Why Did My Winning Bet Get Marked as a Loss? Common Reasons

Have you ever placed a bet, watched the game unfold exactly as you predicted, only to find out later that your winning bet was counted as a loss by the bookmaker? It’s a frustrating scenario that can leave you scratching your head and wondering what went wrong. Let’s dive into common reasons behind bet miscalculations.

Understanding Settlement Rules for Win and Draw Bets

Here’s the deal: not all bets on a team’s win or a draw are straightforward. Take the classic 1X2 bet (team 1 wins, draw, or team 2 wins), for example. 

This type of bet typically applies only to the regular game time in sports like football, where it’s 90 minutes (two 45-minute halves) plus stoppage time, or hockey, with its three 20-minute periods.

Imagine this scenario: in the Champions League final, Real Madrid wins in overtime after a tied regular time. You bet on Real Madrid to win, but the bookie calls it a loss. Confusing, right? That’s because your bet was placed on them winning in regular time.

Excerpt from Bet365 rules:

Tip: Before you place your bets, it pays to double-check the game rules. If there’s a possibility of overtime or extra periods, the bookie typically specifies that your bet applies to regular game time only. If you want to bet on the outcome including overtime, look for options like “To Win the Match.”

Sources of Bookmakers to Settle Bets

When it comes to settling bets, there’s no single sports stats hub that all bookies use. Open up a few major stats sites, and you’ll see the numbers vary. So what’s a bookmaker to do?

Each bookie leans on its own official sports stats sources, which you can find listed in the sports betting rules on your betting company’s website.

For clarity, let’s take a peek at a screenshot from the 1xBet website, showing the basketball and football championships and their official stats sources.

What Happens If the Bookmaker Makes a Mistake?

Hey, nobody’s perfect — not even your bookie. Sometimes, they might fumble the ball when it comes to paying out bets. Maybe there’s a glitch in the system, or someone just had a bad day.

But these mix-ups are rare, and there’s no need to freak out. Most times, the bookmakers will catch the error and fix your bet faster than a ref calling a timeout.

If you notice a discrepancy with your bet, don’t hesitate to reach out to customer support. Provide all the necessary evidence of your win, and they’ll take care of it.