Don’t let a substitution ruin your bet! With Safe Substitution, you stay in the game. If you place a bet on a qualifying player market (see the list at the end of this article) and that bet would have won with the original player or their substitute, your bet still counts as a winner!
How does it work?
Let’s say you bet on Coutinho to suffer a foul, but before that happens, he gets substituted for Payet. If Payet then suffers a foul, your bet still wins—just as if Coutinho had been fouled himself.
To use Safe Substitution, all you need to do is place a bet on a qualifying player market (for example, Dudu to have 1 or more shots on target), and if the original player or their substitute meets the condition, your bet wins.
You'll be able to spot Safe Substitution markets easily—they’ll have a special icon next to them in the betting section.
Right now, Safe Substitution is only available for Brazilian Série A matches.
FAQ – Frequently Asked Questions
Who can use Safe Substitution?
It’s available to all Betfair customers, both new and existing, as long as you’re 18 years or older and have a registered account.
Do I need to activate Safe Substitution?
Nope! It’s applied automatically to all qualifying bets. No extra steps are needed.
Which competitions does Safe Substitution apply to?
For now, it’s only available for Brazilian Série A matches.
Which types of bets qualify for Safe Substitution?
Safe Substitution applies to bets related to individual player performance. Here’s the full list:
- Anytime Goalscorer
- Anytime Assist
- To Score or Receive a Card
- To Receive a Card
- To Score or Assist
- To Score 2+ Goals
- To Score a Hat-Trick
- Player to Have 1+ Shots on Target
- Player to Have 2+ Shots on Target
- Player to Have 3+ Shots on Target
- Player to Have 4+ Shots on Target
- Player to Commit 1+ Fouls
- Player to Commit 2+ Fouls
- Player to Commit 3+ Fouls
- Player to Suffer 1+ Fouls
- Player to Suffer 2+ Fouls
- Player to Suffer 3+ Fouls
Whenever you’re placing a bet, look for the Safe Substitution icon to make sure your bet qualifies!
Does Safe Substitution work in extra time?
No—Safe Substitution only applies during the regular 90 minutes of the match, plus any stoppage time. It does not count for extra time or penalty shootouts.
What does the Safe Substitution icon look like?
Can I cash out my bet if my player is substituted?
Yes! Cash Out remains available for the entire match, even after a substitution.
What if multiple substitutes enter the game at the same time?
If two or more substitutes come in at once, the system will use OPTA data to determine which substitute officially replaced your player. You can check this info at Opta Player Stats.
What if a substitute also gets replaced?
If your player’s substitute is also subbed out later in the match, the new substitute will still count toward your bet—as long as it happens during regular time or stoppage time. However, extra time and penalty shootouts do not count for this promotion.
Now you’re all set! Just look for the Safe Substitution icon when placing your bets and enjoy the extra security.