Cash out is where the bookmaker will offer you the opportunity to settle your bet before the event has ended. As a sporting event progresses, bookmakers will constantly update your cash out price according to the chance of your bet winning. This can be particularly beneficial when backing accumulators that include a number of different selections.
If the bet is looking like it will win, the bookies will give you a cash out value close to your original returns, but if your bet is looking like it will lose, they will offer a lower value. This is good for punters as it means they have the opportunity to make sure they win something rather than risking losing the bet fully. However, the risk is that you could cash out and lose out on potential winnings if your bet was to ultimately be successful.
An example of cash out
A cash out example would be if you had placed a bet on England to beat Croatia in 90 minutes, and they were 1-0 up in the 85th minute. The bookies will calculate a cash out value to try and get you to take their offer, which will be lower than your potential returns if the bet wins. You might decide to take this offer if you think that Croatia might equalize in the final five minutes of the match.
If your bet was placed at 5/1 with a 10 stake, you would return 60, but the bookies may offer you a cash out of 35, which is lower, but guaranteed if you take it.
Cash out often happens during a live event such as a football match. Read our full list of the best in-play betting sites.
Partial cash out is a great tool for punters as it gives you even more control over your in-play bets, with Betfair having the best systems for this. You are allowed to select an amount of your bet to cash out while you allow the rest of your stake to run on until the event has ended.
An example of this would be that you have bet on England to beat Scotland in the Euros and England are winning 2-0, and you have a cash out value of 100. You can decide to cash out a certain amount of that 100, for example, 10, and leave the other 90 to continue to run on your original bet. Cash out is often available on accumulators.
This is great for punters as it means you may be able to ensure you have winnings while also keeping your original bet going which could also win, but takes away some of the risk.
As explained above, bet365 are the only bookmaker on our list to provide the option of auto cash out, which is why they are our top bookmaker. You can create a request to cash out your bet automatically which takes away the burden of you having to be constantly watching the cash out value. This is excellent for the user as the request applies even if youre logged out of your account.
The cash out systems on most betting sites are similar. Most bookies will have a My Bets section where all of your open bets will be kept. Here you will be able to see if the bet is eligible for cash out as it will say at the bottom of the bet a cash out value. You can then click the cash out button and the bet will be settled with that amount going into your account.
Partial cash out is slightly different in that instead of a cash out button there will usually be a bar for you to slide between the cash out value. Once you have decided how much you want to cash out, leave the bar on that number and then click the cash out button.
There are a number of factors that can contribute to a punter deciding the right time to cash out. Some will debate about when the best time to cash out is, but if you follow a few simple rules you can make an informed decision.
The obvious time to cash out would be if you believe your bet is going to lose and you have a cash out value. So if you have a bet on a football team and they are losing and you think they will not be able to win, then cashing out might be the best option.
There are also times where your bet may be winning but there may be a small amount of time left in the match, with the opposition constantly attacking. You may then think your bet will lose, and instead of risking the team conceding a goal, you can cash out to ensure you are winning something rather than losing the entire bet.
You might also cash out if the value the bookies are giving you is sufficient. If you have put 1 on an accumulator at 100/1 and they are offering a cash out of 70 with one leg left to go, it might be worth cashing out.
These decisions to cash out go back to one of the main principles of betting which is to know the sport youre betting on. If you bet on a match in a league you do not know, then its unlikely you will know the right time to cash out. Bet on a league with teams you do know, and you will be able to make a well-informed decision on when to cash out. For example, you might have backed a team to win 1-0 but know the opposition have a reputation for scoring in the last 15 minutes, so cash out the bet before that can happen.
A main way to know what is happening with your bet is to watch it live, with online bookmakers often showing some sports that broadcast TV doesnt. Read our comprehensive list of the best live-streaming betting sites here.
Cash out is suspended when the bookies are updating the odds of the market. This means your cash out value is then re-worked out with the likelihood of your bet winning. An example of a specific match event which can cause your cash out to be suspended is something like a goal, yellow card or substitution in a football match. Be aware, some bookmakers suspend the market in the final few minutes of the game as they begin taking markets down as the match is ending. This can sometimes mean that cashing out is unavailable for stoppage time.
There are a number of reasons cash out may be unavailable on your bet. There are some markets that cash out will not be available on, which include bets such as outright winners of leagues or tournaments. It can also be the type of bet that does not have a cash out option, such as ante-post betting in horse racing.
What sports can cash out be used on?
The sorts you can use cash out on differ from bookmaker to bookmaker, but all of the ones on our list have the option on the sports below.
When you use free bets, bookies will vary on their rules on whether you can cash out or not. Most bookmakers will make the cash out unavailable until the value of the cash out is higher than your free bet. This is because free bet stakes are not part of any returns when you use them.
