Push
What does "push" mean in sports betting?
A push is a tie against the betting line. Your stake is refunded, with no win or loss.
Pushes happen when the result lands exactly on a whole-number spread, total or prop line. Lines that end in .5 can't push.
In a parlay, most sportsbooks drop the pushed leg and pay the ticket at the lower number, but some settle it differently, so check your book's house rules.
Example
You bet a team -7 and they win by exactly 7. The bet is a push and your stake comes back.
Related terms
Point spread
The point spread is a handicap that evens out a matchup: the favorite has to win by more than the spread, and the underdog covers by losing by less than it or winning outright.
Total (over/under)
A total, or over/under, is a bet on whether the combined score of both teams lands above or below a number the sportsbook sets.
Parlay
A parlay combines two or more bets into one ticket. Every leg has to win, and the payout is the odds of each leg multiplied together.
Hook
The hook is the half point on a spread or total, like the .5 in -3.5. It removes the chance of a push.
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