Last Updated on 25/03/2026 by Andy Clark
If a match in your accumulator is postponed before kick-off, the general rule across all major UK bookmakers is the same – the selection is voided and removed from your bet. A five-fold becomes a four-fold, a four-fold becomes a treble, and so on. Your potential return is reduced, but your bet stays live on the remaining selections.
If a match is abandoned after kick-off, the rules are slightly more complicated and vary more between bookmakers – particularly around whether bets on markets already settled before abandonment are allowed to stand.
Below is everything you need to know, including the specific rules for the major UK bookmakers.
The General Rule – Postponed Before Kick-Off
If a match is called off before a ball is kicked, the rule is consistent across almost all major UK bookmakers: the selection is voided, and your accumulator is recalculated without it.
Example: You place a £10 five-fold accumulator. One match is postponed on the morning of the game before kick-off. That selection is removed and your bet becomes a four-fold at the adjusted combined odds. If the remaining four selections win, you are paid out on the four-fold.
Your potential return is lower than if all five had stood – because the postponed selection’s odds are removed from the calculation – but you have not lost the bet. The other legs still have value.
What Happens to the Odds When a Leg is Voided?
When a selection is removed from an accumulator due to postponement, the combined odds are recalculated automatically by the bookmaker.
Example: You have a five-fold with combined decimal odds of 20.0 (roughly 19/1). The postponed leg had odds of 2.0 (evens). Your new four-fold odds are 20.0 divided by 2.0 = 10.0 (9/1).
The bookmaker handles this calculation automatically – you do not need to do anything. The bet slip or your open bets page will update once the postponement is confirmed.
Specific Bookmaker Rules – Postponed Games
bet365
If a match is postponed before kick-off, the selection is voided and removed from the accumulator. The acca continues with the remaining legs at the recalculated odds.
bet365 will keep the bet live – rather than voiding the selection immediately – if the rescheduled match is set to take place within the same week as the original fixture, or if a weekend game is moved to the following Monday for television scheduling purposes. In those cases, the bet stays open until the rescheduled match is played.
If the match is postponed for more than five days beyond the original scheduled date, the selection is voided, and the acca is settled on the remaining legs.
William Hill
Postponed and abandoned events are void under William Hill’s general betting rules. In accumulative bets, void selections are removed, and the stake runs on to the remaining legs – a double becomes a single, a treble becomes a double, and so on.
Bets in markets that have already been resolved at the time of abandonment stand – for example, if the first goalscorer has already been determined before a match is abandoned, that market is settled.
Betfred
Postponed games are refunded and removed from the accumulator unless the relevant market has already been settled. The remaining legs of the acca continue at the recalculated odds. Betfred’s approach is consistent – games not completed are void, with stakes on those legs returned as part of the running acca.
Ladbrokes
Ladbrokes voids bets on postponed or cancelled fixtures before kick-off with no timeline requirement – if the match does not start at the pre-agreed time and venue, the bet is void. In accumulators, the voided selection is removed, and the remaining legs stand.
For abandoned matches, unsettled markets are voided and any markets already settled before abandonment stand.
Boylesports
Boylesports follows the standard industry approach – postponed selections before kick-off are voided and removed from the accumulator. The remaining legs continue at adjusted odds. For abandoned matches where the game has started, unsettled markets are voided, and settled markets stand.
Coral
Postponed fixtures before kick-off are treated as void selections at Coral. In accumulators the selection is removed and the bet continues. For matches abandoned before the end of the second half, all bets are void – this applies even if the governing body subsequently awards an official result.
What Happens if a Game is Abandoned After Kick-Off?
Abandonment after kick-off is more complex than a pre-kick-off postponement. The key distinction is whether any markets had already been settled before the game was called off.
The general rule: If a match is abandoned before 90% of the match has been completed and the result has not been determined, all markets are void and the selection is removed from the accumulator.
Exception – settled markets: If a market had been determined before the abandonment, it stands. For example, if you backed a first goalscorer and that player scored before the match was abandoned, the first goalscorer market is settled and stands – even if the overall match result is voided.
Exception – match resumed within 48 hours: At bet365 and most other bookmakers, if an abandoned match is resumed and completed within 48 hours of the original kick-off, all bets stand and are settled on the final result.
Exception – South American leagues: At bet365 specifically, Full-Time Result and Double Chance markets for South American club matches may be settled on the score at the time of abandonment if the relevant league officially allows the result to stand (typically after 70+ minutes).
What Happens to Acca Insurance if a Leg is Postponed?
Acca insurance – such as Betfred Acca Flex – works differently from a void. Insurance pays out a free bet if one leg of a qualifying acca loses. A void is not a loss – the postponed leg is simply removed from the bet. So acca insurance does not trigger on a postponed selection.
However, the removal of the postponed leg can affect whether the acca still qualifies for the insurance offer. If the promotion requires a minimum number of legs (for example, five or more) and a postponement reduces you to four legs, check the terms to see whether the remaining bet still qualifies.
What Happens to Acca Bonuses if a Leg is Postponed?
The bet365 Acca Boost adds a percentage bonus to winnings based on the number of legs in the acca. If a leg is voided through postponement, the acca is recalculated with fewer legs, which means the boost percentage drops accordingly.
For example, a five-fold with a 10% boost becomes a four-fold with a 7.5% boost if one leg is postponed. The bonus does not disappear entirely – it just reflects the new number of legs.
Postponed vs Abandoned vs Cancelled – What is the Difference?
| Term | Meaning | When it happens | Acca impact |
|---|---|---|---|
| Postponed | Match rescheduled before kick-off | Weather, pitch condition, crowd safety | Selection voided, acca continues |
| Abandoned | Match called off after kick-off | Weather, floodlight failure, serious incident | Unsettled markets void, settled markets stand |
| Cancelled | Match not rescheduled | Rare – team withdrawn, competition cancelled | Selection voided, acca continues |
Bookmaker Rules Summary
| Bookmaker | Postponed before kick-off | Abandoned after kick-off | Rescheduled within 48hrs |
|---|---|---|---|
| bet365 | Void (unless within same week) | Unsettled markets void | Bet stands |
| William Hill | Void | Unsettled markets void, settled stand | Bet stands |
| Betfred | Void | Void unless market settled | Bet stands |
| Ladbrokes | Void (no timeline) | Unsettled void, settled stand | Bet stands |
| Boylesports | Void | Unsettled void, settled stand | Bet stands |
| Coral | Void | All void if before end of 2nd half | Bet stands |
Always check the individual bookmaker’s terms and conditions as rules can change.
FAQs
What happens to my accumulator if a game is postponed?
The postponed selection is voided and removed from your accumulator. The bet continues with the remaining legs at the recalculated combined odds. A five-fold becomes a four-fold, a four-fold becomes a treble, and so on.
Do I lose my stake if a match in my acca is postponed?
No. Your stake is not lost. The postponed selection is simply removed and the remaining legs of the acca continue. You only lose your stake if one of the remaining selections loses.
What happens if two games in my accumulator are postponed?
Both void selections are removed. A five-fold becomes a treble, for example. The acca continues with the remaining legs at the adjusted odds. If all remaining selections win, you are paid out on the reduced bet.
What happens if all the games in my accumulator are postponed?
If all selections in the accumulator are voided, the entire bet is void and your full stake is returned.
Does a postponed game count as a loss for acca insurance?
No. A void is not a loss. Acca insurance such as Betfred Acca Flex only pays out if one of your selections loses. A postponed selection is removed from the bet – it does not trigger the insurance.
Will bet365 keep my bet alive if a game is rescheduled?
Yes, in certain circumstances. If the rescheduled match takes place within the same week as the original fixture, or if a weekend game is moved to the following Monday for TV purposes, bet365 keep the bet open rather than voiding the selection immediately.
What happens if a game is abandoned at half-time?
Most bookmakers – including bet365, William Hill and Ladbrokes – void all unsettled markets if a match is abandoned before completion. Markets already settled before the abandonment (such as first goalscorer) typically stand. If the match resumes and is completed within 48 hours, all bets stand.
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Andy is the founder, owner and editor of thatsagoal.com, with over 20 years of experience in betting on sports. He has a keen eye for stats, particularly when looking at players to be carded, and these form a large part of the bet builder tips you see on the site. As well as creating daily football tips, Andy also keeps thatsagoal updated with all the best bookmaker promotions and offers for our readers.