Guide · 7 min read
Accept odds changes: the right bet slip setting for sure bets
Between your tap on “Place bet” and the bookmaker confirming it, the price can move. A small setting in the bet slip decides what happens next. For sure bets it matters more than it looks: with the wrong choice a bet is accepted at a worse price and your margin is gone before the match starts.
Updated 22 October 2026
Contents
- There are usually three levels: accept no changes, accept higher odds only, accept any change.
- For sure bets, choose higher odds only. Don't use “accept any odds change”.
- A rejected bet costs nothing. Recalculate with the new price before you bet again.
What happens between your tap and acceptance
A bet only exists once the bookmaker confirms it. Before kick-off that usually takes a moment. In-play, most bookmakers add a delay of a few seconds so nobody can bet faster than their data feed. If the price moves during that window, the setting decides whether the bet is accepted at the new price, rejected, or shown to you to confirm again.
Prices move all the time: after goals, team news, line-ups, or simply because money arrives on one side. Sure bets appear in exactly those moments, when one bookmaker has already moved its price and another hasn't yet. That is why a price change is more likely on a sure bet than on a random bet.
The three settings
| Setting | What happens when the price moves | For sure bets |
|---|---|---|
| Accept no changes (ask me) | The bet is not placed. You see the new price and confirm again. | Safe but slow. Often too slow in-play. |
| Accept higher odds only | If the price rises, the bet is accepted at the higher price. If it falls, you are asked again or the bet is rejected. | Recommended. A higher price only improves the sure bet. |
| Accept any odds change | The bet is accepted at whatever the new price is, including a lower one. | Don't use it. A lower price can turn the sure bet into a loss. |
The wording varies. UK-facing bookmakers often show “Accept odds changes: Never / Higher / Any” or a single tick box, “Accept all price changes”. Some offer only two levels, some a tolerance (“accept changes up to X%”). Check which options your bet slip actually has. If your account shows fractional odds (11/10), switch to decimal (2.10) first: the maths below and on the rest of this site uses decimal odds; see odds formats.
Which one for sure bets: higher odds only
A worked example shows the difference. Bookmaker A offers 2.06 on player X, bookmaker B 2.00 on player Y. 1/2.06 + 1/2.00 = 0.98544, a margin of about 1.5%. With €1,000 you stake €492.61 at A and €507.39 at B. Either side pays €1,014.78, so about €15 up if both bets go through as shown.
| What happens at A | X wins | Y wins |
|---|---|---|
| Accepted at 2.06 (as planned) | +€14.78 | +€14.78 |
| “Higher only”: accepted at 2.10 | +€34.48 | +€14.78 |
| “Any change”: accepted at 1.95 | −€39.41 | +€14.78 |
If A is accepted at 1.95 and you still adjust the bet at B, it stays a loss: with €480.30 at B, both sides pay €960.59 on €972.91 staked, so about €12 down whoever wins. With “higher odds only” the bet at 1.95 would never have been placed, and you could have decided again.
Assumptions: decimal odds, no betting duty or commission deducted from winnings, the bet at B is accepted at the price shown, amounts rounded to the cent. Real results can differ and can be negative.
The second leg
When you place the second bet, the first one already stands. If the bookmaker rejects the second because the price moved, one side is open. Keep “higher odds only” on anyway and recalculate: if the new price is still good enough, place it with the new stake. If it isn't, look for the same selection at a third bookmaker. That beats accepting any price blindly, because you see the loss before you take it. When a sure bet leg fails walks through the options and the maths, and bet rejected or only partly accepted covers stake cuts.
Where to find the setting
Menus change with every app update, so here is the general route:
- Find the option. Add any selection to the bet slip. The option is usually right below it, behind a cog icon or as a tick box next to the stake; otherwise under Account, Settings or Preferences.
- Choose “higher odds only”. Pick the option that accepts only better prices automatically. Depending on the bookmaker it is called “Accept higher odds”, “Higher” or “Only if the price improves”.
- Check every device. The setting is often saved per device or per app. Check it in the app and in the browser separately, and again after each app update.
- Test with a small bet. Before your first sure bet, place a small bet and see whether the bet slip asks you when a price changes or takes the better price.
If you can't find such an option, ask customer support how the bookmaker handles price changes. Some only ever accept pre-match bets at the price shown and reject otherwise, which suits sure bets well.
When a bet is rejected
A rejected bet costs you nothing: the stake stays in your balance. Typical messages and what they mean:
- “Odds have changed”: the new price is shown. Recalculate before you confirm.
- “Maximum stake exceeded” or a counter-offer: the bookmaker takes only part of your stake. That is a limit question, not a price question. Match the other side to the accepted amount; see bookmaker limits.
- “Awaiting approval” or “Pending”: a trader decides whether to accept. Place the second bet only once the first is confirmed.
- “Market suspended”: the market is briefly closed, for example after a goal or a red card. Wait until it reopens and check the sure bet again.
Place the bet whose price is most likely to move first. That is usually the out-of-line price, or the one at the bookmaker that adjusts its prices fastest. That way you are not left with one side you can no longer cover.
Does it apply in-play and pre-match?
At most bookmakers one setting covers all bets. Some separate in-play and pre-match, or apply the setting only in-play, because pre-match prices rarely move within the acceptance window. In-play the setting is decisive: the acceptance delay is longer and prices jump after every event. For sure bets that means in-play opportunities are shorter-lived and rejections more common; live arbitrage betting explains why pre-match is usually easier.
ArbVantage shows both bookmakers' prices and the stakes for every opportunity. If a price changes, enter the new one in the app's stake calculator and it works out the other stake before you place the second bet. We do the maths; you decide every bet.
Frequently asked questions
What does “accept higher odds” mean?
If the price rises between your tap and acceptance, the bet is accepted automatically at the higher price. If it falls, the bet is not placed and you have to confirm the new price. That is the right setting for sure bets.
Why was my bet rejected after the odds changed?
The price moved during the acceptance window and your setting does not accept lower prices, or the market was briefly suspended. Your stake stays in your balance. Check the new price and recalculate the sure bet before you place it again.
Does the setting apply in-play and pre-match?
At most bookmakers, yes. Some separate in-play and pre-match bets. In-play it matters more, because acceptance takes longer and prices move more often.
Should I tick “accept all odds changes”?
Not for sure bets. Your bet would then also be accepted at a worse price, and a sure bet with a 1 to 2 percent margin can turn into a loss.
Sources
- Altenar (sportsbook platform provider): Sportsbook features guide, improved bet acceptance
- Kaunitz, Zhong and Kreiner (2017): Beating the bookies with their own numbers (out-of-line prices and account restrictions)
- UK Gambling Commission: commercial restrictions by betting operators
As of October 2026. Menu labels differ by bookmaker and app version; check them in your own bet slip.
Betting involves risk, even with sure bets: prices move, bets get voided and accounts get limited. Only use money you can do without. Our responsible gambling page lists free help.
Not betting, legal or tax advice. 18+. See our disclaimer.