What is a “Push” in Sports Betting? (Rules & Parlay Impact)

You place a bet on the Kansas City Chiefs -3.
The game ends: Chiefs 23, Bills 20.
They won by exactly 3 points.

Did you win? Did you lose?
Neither. You Pushed.

In sports betting, a Push is a tie between the bettor and the sportsbook. It happens when the final result of a game lands on the exact number listed in the wager.
When a Push occurs, the bet is voided, and your original stake is refunded to your account balance as if the bet never happened.

Here is everything you need to know about Pushes, how to avoid them, and the most common question we get: “What happens to my Parlay if one leg Pushes?”

Common Examples of a Push

A Push can happen in almost any market that uses whole numbers.

1. Point Spread

• The Bet: Dallas Cowboys -7.
• The Result: Dallas wins 27-20 (Margin of 7).
• The Outcome: Push. Money refunded.

2. Over/Under (Totals)

• The Bet: Over 48 Points.
• The Result: Final score 24-24 (Total 48).
• The Outcome: Push. Money refunded.

3. Player Props

• The Bet: LeBron James Over 6 Assists.
• The Result: LeBron finishes with exactly 6 Assists.
• The Outcome: Push. Money refunded.

How to Avoid a Push (The “Hook”)

Sportsbooks hate Pushes just as much as you do. Pushes mean they have to process refunds and don’t make any money on the “Vig” (the fee).

To prevent this, bookmakers often use Half-Points, known as “The Hook.”
It is impossible to score half a point in sports, so a line with a hook guarantees a winner and a loser.

• -3.0 Spread: Can Push.
• -3.5 Spread: Cannot Push. (If they win by 3, you lose. If they win by 4, you win).

Strategy Tip: If you hate tying, look for lines with a .5 attached. However, smart bettors often prefer the whole number (e.g., -3 instead of -3.5) because a Push is infinitely better than a Loss.

The Big Question: What Happens to a Parlay?

This is the source of the most confusion for new bettors.
If you have a 5-Leg Parlay and one leg is a Push, does the whole ticket lose?

No.
In almost every standard sportsbook (FanDuel, DraftKings, BetMGM), a Push simply removes that leg from the parlay.

The Math:

• You bet a 4-Leg Parlay ($10 to win $120).
• Leg 1: Win
• Leg 2: Win
• Leg 3: Win
• Leg 4: Push

The Result: Your bet automatically downgrades to a 3-Leg Parlay.
You still win the bet, but the payout is recalculated based on the odds of the 3 winning legs (e.g., $10 to win $60).

Note: In “Teaser” bets, rules can vary. Some books count a Push in a Teaser as a Loss. Always check the house rules.

Summary

A Push is “No Action.” It’s a do-over.
While it’s annoying to watch a game for 3 hours just to get your money back, it saves your bankroll from a loss. Use tools like StatsBench to find lines with a significant “Edge” so you aren’t sweating the exact number in the final seconds.

Find the best lines and avoid the Push with the Free StatsBench Cheat Sheet

Frequently Asked Questions