Rule 4, Dead Heats and Void Bets: Settlement Terms

The short answer

Rule 4, dead heats and void bets describe different settlement outcomes. A Rule 4 deduction can reduce winnings after another competitor withdraws; a dead-heat rule can reduce the stake settled at winning odds when competitors tie; and a void bet is cancelled for settlement. The applicable market and bookmaker rules determine what happens to your particular bet.

How the terms work

Rule 4 and withdrawals

Start by checking whether your own selection withdrew or whether it was another competitor. Those situations can lead to different outcomes.

At Betfair Sportsbook, a non-runner-no-bet market generally returns the stake if your selected competitor withdraws before the event starts, unless the relevant rules say otherwise. But if another competitor withdraws, a Rule 4 equivalent may reduce the winnings on an affected bet. That does not automatically void every other bet in the event.

For horse racing, Betfair expresses Rule 4 deductions as pence per pound, based on the withdrawn horse’s odds at the time of withdrawal. A deduction of 20p in the pound, for example, means 20p is deducted for each £1 of affected winnings. The rate in the worked example below is assumed; it is not a rate for a particular withdrawal.

Dead heats

A dead heat is a tie for a finishing position. Under Betfair Sportsbook’s general rule for two selections tying, half the stake is applied at full odds and the other half is lost. Specific sport rules may differ, so do not assume the same calculation applies to every tie or market.

To follow the calculation, first identify the stake that counts at full odds. Then multiply that portion by the decimal odds to find the return. The other half is not added back separately under the two-way rule described above. The return is the amount paid back; it is not necessarily the same as the profit after allowing for the original stake.

Void bets

A void bet is cancelled for settlement rather than treated as an ordinary winner or loser. What happens next depends on the applicable terms. One confirmed refund situation is Betfair Sportsbook’s general non-runner-no-bet treatment of a selection withdrawn before the event starts, subject to the relevant rules.

There are other reasons a bet may be void. Betfair says bets placed after the result is known are void, while its abandonment rules depend on the market. A withdrawal or an abandoned event is therefore a reason to check the relevant rule, not a shortcut to assuming every bet is settled identically.

Worked examples: three different outcomes

These are examples, not predictions. Each uses a £10 cash single and decimal odds of 4.00. The Rule 4 rate and settlement conditions are assumed for illustration; check the actual rules and deduction for the bet concerned.

Example: Rule 4 deduction

Suppose the selection wins and a 20p-in-the-pound deduction applies to its winnings:

• Winnings before deduction: £10 × (4.00 − 1) = £30.
• Deduction: £30 × 0.20 = £6.
• Adjusted winnings: £30 − £6 = £24.
• Total return including the £10 stake: £24 + £10 = £34.

The deduction is calculated on the £30 winnings, not the £40 return before the deduction.

Example: two-way dead heat

Suppose the selection ties for first with one other selection and the general two-way rule described above applies:

• Stake applied at full odds: £10 ÷ 2 = £5.
• Return: £5 × 4.00 = £20.
• The other £5 of stake is lost and is not added to that return.
• Profit after the original stake: £20 − £10 = £10.

Example: refunded stake

Suppose the selected competitor withdraws before the event starts in a non-runner-no-bet market, and the applicable rule refunds the full £10 stake:

• Stake refunded: £10.
• Winnings: £0.
• Total returned: £10 + £0 = £10.

Where rules differ and what to check

The Gambling Commission requires applicable betting licensees to publish core acceptance and settlement rules, including how withdrawals, non-runners and void bets are treated. Before betting, look for both the general rules and any rules specific to the sport and market.

Check the market wording carefully. Betfair Sportsbook says some markets are all-in compete or not: a bet on a competitor who withdraws before taking part is a losing bet. That is different from its general non-runner-no-bet treatment. The label on the market matters, as does any exception in its specific rules.

Also check whether you are using a sportsbook or an exchange. Betfair distinguishes its exchange non-runner adjustment from a sportsbook Rule 4 deduction: the exchange reduction factor is applied to the prices of matched bets for both backers and layers. Do not transfer the sportsbook example above directly to an exchange bet.

If a promotion is involved, read its terms alongside the market rules. The treatment of a particular promotional stake when a bet is void is not confirmed here, so check the offer rather than assuming it follows the cash example.

Common mistakes to avoid

Confusing your withdrawal with someone else’s. A refund for your non-runner and a deduction after another competitor withdraws are separate possibilities. Check which competitor withdrew and which market rules apply.

Treating a dead heat as a void. A tied selection can still be settled under a dead-heat rule. In the two-way example, only half the stake is applied at full odds; the bet is not simply cancelled.

Applying a deduction to the whole return. In the Rule 4 example, the assumed percentage is taken from winnings, with the stake then added to the adjusted winnings. Check the operator’s stated deduction and calculation for an actual bet.

Using one rule for every event. Specific sport rules may differ from a general dead-heat rule, and abandonment treatment depends on the market. Keep the bet details and check the rules that apply to that selection.

Related guides to read next

For help following the arithmetic, see fractional and decimal odds. For different bet structures, read singles, doubles and accumulators. You can also explore promotion settlement terms or browse the betting glossary.