Push meaning, in casino terms: a push is a tie between you and the dealer in which nobody wins, so your stake is handed back unchanged. In blackjack it happens when your total matches the dealer’s, such as 19 against 19; in baccarat, Player and Banker bets push when the round ends in a tie. Your balance is exactly where it was before the hand.
A push is a tie: the stake is returned and you neither win nor lose.
In blackjack, equal totals push; a player blackjack against a dealer blackjack also pushes.
Some variants change the rule, for example pushing all remaining hands when the dealer reaches 22.
Because a push returns only the stake, UK game design rules do not let it be presented as a win.
Definition
A tie: stake returned, no win or loss
Blackjack example
Your 19 against the dealer’s 19
Baccarat
Player and Banker bets push on a tie
Net position effect
Unchanged
Also called
Standoff or tie
What does push mean in blackjack?
At the end of a blackjack round, each hand is compared with the dealer’s. Higher total wins, lower total loses, and an equal total is a push. Your chips stay where they are, or the online game returns the stake to your balance, and the next round starts. Older British players sometimes call it a standoff.
Two special cases matter. If you and the dealer both have a natural blackjack, the hand pushes, so you do not receive the usual 3 to 2. And if you bust by going over 21, you lose immediately, even if the dealer busts afterwards: there is no push on two busts. Our UK casino glossary covers the other blackjack outcomes.
Push meaning across different casino games
The word is mostly used at card tables, but the idea of a returned stake turns up elsewhere.
How pushes work in common casino games
Game
When a push happens
What happens to your bet
Blackjack
Your total equals the dealer’s, or both have blackjack
Stake returned
Free Bet Blackjack
Dealer finishes on 22 (standard version)
Remaining hands push, except player blackjacks
Baccarat
Player and Banker totals tie
Player and Banker bets returned; the tie bet wins
Casino Hold’em and similar
Your hand ties the dealer’s exactly
Usually pushed; see the rules panel
Roulette
Not used: every spin wins or loses
Some even-money rules return half on zero instead
In baccarat the push protects Player and Banker bets on a tie, which is part of why their house edge is low. See our baccarat rules and the tie bet entry. The version of Free Bet Blackjack with the push-on-22 rule uses it to balance the free doubles and splits it hands out.
How often a push happens, and what it costs
In standard multi-deck blackjack played with basic strategy, roughly one hand in twelve ends in a push; the exact share varies slightly with rules and strategy. Pushes count as rounds played but neither add to nor subtract from your balance.
Here is a simple illustration over 120 hands at £5 each. About 10 would be pushes, returning £50 in stakes. The remaining 110 hands decide the result. Since blackjack’s house edge is calculated across all hands, pushes included, the expected cost of 120 hands at roughly 0.5% is about £3, whatever the push count. The understanding casino odds guide explains how these averages are built.
Push meaning under UK game design rules
A push returns exactly what you staked, so in money terms it is a non-event. Since 31 October 2021, UK rules have banned slots from celebrating a return equal to or smaller than the stake, and from 17 January 2025 the Commission extended similar game design rules, including net position and session time displays, to other online casino games. The Commission set out the original changes in its summary of RTS amendments (opens in a new tab) and the later extension in the summer 2023 consultation response (opens in a new tab).
In practice, a push should leave your on-screen net position unchanged and should not be dressed up with winning sounds. The losses disguised as wins ban page explains the thinking, and the net position display rule page shows what must appear on screen.
Do pushes count towards bonus wagering?
It depends on the terms. Some casinos count only settled bets that win or lose towards wagering requirements; others count all stakes. Table games are often weighted below slots or excluded altogether. Since 19 January 2026, UK casino bonus wagering has been capped at 10x, so a £10 bonus needs at most £100 of qualifying play, but how a pushed hand counts still comes down to the specific terms. Our guide to game weighting shows how to read these clauses.
Other meanings of push on gambling sites
Sports betting: a push is a void result on a line or handicap, such as a draw on a market that refunds stakes. Since 19 January 2026, offers that mix sport and casino are banned; see the mixed-product promotions ban.
App notifications: push messages from a casino app. Marketing preferences can be changed in your account; the opt out of casino marketing guide explains how.
Pushing your luck: an everyday phrase for continuing to play after a win. If you notice yourself doing this to chase, a pause helps.
Where pushes happen and the offers below
You will meet pushes at blackjack and baccarat tables in the live and RNG sections of UK lobbies; PlayOJO, for instance, lists live casino among its products. The offers below are both for slots. PlayOJO gives new UK customers (excluding Northern Ireland) 80 free spins at 10p each on Big Bass Bonanza when they make a first deposit of at least £10, with no wagering and winnings paid as cash (18+, terms apply). Coral Casino gives 100 free spins at 10p each on selected slots once you deposit and stake £10 on slots, with 48 hours to accept, 7 days to use and no wagering on winnings (18+, until 1 February 2027, certain payment methods excluded).
Significant terms: 18+. New players only. Offer runs 01/10/2026 to 01/02/2027. Deposit (certain types excluded) and bet £10+ on slot games to get 100 free spins (selected games, £0.10 each, 48 hrs to accept, valid 7 days). No wagering on free spin winnings. Deposits by Neteller, PayPal, Paysafe, Skrill, prepaid cards and certain debit cards do not qualify. Restrictions and T&Cs apply. GamCare.org.uk
Read the Coral reviewLicence: LC International Limited, UKGC account 54743. Offer checked 5 October 2026.
Significant terms: 18+. New UK customers (excluding Northern Ireland). First deposit only. Minimum deposit £10. 80 free spins on Big Bass Bonanza, £0.10 each. No wagering requirements; winnings paid in cash. Cannot be used with any other offer. Only available to players who arrive through the designated offer link. Full T&Cs apply. GamCare.org.uk
Read the PlayOJO reviewLicence: Skill On Net Limited, UKGC account 39326. Offer checked 5 October 2026.
18+. Gambling should be entertainment that costs money, not a way to make it. Set a deposit limit before you play: how to set deposit limits. Free, confidential help: National Gambling Helpline 0808 8020 133.
Frequently asked questions
What does push mean in blackjack?
A push in blackjack is a tie: your final total equals the dealer’s, so your stake is returned and nobody wins. If you stand on 18 and the dealer also finishes on 18, the hand pushes. It also happens when you and the dealer both hold blackjack. A push does not apply if you bust, since you lose the moment your total passes 21. The blackjack rules page explains the full order of play, and our online blackjack guide compares table types.
Do you win anything on a push?
No. A push returns your original stake and nothing more, so your balance is exactly the same as before the hand. If you had £50 and staked £10, you end the hand with £50. Since UK rules stop games from celebrating returns that only match the stake, a push should be shown plainly, with your net position unchanged. Our net position display rule page explains what the screen must show, and the house edge guide covers how pushes fit into the long-run maths.
Is a push good or bad in blackjack?
It depends on the hand. A push is better than losing, and on hands where you were behind it saves the stake. On hands where you held a strong total, such as 20, a push is a missed win. When both you and the dealer have blackjack, the push means losing the 3 to 2 bonus you would otherwise have collected. Overall, pushes are a neutral part of the game and are already included in published house edge figures. The basic strategy page shows how to play each hand.
What is push 22 in blackjack?
Push 22 is a rule used in Free Bet Blackjack and some other variants. If the dealer finishes on exactly 22, instead of busting and paying everyone, all remaining player hands push, except player blackjacks, which are paid. The rule balances the free doubles and splits the game gives on certain hands. Without it, the variant would favour players. The help screen in each game confirms whether the rule applies. Our Free Bet Blackjack guide explains the full rule set.
What happens to Player and Banker bets on a tie in baccarat?
In standard baccarat, when the Player and Banker hands end on the same total, bets on Player and on Banker are returned as a push, while bets on Tie win, usually at 8 to 1. Ties happen in roughly one round in ten or eleven in an eight-deck game. Some variants or side bets treat ties differently, so the rules panel is worth checking. Our banker bet and player bet entries explain the two main wagers.
Does a push count as a bet for bonus wagering?
Sometimes, but not always. Each casino decides in its bonus terms whether pushed, void or tied bets count towards wagering. Many count only bets that win or lose, and table games are often weighted below slots or excluded completely. Since 19 January 2026, UK bonus wagering is capped at 10x, so wagering is shorter than it used to be, but you still need to check how ties are treated. Our guide on how wagering requirements work explains the clauses to look for.
Gambling can be addictive. Free, confidential help is available 24 hours a day from the National Gambling Helpline on 0808 8020 133. Get free support from GamCare or NHS gambling support, or block yourself from all UK-licensed gambling sites with GAMSTOP.
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