Explained: How Early Cash Out Works
A sportsbook may offer an online betting cash out option at any point during an event. Whether you've placed a single, parlay, futures, or in-play wager, an operator could give you a chance to secure some or all of your stake back. If the event hasn't started, you may even be able to request a full stake cash out.
However, there's a high chance that the sportsbook's payout is lower than your stake amount. This will usually be the case when the odds for your payout have changed. It's also possible that online sportsbooks charge a fee, meaning you'll pay the betting sites margins twice.
One example of a betting cash out would be if a player makes a pre-match moneyline bet backing the New York Giants. If the Giants are in the lead in the final quarter, but it looks possible that their rival could come back, a bettor could request a cashout.
The payout will reflect the live odds at this time instead of the odds when they placed the bet. If the Giants lose, bettors can rest easy knowing they still secured a payout. If the Giants go on to win, then at least there was still some profit earned. It is, therefore, essential to know why and when to request a cash out.
Does Cash Out Include Your Stake?
Like any payout, the cash out will include your stake. For bets where you are likely to win, you will be returned your stake and a portion of your potential profits. For bets where you are likely to lose, you will only be returned a portion of your stake and no winnings.
There may be instances before an event has started when you can request a cash out on your bet. Sometimes, you won't be charged anything, but it's more likely that a small fee will be added. For this reason, we suggest only cashing out before events if you have no confidence whatsoever in the outcome.