A push happens when a moneyline bet ends in a tie result. Your original stake comes back in full — no win, no loss. It sounds simple, but there are a few situations where pushes catch bettors off guard. Knowing how they work protects your bankroll and keeps you from being surprised by a graded ticket.

When exactly does a push occur on a moneyline bet?

Moneyline bets usually settle on a winner, so pushes are less common than on spread or totals markets. They do happen in specific scenarios:

  • A game that finishes in a draw when the sportsbook offered only a two-way market (Team A wins or Team B wins)
  • Certain soccer markets labeled "Draw No Bet," where a tie automatically refunds the wager
  • Any result that ties the specific outcome a book defined for settlement

Baseball and hockey both allow extra innings or overtime, which reduces the chance of a tie before settlement. Football and basketball are structured so that overtime is usually played until a winner is declared. Always check whether a market is "regulation only" or standard — more on that below.

Does overtime affect whether you get a push or a loss?

This is where bettors get burned. Standard moneyline markets include overtime. So if your team trails at the end of regulation but wins in OT, you win the bet. See Does a Moneyline Bet Include Overtime? What Bettors Need to Know for the full breakdown.

The danger is "regulation only" markets. Confusing a "regulation only" market with a standard moneyline — which includes overtime — can cause unexpected losses on bets that appear to have won at the end of regulation. Read the market label carefully before confirming any wager.

What happens to a parlay if one leg pushes?

A push leg is typically removed from the parlay, and the ticket is recalculated with the remaining legs. A three-leg parlay becomes a two-leg parlay. The potential payout drops, but the ticket stays alive. That said, parlaying moneyline legs dramatically increases variance — every single leg must win or the entire ticket loses. One bad beat and the whole ticket is dead. Check out Moneyline Parlay Bets: How They Work and When to Use Them before building any multi-leg ticket.

Do all sportsbooks handle pushes the same way?

The refund-on-push rule is standard across licensed US operators like DraftKings, FanDuel, BetMGM, and Caesars. The mechanics — stake returned, parlay leg dropped — are consistent. Where books differ is in how they label markets and what counts as a settling event. Always read the house rules for the specific sport and market you're betting.

Legality matters too. Online sports betting is live in 38-plus states and Washington D.C. as of 2025. If you're in California, Texas, Georgia, or another state without a legal market, licensed sportsbooks won't accept your bets. Check your state's status before signing up anywhere.

Does a push count as a win or loss for taxes?

A pushed bet means no net gain, so it generally doesn't generate taxable income the way a winning bet would. Still, good record-keeping matters. If you're stacking volume and mixing wins, losses, and pushes, the numbers can get complicated fast. Read Moneyline Betting Taxes: What US Bettors Owe the IRS to understand your reporting obligations.

How do you avoid surprise pushes and unexpected losses?

The short answer: read the market label every single time. Beyond that, understanding line value and market structure helps you make smarter picks overall. Dive into Moneyline Betting Strategy: How to Spot Value and Avoid the Vig for a deeper look at making the moneyline work for you rather than against you.

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