What Happens To A Parlay If A Game Is Postponed

What Happens to a Parlay if a Game is Postponed?

Imagine you’ve placed a parlay bet, carefully selecting several games you think will win. The excitement builds as each game unfolds, one by one. Then, suddenly, a wrench gets thrown into the works: one of the games is postponed! What now? Does your entire parlay slip away? Don’t worry, it doesn’t necessarily mean you’ve lost your chance at winning. Let’s break down what happens to a parlay when a game gets postponed.

Understanding Parlay Bets

Before we dive into postponements, let’s quickly recap what a parlay bet is. A parlay, also sometimes called an accumulator, is a single bet that combines two or more individual wagers. To win a parlay, every single leg of the bet needs to be correct. If even one of your selections loses, the entire parlay loses. The good news is that parlay bets often come with much higher payouts compared to single bets, making them quite appealing to many bettors.

Think of it like a chain: each link in the chain represents a game in your parlay. If one link breaks (a game loses), the entire chain breaks. In our case, if one game is postponed, that’s like a link being temporarily put on hold.

The Impact of a Postponed Game

So, what happens when a game in your parlay is postponed? Typically, a postponed game doesn’t automatically cause your whole parlay bet to fail. Instead, it’s treated differently compared to a game that is simply lost. The exact rules can vary slightly depending on the sportsbook you are using, but the general practice is that a postponed game is handled as a “push” or a “no action” leg within your parlay.

What is a Push or No Action?

A “push” or “no action” means that the specific game in question is removed from your parlay. It’s like that link in the chain gets removed completely, without breaking the rest. When this happens, the odds of your parlay will be recalculated based on the remaining legs. This usually means your potential payout will decrease as you have fewer selections in your parlay. But on the bright side, you still have a chance to win!

How it Works in Practice

Let’s imagine this scenario:

• You made a 4-leg parlay:
• Game 1: Team A to win (won)
• Game 2: Team B to win (postponed)
• Game 3: Team C to win (won)
• Game 4: Team D to win (won)

In this situation, Game 2 is postponed. This is what typically happens:

1. Game 2 gets removed from your parlay as it is a “push”.
2. Your 4-leg parlay becomes a 3-leg parlay.
3. The odds are recalculated based on only Game 1, Game 3, and Game 4.
4. If all three games are correctly chosen by you, you will win the parlay at the reduced payout.

It is important to understand that if you had other winning legs in the parlay and one leg is lost, then your parlay is lost. Only the postponed games in a parlay can become a push or no action.

Different Sportsbooks, Different Rules?

While the general rule of a postponed game becoming a “push” is common, it is important to know that all sportsbooks are not identical. They may have slightly different rules regarding postponed games. Here are a few things that might vary:

Timeframes for Postponements

Some sportsbooks have specific rules about when a game needs to be rescheduled for it to still count in a parlay. For example:

• A sportsbook may say the postponed game has to be played within 24 or 48 hours, otherwise the game becomes a push.
• Other sportsbooks might require a game to be completed by the end of the scheduled season.

It’s a good idea to check with your sportsbook’s rules to understand their timeframe. It’s often found in their terms and conditions section.

“Void” or “Cancelled” Games

Some sportsbooks may use terms like “void” or “cancelled” instead of “push” to indicate that a game is removed from a parlay due to postponement or other reasons. These terms practically mean the same thing—the game is no longer part of the parlay.

Specific Sport Rules

Postponement rules might vary depending on the sport. For example, a baseball game postponed due to rain is handled differently than a soccer match postponed due to a stadium issue. This is because leagues and governing bodies might have their own specific rules regarding postponements. Always check the specific rules for the sports you are wagering on.

Here’s a look at how different sports might handle postponements:

What Happens to the Odds?

When a postponed game gets removed from your parlay, the odds will be recalculated. Because you now have fewer selections, your payout will be lower than what was originally calculated. The sportsbook will use the original odds of the remaining games in your parlay to create a new overall parlay odds.

Let’s look at a very basic example to understand this:

• Initially, you have a 3-leg parlay with odds of 2.00, 2.00, and 2.00, giving you total parlay odds of 8.00.
• One game is postponed (push)
• You are now left with a 2-leg parlay at original odds of 2.00 and 2.00
• Your new parlay odds are 4.00
• If your original stake was 10 dollars, then your payout would be calculated using 4.00 odds, meaning your payout is 40 dollars. (Original payout with all the legs successful would have been 80 dollars).

It’s worth noting that the reduction in payout is directly related to the removal of that leg of the parlay. You are still being paid at the true parlay odds for the remaining games.

What if a Game is Suspended?

It’s crucial to know the difference between a postponed game and a suspended game. When a game is postponed, it hasn’t started. A suspended game is different; it’s a game that has begun but is not completed due to various reasons, such as bad weather, a player injury, or a facility issue. This is more complex than a simple postponement.

Rules for Suspended Games

If a game is suspended during play, the way it impacts your parlay depends upon the sportsbook’s rules. Many sportsbooks use the same “push” or “no action” process if a suspended game isn’t completed within a set time. However, there are a few other things to look out for:

• Completion Within a Timeframe: Like postponements, sportsbooks often have a timeframe (often 24, 48 or 72 hours) for suspended games to be completed. If the game is finished within that timeframe, your bet will stand. If not, it is most likely that a push will occur and the affected leg will be removed from the parlay.
• If a Game is Finalized by the Governing Body: If a governing body declares the game finished after a specific point in the game, the sportsbook will likely abide by this outcome.
• Different Sports, Different Rules: Again, different sports may have different rules for what happens to a suspended game. For example, in basketball, if a game is suspended but enough of the game has been played to be considered complete by the governing body, then the game result may stand.

It is always important to review the specific sportsbook rules, as these rules are always subject to changes.

Tips for Managing Postponed Games in Parlays

Dealing with postponed games in parlays can be annoying, but there are a few things you can do to manage the situation better:

• Know your Sportsbook’s Rules: Before you ever place a parlay bet, check the rules about postponements and suspensions. This can save you from surprises. Look for these rules in the sportsbook’s help section or terms and conditions.
• Bet on Reputable Sportsbooks: Go with well-known and well-regulated sportsbooks. They typically have clear rules and fair practices for how they handle postponements.
• Plan Around Likely Postponements: Keep an eye on weather conditions and other potential issues that could cause games to be postponed, especially if you know these can affect specific leagues or sports. This can help you choose which games to include in your parlays.
• Track Your Bets Carefully: After you have placed a parlay, track your bet to see any status updates regarding any potential postponements. Sportsbooks will usually update a parlay if a game gets postponed and will show it in your bet slip history.
• Consider Insurance Options: Some sportsbooks offer parlay insurance or early cash-out features. These might allow you to get some of your stake back if a game is postponed, or allow you to take a partial payout before your entire parlay is complete. These are not usually offered in all cases, but may be an option worth exploring for some.

Example Scenarios of Postponed Games

Let’s go through some realistic examples and look at how postponements affect a parlay:

Scenario 1: Simple Postponement

You have a 3-leg parlay on a Saturday:

• Game 1: Football game – Team X wins
• Game 2: Basketball game – Team Y wins
• Game 3: Baseball game – Team Z was postponed due to rain.

Outcome: The baseball game becomes a “push.” Your parlay changes to a 2-leg parlay with the original odds of the remaining football and basketball game selections. You win if Team X and Team Y both win.

Scenario 2: Postponement and Rescheduling

You have a 4-leg parlay on a Sunday:

• Game 1: Soccer game – Team A wins
• Game 2: Hockey game – Team B loses
• Game 3: Basketball Game – Team C was postponed
• Game 4: Football game – Team D wins

Outcome: The basketball game is postponed, but rescheduled to play two days later, within the sportsbooks rules, it is not removed from the parlay. If Team C wins on Tuesday, then your bet wins if Team A and Team D also won. However, if the rescheduled game is not played within the required timeframe of the sportsbook, the game will be removed from the parlay.

Scenario 3: Multiple Postponements

You have a 5-leg parlay for a Saturday:

• Game 1: Team A wins
• Game 2: Team B loses
• Game 3: Team C game was postponed.
• Game 4: Team D game was postponed.
• Game 5: Team E wins

Outcome: Both Team C and Team D games are a “push,” and removed from your parlay. You now have a 3-leg parlay which includes the original odds on teams A, B, and E. Unfortunately, because Team B lost, you have lost your parlay.

Scenario 4: Suspended Game

You have a 3-leg parlay on a Monday:

• Game 1: Team X wins
• Game 2: Team Y game is suspended due to bad weather during the third quarter
• Game 3: Team Z wins

Outcome: Depending on the sportsbook’s rule. If Team Y’s game resumes within 24 hours and is finished, the result will stand. If the game is not finished within this timeframe, the game will become a “push,” your parlay changes to a 2 leg parlay. If Team X and Team Z win, then your parlay wins at recalculated odds.

Understanding these types of scenarios helps you to know what to expect when these types of things occur, and how the outcome can affect your bet.

Postponed games don’t have to ruin the fun of a parlay bet. By understanding how sportsbooks handle them, and by taking some key steps to prepare, you can continue to enjoy parlays and other types of wagers.