and 3. Your potential payout is recalculated based on just these two legs.

Payout Adjustments

The payout for the parlay is adjusted based on the remaining legs. If you started with a 3-leg parlay and one-leg pushes, your payout will be calculated as a 2-leg parlay. This is because the pushed leg neither helped nor hurt your bet; it was simply neutral.

Understanding a Parlay

A parlay is a single bet that links two or more individual bets. The key idea behind a parlay is that you need all the bets, or legs, in order to win the parlay. If even one leg loses, the whole parlay loses. This makes parlays riskier, but they also offer higher payouts than betting on each game individually.

Why Do Pushes Happen?

Well, as we already know, what is sports betting push? So you might have a question about why it happens. The answer is it happens for several reasons. Depending on the type of bet, let’s break down them below.

Point Spread

When you bet on a team to cover the point spread, you predict they will either win by a certain number of points or lose by less than that number. If the game ends with the exact point difference as the spread, it’s called a “push.” In a push, you don’t win or lose; you simply get your original bet amount returned to you.

Over/Under

When you place a bet on whether the total points scored in a game will be higher or lower than a specific number, and the final score ends up being exactly that number, it’s called a push. This means no one wins or loses the bet; you get your money back.

Moneyline

In a money-line bet, you simply choose which team you think will win the game. However, in rare cases where the sport allows ties and the game ends in a tie, a money line bet can result in a push.

Examples of Parlay Push Scenarios

Still, confused? Don’t worry, we will clear it with a very simple example. You can understand this within a few seconds. Let’s look at some examples to make things clear below.

4-Leg Parlay

• Leg 1: Team A (-3)
• Leg 2: Team B (+2)
• Leg 3: Over 45 points
• Leg 4: Team D (-7)

Suppose Team B wins by exactly 2 points, Leg 2 is a push. Your parlay becomes a 3-leg parlay with Legs 1, 3, and 4.

5-Leg Parlay

• Leg 1: Team E to win
• Leg 2: Team F (-4)
• Leg 3: Over 50 points
• Leg 4: Team H to win
• Leg 5: Under 40 points

When Leg 3 ends with exactly 50 points, it’s a push. Your parlay turns into a 4-leg parlay with the remaining legs.

What Should Be The Strategy To Handle Pushes In Parlays

When you make a parlay bet, which is a series of bets combined, and one of those bets ends in a tie (a push), that bet is simply removed from the parlay. Your parlay then continues with the remaining bets. This means your potential payout will be a bit less because there are fewer bets in the parlay. Knowing how your betting site handles pushes is important so you can plan better and manage your bets wisely. But to be honest, push is better than lose. Therefore, see below to learn about the strategy that you should follow.

Check the Rules

Different sportsbooks might have slightly different rules about how they handle pushes in parlays. Always check the rules of the sportsbook you are using to understand how they treat pushes and adjust your strategy accordingly.

Consider Alternatives

If you don’t want to waste your time or are worried about pushes, consider betting on money lines or other types of bets that are less likely to push. This is especially done by bettors who bet on betting sponsorships.

Manage Your Expectations

Different sportsbooks might have slightly different rules about how they handle pushes in parlays. Always check the rules of the sportsbook you are using to understand how they treat pushes and adjust your strategy accordingly.

Focus on Fewer Legs

The more legs you add to a parlay, the higher the risk of something going wrong, including the chance of a push. To reduce this risk, consider focusing on fewer legs in your parlay bets. This way, there are fewer opportunities for a push to affect your potential payout, and your overall risk is lower. By keeping your parlay bets smaller, you can manage your bets more effectively and increase your chances of a successful outcome.

FAQ

Does a push in a parlay mean I lose my whole bet? 

No, a push in a parlay doesn’t mean you lose the whole bet. It just means that the leg that pushed is removed from the parlay, and the payout is adjusted based on the remaining legs. This way, the parlay continues with fewer bets, and your potential winnings are recalculated accordingly.

Can a parlay have multiple pushes? 

Yes, a parlay can have multiple pushes. Each pushed leg is removed, and the payout is recalculated based on the remaining active legs. This means that even with several pushes, your parlay can continue, and your potential winnings will be adjusted according to the bets that are still active.

Do all sportsbooks handle pushes the same way? 

Most sportsbooks handle pushes similarly, but there can be slight differences. It’s always a good idea to check the specific rules of the sportsbook you are using to understand exactly how they manage pushes in parlays and adjust your betting strategy accordingly.

How do pushes affect the odds of a parlay? 

When a leg pushes, the odds of the parlay are recalculated based on the remaining legs. The payout will be lower than if all legs had won, but you still have a chance to win based on the remaining bets; otherwise, in parlays, if you lose one game, then you have to lose the whole parlay. This means your parlay is still active and can potentially provide a return, just with adjusted odds and a lower payout.

Conclusion

So, what happens if a parlay leg pushes? I think you got the answer already. when a parlay leg pushes, it doesn’t ruin your entire bet. Instead, that leg is removed from the parlay, and the payout is adjusted based on the remaining legs. Understanding how pushes work can help you manage your bets better and make more informed decisions. Always check the rules of your sportsbook, consider the types of bets you’re making, and be prepared for the possibility of a push. Stay tuned with us for more information on sports betting.