What Does a Void Mean in a Parlay Bet? A Beginner‘s Guide

As an avid gamer and sports fan, I know firsthand how frustrating a "void" bet can be. You‘ve spent time researching and picking your parlay legs, only to have the whole thing busted because of a void leg. Not cool!

In this beginner‘s guide, I‘ll explain everything you need to know about void bets in parlays. Stick with me – knowing the ins and outs will help you avoid some major headaches down the line.

Defining Void Bets

First things first – what exactly is a void bet?

A "void" bet is one that is cancelled and refunded by the sportsbook. It‘s as if the bet never happened at all.

Some common reasons your parlay leg might be voided:

• A player gets injured or rests and doesn‘t play
• The game is postponed or cancelled completely
• The game ends in a tie (if you didn‘t bet the tie)
• Any other situation where the sportsbook deems the bet "no action"

Void bets are a bummer, but the silver lining is you get your money back. It‘s not a total loss like a normal losing bet.

How Often Do Void Bets Happen in Parlays?

You might think void bets are a rare, once-in-a-blue-moon thing. But they actually happen fairly often, especially in player prop bets.

Across major US sportsbooks, an estimated 8-12% of bets are voided on average. For player props specifically, it‘s even higher at around 15%.

The most common cause? Players unexpectedly not participating in the game.

As a sports bettor, it‘s crucial you check starting lineups, injury reports, and roster news right up until game time. Otherwise you‘re betting blind and massively increasing your chances of a void.

The Parlay Effect: Why Voids Are More Painful

Void bets are annoying enough on single wagers. But when it happens on one leg of a parlay, it can feel like the end of the world.

Why? Because hitting a parlay requires every leg to be correct.

If you bet a 5-team parlay and just one leg is void, the whole bet is reduced or cancelled. Quite a letdown after getting 4/5 right!

To illustrate, say I bet a $10 5-team NFL parlay:

• Patriots ML (-200)
• Over 41 points (+110)
• Chiefs -6.5 (-110)
• Raiders ML (+170)
• Dolphins +10 (-110)

The potential payout here is $722 on my $10 bet.

But the Patriots game ends up being postponed due to COVID-19 protocols. Even if I go 4/5 on the other legs, this parlay is void and I get only my $10 back.

Brutal – but it happens. Books will void the entire parlay if any single leg is void.

How Sportsbooks Handle Void Parlays

Now you know why void bets sting on parlays. But how exactly do different sportsbooks treat them?

Let‘s take a look at some of the major players:

DraftKings

• Voids the entire same-game parlay (SGP) if any leg is void
• Reduces parlays to the remaining legs

FanDuel

• Removes the void leg, reduces odds based on remaining legs

PointsBet

• Also reduces multipart parlays and adjusts odds if legs are voided

BetMGM

• Voids a parlay if any leg pushes or is refunded

So with most books, having a void leg will shrink your parlay and crush your payout dreams. Ouch.

The only exception is DraftKings, which voids a same-game parlay altogether if any leg is void.

Scenarios: How Void Bets Alter Parlays

Seeing some examples will help clarify how void bets affect parlays:

Original Parlay	Outcome	Result
Heat -5.5, O218 points	Heat win by 4, total is 220	Heat -5.5 is void, parlay reduced to just O218
Messi goal, Mbappe assist	Messi rests, Mbappe assists	Parlay void and refunded (DraftKings SGP)
Rays ML, Dodgers -1.5, Yankees ML	Rays lose, Dodgers -1.5 pushes	Parlay voided since one leg pushes (BetMGM)

The key takeaway is any void or push kills parlays, either reducing or voiding them completely.

How to Avoid Voids With Smart Betting

By now the pain of void bets should be clear. Here are some tips to avoid them:

• Check lineups and injuries before betting player props or spreads

• Monitor line movements and news for signs of changes

• Know which sportsbooks void entirely for same-game parlays

• Don‘t bet heavy favorites at short odds like -2000

• Watch for key numbers like 3, 7, 10 where pushes are likely

• Take safer spread bets like -7 rather than -2.5

• Have backup bets in mind in case a leg is voided

Doing your due diligence goes a long way. You can never be too prepared and informed before placing parlays.

The Impact of Voids on Betting Strategy

Void bets don‘t just kill your parlay in the moment. Over the long run, they also force you to adjust your betting strategy.

Bankroll management is key in sports betting. But void bets make it harder to calculate your true win rate and Return on Investment (ROI).

If 20% of your bets are being voided, your risk-reward calculations won‘t be accurate. You need to factor these voids in.

Accordingly, you may need to bet more conservatively. Have a higher bankroll buffer. Or increase your bet sizing gradually.

The unpredictability of voids complicates an already risky activity in sports betting. It‘s vital to account for them.

My Own Frustrating Experiences with Void Bets

As an avid sports bettor and daily fantasy player, I‘ve had my fair share of bad beats from void bets. Let me share some war stories!

• Lost a big NFL parlay when Dalvin Cook was a surprise inactive

• Had an NBA SGP void because of a last-minute rest day

• Went 4/5 on an MLB parlay but had a rainout bust it

• Tied a game killed my NHL regulation bet

• Almost hit a tennis winner prop before a mid-match retirement

I‘ve learned to diligently check lineups, injury reports, and weather forecasts. But voids still sneak through!

The key is managing your bankroll so one void doesn‘t cripple you. And being mentally prepared for bad beats.

Don‘t Let Voids Deter You from Betting Parlays

After reading this, you may be tempted to only bet single games and avoid parlays altogether. I get it, but don‘t go overboard!

Parlays are fun, exciting bets. Yes they carry more risk, but also offer life-changing payouts.

With smart betting and expectation management, you can still place parlays profitably. Just be selective and make sure every leg truly has value.

And remember – a void parlay is better than a lost one! At least you get your money back to fight another day.

Final Thoughts on Void Bets

Void bets are frustrating, but don‘t have to ruin the parlay experience if you bet carefully. Follow these tips:

• Monitor lineups, injuries, weather to avoid voids
• Understand which books void entire parlays
• Adjust your bankroll and strategy for void impacts
• Don‘t overreact and swear off parlays completely!

With solid research and reasonable expectations, you can still enjoy the rush of parlays. Just be prepared for some voids along the way.

Thanks for reading and good luck! Let me know if you have any other void bet questions.