We all make mistakes and bettors are no different. It is more common than you think for a punter to place a bet by mistake. It could be something as simple as staking a $50 bet instead of $5, or clicking on the wrong horse when placing a horse racing bet due to the sheer amount of horses listed. These things aren’t uncommon which will lead people to wonder if you can cancel a bet.
This is a perfectly reasonable question and one you need an answer to. This is why we have created this guide so you can see how you can cancel a bet online.
So you are in a situation where you have put submitted a bet and instantly regret it or have just made an honest mistake. This page shows you how you can resolve the situation.
Can I Cancel a Bet Online?
The simple answer to this is you can’t. Once you have added your selections to your bet slip and hit the submit button, you are stuck with it. Think of it like a contract between you and the sportsbook. We understand you may be in a panic after placing the bet in error and be rushing to the bookie’s terms and conditions but unless the bookie takes pity on you you will just have to accept it.
The good news is, some operators out there want to keep players onside and may take pity on you. It is for this reason that as part of their terms and conditions, they often include a section on how they can cancel any bets at their discretion.
So, if you realise you’ve made a mistake straight away, take a screenshot of it and then send it to the customer support team as soon as possible. We have to say that it is more likely they won’t do anything than not, but you won’t lose anything from trying.
Reasons for Cancelling a Bet
As I mentioned above, we all make mistakes every day, those moments where we wish we could go back in time and change something. This is also true with people using a sports betting site. Some get that instant sense of fear of what you have just done and want to cancel the bet immediately.
The bet could range from anything from Man Utd winning the Premier League (which as far-fetched as anything at the moment) to your own team winning a league or trophy. Ultimately betting on sport is very emotive, and you can get carried away with thoughts of winning big as you see the potential returns on the betslip.
Another reason you may wish to cancel a bet is if you were to suffer a technological breakdown, which, if you have been staring at a screen for any period of time, can easily happen. This could be something like adding an extra zero where you didn’t mean to on that parlay bet. Whatever it is, it doesn’t help you after the event, but there are things you can do to mitigate these errors.
Using Cash Out
We have already discussed the fact you can’t just cancel your bets, but, you might be able to utilise the cash out feature. Most books nowadays offer this service as part for the course, such is its popularity.
Cash out betting gives you the chance to settle the bet before it has ended. It guarantees you at least some returns as you would keep part of your stake regardless of the outcome of your bet.
The amount of your stake that is returned to you depends on what the odds were at the time you requested to use cash out. Let’s take a look at an example.
You have decided to place a $20 bet on the Seahawks to beat the 49ers. It is a bold bet, but it is going really well as at half-time the Seahawks are 14-0. This is an opportunity if you feel like Seawahks might crumble and revert to type in the second half so you decide to cash out. Now you can sit back and watch the rest of the 30 safe in the knowledge that you are walking away with something even if the 49ers do complete a comeback.
This could also work the opposite way. Say you bet a fiver on Spurs to beat Arsenal in the soccer but Arsenal jump out to a 2-0 lead. This is where you might decide to cut your losses early which means you will get a small fraction of your stake. It might not be a lot but it is better than nothing.
The most important factor in cash out is timing, as it determines what the value of the cash out is. However, with no simple solution to just cancel a bet, cashout out is a great option.
When is Cash Out not available?
There are situations where you will simply have to admit defeat and come to terms with the fact that mad bet you placed can’t be changed. There are some scenarios where a bookie won’t let you cash out early, including:
No value: The cash out value goes down to zero so you just have a losing bet.
It is too late: Most bookmakers will remove the cash out option in the last few minutes of a match.
Promotions: You will not be able to cash out bets if you have used promos such as build your own bets, enhanced odds or odds boosts. This also applies to any free bet offers.
Ineligible markets: Some markets are just not eligible for cash outs. Make sure you check which markets qualify before placing your bets.
Contacting the Sportsbook
One of the things you could do if you want to cancel a bet is get in touch with the operator. Most of the top US sportsbooks have excellent customer service options. They typically allow you to contact them via phone, email, text or live chat.
Remember, they are under no obligation to do anything. By submitting a bet you are essentially entering into an agreement with the bookie and are confirming that you are happy with everything at your end. If you ask them to cancel and they say no, there is nothing you can do.
The book will likely look at your betting history as well when you request to cancel a bet. For example, if most of your bets are in the $10-$15 range, they will be more inclined to believe you when you claimed you were meant to stake $10 instead of $100. The same works the opposite way, of course. You must bear all of this in mind before you talk to them.
Final Thoughts
So, you can’t directly cancel your bets, but there is still hope. Most sportsbooks will let you cash out early which means you will at least recoup some of your stake back.
