Fanatics Refunds NBA Bettors after Curry Injury
Fanatics, which is among the best sports betting sites, issued over $500,000 in refunds and payouts following Stephen Curry's early exit from Game 1 of the Western Conference semifinals. The Golden State Warriors star left the court during the second quarter due to a hamstring injury against the Minnesota Timberwolves, triggering the operator's Fair Play Policy.
The policy automatically refunds customers who place Over bets on injured athletes, and pays out Under bets as wins. Fanatics confirmed that the Fair Play Policy has already accounted for over $2 million in payouts during the current NBA playoffs.
The feature, which is designed to offer a layer of protection for bettors impacted by in-game injuries, was temporarily expanded this postseason to cover player exits through the second quarter. Traditionally, it had only applied to injuries occurring in the first quarter of games.
Curry is expected to miss at least a week following his hamstring injury, and he's unlikely to return before Game 5 of the series. That timeline puts added pressure on the Warriors, who are already contending with a deep and physically resilient Timberwolves lineup. We're calling for Minnesota to cover the spread during Game 2 in our Warriors vs. Timberwolves prediction.
Under the terms of the Fair Play Policy, bettors who backed Over props for an injured player receive full refunds. For parlays, any leg involving a wounded athlete is voided, while the remaining legs are treated as active and can still result in a win. Cash refunds are issued directly to customers' accounts unless otherwise stated.
Over $8 Million paid out so far
Fanatics, which recently announced the launch of its online casino app, has used the policy in reaction to mid-game injuries and early season-ending player exits. In February, Fanatics paid out all straight bets placed on Victor Wembanyama to win the NBA Defensive Player of the Year Award.
That came just one day after it was announced the San Antonio Spurs star would miss the remainder of the season due to a blood clot in his right shoulder. Parlay bets involving Wembanyama were fully refunded, mirroring the procedure used for in-game injuries.
Award bets, such as player of the year, are exempt from the Fair Play Policy guidelines. However, Fanatics paid out the bet as a goodwill gesture, and because Wembanyama was cruising toward winning the award before the injury.
The Fair Play Policy was first introduced during the NFL season last year. Since its rollout, Fanatics has paid or refunded over $8 million to affected customers, according to the company. It's described the initiative as a central pillar of the company's customer-first strategy, aimed at improving trust and transparency in the volatile world of sports betting.
