What Does ‘No Push’ Mean in Sports Betting?

The term “No Push” is not a standard or commonly used phrase by bookmakers. However, its meaning can be inferred by understanding the concept of a “push,” which is a very common term.

A “push“ occurs when the result of a bet is a tie, and your stake is returned to you. Essentially, it’s a “no bet” scenario where you neither win nor lose. This most frequently happens in point spread and totals (over/under) betting.

For example, if you bet on a team with a -7 point spread and they win by exactly 7 points, the bet is a push.

Therefore, a market or a rule described as “No Push” implies that a tie or a draw is not a possible outcome for the bet, and your wager will definitively result in either a win or a loss.

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Common Scenarios Where the “No Push” Concept Applies

1. Three-Way Moneyline Betting

This is the most direct application of a “No Push” rule. In sports where a draw is a possible outcome, like soccer or hockey (in regulation), bookmakers offer a three-way moneyline market.

• Team A to Win
• Team B to Win
• Draw

In this market, you must correctly predict one of the three outcomes. If you bet on Team A to win and the game ends in a draw, your bet is a loss. The draw is a distinct outcome, so a push is not possible.

2. “Draw No Bet” Market

This is a two-way market where the possibility of a push is explicitly removed in favor of a win or loss, but with a safety net.

• If your selected team wins, you win the bet.
• If your selected team loses, you lose the bet.
• If the game is a draw, the bet is voided, and your stake is returned. While this is technically a push, the market is specifically designed to handle the draw outcome this way, distinguishing it from a standard moneyline.

3. Half-Point Spreads and Totals

Bookmakers often use half-points (e.g., -7.5, +3.5, or Over/Under 48.5) in point spreads and totals markets specifically to eliminate the possibility of a push. Since a team cannot score half a point, the final score will always be definitively above or below the line, ensuring there are only two possible outcomes: a win or a loss. This is a built-in “No Push” mechanic.