Despite the constant requests on Twitter, most sportsbooks do not have a policy for voiding player props when a player is injured. If you bet the over, you're usually out of luck, unless they're feeling generous or its a high-profile injury.
Fanatics Sportsbook has instituted a more formal policy called "fair play" — they'll always refund your props if you bet the over and a player is injured early in a game (in the first quarter for NFL and NBA). That includes straight prop bets, parlays, and same game parlays (the voided leg will just drop out of the parlay, and the rest of the parlay will stand).
If you bet the under and the player gets injured, your bet will still win like normal.
Fanatics has a dedicated trading team that monitors player injuries. Once a player is officially ruled out, all bets including that player are voided within 30 minutes.
In the Fanatics app, they'll provide details on the player's injury and update users on whether or not the injury qualifies for a refund.
How Fanatics Fair Play Works by Sport
If you bet the over, these are the playing time thresholds that result in a refund:
Timing Thresholds by Sport
If you bet the over, these injury windows trigger a refund:
- NFL: Player is injured in the first quarter and doesn't return.
- NBA & WNBA: Player is injured in the first quarter and doesn't return. For the 2025 NBA Playoffs, the Fanatics fair play policy was extended to cover the first half of games.
- NHL: Player is injured in the first period and doesn't return.
- MLB Pitchers: A pitcher starts the game, throws at least one pitch, and exits before recording three outs.
- MLB Batters: A batter starts the game, makes at least one plate appearance, then does not make their second plate appearance due to injury.
- Golf: Player starts the tournament but withdraws before the start of the second round.
If a player is ruled out pregame or never touches the field, your bet will be refunded at all sportsbooks. But Fanatics is the first to institute a formal policy around players who leave a game after playing in it.
Real-World Wins for Bettors
Since launch, Fanatics' policy has returned millions to bettors. A few notable highlights:
- NFL 2024: Aaron Jones left early in Week 2. A $100 five-leg parlay turned into $66,000 after the Jones leg was voided.
- NFL 2024: A bettor won $22,000 on an 11-leg parlay when both Jayden Daniels and Deebo Samuel exited early.
- NBA 2025 Playoffs: Steph Curry’s hamstring injury in the 2nd quarter triggered $500,000 in refunds. One bettor’s $5,000 parlay still hit for $224,773 after the Curry leg dropped.
Why This Matters to Bettors
Consumer Protection – Guarantees fairness in situations beyond a bettor’s control.
Competitive Edge – Most books don’t have a formal, across-the-board policy.
Marketing Power – Seven percent of new Fanatics users cite fair play as their primary reason for signing up, according to reports.
Trust Factor – Transparent rules, fast processing, and public injury updates.
Fanatics Fair Play Policy FAQs
Does Fair Play cover pregame injuries or scratches?
No. All sportsbooks refund bets if a player never takes the field. Fair play only applies if a player starts the game and leaves due to injury within the designated time window.
What happens if I have a player in a parlay who gets injured?
The injured player’s leg is voided, and the rest of the parlay stands. Your payout is recalculated based on the remaining legs.
How quickly will I get my refund?
Fanatics aims to process Fair Play refunds within 30 minutes of a player being officially ruled out.
What if my bet was on the under?
If the player gets injured, your under bet is graded as a win, even if they were on pace to go over before leaving.
Does Fair Play apply to futures bets?
No. Fair play only covers single-game player props, parlays, and same game parlays.
Do all sports have the same injury window?
No. Each sport has its own specific time threshold — for example, first quarter in NFL, first half in NBA playoffs, and first period in NHL.
How can I check if my refund was issued?
Look in the Fair Play Hub in the Fanatics app, where injury details and refund confirmations are posted.
