What happens if the match I bet on is either cancelled or postponed?

What happens if a game I placed a bet on is cancelled or posTponed?

🚫Reasons why a game is cancelled/postponed
📌In-game pauses
💡General rule of thumb - for each case
✨What to do if I don't know what is going to happen to my bet?
📋Rules for multiple selection bets

What will happen to your bet if a match you bet on is cancelled, postponed or abandoned? It is an important question, as there can be a different decision made regarding your bet, depending on the official decision surrounding the game's outcome and the reason it was stopped while in progress or did not start to begin with.

Let’s clarify why a sporting contest may not proceed or may be stopped while in-play.

Reasons why a Sporting Contest does not go ahead

There are usually three reasons why a match does not go ahead:

Postponed

The most common reason why a sports event does not get played is due to a postponement. These occur for any number of reasons, including - One of the teams being unavailable to play on that date (due to a European fixture, or cup replay or similar), inclement weather, flooded pitches, icy and snowy pitches, international call-ups affecting the availability of several players for one or both teams on the original date.

Postponed fixtures are always rearranged to be played at a later date.

Abandoned

An abandoned game is different in that the game usually starts but at some point in the proceedings, is unable to continue. This is generally down to issues such as deteriorating weather conditions (such as rain making the pitch unplayable, fog not allowing visibility, or lightning in the vicinity, making it dangerous to continue playing).

Abandoned fixtures are either nullified and replayed in full at a later date, or the game may be paused at the time it ended, and then restarted at a later date with the same game conditions. However, this latter option only tends to be used if a game is almost complete and the remainder can be completed shortly after it was stopped initially (usually within 24-48 hours).

Cancelled

A cancelled fixture is a rarity in top-level professional sports but more frequent at lower levels of a game. Any fixture that is cancelled is not played and is not rescheduled to be played later. No result is declared for that fixture.

Although extremely rare, cancelled fixtures do still happen at the highest level, but only in extreme cases. Such as when a Sweden v Spain Euro 2024 qualifier was cancelled after a terrorist attack in Sweden. UEFA agreed to cancel the fixture as there was not enough time to reschedule the game, and the outcome of the fixture would not influence the position or outcome of qualifying for any of the teams in that particular qualifying group.

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In-Game Pauses and Recommencements

There are also instances where a game may be paused for a relatively short period. Such as in the case of an American Football game being paused mid-game due to lightning being detected in the area, or heavy fog causing a football match to be halted until it clears.

In these circumstances, any bets made on these games, providing they continue after the temporary halt in proceedings, will continue to run. It is only if a game is subsequently abandoned due to the conditions taking too long to clear, or worsening, that the rules for bets on abandoned fixtures come into play.

Let’s now take a look at what the general rule of thumb is for each reason why a game may not be played or played to a conclusion.

General Rule Of Thumb Betting Rules for Each Reason

Postponed

If a game is postponed before any action takes place and rearranged for a later date, all bets on that fixture are declared void and stakes are refunded back to customers. Customers can then, if they choose, make the same bet on the rearranged fixture.

Abandoned

The rules regarding bets made on abandoned fixtures are rather fluid and can vary from one bookmaker to another, or be different for one type of bet compared to another. As such, it is always a good idea to check the specific rules for abandoned fixtures with your choice of bookmaker.

As a general rule of thumb, if a game is abandoned and then scheduled to be replayed in full, then any unsettled bets on that match will be refunded. Settled bets may also be refunded (such as on the First Goalscorer, if a goal has been scored in the abandoned game) with some bookmakers, while others may not refund any settled bets on the abandoned fixture.

However, if the game is abandoned late on and the ruling authorities declare a result for the fixture, then any bets made on the game will stand and be based on the decision made by the authority for that fixture. For example, suppose a Premier League game is stopped with 2 minutes of injury time to be played due to unsafe playing conditions, and the Premier League announces the result will stand. In that case, bets made on the game will be based on the score and situation at the time the game was abandoned.

Cancelled

If a game is cancelled, then all bets placed on it will be void and the stakes returned to customers.

What Can I Do if I Am Unsure What Will Happen To My Bet if a Game Is Cancelled, Postponed or Abandoned?

If you have made a bet and are unsure what will happen to your stake as the game has been cancelled, postponed or started and then abandoned, then it is a good idea to speak with customer services who can explain what will happen to your bet and why.

Rules For Multiple Selection Bets - Accumulators, Full Cover Bets etc

One example of when bets on cancelled, postponed or abandoned matches may not be refunded is if the affected game is part of a multiple bet, such as an accumulator or full cover bet.

In this situation, the general rule of thumb is that the bet will continue, minus the affected fixture. So for example, if one of your matches in a fivefold accumulator is postponed, then your bet will continue with that fixture removed and become a fourfold bet at the adjusted odds.

While postponed games don’t happen too often, and abandonments and cancelled fixtures are rare, it is still good to understand the rules regarding your stakes on bets made on such fixtures. Hopefully, you now have an understanding of those rules and what will happen if a bet you make is affected by any one of these issues.