Second chance bet calculator: how to hedge a no sweat bet
A second chance bet (also sold as a no sweat bet or first bet insurance) refunds your first wager, usually as a bonus bet, if it loses. Enter the stake and odds of the first bet, the refund at its cash value (a $100 bonus bet converts to about $70) and the odds on the other side: the calculator gives the hedge stake that leaves the same result whoever wins.
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How to use the calculator
- 1
Enter the first bet
The stake and the odds of the bet the promotion insures. Longer odds put more of the refund to work.
- 2
Enter the refund value
What the refund is worth in cash if the bet loses: about 70% of a bonus bet, 100% of a cash refund.
- 3
Place the hedge shown
Bet the stake shown on the other side at another sportsbook: the result is the same whoever wins. Convert the refund later with the bonus bet converter.
Worked example
A $100 no sweat bet on the Bulls at +250 (3.50), refunded as a $100 bonus bet worth about $70. The Knicks are -300 (1.3333) at another book. Hedging $210.00 on the Knicks leaves $40.00 whoever wins: $250 - $210 if the Bulls win, or $70 from the hedge - $100 + the $70 refund if they lose.
Related calculators
- Bonus bet converter The hedge that turns a bonus bet into cash, and how much you keep.
- Site credit calculator The hedge that turns site credit into cash, and the share you keep.
- Profit boost calculator Boosted odds and the hedge that turns a profit boost into a fixed profit.
- Hedge calculator The hedge stake that locks in a profit or your stake back.
Frequently asked questions
What is a second chance bet?
A promotion that refunds your first bet if it loses, usually as a bonus bet or site credit. Sportsbooks also call it a no sweat bet, first bet insurance or a first bet offer.
What value should I give the refund?
What you will get out of it in cash. A refund paid as a bonus bet converts at about 70% with the bonus bet converter, so a $100 refund is worth about $70; a cash refund is worth 100%.
Which odds should I pick for the first bet?
Longer odds, within the terms: the refund only pays when the bet loses, and a longer price makes the hedge cheaper. Compare a few games and keep the best result.
Can I lose money on a second chance bet?
Hedged, the result is set before the game and the calculator shows it in both scenarios. Unhedged, a lost first bet costs the stake minus what the refund is worth.
How do I find the best game to hedge?
NinjaBet's Bet Finder in 2nd Chance mode compares licensed sportsbooks live and lists the games where the hedge leaves the most, with this calculator prefilled.
By the NinjaBet Editorial Team Updated on October 28, 2026
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The Bet Finder compares licensed sportsbooks live in 2nd Chance mode and ranks every game by what you keep.
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