Why Do Bookmakers Void Bets? A Complete Guide
Bookmakers cancel bets for specific reasons that mainly protect their business, but in some cases, their customers too.
The main reasons for voided bets can be technical errors at bookies or the odds provider side, suspicious betting patterns, and many others.
During my smart betting activity, I had over a hundred bets voided for various reasons.
In this guide, you will find out the main reasons, and I will also share some tactics to avoid getting your bets canceled.
1. Voided bets due to technical errors
Wrong Decimal Points
A bookmaker might display Manchester City to win at odds of 15.0 instead of the correct 1.50. This tenfold error triggers automatic void protocols. Bets placed at these incorrect odds get canceled, and stakes return to customer accounts.
These types of errors are not as common as the following mistakes. Many bettors are tempted to take advantage of similar errors.
Betting on such technical errors is tempting to most bettors, but it can easily result in maximum betting stake limitations as a countermeasure from bookies.
Reversed Team Names
Example: A bookmaker lists “Liverpool vs Manchester United” as “Manchester United vs Liverpool.” This error changes the home/away team status and affects related markets like “team to score first” or “first-half winner.”
Reversed team name errors result in all bets placed on these markets getting voided.
This type of mistake is noticed mostly by bettors who understand the true chance of winning a team/sport. This technical error will cause significantly overpriced/underpriced odds on each outcome.
Incorrect Start Times
Suppose a tennis match scheduled for 2 PM appears in the system as 2 AM; bets placed during this wrong time window face voiding. This prevents unfair advantages from time zone confusion or scheduling errors.
Incorrect start times related to bets voided are the least common based on my experience.
I always focused on tennis betting and never had to face bets voided for this reason.
System Glitches
During high-traffic events like the Champions League finals, booking systems might freeze and display outdated odds. Bets placed during these technical issues get voided to maintain market fairness.
These types of mistakes do not result in voided bets every time. In my experience, these errors are handled individually in many cases.
Bookies tend to void bets after system glitches when the bets are winners. It would be hard to prove this stance with statistics, however, I rarely got losing bets voided.
2. Bets canceled because of suspicious betting patterns
Unusual Betting Amounts
A third-division soccer match suddenly receives $50,000 in bets when typical volumes stay under $1,000. Bookmakers tend to void these bets and start investigating into potential match-fixing.
Unusual betting stakes do not draw attention in every case.
Betting on smaller markets with not average stakes has a higher chance of triggering algorithms and will get your bets reviewed manually.
You can notice these manual checks by not getting your bet settled automatically. They will stay pending, even for several hours.
Multiple Account Activity
Ten different accounts place identical $100 bets on a specific tennis player to win exactly 6-4, 6-4. This pattern suggests coordinated betting and can lead to voided bets.
Average bettors won’t face voided bets for betting on niche markets. Bookies have to see an obvious pattern to void bets with a good reason.
Linked Accounts
Several betting accounts registered to the same IP address place large bets on obscure table tennis matches. Bookmakers void these bets to stop smart betting activities.
The majority of betting sites have security systems that flag accounts in a matter of seconds if they access their platform from the same IP address.
Logging in to your betting account from a restaurant Wi-fi will not result in your bets getting voided or your account closed. Using your friend’s wi-fi also won’t get you in trouble with your bookie.
However, if the IP you are logging in from is connected to some type of smart betting activity, you have a high possibility of getting your account closed and your bets voided.
Sharp Volume Increases
A handball match attracts 500% more bets than usual in a 30-minute window. This sudden spike triggers automated void protocols while bookmakers investigate the cause.
These increased betting activities suggest overpriced odds, wrong betting lines, or the possibility of technical errors at bookies.
Sharp betting activities and similar patterns are some of the main reasons why players get their bets voided, maximum stakes are limited, and betting accounts are closed.
3. Voided bets due to event cancellations and postponements
Weather Cancellations
A golf tournament stops mid-round due to lightning. All bets on “tournament winner” markets get voided, but completed round bets stand.
Bets on tennis events get often voided when the matches are postponed for a longer period. These bet cancellations serve both the bettor and the company.
The statistical chance of winning a bet changes when the players have the chance to rest for a longer period.
Bets voided due to player injuries and retirement rules
A tennis player withdraws 30 minutes before their match due to injury. All single bets on this match get voided, while parlay bets recalculate without this selection.
In-play tennis bets also get voided in many cases. However, each betting site has its terms and conditions for situations when a player has to retire for any reason.
These tennis retirement betting rules are market-specific and are worth knowing when bettors are using smart betting strategies such as sure betting or matched betting.
Security Concerns
A soccer match stops at halftime due to crowd trouble. Bookmakers void all second-half markets and full-time results bets.
4. Market Pricing Mistakes
Incorrect Handicap Lines
A basketball game shows a -5.5 handicap but displays +5.5 odds. This obvious error leads to immediate market suspension and voids of placed bets.
Smaller betting line mistakes also happen in every sports event. Each bookie can offer a line of -4.5 instead of -5.5.
These small errors are taken advantage of by smart bettors. Such wrong lines cause arbitrage bets, or +EV (positive expected value) bets, and an edge against bookmakers.
Such smaller mistakes are rarely noticed by bookies, so they won’t be voided in most cases.
However, these incorrect lines generate long-term profits for bettors, which also will draw the attention of bookies.
Wrong Total Goals Markets
A soccer over/under market lists 4.5 goals instead of 2.5 goals. Bets on this incorrect line face a very high chance of getting the bets voided.
Many bettors get away with betting on the wrong betting lines. However, similar to the previous handicap example, these markets generate long-term profits.
Relevant article: Bookmakers with great handicap lines
Overpriced outcomes in general
A betting site that offers significantly overpriced odds often voids each bet placed on it. By overpriced odds, I mean offering decimal odds of 2.60 instead of 1.75.
These incorrect odds offer an “unfair” advantage for bettors against bookies.
5. Early Settlement Errors
Wrong Results Entry
A bookmaker pays out on a 2-1 soccer score when the actual result was 1-2. These bets get voided and resettled with the correct results.
Premature Live Settlement
Live betting markets settle early due to streaming delays. Bookmakers void and reprocess these bets with official results.
Another example of voided bets for premature settlement happens in live tennis matches all the time.
Tennis players often challenge the decision of the last point scored. These can end up in your bets being voided or settled differently.
Unofficial Data Usage
A basketball game is settled using unofficial statistics. When official box scores show different numbers, related bets get voided and recalculated.
I often had to contact the customer service of betting sites to settle my bets based on wrong information.
System Settlement Failures
Mass payout processes can fail during peak times but in rare cases only. Bookmakers void affected bets and reprocess them to ensure accurate payments.
During my 10+ years of betting activity, I had to face only one similar case.
How do voided bets impact a betting strategy?
Voided bets have a huge impact on the profitability of certain strategies, such as matched betting or arbitrage betting. Getting the winning leg of your matched or arbitrage bet canceled will generate significant losses.
In many cases, bettors can lose 2-4 days of worth of profits when facing a voided bet on the wrong side.
On the other hand, value bettors do not face significant consequences after voided bets.
Fund Access Delays
Voided bet stakes can remain locked for up to 24 hours. Smart bettors maintain extra account balances for backup bets.
In many cases, these unsettled bets can be the last ones that could refund the account. In these situations, bettors can’t place further bets until the bet gets settled and the fund is available to bet with.
New Analysis Needs
Void notifications force quick research of new opportunities. Prepared bettors keep funds for alternative solutions, even at another bookie.
How do bettors avoid getting bets canceled/voided?
Odds Comparison
Check odds across three or more bookmakers before betting. Large odds differences often signal a higher potential of getting your bets voided.
A significantly overpriced bet offers a big temptation to harvest big profits. However, bookies have in-built countermeasures to fight smart betting activities.
Betting on obvious market line mistakes or wrong odds often results in voided bets and limited betting accounts.
Bet Documentation
Take screenshots of bet slips and odds. This evidence helps resolve disputes about void decisions. This step is important for sharp bettors.
Bookies oftentimes close accounts without previous notice. In these cases, bettors who do not have video or screenshot proof about their bets have limited options to counter this decision.
Knowing the Terms & Conditions
Read specific void rules for each bet type. Different bookmakers have different policies for postponed events or player retirement.
Knowing these betting terms has higher importance for arbitrage and matched bettors who are focusing on tennis. Tennis players retiring is more often than you think.
It took me a huge loss until I started paying more attention to such retirement rule differences between bookies.
Obvious Error Avoidance
Skip bets on clearly wrong odds or lines. Bookmakers almost always spot and void these bets.
Getting multiple bets voided for betting on obvious errors is the fastest way to face maximum stake limitations and even account closure.
Another method to avoid getting your bets canceled is by using betting exchanges or betting brokers.
Conclusion
Understanding bookmaker void practices and rules protects the profitability and the account health of a bettor. This knowledge helps avoid common void triggers and maintains profitable betting strategies.
Smart bettors use void policies to their advantage by knowing which types of bets to avoid to stay under the radar.
