How Does Each Way Betting Work? – The Each Way Bet Explained
The great thing about each way betting is it opens up a whole new way of wagering on certain sports. In this detailed guide, we explain exactly how this popular bet works, reveal effective ways of using it and some smart betting strategies.
What Does Each Way Mean in Betting?
When you place a bet each way, you are essentially placing two bets. The first bet is on your selection to win and the second bet is for that same selection to place.
You get two chances to win betting each way meaning that you can have a scenario where both parts win. As this is a two-part bet, your original stake is doubled.
It’s a bet type especially popular with horse racing tips, but can also be used across other sports.
How Does Each Way Betting Work on Horse Racing?
Let’s give you an example of how his type of bet works for horse races. Take a look at the below example.
At the top of the picture are the place terms. A place finish pays at 1/5 of the betting odds. The horse needs to finish in the top three to place.
We’re going to place £5 on Hazel Du Marais each way at odds of 7/1. A 1/5 of those odds for a place finishes, works out at 7/5.
As there’s two parts to this wager, the £5 unit stake is multiplied by two. So, the total cost of this bet is £10.
There are three possible results to this bet. Here are those possibilities, along with the returns for those results.
- Hazel Du Marais wins the race = £52 total return
Bet £5 on Hazel Du Marais to win = £40 return (£5 x 7/1 = £35 winnings + £5 stake) + £5 on Hazel Du Marais to place = £12 return (£5 x 7/5 = £7 winnings + £5 stake)
- Hazel Du Marais finishes between 2nd and 3rd position = £12 total return and £2 profit
Stake £5 on Hazel Du Marais to win = £5 loss + £5 on Hazel Du Marais to place = £12 return (£5 x 7/5 = £7 place money + £5 stake)
- Hazel Du Marais finishes outside the top three = £10 loss
Wager £5 on Hazel Du Marais to win = £5 loss + £5 on Hazel Du Marais to place = £5 loss
So, a win delivers a nice profit, a place sees the bet break even and a finish outside of the top four results in a loss of your £20 stake.
Hopefully you can imagine what the potential returns might be with different stakes, odds and place terms. If the maths gets too complicated, use an each way bet calculator.
Each-Way Place Terms Explained
The place terms for an each way bet in the UK are set by the Tattersalls Rules on Betting under Rule 3. Below is a breakdown of the basic place rules:
- 1-4 Runners, win-only betting
- 5-7 Runners, 2 places at a quarter of outright odds
- 8+ Runners in non-handicaps, 3 places at a fifth of outright odds
- 8-11 Runners in handicaps, 3 places at a fifth of outright odds
- 12-15 Runners in handicaps, 3 places at a quarter of outright odds
- 16-21 Runners in handicaps, 4 places at a fifth of outright odds
- 22+ Runners in handicaps,4 places at a quarter of outright odds
Enhanced Each-Way Terms & Extra Place Races
The above place terms are the industry standard, which serve as a minimum that is expected from online bookmakers. Yet there’s nothing to stop bookies from offering more.
One of the most popular betting offers from bookmakers are deals with enhanced place terms. The common name for such promotions are Extra Place Races.
They come with their own terms and conditions, such as minimum number of runners thresholds which, if the field falls below due to non-runners, may see bets settled in accordance with standard place terms instead.
Biggest UK Horse Racing Events for Each Way Betting
Horse racing had a packed year-round schedule, punctuated by huge events. Many of these big events have plenty of runners, making them perfect for each way betting.
Here are the biggest events in the horse racing calendar for betting each way, starting with Flat racing and then moving onto jump racing.
In many cases, there will already be possible to place ante-post bets on some of these races, for big events such as the Cheltenham Gold Cup and the Grand National.
The Flat
Race Name | Racecourse | Race Distance | When |
Lincoln Handicap | Doncaster | 1m | March / April |
Chester Cup | Chester | 2m 2.5f | May |
Victoria Cup | Ascot | 7f | May |
Epsom Dash | Epsom | 5f | June |
Royal Hunt Cup | Royal Ascot | 1m | June |
Wokingham Stakes | Royal Ascot | 6f | June |
Northumberland Plate | Newcastle | 2m 56y | June / July |
John Smith’s Cup | York | 1m 2f 56y | July |
Bunbury Cup | Newmarket | 7f | July |
Stewards’ Cup | Goodwood | 6f | July / August |
Ebor Handicap | York | 1m 6f | August |
Portland Handicap | Doncaster | 5.5f | September |
Ayr Gold Cup | Ayr | 6f | September |
Cambridgeshire Handicap | Newmarket | 1m 1f | September |
Cesarewitch Handicap | Newmarket | 2m 2f | October |
November Handicap | Doncaster | 1m 4f | November |
Over Jumps
Race Name | Racecourse | Race Distance | When |
Classic Chase | Warwick | 3m 5f | January |
Betfair Hurdle | Newbury | 2m | February |
Ultima Handicap Chase | Cheltenham | 3m 1f | March |
Coral Cup | Cheltenham | 2m 5f | March |
Grand Annual Chase | Cheltenham | 2m | March |
County Hurdle | Cheltenham | 2m 179y | March |
Topham Chase | Aintree | 2m 5f | April |
Grand National | Aintree | 4m 2f 74y | April |
Scottish Champion Hurdle | Ayr | 2m | April |
Scottish Grand National | Ayr | 4m | April |
bet365 Gold Cup | Sandown | 3m 5f | April |
Paddy Power Gold Cup | Cheltenham | 2m 4f | November |
Greatwood Hurdle | Cheltenham | 2m 87y | November |
Coral Gold Cup | Newbury | 3m 2f | November |
Becher Chase | Aintree | 3m 2f | December |
Welsh Grand National | Chepstow | 3m 6f | December |
What Does Each Way Mean in Football Betting?
Each way bets aren’t just the preserve of horse racing. They can be used across sports betting, with football being a good example.
You might not consider betting on football each way. After all, all of the markets that relate to football games are for a single wager, rather than each way.
Yet there are many outright betting markets when it comes to the beautiful game. You can bet on who will win the Premier League each way, or which player finishes the season as the top goalscorer each way.
There are countless opportunities to bet each way on football tips, across the many leagues and cups across the world. Then there are major international competitions such as the World Cup and European Championship.
Very often, the place terms are smaller than we often find in horse racing. It’s common that a place bet in football refers to a top two finish, which could mean reaching a cup final or finishing second in a league.
The upside is that the fraction of the betting odds tends be better than in horse racing, at 1/3, rather than 1/4 or 1/5. That means a lower odds threshold to break even.
How Does Each Way Betting Work with Golf?
Golf is a sport where placing an each way bet is a very popular option. With many tournaments featuring large numbers of players that very often exceed three figures and some big odds on offer, a place finish can deliver decent returns.
When you each way bet golf tournaments you can normally expect the place terms to be 1/4 of the odds, for a top five finish. Many betting sites will regularly offer enhanced terms for tournaments, with such deals being particularly commonplace for the four Majors each year.
Single bets where you are simply wagering on a player to place are a popular option. You can bet on players to finish in the top five, ten, or 20 positions.
Golf is a sport where there are a wide variety of markets, including ones for players performances over individual rounds, which can have each-way options.
Why Tipsters May Include an Each Way Bet in their Predictions
You’ll find that the best betting tipsters often recommend betting each way. That includes our own AI-generated tips here at BetIdeas.
A bad each-way race is “bad” for the bookie, but good for punters. It will feature a short priced favourite, which pushes out the odds of the other horses.
The trouble for the bookmakers is, that though those large prices are realistic when it comes to those horses winning the race against the hot favourite, they provide value when it comes to the place bet.
Then there are the types of races that are so competitive that there are several options available that are worth backing each way.
Tipsters are looking for ways to find value; so, sometimes, the best way to do that is to bet each way.
Effective Each Way Betting Strategy
Here are some strategies to consider when placing each way bets.
1. Look Out For Bad Each Way Races
We mentioned the concept of a bad each-way race in the earlier section. To recap, the short odds of the favourite in this type of race pushes out the odds of the other horses to the point where they are generously priced to place.
Such races typically have a short-priced favourite and a total of eight or nine runners. This allows for the first three in the race to place at 1/5 of the odds. Look out for such opportunities.
2. Shop Around For Place Terms
Don’t simply settle for the standard bookmaker terms. There is a strong chance that if you shop around, then you can find enhanced place terms for the race that you’re interested in.
Many bookies have extra places for certain individual races each day, while there are even offers available where you can set your own place terms. Check whether you can give yourself more of a chance before committing your wager to the betting slip.
3. Let Odds Dictate When to go Each Way
So, how do you know it is better to bet each way, rather than just placing a win single? It generally comes down to the odds and what you’re looking to achieve from the wager.
If you want to go each way in order to break, even if your horse doesn’t win, then pay attention to the place terms. At 1/4 of the odds, you need a horse with odds of at least 4/1 to get place odds of 1/1.
At 1/5, meanwhile, you need odds of 5/1 for an Evens bet. If you’re expecting to make a profit, even if the horse just places, then look for bigger prices.
FAQs
What is an each way bet in horse racing?
When betting each way on a horse, you are placing two bets. There is one bet on the horse to win the race and another for the horse to place.
How does an each way bet work?
There are two parts to an each way bet, so you double the stake. One part is for your selection to win, while the second part is for a place. A £10 each-way wager will cost you £20, for example.
What does each way mean in horse betting?
Each way is one of the most popular betting options for horse racing. This has two parts, the first for an outright win and the second for finishing placed.
How to calculate an each way bet?
You have to work out two parts of an each way wager. First you calculate the win part of the bet, then you calculate the place bet, dividing the odds by the place terms. This can be tricky, so we’d suggest using an each way betting calculator.
What other sports besides horse racing have each way betting?
There are many sports with outright markets where you can bet each way. Many punters place bets for football tournaments each way, while top golf tipsters regularly recommend EW betting on the Majors.
How much do you get back on an each way bet?
The returns for each way betting entirely depends on your stake, the odds of your selection and the place terms. If it’s too complicated to work out yourself, a betting calculator can make things much easier.