# Unmatched bets

Any bets you place that are not immediately matched will appear on the market's price matrix. This might occur if:

1. you want to place a bet on a price higher than what is available
2. you want to place a stake higher than what is available
3. you want to place an offer (ie. bet on a market / outcome that has no price right now)

So for example, in the market below:

<figure><img src="https://2857102508-files.gitbook.io/~/files/v0/b/gitbook-x-prod.appspot.com/o/spaces%2F8cc5Hy7i0UOFkkXBRkoH%2Fuploads%2FA09WYx1SdkcOJB5kmcn1%2FScreenshot%202025-10-06%20at%2010.42.45.png?alt=media&#x26;token=740332c5-ed22-42d5-81ce-ff8c261a87b1" alt=""><figcaption></figcaption></figure>

If you chose to **Back Jaguars** **@ 2.70**, then your price will appear on the Lay side, unmatched & ready for someone else to take the offer.

Likewise, if you chose to **Back Chiefs** @ 1.53 for $2k, then your bet will be partially matched: $1.3k will be matched, and remaining $700 will appear on the Lay side, unmatched & ready for someone else to take the offer.

Finally, for the 3rd scenario above, any bet on a market like below with no liquidity will be placed as unmatched & ready for someone else to take the offer.

<figure><img src="https://2857102508-files.gitbook.io/~/files/v0/b/gitbook-x-prod.appspot.com/o/spaces%2F8cc5Hy7i0UOFkkXBRkoH%2Fuploads%2Fi4FujpyNpX5LDm5dQoXG%2FScreenshot%202025-10-06%20at%2010.45.48.png?alt=media&#x26;token=c8a76b68-0c00-4ed9-8815-2aba88f90cc9" alt=""><figcaption></figcaption></figure>

**Q: How is my balance affected?**

A common question and important to know as many exchanges might handle this differently - with BetDEX, if you place unmatched bets, your balance is still updated / reduced to ensure you are not left over-exposed in case all your unmatched bets later get matched.

So for example - if you deposit $1k, and then place a bet for $200 on England to win @ 1.30, even though your bet will initially be unmatched, your balance will still be updated to $800.

If you cancel your bet (which you can do at any time until it gets matched or partially matched), then your balance will be updated again as we will return the funds. See [cancelling-a-bet](https://learn.betdex.com/betdex-exchange/using-the-betdex-exchange/trading-on-the-betdex-exchange/exchange-betting-basics/cancelling-a-bet "mention") for more info on cancelling bets.

**Q: When are my funds returned if they remain unmatched?**

The unmatched bets (including unmatched portions of partially matched bets) will be automatically refunded to the user when the market locks.<br>