Parlay betting is extremely intriguing for those who want to potentially have huge paydays. It involves putting a little bit down on longer odds to see if all results end up hitting. Just one part of the parlay can mess everything up, and a tie is a particularly tricky issue.
Table of Contents
What if a Point Spread is a Tie in a Parlay?
If a point spread is a tie in a parlay, the bet results in a push according to most sportsbooks. This means that in a parlay, that result will be ignored. A four-team parlay, becomes a three-teamer, a three-team parlay becomes a two-teamer, etc. A tie in a parlay is the same thing as a push in a parlay.
However, keep in mind that some sportsbooks treat a tie as a loss in a parlay. That means winning three, losing zero, and tying one pick results in winning $0. Finally, some will nullify the parlay bet altogether. That means the person gets their money back, and it is treated as if the bet never occurred.
Avoiding Ties in Parlays
The best way to avoid ties in parlays is to simply not bet on contests that have an even point spread. If the point spread is even, there will always be that rare opportunity for a tie to occur.
Sign up for a FREE Consultation to start working with Legendary Sports Bettor Jon Price
Sportsbooks know this, and must have adjusted to keep that from having. Instead of listing a team as a -4 favorite, they’ll adjust it to -4.5. They don’t enjoy canceling bets that much either, since it will leave a bad taste in the mouth of players. Most would rather straight up lose than a tie and see no result.
Do Some Sports Offer Ties in Parlays?
Soccer remains the only major sport that offers ties as an option in parlays. This is because a draw is a fairly frequent result when the best team in the world go up against each other in the regular season. If the match is part of a tournament, the draw option won’t be there since someone will have to advance in extra time or penalty kicks.
Are Parlay Bets Worth the Hassle in the First Place?
Some people wonder if parlay betting is even worth it in the first place if there are such things as ties. People have polarizing opinions on these types of bets, but there is no denying that some big parlay wins can be accomplished if played the right way.
Staying away from any possible ties is probably the best move overall. It’s also worth staying away from any contests that might not be completed for one reason or not. For example, if including a baseball game with a high chance of a rainout, it’s better to just not include that as part of the parlay instead of hoping for the best.