Push, void and dead heat: why tied bets settle differently
Compare returned stakes, cancelled wagers and reduced dead-heat returns, using scoped DraftKings Virginia and FanDuel New York rules.
A tied sporting result does not produce one universal betting outcome. Depending on the market, it can lead to a returned stake, a reduced return or a loss when a draw was a separate selection. A void bet raises a further question: whether the wager is being cancelled under a particular rule. Read the market before interpreting the settlement label.
A push returns the stake on a single bet
The DraftKings rules retrieved October 26, 2026 identify their jurisdiction as Virginia. They define a push as neither a win nor a loss, returning only the stake on a single bet. Their settlement examples include certain two-selection markets where no draw option was offered. Futures and particular sport or market provisions require separate attention.
For a hypothetical $20 single wager settled as a push, a $20 return means $0 profit. It is not a $20 win in addition to the returned stake. This distinction matters when comparing an account statement with a betslip's projected winning return.
A void is a cancellation under the applicable rules
DraftKings' US void-bet help describes a void as a cancelled bet and says the stake is refunded. Its examples include an unplayed game or a player who does not participate. The linked sport rules still matter: a general example should not replace the conditions for the exact market.
Keep the full market name and accepted terms with the bet record. Two bets referring to the same match can answer different questions, such as the final result and an already-completed segment. A settlement explanation should identify the clause applied, rather than merely repeat that the event changed.
A dead heat can reduce the entire return
FanDuel's New York rules, displaying an October 15, 2026 effective date at this review, describe dead heats where winning selections exceed available winning positions. Their formula applies the share of available positions to the stake before calculating the return.
Consider a hypothetical $30 bet at decimal odds of 4.0, with three selections tying for one winning position. If that dead-heat method applies, the return is $30 × (1 ÷ 3) × 4 = $40, including the reduced stake. Compared with the original $30 paid, the net result is $10. It would be incorrect to divide only the projected profit while refunding the entire original stake.
Parlays and draw markets need their own check
DraftKings' push definition says a pushed parlay leg leaves the stake on the remaining legs, rather than returning the whole original parlay stake immediately. Dead-heat legs also require the operator's parlay provisions. A bet combining several selections therefore needs more than the single-bet examples above.
Before betting, check whether a draw is offered, which result period counts and what tie rule applies. After settlement, compare the stake, odds, available places and return using that exact rule. These scoped examples explain the differences; they do not establish identical settlement policies across all US sportsbooks.
Sources and checks
- DraftKings: Virginia-scoped General Rules, definitions and sections C/F/G · Checked 2026-10-26
- FanDuel: New York Sportsbook House Rules · Checked 2026-10-26
- DraftKings: Why does my bet result say Void? (US) · Checked 2026-10-26