ESPN BET launches refund promo for NFL player injury bets

^{Pictured: Eagles linebacker Ben VanSumeren suffered an injury at the very start of the game}

To mark the start of the new NFL season, bookmaker ESPN BET has introduced an insurance promotion for player prop bets. The idea is simple: if a bettor places a wager on an individual player stat and that player gets injured in the first half, then in the event of a losing bet, the stake is refunded as a free bet. The offer applies to all games throughout the season.

There are, however, a few conditions. If the bet wins, it is settled as a standard payout. In parlays, such a wager is graded at odds of 1.0 (if the selection loses and the promo rules apply).

Most importantly, the player’s official status matters: refunds are only issued if the player is officially ruled “out” for the remainder of the game. If the athlete simply does not return for the second half but never receives an “out” designation, the bet is graded as a normal wager.

In short, the promotion helps protect bettors from losing money due to early injuries, but refunds only apply when all requirements are met. For example, in the season opener between the Philadelphia Eagles and the Dallas Cowboys, both Ben VanSumeren and Will Shipley were injured. VanSumeren went down early, was officially declared “out,” and therefore qualified for the refund. Shipley, however, was injured in the third quarter and listed as “questionable,” meaning he would not qualify for two reasons: the timing of the injury and his status designation.

For the bookmaker, this move looks risky — injuries are a regular occurrence in the NFL, especially among high-usage players who attract the most betting action. Even in the very first game of the new season, bettors already had a situation where their stakes could be refunded — albeit in the form of free bets.