If a game is suspended in a parlay, that specific leg is typically voided, and the parlay odds are recalculated without it.
Parlays can be exciting, combining multiple bets for a higher potential payout. But what happens if a game is suspended in a parlay? It’s a common question among sports bettors, and the answer is important to understand.
Typically, when a game is suspended, the sportsbook will remove that selection from the parlay. This means your parlay will still be active, but with fewer legs. The odds will adjust accordingly, and the potential payout will reduce.
What Happens If a Game Is Suspended in a Parlay?
Okay, let’s talk about something that can be a bit confusing for sports fans who like to make parlay bets: what happens when a game gets suspended? Imagine you’ve put together a fantastic parlay, picking several games you’re sure will win. Then, bam! One of those games gets stopped in the middle because of rain, a power outage, or something else unexpected. What happens to your hard-earned parlay? Well, it’s not as simple as just losing everything, but it’s also not a guaranteed win. It depends on a few things, and we’re going to explore all the ins and outs.
The Basic Rule: The Game Turns into a ‘Push’
When a game is suspended, the most common thing that happens to that leg of your parlay is that it becomes a “push.” Think of a push as a tie; it’s neither a win nor a loss. In your parlay, this specific game is simply removed from the equation. This means your parlay doesn’t completely fall apart because one game hit a snag. Your parlay doesn’t lose; it just changes.
How a Push Affects Your Parlay
So, what does it mean for your parlay when a game becomes a push? It’s simpler than you might think. Let’s say you had a four-team parlay, meaning you picked four games. If one game gets suspended and turns into a push, your parlay essentially becomes a three-team parlay. The odds of the overall parlay will be recalculated as if that leg was never there.
- A push isn’t a win or a loss.
- The suspended game is removed from your parlay.
- The odds of your parlay are re-evaluated.
This process keeps your parlay alive if the other legs win, just with a smaller payout potential.
Different Scenarios and Outcomes
While the push rule is fairly common, it’s not the only thing that can happen. The specific policies can vary between different sportsbooks and types of bets. Here, we’ll go through some situations you might encounter.
Suspended Games that are later resumed
Sometimes, a game gets suspended and then is restarted, or finished later. If the game is finished within a specified time period – usually within 24 or 48 hours, or the rule set by the specific sportsbook – most books will treat the result of the resumed game as the outcome for the parlay. If your selected team won the game when it restarted, your leg will be considered a win for the parlay. If your team lost, your selected leg will be considered a loss.
Games Not Finished Within Set Time Limits
If a suspended game isn’t completed within the specified timeframe set by your sportsbook, then the ‘push’ rule is applied. The suspended game will be removed from the parlay and the odds recalculated based on the remaining legs of your parlay.
Special Cases: Different Sports, Different Rules
The rules can also be a little bit different depending on the sport you’re betting on. For example, in baseball, if a game is suspended after a certain number of innings (usually 5, or 4.5 if the home team is leading), it is considered a completed game by some sportsbooks and the final result will be considered the outcome for your parlay. In basketball or football, the rules may state that the game must be finished in it’s entirety for action, while some sportsbooks may also have specific rules for international matches.
Baseball
- Some books require 5 innings (4.5 if the home team is leading) for a completed game.
- If a game is suspended before it’s considered official, it typically results in a push.
Basketball and Football
- Most books require the full regulation time to be completed for your bet to count.
- Suspended games that are not completed are normally a push.
Soccer
- Some books consider a match official after a set time like 70, 80, or 90 minutes depending on the sportsbook.
- If the game is suspended before that time, it’s normally a push.
The Impact of Specific Wagers in Parlay
The type of bet you make can also influence how a suspension is handled. For example, consider totals (over/under) and point spread bets:
Point Spreads
If a game gets suspended and is declared a push, your point spread bet will be removed from the parlay, and your odds will be recalculated. There’s no losing of the parlay, but no win on that specific leg either.
Totals (Over/Under)
Similar to point spread bets, a suspended game with a totals bet that is declared a push will cause that leg to be removed from the parlay. Your odds will be recalculated without that game included.
Checking Your Sportsbook’s Rules
Before you place any parlay bet, it’s really important to know your sportsbook’s rules for suspended games. Every sportsbook has a “house rules” section which covers various situations, including what happens when a game is suspended. You can normally find these rules on their website or in their app.
Why It’s So Important to Read the Rules
Sportsbooks can have different rules about how long a suspended game can go on before it is considered a push. For example, one sportsbook might consider a game suspended after 24 hours, whereas another book may consider it suspended after 48 hours. Knowing these rules can help prevent confusion or unpleasant surprises.
- Rules vary between sportsbooks.
- Knowing the rules can prevent surprises.
- Look for the “house rules” section on the website or app.
Finding the House Rules
Most sportsbooks have a clear and easily accessible ‘house rules’ section. Look for links at the bottom of their website or within the app menu. These sections are often called “Terms and Conditions,” “Rules,” or something similar. If you can’t find the section, ask the support staff at your specific sportsbook, who will help clarify any confusions.
Understanding Time Limits
Many sportsbooks set time limits for when suspended games must be completed for action. A common limit is 24 to 48 hours. If the game isn’t finished in the set time period, the sportsbook will consider the game a push and remove the game from your parlay.
Examples to Help You Understand
Let’s make this clear with some specific examples. These will help you see how a suspended game affects your parlay in different situations.
Example 1: The Simple Push
Imagine you made a 3-leg parlay on a football match, a baseball game, and a basketball game. The basketball game is suspended due to a power outage in the stadium. According to the rules of your sportsbook, this specific game turns into a push. You would now have a two-leg parlay with recalculated odds.
If you bet $20 and would have won $100 with the original 3 team parlay, if the basketball game turns into a push, your new odds for the football and baseball parlay would pay out less then $100. If your selected teams in the football and baseball game won, you would win the parlay. If your selected team in either the football or baseball game lost, you would lose the parlay.
Example 2: Resumed Game
Say you have a parlay that includes a soccer match that gets suspended because of heavy rain. The next day the game is resumed and your selected team wins the match. The leg of your parlay for the soccer game will be considered a win. This means you would be paid out for the parlay as a win.
Example 3: Suspended Game on Over/Under
Consider a 4 team parlay with two basketball games, a hockey game and a baseball game. In one of the basketball games, you made a total (over/under) bet. The game got suspended in the 3rd quarter and is considered a push according to the rules. The game is removed from your parlay and you would have a 3 team parlay instead of a 4 team parlay. If your teams selected in the other games win, you would receive a payout based on the odds of the three team parlay.
Strategies for Parlay Betting and Suspended Games
Since suspended games can happen, how do you handle this when making parlay bets? Here are some ideas to think about.
Don’t Place Parlay Bets in Games with Potential Weather Issues
If you know there’s a high chance of bad weather or other disruptions, you might want to think twice about betting a parlay on that particular game. This will decrease the chance of a push or loss if the game gets suspended.
Consider Single Bets
Single bets are a great alternative to parlay bets. If you’re worried about suspended games, making single bets could be a smarter option. You won’t have to worry about multiple games, and the outcome of your bet will be entirely based on the result of a specific game.
Pay Attention to the Rules
Before placing your parlay bets, always check the rules of the sportsbook you are using. This will provide the clarity you need to understand what could happen to your parlay if a game gets suspended. Pay specific attention to the time limit rules, and understand whether suspended games are considered pushed or are to be resumed in the future.
Spread Your Bets
Instead of putting all your money into one large parlay, think about splitting your bets up into a number of smaller parlays. This way, if a game is suspended in one parlay, it won’t affect all your money. If you like betting parlays, this is a good way to limit your risk.
Understanding what happens when a game gets suspended in a parlay is key to a better betting experience. It is something that every sports bettor needs to be aware of. As long as you learn the rules and follow the simple suggestions in this article, you can bet with confidence.
What Happens to a Parlay if a Game is Canceled?
Final Thoughts
When a game gets suspended in a parlay, the outcome isn’t uniform. Sportsbooks typically treat the suspended game as a “push.” This means they remove it from your parlay.
The odds of your parlay will recalculate without the suspended game, affecting your potential payout. Essentially, if a leg of your parlay is suspended, it doesn’t necessarily ruin your bet entirely. What happens if a game is suspended in a parlay is that your bet becomes less complex.
