Cash out is a feature that bettors appreciate because they can at least get some of their money back when they are uncertain about their bet going through. The feature allows the bettor to settle the bet without waiting for the outcome, and cash out betting sites offer this option for certain sports and markets. Check out the list below to find the best cash out betting sites on our website, and make sure to read our sportsbook reviews before picking your new sports betting destination.
What Is a Cash Out in Betting?
Every sports bet works in a simple way: you pick the odds you want to bet on, place your bet, and wait for the outcome. If your bet wins, you get the payout indicated on your bet slip, and if the bet loses, well, better luck next time.
The cash-out feature is an option that you can use during that in-between period while your bet is active. It provides flexibility and a kind of control over the bet, regardless of its outcome.
The sportsbook allows you to cash out on your bet before the event you bet on ends, at a rate that it determines. That rate is typically lower than the odds you placed your bet on in the first place, but if you are increasingly uncertain that the bet will win, cashing out seems like a good chance to get something out of the potentially losing bet.
Cash-out betting sites offer this option for a limited time up until a certain moment in the event (or the final event in the accumulator bet), and it is your decision whether to take it or wait for the outcome of your original bet.
For example, let’s say that you placed an accumulator bet on five football matches. You got three of them right, and the fourth is going just fine at half-time, but have your doubts regarding the fifth match.
The sportsbook offers a cash-out option at that time at decreased odds from your original accumulator bet, but you would still make a profit, and you won’t have to worry about the fifth match if you take it. The decision is all yours, and we advise you to rely on your knowledge of the sport, your odds, and your predictions about the remaining matches.
How Is a Cash Out Calculated?
Sportsbooks will calculate the cash out differently based on a few criteria. First, whether the cash out happens before the event (or each of the events of your accumulator bet) has started or is in play. The sportsbook will have an algorithm to calculate the potential payout, and you should keep in mind that there will always be a small house edge involved, typically up to 10%.
For example, a sportsbook could offer 100% or 90% of your stake back if you change your mind soon after making the bet. If the cash-out happens live, meaning while the matches are ongoing, then a sportsbook considers your original bet, potential payout, and live odds at the moment of calculating the cash-out.
The cash-out value changes depending on the developments in the events you bet on, so sometimes you have to rely on your gut other than your knowledge when deciding whether to accept the cash-out offer or wait for the outcome of your original bet.
Types of Cash Outs
Now that we have explained briefly what the calculation looks like, let’s see what types of cash outs sportsbooks offer to punters. This will help you better understand them and pick the type that suits you best in various situations.
Full Cash Out
Full cash out is the most common type of cash out in the market. It allows bettors to settle their bet in full, regardless of whether it is a single or multiple bet. When you receive a full cash out offer and accept it, you are done with your original bet, no matter its final outcome.
Full cash out can happen at any time the sportsbook offers it, so it’s not something you can only take before the events begin. The value of the full in-play cash out will likely be different than the one that was offered before the beginning of the events, depending on the live developments.
Partial Cash Out
Partial cash out is an exciting option for punters who would like to take advantage of the cash out, but still, leave the option of winning the original bet open. By using the slider option that the sportsbook provides, you can choose the percentage of the bet you wish to cash out and leave the remaining part as a stake on the original bet.
Partial cash out option could be a good idea when your accumulator bet is going as you desire, but you are uncertain about the final fixture, for example. You can, of course, use the option on a single bet, as well. If you have placed a bet on a team that is leading 1:0, and the sportsbook offers cash out in play, you can choose to cash out 30% and leave the rest to continue your original bet.
Auto Cash Out
Auto or automatic cash outs are not as common in the market as full and partial cash outs. Sportsbooks that offer auto cash outs will give you a chance to set the limit for your cash out somewhere between your current cash out offer and the maximum profit for your bet.
If the cash out offer reaches the amount you have set, the sportsbook will automatically cash out the bet into your account without any further involvement from your side. Sportsbooks typically provide you with an option to cancel your auto cash out up until a certain point of the event you bet on.
The best cash out betting sites could even provide an opportunity to edit the auto cash out level, but again up until a certain point of the ongoing event.
The auto cash out option also takes away the possibility of a full payout, just like any other cash out, but it also allows you to get the profit that you are satisfied with from your bet, especially when you are not able to follow your bet live.
Single Bet Cash Out
When you bet on a single event, your cash out option will depend on the development of that one event and the odds the sportsbook offers when something happens. Let’s give an example of a single bet on the tennis tournament winner.
Say you placed a bet on Carlos Alcaraz to win the French Open. The tournament starts, and your bet seems to be going great, with Alcaraz easily winning his opening matches. However, you notice that his performance seems to be dropping entering the second tournament week, and you become uncertain that your bet will come through.
At that point, you can consider the cash out offer your sportsbook provides, calculate your risks and decide whether you want to cash out and potentially invest your money in a different player to win the tournament or stick with Alcaraz and hope for the best.
Multiples Cash Out
Cashing out on a multiple bet might not be an option with all the sportsbooks offering single bet cash outs, so we suggest you read the terms and conditions before placing your multiple bet. Multiples require a bit more calculations from your side when considering a cash-out option, but the sportsbook usually does the legwork for you.
Let’s say you have an ongoing football accumulator bet, and four out of the five matches you bet on have already won. If you are uncertain about the outcome of the fifth match, you can check if the sportsbook has the cash-out option on your bet. The profit won’t be as high as it would be if your original bet won, but it could give you peace of mind.
Football accumulator bets are an excellent example of multiples cash out, but these are possible for other sports as well, including horse racing. Some sportsbooks might even offer a chance to cash out on a bet builder bet.
What Is Cash Out In-Play?
We have mentioned cashing out in-play many times, but why exactly should you do that? Betting sites with cash out typically also offer the in-play cash-out option, and you just need to decide when it is a good option for you.
To cash out in-play means to request a cash out while the event (or more of them) is ongoing. That’s when most cash outs actually happen, when certain developments change the course of the event, or when bettors have a change of heart about their original bet.
Cash-out rates fluctuate in play, again depending on the changes in the event that you are following. Cashing out in-play is common for multiple bets, especially if there is one event left on the bet slip and the sportsbook offers an attractive cash out.
Deciding whether or not to cash out is not an easy call, and when in doubt, there are many factors to consider. However, when you are too impatient to wait for the outcome of that final game and the sportsbook is offering a cash out that would bring you a decent profit, that’s an option worth considering.
Also, if you notice that your bet is not going as you anticipated and the sportsbook offers a cash out that could at least give you your stake back, then you could weigh your options and consider taking the cash out offer.
Why Do Betting Sites Offer Cash Outs?
Cash out is a good option for punters who don’t wish to wait on the outcome of their bet and risk losing their stake, as well as those who get unsure about the final leg of their accumulator bet. In that case, they can get their stake back and even make a profit if they get all other events right.
It’s true that cashing out is often a good option for bettors, but why do betting sites with cash out offer them? Apart from it being a useful perk to retain customers who enjoy using that particular betting feature, it also allows sportsbooks to minimise their losses. If a punter is unsure about a bet that could bring them a big payout and accepts the sportsbook’s cash-out offer, if the bet wins later, that’s a great deal for the sportsbook.
Other sports betting features are also beneficial to both sides, but it seems that the cash-out feature really goes both ways, depending on individual cases. One way or another, it is a popular feature that punters like and sportsbooks don’t shy away from offering.
Tips on Choosing the Best Cash Out Betting Sites
The best online betting sites with cash out should offer everything that you appreciate in any sportsbook, including a robust cash-out feature. Having the option to cash out your bet is important, but if the sportsbook doesn’t meet other criteria to be considered among the best in the industry, that might not be enough.
Here are some factors we suggest you consider when rating cash out betting sites:
- Competitive odds: When a sportsbook constantly offers good and competitive odds, it signals that it is a good sportsbook that values its customers. If you bet on lower odds week in and week out, you could end up losing profit on your bets only because you picked the wrong sportsbook to place your bets with.
- The variety of markets: If you enjoy betting on various markets, especially those less popular ones, you’ll appreciate a sportsbook that offers a great variety of markets. Even if you always bet on the same markets, it doesn’t mean that you won’t change your mind in the future and start betting on something new.
- Cash-out options and features: Cash out offers differ from one sportsbook to another. Sometimes you can only cash out on the bets placed on certain sports or markets, only at a certain point of the process, etc. Look for sports betting sites that provide a more comprehensive cash-out feature, alongside other sports betting features.
- In-play betting as a feature: If a sportsbook doesn’t offer in-play betting, it probably doesn’t allow in-play cashing out either. If that is something you appreciate, then make sure to pay attention to this detail as well.
- Responsive customer service: If something goes wrong or you have any questions about your bet, a responsive customer service team is crucial so you don’t miss out on any opportunities.