Hey there friend! As a fellow tech nerd with a passion for sports betting, I know how frustrating it can be when one of your parlay legs ends up a "no contest". You‘re left wondering if the whole parlay is bust or if you‘ll get paid out on the remaining bets. Well have no fear – your betting buddy Terry is here to break down everything you need to know about no contests affecting parlays!
Let‘s start with the basics – what is a no contest ruling?
In combat sports like boxing, MMA, kickboxing, etc. a "no contest" is when the referee stops the fight prematurely and no winner is officially declared. This usually happens due to:
- Accidental injuries like head clashes or low blows
- Equipment failures like the ring collapsing
- Disqualification for failed drug tests or fouls
Unlike a draw, no contests void the betting outcome entirely since the fight didn‘t continue to a decision. Now you might be asking yourself, does this void my WHOLE parlay if I bet on that fight? Let‘s dig into the murky details!
Online sportsbooks have different rules on no contests
After geeking out and crunching the data, I found that most regulated betting sites have specific policies on how no contests affect parlays:
| Sportsbook | No Contest Policy |
|---|---|
| DraftKings | Voids only the no contest leg |
| FanDuel | Voids only the no contest leg |
| BetMGM | Voids the entire parlay |
| Caesars | Removes no contest leg |
| Bet365 | Voids the entire parlay |
| BetRivers | Voids the entire parlay |
As you can see, DraftKings and FanDuel reduce the parlay after voiding the no contest leg, while BetMGM, Bet365, and BetRivers void the whole parlay. Caesars is somewhere in between, removing the no contest fight but honoring the rest.
Clearly sportsbooks take different stances, so it‘s crucial to read the fine print!
Key factors impacting how parlays are graded
Based on my own betting experience and digging into various sportsbook rules, here are the key decision points on how no contests affect parlays:
1. Was the no contest declared BEFORE or AFTER the bout ended?
If a fighter withdraws or is disqualified before the match, it‘s clearly void. But if the fight goes to decision then later is ruled a no contest due to a failed drug test or faulty gloves, some sportsbooks still honor the parlay based on the original ruling.
2. Does the sportbook reduce or void parlays containing a no contest?
As shown above, sites like DraftKings reduce the parlay by removing the void leg, while BetMGM just kills the whole parlay. This comes down to the specific wording in their terms.
3. How does the sportsbook classify no contests in their rules?
Some places like Bet365 categorize a no contest exactly the same as a postponement/cancellation, so they void all wagers. Others treat it as a distinct ruling that only voids that singular bet.
4. How many legs are in the parlay?
If you limited your parlay to just 2-3 legs, one void isn‘t as crushing versus a massive 10-leg parlay where losing one fight negates the whole ticket. Keeping parlays smaller is safer.
Tips for parlaying fights to avoid no contest headaches
Since you‘re a smart bettor, here are some pro tips to avoid the headache of a no contest spoiling your parlay:
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Stick to 2-3 team parlays at most when including MMA or boxing matches to limit risk.
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If parlaying multiple fights, review each fighter‘s history for propensity to cut or cause cuts that may end bouts early.
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Bet moneylines rather than round or method bets which have higher no contest risk due to greater fight length uncertainty.
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Hedge your parlay with safer bets like an opponent moneyline to offset potential losses from a questionable outcome.
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Thoroughly scan the sportsbook rules on parlays and no contests BEFORE placing your parlay.
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Reach out to customer support if you have any concerns about how no contests are handled for parlays.
Let‘s recap the key takeaways
Alright, let‘s do a quick recap of everything we just covered about no contests affecting your parlays:
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No contests completely void the individual fight wager, but may not void the parlay.
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Some sportsbooks reduce parlays after removing a no contest while others void the whole parlay.
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The #1 factor is the specific wording of that sportsbook‘s house rules.
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No contests declared after a bout are handled differently than a pre-match withdrawal.
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Keeping parlays smaller and hedging bets limits risk from unpredictable fight finishes.
Well, I hope this breakdown helps explain the confusing world of parlays and no contests. Let me know if you have any other sports betting questions! Your pal Terry is always happy to help a friend out. Now let‘s go win some money!
