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What is Cash Out in Sports Betting?

Cash out is a sports betting feature that allows bettors to settle a bet before the game or event has finished. Cash out can help lock in profit or reduce losses on live games and wagers.

Fanatics Sportsbook offers cash out options across NFL, NBA, MLB, NHL, soccer, and more sports. Join Fanatics Sportsbook and get up to $1000 in FanCash with code FAN2026.

What is Cash Out?

Cash out is a sportsbook feature that allows bettors to settle a sports bet before the game or event has finished. Sportsbooks offer a cash out option when the event is live, which you can accept to lock in a profit or limit losses, depending on how your wager is doing.

The cash out value offered by the sportsbook is dependent on a range of factors, including the current game score, how much time is remaining in the game, and other results if your bet is a parlay or same-game parlay.

How Does Cash Out Work?

Cash out works by allowing bettors to settle a bet when the game you have bet on is still live. Throughout the game, sportsbooks will recalculate your cash out offer depending on how your bet is performing, and as various events occur within the game that help or hinder the chances of your bet winning.

If cash out is available, you will see a cash out option in your bet slip. If you click cash out, your bet will be settled before the end of the game or event, and you will be credited with the cash out value. If you do not want to cash out, simply ignore the offer and let your bet ride until the end of the game.

Full vs Partial Cash Out

Some sportsbooks offer different cash out options, including full cash out and partial cash out. Full cash out allows you to settle the entire bet before the end of the game or event. This is the most common cash out option offered by the majority of sportsbooks.

Partial cash out allows you to cash out some of your bet, and leave a portion of your bet to ride until the game ends. Partial cash out can help you secure a return on your wager, while leaving some of your stake live. It's a good option for bettors looking to balance risk and reward.

When Should You Cash Out?

There is no specific time during an event or game that is the best time to cash out a sports bet. There are too many variables affecting each bet to consider a universal best time to cash out, including the cash out value, live odds, the state of the game, time remaining, and more.

Generally, if the cash out being offered is higher than your stake and you are happy with the cash out value, it could be a good decision to cash out and lock in some profit from your wager. Likewise, if the cash out value is lower than your stake and your bet looks likely to lose, cashing out can still be a good option, as you can recoup some of your stake.

Cash Out Example

You place a $100 moneyline bet on the Kansas City Chiefs at +150 odds.

  • Potential profit: $150
  • Total payout if the bet wins: $250

The Chiefs take a 24-10 lead in the fourth quarter and become strong favorites to win. Rather than waiting for the game to end, your sportsbook offers a cash out of $210.

You now have two options:

  • Cash out and guarantee a return of $210, securing a $110 profit
  • Let the bet run and receive the full $250 payout if the Chiefs win

If you cash out, you lock in a profit and eliminate the risk of a late comeback. However, if the Chiefs win and you had not cashed out, you would have received an additional $40.

Pros and Cons of Cash Out

Cash out offers bettors greater control and flexibility over their wagers, but it doesn't always provide the best value.

Pros

  • Lock in profits before the game ends
  • Reduce potential losses on a wager that isn't going your way
  • Gives bettors more control over open bets
  • Particularly useful for parlays and same-game parlays
  • Allows bettors to react to live game developments

Cons

  • Cash out offers are lower than the full potential payout
  • Not all sportsbooks, sports, or bet types offer cash out
  • Cash out values can change rapidly during live events
  • Sportsbooks build a margin into cash out offers, making them less favorable than true market value
  • Cashing out too often may limit long-term profits on winning bets

Additional Betting Insight & Explainers

The Fanatics Sportsbook blog offers further insight to sports betting markets, terms, and methods, including:

Cash Out FAQs

Can you cash out a parlay?

Yes, cash out is widely available for parlays and same-game parlays across several sportsbooks, including Fanatics Sportsbook. Note that cash out can become suspended at certain moments in games, and not all sportsbooks offer cash out.

Can you cash out a losing bet?

Yes, you can cash out a losing sports bet. But, if your bet is losing, the cash out value could be lower than your initial stake. Note that cash out can become suspended on losing bets in some instances.

Is cash out worth it?

Cash out can be worth it if it helps lock in a profit or reduce your losses, but it is not always a beneficial feature when betting on sports. Cashing out allows you to lock in a profit and avoid the risk of a late comeback or momentum shift turning a winning bet into a losing one.

But, sportsbooks build a margin into their cash out offers, which means the cash out value is often lower than true market value.

Reviewed by Joe Dixon