What is Cashout in sports betting and how should it be done?
One of the key aspects of developing a solid sports betting strategy is to understand how to use the tools that bookmakers make available to us, such as the cashout. However, while cashing out may seem like an attractive option for securing quick wins, in reality, it can have negative long-term effects if not used correctly.
In this article, we’ll explain why you shouldn’t cashout until bookmakers have limited you and how you can maximise your winnings by using automated software like BetOven to do all the work for you.
We will answer all these questions and, most importantly, show you why the key to winning at sports betting is not in following hunches or tipsters, but in spotting and exploiting mistakes in bookmakers’ odds.
What is Cashout in sports betting?
A sports betting cashout is a feature that allows you to close a bet before the end of the event. In other words, you are given the option to lock in a profit or minimise a loss before the final outcome.
Let’s look at some possible scenarios:
- If your bet is winning, you can cashout to lock in a profit, even if it is less than what you would get if you let the event finish.
- If your bet is losing, you can cashout to recoup some of the money you bet, rather than losing it all.
Although at first glance it may seem like a useful tool, the reality is that cashing out is often detrimental to the bettor. Here’s why.
But first, let’s look at a couple of clear examples:
👇 Example 1:
You bet €100 on Real Madrid to win.
Minute 70: you are leading 1-0.
The bookmaker offers you a cashout of €160 (instead of the €200 you would win if it ends like this).
You decide whether to cash out now or let the bet run.
👇 Example 2:
You bet £50 on Barcelona to win against Atletico Madrid.
80th minute: the match is 1-1 and you see that Barcelona are suffering a lot.
The bookmaker offers you a cashout of €30.
If you accept it, you reduce your losses instead of losing the €50 if Barcelona lose in the last minute.
Now that we’ve seen these examples, let’s get to the million dollar question…
Should I Cashout on Sports Betting?
Although this option is useful in some scenarios, it can be a double-edged sword if not managed correctly. When you make a cashout, it sets off alarm bells for bookmakers, who are very attentive to this action. The reason is simple: they don’t want you to realise your winnings.
The bookmakers’ business is based on the fact that you keep betting and eventually lose money. However, this only happens if you don’t have a solid strategy and if you act on impulse or gut feeling.
If you want to find out how you can prevent bookmakers from detecting your cashouts, read on in the next paragraph.
The Danger of Premature Cashout
When you place a bet and the event is in progress, the bookmaker calculates in real time the current value of that bet based on how it is developing. If you are winning, they will offer to close the bet for an amount less than the total possible winnings. If you are losing, they will allow you to recoup a portion of your stake.
But that amount is never fair. The cashout always favours the bookmaker. ❌
The key is how they calculate the cashout amount: they always apply an additional margin to ensure a profit, just like when they set the odds. This means that even when they offer you to close with a profit, you are giving up positive expected value.
For example: 👇
– You bet €100 at odds 3.00.
– If all goes well, you could win €300.
– At the 60th minute, you’re winning and you’re offered a €220 cashout.
– That sounds like a good profit, but if the real value of the bet at that point is €250, you’re giving away €30 in value to the house.
That ‘gift’ is the margin that the house secures on each cashout.
In addition, when you decide to cashout, bookmakers will set off their alarms. This can result in them limiting or blocking your profile, as they prefer you to continue playing and losing money.
Often, a cashout is a symptom of the amateur punter who, for some reason, has managed to win a few bets, and is now afraid of losing his winnings, or wants to protect partial winnings, or simply feels insecure and does the typical panic selling. The fear and anxiety of losing their winnings causes many non-professional bettors to act on their emotions and fears, rather than based on a logical and well thought out strategy. This is one of the main reasons why cashing out can be detrimental: it takes you away from the discipline and emotional control you need to be a successful long-term gambler.
The important thing is that you should not let your emotions drive your decisions. Instead of cashing out prematurely, you need to have a well-defined long-term strategy. Let’s look at how you should act.
Why cashout can be a bad decision
👉 In short, here are the reasons why you should avoid cashing out:
You lose expected value: If your bet looks good and you decide to cashout, it is very likely that you are giving up an outcome that, in the long run, would be profitable.
You make decisions under pressure: The cashout pushes you to act out of fear, not strategy. This encourages impulsive and irrational decisions.
The bookmaker controls the cashout: They decide when they enable it, how much they offer and if they suspend it at key moments of the event. It is not a fair or neutral tool.
Not based on real odds: The cashout value is calculated with hidden margins, so it does not reflect the true statistical value of your position.
You are more likely to be locked out if you make a profit.
Automation vs Cashout: How to Win
When it comes to maximising your winnings in sports betting, two approaches may be in play: automation and cashout.
These approaches have very different implications for your long-term strategy (although one does not exclude the other).
Automation refers to the use of specialised software that finds and places bets intelligently, based on a predetermined strategy. BetOven’s software, for example, not only finds value bets and safe bets, but also detects bookmaker errors and places bets efficiently without manual intervention. The entire process is automated, allowing you to operate without the risk of impulsive decisions.
By using BetOven, not only will you be able to increase your profits by identifying the best betting opportunities, but if you follow the advice of the BetHunter Academy (access is 100% Free), you will also minimise the risk of bookmakers detecting your moves, which is a key factor for you to survive longer on the platform and maximise your profits.
Are there situations where cashout is useful?
Yes, but they are exceptional. For example:
• If you made a mistake and want to limit losses.
• If you use cashout as part of a very specific strategy, with a clear analysis of expected value.
• If you need immediate liquidity and prioritize short-term capital.
But as a general rule, cashout is not profitable. It’s a tool offered by bookmakers because it guarantees them an advantage.
Excluding these exceptional cases, the answer is simple: you should only cash out after fully maximizing your profiles in betting accounts. The most effective way is by using BetOven’s AI (which you can try for free) to maximize your profits.
By following these strategies, you will have extracted everything bookmakers could offer without getting blocked or limited too soon. Once you get restricted, you’ll know you’ve squeezed your accounts to the fullest, and that’s the perfect moment to cash out.
At this point, you can do it with full confidence and satisfaction because you will have reached the maximum potential of your bets, and your strategy will be complete.
With the help of all the quick insights provided by Bethunter Academy (which, as we remind you, is also free—you have direct access at the bottom of this page), you will have learned the best strategies to extend the lifespan of your betting profiles, preventing early detection.
In the following video, you can see how BetOven’s AI works and how you can try it for free to maximize your profits in sports betting:
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