What Is a Void Bet? When Bets Are Cancelled and Money Returned

A void bet occurs when a bookmaker cancels a wager and returns your stake in full. No profit, no loss — the bet is treated as though it was never placed.

Why Bets Get Voided

Several scenarios trigger a void settlement:

Abandoned matches — If a football match is called off at 0-0 due to weather, most outright markets are voided. However, if the match is abandoned after a goal has been scored, some markets (such as first goalscorer) may still stand.
Player withdrawals — In tennis, if a player retires before the match begins, match-winner bets are voided. In horse racing, a non-runner voids bets on that selection (unless Non-Runner No Bet applies).
Pricing errors — Bookmakers occasionally post incorrect odds. If they identify an obvious error, they may void all bets placed at those odds.
Rule breaches — Bets placed after an event has started (without in-play being available) or bets that violate terms of a promotion can be voided.

How Void Bets Affect Accumulators

This is where void rules matter most. If you place a five-fold accumulator at combined odds of 25.00 with a £10 stake, and one leg is voided, the bet does not lose. Instead, the void selection is removed and the acca is recalculated as a four-fold.

For example, if your five selections had individual odds of 2.00, 3.00, 1.50, 2.50, and 1.80, and the 1.80 selection is voided, your new effective odds become 2.00 × 3.00 × 1.50 × 2.50 = 22.50. Your £10 stake now returns £225 instead of the original potential £250.

Void vs. Losing vs. Cancelled

Void — Stake returned, bet removed from your history as a neutral result.
Losing — Stake lost, the selection did not win.
Cancelled — Sometimes used interchangeably with void, though some bookmakers use "cancelled" for bets you withdraw before the event and "void" for bookmaker-initiated cancellations.

When to Expect a Void Settlement

Most void settlements happen automatically within minutes. If an event is abandoned mid-play, it may take longer as the bookmaker reviews which markets stand and which are voided. Check your bet history — void bets are typically marked with a distinct status label.

Frequently Asked Questions

What happens to my money when a bet is voided?+

Your full stake is returned to your account. A void bet is treated as though it never existed, so you neither win nor lose. The refund is usually processed within minutes of the event being declared void.

Why would a bookmaker void my bet?+

Common reasons include abandoned or postponed matches, a player withdrawing before a match starts (in tennis or horse racing), obvious pricing errors, or rule violations such as betting on a market after the event has begun without in-play being offered.

What happens to my accumulator if one leg is voided?+

The void leg is removed and the accumulator is recalculated using the remaining selections. For example, a four-fold with one void leg becomes a treble at the odds of the three remaining selections.

Is a void bet the same as a push?+

They are very similar. In spread betting and Asian handicap markets, a push occurs when the result lands exactly on the handicap line, and the stake is returned. A void bet is a broader term used when any wager is cancelled by the bookmaker for any qualifying reason.

Can a bookmaker void a bet after it has been settled as a winner?+

In rare cases, yes. If a pricing error is discovered or a rule breach is identified after settlement, bookmakers reserve the right to void and reverse the payout. This is outlined in their terms and conditions.