Bram Welch has been writing about sports betting and iGaming for over six years. He started as a freelancer before joining our team in 2022. He has worked teaching English as a foreign language and as a journalist for the UK's largest regional newspaper.
All posts by Bram WelchIf you’re new to the world of online gambling or betting, you may be curious about terms like ‘action’ and ‘no action.’ Luckily, in this comprehensive guide, our experts explore what action and no action means in betting – answering all of your burning questions.
Our guide will include every single bit of detail surrounding the topic of action/no action in betting, including how it plays a part in each of the major American sports like football (NFL), basketball (NBA), baseball (MLB), and ice hockey (NHL).
Action/no action betting can be a very useful feature for many gamblers and it’s worth being clued up on the topic just in case.
What Does Action Sports Betting Mean?
In terms of sports betting, action/no action is a term you’ll see commonly used across all the top US sportsbook apps.
A common usage of ‘action’ is simply placing a wager on a particular game or event. When you wager money on the outcome of a sporting event, you have ‘action’ on it.
But that’s not all; there are other meanings attributed to ‘action’ in sports betting.
Some bettors use it to refer to the schedule of games on any given day.
Meanwhile, oddsmakers or sportsbooks may use it to describe the volume of wagers taken on a specific event. For example, they might say, “Game 1 of the NBA Finals between the Boston Celtics and Denver Nuggets is seeing a lot of action,” indicating a high volume of wagers placed on that particular game.
Furthermore, if you place a bet on a sport, your wager is in ‘action’ for the duration of the game.
Or ‘action’ could mean that you have an interest or involvement in a sporting event, even if you didn’t place a bet. For example, someone might say they have action on a game because they’re emotionally invested in the outcome or have a personal stake in the result.
What Does No Action Sports Betting Mean?
Sometimes, you will see your bets graded as ‘no action’ – meaning that the sportsbook you placed the wager with canceled all wagers on a particular line or market. This implies no wagers will be settled, whether they are winners or losers.
‘No action’ is very similar to a ‘push’ outcome from your wager – which will see the risk returned in full to your account without any penalty to you or the sportsbook. It’s almost like you never even placed the bet in the first place.
While this can be frustrating, especially after conducting thorough research for your picks, it’s an occasional occurrence in betting that bettors should be prepared for. It’s important to review and read through the house rules of the sportsbook you’re using to better understand what causes a bet to be graded as ‘no action.’
Although ‘no action’ may seem inconvenient, there are instances where it can work in your favor. For example, if an event is postponed or canceled unexpectedly, you’ll avoid potential losses.
Keep in mind that different offshore sportsbooks may have varying rules regarding ‘no action’ sports betting, so make sure to thoroughly check with each operator you choose to stay informed.
Why Are Some Bets Graded ‘No Action’?
There are several reasons why certain bets will be graded as ‘no action’ by sportsbooks. One common factor is adverse weather conditions, which can lead to the cancellation or postponement of sporting events, resulting in a ‘no action’ sports bet.
In addition, serious injuries to key players can also cause wagers to be graded as ‘no action.’ If a player withdraws from a game due to a late injury concern, especially in player prop betting scenarios, there’s a good chance your bet will be graded ‘no action’ – we’ll explore this in more detail further below.
Are No Action Bets Refunded?
For single bets, your full wager will be refunded. However, in the case of multiple bets, such as accumulators, if one of your selections is graded as ‘no action,’ the bet will be adjusted accordingly. For example, a treble bet may be recalculated as a double.
For single bets, receiving a refund is straightforward, and the outcome shouldn’t be counted as a win or a loss on your personal record. Instead, it’s considered void, meaning it has no bearing on your overall betting performance.
How To Tell If Your Wager Has Been Graded As No Action
To determine whether your wager has been graded as ‘no action,’ it’s important to understand the process of bet settlement by sportsbooks, known as ‘grading.’ When a bet is graded as ‘no action,’ it means the outcome didn’t result in either a win or loss, so you’ll be refunded your wager fully.
Simply navigate to the settled/completed wagers section in your account to tell if your bet has been graded as ‘no action.’ While the appearance of a ‘no action’ bet may vary depending on your sportsbook, it typically differs slightly from that of a winning/losing bet.
Additionally, certain apps or websites will send you a notification if your bet has been graded as ‘no action.’ This feature makes it much easier to stay informed about your wagers, ensuring you’re promptly notified of any developments regarding your bets.
What Are The Most Common Sports For ‘No Action’ Bets?
The most common sports for ‘no action’ bets are baseball and tennis – but it extends to many more sports. Basically, any sport that is played outdoors runs the risk of being canceled due to adverse weather conditions.
Sometimes, political unrest can also lead to ‘no action’ bets, particularly if the event is scheduled to take place in an affected area.
Why Does Baseball Have The Most No Action Bets?
Baseball is the most common sport for ‘no action’ wagers. When betting on this sport, three different factors can cause your wager to be graded as ‘no action.’
The first factor is a change in the starting pitcher. In MLB, the starting pitching match-up is crucial, and a change after you’ve placed your bet can result in a ‘no action’ outcome. Bettor have two options: one, wager in the ‘listed pitcher’ market, where the bet will only have action if there are no further changes. Two, explore the ‘live/action’ market, which stays active regardless of unforeseen changes.
Secondly, weather conditions play a big part, with rain affecting many games. If you have a punt on a game and it ends up being postponed or canceled due to adverse weather, your wager will be graded ‘no action.’
Additionally, there is a minimum number of innings required to be played for a baseball game to be considered complete. It’s usually around 4.5 or 5 innings but varies with different sportsbooks. If a game doesn’t reach the required minimum innings, bets placed on it may be graded as ‘no action.’
No Action Betting On Player Props?
Individual player prop bets can be tricky to navigate when it comes to ‘no action’ sports betting. While it might seem logical for player props to be settled as ‘no action’ if the player doesn’t participate in the game, this isn’t always the case.
Some sportsbooks will consider the player prop bets live as long as the player is on the active roster and hasn’t been declared as ‘Did Not Play’ (DNP).
Weather Can Play A Big Role In No Action Bets
Weather is one of the most common causes of ‘no action’ bets. For example, adverse weather conditions can cause football or soccer games to be postponed from time to time. This is similar to baseball games being affected by rain.
When your bet is graded as ‘no action’ due to weather-related issues, your stake will be refunded in full.
Tennis Bets
Weather can lead to postponement and delays in tennis, too, since it’s a sport played outside. Player withdrawals or retirements during matches can also cause a tennis bet to be classed as ‘no action.’
Also, some sportsbooks will grade tennis wagers as ‘no action’ if a player fails to complete less than a set of the match – but the policies vary, so make sure to check the fine print.
Golf Bets
Similarly to tennis, weather can also have a significant impact on golf tournaments. PGA Tour events typically run from Thursday to Sunday, and postponements are quite common. But as long as the play concludes within a week, your bet remains in action.
If a player withdraws before teeing off, you can be sure to receive your full stake back.
Horse Racing Bets
Horse racing bets will be graded ‘no action’ for horses who become non-runners before coming under the starter’s orders. Adverse weather conditions, such as heavy ground due to excessive rain, can also lead to ‘no action’ bets in horse racing betting.
Futures Bets
When it comes to ‘no action’ wagers, futures bets can be confusing. For example, if you wanted to back LeBron James to win the NBA MVP – and he either missed the entire season or played only a part of the campaign before being ruled out with injury – the outcome depends on which sportsbook you placed the wager with.
It’s important to get familiar with the terms, conditions, and house rules of every sportsbook you place bets with to be aware of how the futures market works.
Betting Advice, Tips and Hints
One of our biggest pieces of advice for ‘action’ and ‘no action’ betting is to ALWAYS scrutinize the terms and conditions of the sportsbook you’re placing the wager with. Rules differ between sportsbooks, and this could save you a few bucks.
When betting on outdoor events, it’s also worth checking the injury reports pre-game and the weather forecast before betting.
