Term
Push
A tie against the line: the stake comes back, with no profit and no loss.
Definition
A push happens when the result lands precisely on the number the bet was priced against — a spread of exactly the final margin, or a total that matches the score exactly. The stake is returned untouched. Pushes do not move the bankroll, so they neither help nor hurt drawdown, but they do occupy a settled pick.
Example
A bet on a team at -3 that wins by exactly 3 points pushes. A $100 stake returns $100. Betting the same game at -3.5 or -2.5 removes the possibility, which is why half-point lines exist.
Why it matters
A push returns the money but still consumes a graded pick toward the minimum-picks requirement, and contributes no ROI. Whole-number lines carry a real chance of one; half-point lines do not.
Related terms
Void
A cancelled bet. The stake is refunded in full and the bet is excluded from win rate, ROI and drawdown.
Settlement
Grading a bet once the match result arrives, crediting or debiting the bankroll and marking the bet won, lost, push or void.
Return on InvestmentROI
Cumulative profit (or loss) expressed as a percentage of total amount staked across all settled bets.
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