If a Football Game Is Abandoned What Happens To My Bet?
Sometimes, a football match doesn’t reach its scheduled conclusion. It may be stopped unexpectedly before the final whistle, leaving those who have placed bets unsure about the outcome.
In this article, we’ll explain what happens when a football match is abandoned, with a focus on how this might affect your bets. We’ll begin with an overview before going into more detail about how different bookmakers handle these situations.
What Does Abandoned Mean In Football?
When a football match is called off before it finishes, it’s referred to as being abandoned. This can happen for various reasons—perhaps poor weather conditions, issues with the crowd, or unexpected problems like a power failure in the stadium.
In such cases, the game is paused and the players leave the field without a result being declared at that time. Sometimes, the match might be rearranged for a later date, but the original game itself remains unfinished.
If you choose to place a bet, this is important because the way your wager is handled might differ from usual. How it is dealt with depends largely on the rules set by the bookmaker you’ve chosen. Some may return the stake, while others might hold off on settling the bet until the match is played again.
Postponed or Abandoned Match Betting Rules
When a match is postponed or doesn’t finish as expected, the effect on bets can vary quite a bit depending on the bookmaker’s policies. For games rescheduled within a specific timeframe—often 24 to 48 hours—many bookmakers keep bets active, waiting for the rescheduled event to happen.
However, if the delay extends beyond this set period, some bookmakers may treat the bet as if it never happened and return the stake.
When it comes to games that are stopped partway and not completed on the same day, rules can differ again. Some bookmakers may void your bet once it’s confirmed that the match won’t resume the same day. Others might wait to see if the game will be resumed or replayed, and only then decide on the outcome of your bet.
In certain cases, if the game has progressed enough—say, past the 70th or 80th minute—some bookmakers might decide to settle bets based on the score at the time play was stopped. This is why it’s important to familiarise yourself with the specific terms of your bookmaker.
Match Abandoned on Accumulator: What Happens?
If you’re placing a bet that combines several match outcomes into one wager—known as an accumulator or “acca”—and one of those matches gets abandoned, things can get a bit more complex.
Typically, bookmakers will remove the abandoned match from your bet, which means your accumulator is adjusted to include just the remaining matches. For instance, if you had a five-match accumulator and one game is abandoned, it usually becomes a four-match bet, with odds recalculated accordingly.
Some bookmakers might have different approaches, such as waiting to see if the abandoned match is rescheduled soon, which could affect when and how your bet is settled.
To keep surprises to a minimum, it’s wise to check the terms and conditions of your bookmaker regarding accumulators and abandoned games. This way, if you decide to place such bets, you’ll have a clearer idea of what could happen.
Remember, if you choose to place bets, it’s best to do so thoughtfully and within your means. Understanding how different situations are handled can help you feel more at ease while following a match.
**The information provided in this blog is intended for educational purposes and should not be construed as betting advice or a guarantee of success. Always gamble responsibly.
