What this guide covers
Cash out is a button that ends a bet early. It looks simple, and it is, but the number on the button hides a price. This guide explains how that number is set, how full and partial cash out differ, and how to tell when cashing out costs you more than it saves. It doesn't tell you when to cash out a particular bet. That's your call.
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What cash out is
When you cash out, you sell your bet back to the sportsbook before the event finishes. The book pays you the cash-out amount and the bet is settled. Whatever happens next in the game no longer affects you. If your team was winning and then loses, you keep the cash-out amount. If your team goes on to win big, you don't get the full return.
Cash out isn't available on every bet. It depends on the market, the event and whether the market is open at that moment. It may disappear when a market suspends, for example right after a goal.
How the offer is set
The cash-out price follows the live odds, minus a margin. If your bet is winning, the offer rises. If it's losing, it falls.
Here's the idea in plain numbers. Say you staked 10 at 3.00, for a potential return of 30. Late in the game your selection is now 1.50. A fair value for your bet would be roughly 30 divided by 1.50, which is 20. A cash-out offer will usually come in a little below that, because the book keeps a margin on the trade. Those are made-up numbers, and Stake doesn't publish its formula. The direction is what matters: the offer tracks the live price, and you usually get slightly less than fair value.
Full cash out
Full cash out settles the whole bet. You see the offer on your open bet, confirm it, and the amount goes to your balance. If the price moves while you're confirming, the offer may be refreshed or rejected, much like a live bet. Check the figure one more time before you tap, because once it's done, the bet is closed for good.
Partial cash out
Taking part of the offer locks in some return and keeps the rest live.
Say your cash-out offer is 20 on a 10 stake. You might take 10 now and leave the rest of the bet running at a reduced stake. If the bet then wins, you collect the 10 plus the return on the part you left. If it loses, you keep the 10. It's a way to split the difference between certainty and the full return. The same margin applies to the part you cash out.
Full, partial or neither
| Choice | What you get | What you give up |
|---|---|---|
| Full cash out | A certain amount now | Any further upside |
| Partial cash out | Some certainty, some upside | Part of the full return |
| Let it run | The full return if it wins | Nothing if it loses |
When cash out makes sense
When cash out makes sense
| Situation | Cash out? |
|---|---|
| Your view on the bet has changed | Maybe |
| You need to stop betting today | Maybe |
| You're nervous but nothing has changed | Usually not |
The honest test is this: if you could place the opposite bet right now at the current price, would you? If your view of the game has changed because of something real, such as an injury or a red card, cashing out can be a reasonable way to act on it. If nothing has changed and you're just nervous, cashing out mostly pays the margin for comfort.
Cash out can also be a responsible-gambling tool. If you've decided to stop for the day, settling open bets can help you close the app. That's a fair use, even if it costs a little.
Cash out on multiples
Accumulators are where cash out is most tempting. With one leg to go, the offer can look large next to your stake. The math works the same way: the offer is roughly the live value of the bet minus a margin. Cashing out with one leg left is often a decision about how much risk you want, not about value. Our accumulator guide explains how the legs multiply.
Things that catch people out
- A cash-out offer can change or vanish in a second.
- Once you confirm, the cash out can't be reversed.
- Cashing out a bet placed with a bonus or free bet may follow different rules. Check the offer terms on Stake and our bonus page.
- Some markets never offer cash out.
Related
See live betting and accumulators, where cash-out offers are common. Our odds guide helps you check the fair-value sum yourself.
Keeping it in proportion
Watching a cash-out number move can turn one bet into a stream of decisions. Decide before the event what you'll do. Treat every bet as money you can lose, and if you're chasing losses, stop and read our responsible gambling page.
FAQ
Is cash out always available?
No. It depends on the market.
Can I undo a cash out?
Usually not. Check Stake's sports rules.
Does cash out count for bonus wagering?
Check the offer terms.
Why did my cash-out offer drop suddenly?
The live price moved, often after a goal or point. The offer follows it.