OTW Extra Email Archive - February 2026
Notes from the Tour: Non-Runner No Bet in tennis...
Thursday 19th February 2026
With injury withdrawals in the tennis news again this week, now is a good time to familiarise yourself with the bookies’ rules for tournament-winner bets…
If you’re into your horse racing then you’ll be well familiar with the term, Non-Runner No Bet. Many bookmakers will plaster this around their website and shops, letting you know that you’ll get your money back if the horse doesn’t make it into the race…
The flip side of that rule, as you probably don’t need me to tell you, is All In Compete or Not. Which means all bets stand, regardless of whether your horse turns up to race on the day.
In the bluntest terms, when it comes to your hard-earned cash:
Things get more complicated when it comes to ante-post markets versus on-the-day wagers. Which is why it’s always recommended that you check the relevant terms & conditions with whichever bookie you use.
The same principles largely apply in tennis. Just like horses, tennis players get injured, unwell, or have a change in schedule ahead of a particular event…
And just like any bet you place, you want to make sure you protect your stakes as much as possible.
Betting ante-post can often get you the biggest odds – but you need to weigh up the risk of losing that money entirely if your selection never actually gets to compete…
For example. An early-bird Wimbledon pick, just like the one I was talking about in this column last week…
Getting on a big price nice and early is the goal. But what if that player is known to be injury-prone? In fact, what if that past fitness track record is basically your ONLY concern about the bigtime potential of this player…?
That was certainly the case with my early-bird Wimbledon 2026 women’s selection sent to Ones to Watch members last week. And I duly informed members to only bet with firms offering the favourable Non-Runner No Bet rule…
Here’s an excerpt from last week’s members-only advice:
Given [the player’s] injury history, and with Wimbledon still a way off (starts 29th June). It is wise and recommended to bet with bookies who will void your Outright bet in the event of your player being a non-runner. That’s as opposed to firms who only offer ‘all in compete or not’ (eg. stakes lost if your selection doesn’t play).
As stated on our website, here are some firms with a green tick from me for Non-Runner No Bet based on their current published online rules for tennis ante-post, Outright Winner bets:
Calling out three mainstream firms you don’twant to use for this early-bird Grand Slam selection: BetVictor, Betfred, Betway. They’ll keep your ante-post money if your player gets injured and misses Wimbledon. Not nice.
On the other hand, credit where it’s due, with Skybet having particularly favourable (fair) rules in this area, with ‘void’ being the magic word:
Good news…
If you’re NOT yet a Ones to Watch member yet. Good news – last week’s big ante-post Wimbledon price is still available…
Join the club right now, and you’ll get instant access to that early-bird Wimbledon analysis & advice, right away, on our members-only website. Along with all my upcoming tournament selections next week…
Become a Ones to Watch member today >>
P.S
Remember to always check the rules before placing an ante-post bet on a tournament winner. Or on a horse race, for that matter…
Which reminds me. Our racing man Nick Pullen has just this morning informed his Against the Crowd members of two big-price, early-doors, ante-post selections for the year’s Grand National. The early bird gets the worm.
Enjoy the tennis…
Oliver Upstone