How do I cancel a bet?
Online betting is becoming increasingly popular and punters can now place a bet in a matter of seconds thanks to dedicated sports betting apps. However, there could arise situations where you make a mistake in your bet and want to cancel it. In this article, we will see if it is possible to void an entire bet and what options are available to players.
Table of contents
Is it possible to cancel a bet?
The answer to this question is almost always no: most bookmakers do not allow you to void an online bet, nor do they allow you to change your bet type or amend a slip with an error. As we shall see, however, there can be exceptions to this rule. Furthermore, there are several alternatives to cancelling a bet, which we will discuss in the following paragraphs.
First of all, it is good to make a distinction between online betting and going to a brick-and-mortar betting shop: while the former will almost never allow you to cancel a bet, in physical betting shops you will often have a few minutes to reconsider. In fact, Article 3 of the Ministerial Decree of 31/05/2002 states that telematic bets cannot be cancelled, whereas bets in-person can be cancelled within 3 minutes of being placed. All you have to do in this case is go to the cashier and the bets will be cancelled with no hassle.
However, there are exceptions, such as if you bet on an event that is cancelled or postponed more than 3 days after the scheduled date. In this case the single bet will be cancelled by the bookmaker automatically. If you are dealing with a postponement of an event in your accumulator bet, the odds of the match that will not be played will simply be increased to 1.00. This means that those odds will no longer contribute to the calculation of the final odds.
The cancellation of a match or its postponement are practically the only reasons why a bet is cancelled. There are also extreme cases, such as the theft of a player's account, for which a ticket may be cancelled.
Why are bookmakers reluctant to cancel an online bet?
We have seen that it is not possible to cancel an online bet due to gambling legislation stipulations. It is clear that if it were possible to select this option, bookmakers would be inundated with requests that they could not handle. Moreover, it would be all too easy if there was a button to choose to withdraw a bet. It’s not hard to think of the different scenarios that could unfold if this was the case. For example, if several key players of a certain team get injured at the last minute and the outcome of the match suddenly becomes more uncertain and less favourable for those who placed a bet on that team's victory.
Register now!What to do to cancel a bet?
The first thing to do to void a bet if a mistake has been made is to act promptly. In order for a bookmaker to consider a bet voidable, they must ensure that an objective mistake was made when completing the ticket. The first thing to do is to contact customer service and present the problem, clearly explaining your cancellation request.
Equally important is to provide all the necessary details, such as the bet number and the amount wagered. During this stage, it would be good to keep track of any bets to be refunded, as well as any communication and documentation related to the bet cancellation request. Remembering to save copies of any e-mails or support chats that you exchange with the site operator is certainly a good practice: this evidence will be useful should any disputes arise in the future.
Of course, the bookmaker may not be satisfied with the evidence that the player brings in his defence and there is no guarantee that the bet will be refunded. The request for cancellation might be successful in particularly egregious cases, e.g. when an exaggerated amount is wagered compared to previous bets. Naturally, the bookmaker will do its own checks, including checking the betting history, and it may take some time to get an answer.
Unvalidated betting slip: Can I cancel my bet?
If you have not yet finalised your betting slip - i.e. clicked on "Place Bet" - you should know that you can simply cancel a selected bet this time. To do this, simply log on to the betting site in question, then:
- Go to the open betting slip
- Delete the match you don't want to play from the betting slip
Whatever the bookmaker, you will be able to systematically cancel a sports bet as long as you have not officially locked in the wager. You’ll be able to either remove individual matches and selections from your betting slip or clear your entire slip by selecting the ‘Remove All’ button.
How to cancel a bet at Bet365?
The same applies to Bet365, where a bet cannot be cancelled once it has been confirmed. In the terms and conditions of the operator's official website it is clearly stated that it is the customer's responsibility to ensure that the betting data is correct and that once placed, confirmed and accepted, bets cannot be cancelled. Again, one can try to contact support via chat or email, albeit admittedly with little guarantee of success.
How to cancel a bet at 1xBet?
Like many of its peers, a user cannot outright cancel a bet on 1xBet. A look at the 1xBet Frequently Asked Questions reveals that those looking to cancel their bet will only have the option of using the ‘Bets Slip Sale’ feature. This is essentially 1xBet’s version of early cashout. Remember, cashing out a bet on an event before it starts will not see you receive your full stake back. Instead, you may have to settle for roughly a 10-15% loss. Therefore, this option should only be exercised in extreme circumstances, where guaranteeing a loss of 10-15% offsets the risk of losing your stake.
How to cancel a bet at BetOBet?
Following in line with the other bookmakers, BetOBet also does not allow users to cancel bets once they have been placed and confirmed. The FAQ on the official BetOBet website states, “Registered customers cannot ask to cancel or change a bet once it has been and confirmed by the Company.” As with the other sides, exceptions may be made for extreme circumstances if customer service is contacted in time. However, it’s best not to hold out for this type of situation.
Is it possible to cancel or modify an accumulator with an error on Bet365?
Bet365 does allow their users to modify accumulator bets thanks to their ‘Edit Bets’ feature. Picks can be added, swapped or removed from accumulator bets provided they are valid with the edit bet feature. Users can even change their bet type and increase their stake. This tool can only be used with wagers that are eligible for early cash out. It’s also important to remember that, while users can make many changes to their accumulator, they won’t be able to outright cancel their bet.
Cancelling a Betting Exchange bet
The situation is different for Betting Exchange bets. Unmatched bets can be cancelled in a very simple way: the first step is to select the bet and then simply tick the appropriate box next to the bet. In the case of a partially matched bet, only the associated amount can be cancelled. If, on the other hand, the bet has already been matched, it can no longer be cancelled.
Alternatives to the cancellation of a bet: Early cash out
In the event that you are unable to void your bets, one solution could be to resort to an early cash out. The cash out feature allows you to withdraw part of your bet in advance, before the conclusion of the event you bet on. This will allow you to reduce your losses or even guarantee an early win.
The process to request an early cash out is fairly simple. All you need to do is follow these steps as the process will be nearly identical regardless of your preferred sportsbook.
- Log in to your player account
- Navigate either to the ‘My Bets’ or ‘Cash Out’ tab
- Select the bet you would like to cancel
- Look at the proposed cash out amount
- Accept by clicking on the "Accept" button
- Immediately receive the promised amount back into your account.
Of course, you will need to check that the bookmaker you are using offers this feature and that it is also available for the specific event you have bet on. Your cash out amount will always be shown and you will have final confirmation before completing the process. One of the best sites to cash out on is definitely Bet365.
Another solution to limit losses is to place an opposite bet on the same event. For example, say you accidentally bet on Berrettini to win in a match against Djokovic. To protect yourself, you can bet on the opposite side, i.e. on Djokovic to win, then click on the opposite outcome and place a bet of equal or similar amount. In this way, one of the two bets will still be a winner, allowing you to limit your losses, or even obtain a favourable return.
Conclusions
Cancelling bets placed online can be a complicated process with little prospect of success if the goal is to get a refund for one's own mistake. As we have seen, there are fortunately some alternatives available to protect one's bankroll free of charge, such as cash out or the possibility of covering a bet. If you are unable to cancel a bet, you can still try to learn from this experience in order to make more informed decisions and better select your future bets.
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