What happens to my bet if a live game is cancelled?

What happens to my bet if a live game is cancelled? The rule in one line

The deciding question is whether a result existed before the problem started. A live game is cancelled or voided when the studio can't produce or confirm a result: a fault with the equipment, the stream or the systems that read results. If the round never reached a result, a fair policy returns what you staked. If the ball had already settled, or the cards were already dealt and read, the outcome stands and pays or loses as normal.

This isn't just good practice. The Gambling Commission's RTS 10 standard on interrupted gambling (opens in a new tab) says operators must take reasonable steps so their interruption policies don't systematically disadvantage customers, must be able to void bets and return stakes, and must tell customers in advance how common cases are handled. It's part of the wider remote technical standards every licensed site follows. For more quick answers, see our casino questions hub.

Cancelled live game rules: how UK guidance treats each case

RTS 10's implementation guidance for gaming sets out how interrupted games should be treated. We've paraphrased it below and added what each case usually looks like at a live table.

Live games are nearly always multi-participant, so the 'case by case' line matters most. In practice the game's own rules screen usually states what happens when a round is void, and RTS 10C requires the operator to make its policy available. Read that section once, before you play, so you know what to expect.

Why live casino rounds get cancelled

A live result comes from real equipment: a wheel, a shoe of cards, dice or a game show wheel. Optical character recognition turns what happens on the table into data the game software can settle, as the explainer on how live casino works describes. A studio typically has a pit boss who settles disputes between players and croupiers. When any link in that chain can't confirm a result cleanly, the round may be voided rather than settled on a guess.

• Equipment problems: a wheel, shoe or game-show prop doesn't work as the rules require.
• Result capture: the system can't read or confirm the outcome.
• Studio or server faults: the round can't run or be recorded properly.
• Dealer or procedure errors: the round wasn't played the way the rules set out.

None of these is the same as your own internet dropping out. If the studio carried on and only your device lost connection, the round usually completes and settles without you. That's a separate scenario, covered on what happens if your connection drops in live casino.

Void, push and lost: what your balance should show

Three words get mixed up here, and they lead to different balances. A void cancels the bet as if it was never placed. A push is a tie that hands your stake back under the game's normal rules. A loss is a loss, and a stream fault after the result doesn't change it.

The second row is the one people forget. A frozen stream doesn't freeze the result: if the ball landed before the fault, the game should settle it. Your bet history is the place to check, because it records each round's outcome and status.

Cancelled bets in roulette, blackjack, baccarat and game shows

Roulette and game show wheels

These are single-stage games: bets close, the wheel spins and one result settles everything. If a round is voided before that result, every bet on it should be returned. In game shows, a fault in a bonus round raises the question of whether its outcome was already fixed; RTS 10's principle is that a result decided before the fault stands.

Blackjack

Blackjack is multi-stage: you make decisions after the first cards. RTS 10 guidance says the game should be restored to its last known state so the hand can be finished, and that enough information should be kept to do it, including the cards dealt. Where a hand truly can't be completed, the provider's rules decide the outcome; read them in the help screen.

Baccarat

Baccarat's drawing rules are fixed, so once the cards are out the result follows automatically. A void usually only arises if the deal can't be completed or read properly.

RNG versions, such as Evolution's First Person games, don't use a studio at all, so there's no physical equipment to fail. See live versus RNG casino games for how the two differ.

What to do if a live game is cancelled and your stake hasn't come back

1. Stay calm and don't place another bet to 'make it back' while you're unsure of your balance.
2. Open your account's bet or game history and find the round. Note the game, table, time and round ID.
3. Take a screenshot of the history entry and of your balance.
4. Contact the casino's support and ask for the round status: void, settled or pending.
5. If you disagree with the answer, raise a formal complaint using the casino's complaints procedure.
6. If it isn't resolved within 8 weeks, or you get a final response you disagree with, take it to the casino's named ADR provider, free of charge.

The Gambling Commission doesn't settle individual complaints, but its guide to complaining about a gambling business (opens in a new tab) explains the route. IBAS is one approved ADR provider, and its page on how to raise a dispute (opens in a new tab) sets out the steps; registered companies agree to be bound by its decisions up to £10,000. Our complaints and ADR guide covers time limits and the other approved providers.

Myths about cancelled live casino bets

RTS 10A exists precisely so interruption policies don't favour the house. If you suspect rounds are being cancelled unfairly, keep records and complain; the answer to whether live casino games are rigged looks at the wider checks on live studios.

Other UK protections around live casino bets

• Your balance is protected according to the rating the casino discloses: not protected, medium or high. See our customer funds guide.
• Casino games other than slots must allow at least 5 seconds per game cycle, and autoplay is banned for live games too.
• You can see your net spend and time spent in real time, which helps you spot a missing refund quickly.
• Rules and payouts must be available before you bet, so the void policy should never be a surprise.

More on the regulations specific to studios and dealers is on our live casino rules page, and the general picture is in our live casino hub.

Where to play live casino at UK-licensed sites

These partner offers are aimed at slots, not live tables, and live games are often excluded from bonus play or count for less towards wagering, so read each set of terms. 18+ and terms apply. The game list varies, so check the casino's lobby.

Casumo gives new customers who opt in a 50% bonus up to £100 on a first deposit of £20 or more; wager it 10x within 7 days, keep bets to £5 or less while it's active, and note the game, play and payment restrictions. 10bet's welcome deal, chosen at sign-up by new UK customers, matches the first deposit made within 7 days by 100% up to £25; it must be wagered 10x on slots within 3 days, bonus winnings are capped at £1,000, and Skrill and Neteller deposits don't count. At Coral, new players who deposit and stake £10 on slots between 1 October 2026 and 1 February 2027 get 100 free spins worth 10p each on selected games, to accept within 48 hours and use within 7 days, with winnings free of wagering; PayPal, Skrill, Neteller, Paysafe, prepaid and certain debit cards are excluded.

18+. Every casino game has a built-in house edge, so over time you should expect to lose what you stake. Set a budget before you play and stop when it’s gone: safer gambling tools and support. Free, confidential help: National Gambling Helpline 0808 8020 133.