Each-Way Betting Explained: Place Terms, Payouts & Examples (UK Racing)

📘 What is an Each-Way bet?

Each-Way splits your stake into two equal parts: a Win part and a Place part.

• The Place part pays at a fixed fraction of the win odds (usually 1/5 or 1/4) if your horse finishes in the advertised places (e.g., top 3).
• A Win result pays both parts; a Place-only result pays the Place part; a loss pays neither.

Tip: Model returns in seconds with our Bet Calculator (supports EW, Rule 4 and dead-heats).

📑 Official Place Terms (UK & Ireland — standard industry)

Bookmakers sometimes offer “extra places”, but the standard terms usually follow the tables below. “Place fraction” is the proportion of the win odds used for the Place part.

Non-Handicap Races

Handicap Races

These are typical “industry terms”. Always check a race’s current EW terms on your slip — many firms offer extra places, especially in big handicaps. For course quirks (draw, pace, etc.) see our Racecourse Guide.

🧮 Worked Examples (Win, Place-only, Lose)

Example A — 10/1 at 1/5 odds; £5 EW (total £10). Horse wins.

• Win part: £5 @ 10/1 → return £55 (profit £50).
• Place part: £5 @ (10/1 × 1/5 = 2/1) → return £15 (profit £10).
• Total return £70 (profit £60).

Example B — same bet; horse finishes 2nd (place only).

• Win part loses.
• Place part: £15 return → Total return £15 (loss £-? relative to £10 stake; profit £5 on place part alone).

Example C — horse finishes outside places.

• Both parts lose; return £0.

Use the Bet Calculator and set Dead-Heat parts to 2 (or 3, etc.) and add any Rule 4 deduction to see adjusted returns.

⚖️ Dead-Heats & Rule 4 Deductions

Rule 4 (withdrawals) with EW

A withdrawal after final declarations triggers a % deduction on the winnings part of returns. The Place part is affected proportionally because it’s derived from win odds. Check your slip for the exact Rule 4 band.

Dead-heats

When runners tie, the relevant part is shared. For a two-way dead-heat, your affected return is effectively halved; for a three-way, divided by 3, and so on.

Voids & non-runners in multiples

In accumulators and perms, a void leg is usually treated as odds 1.00 for that line (the rest of the bet stands). Our Bet Calculator models this.

⚠️ Common EW Mistakes (and easy fixes)

• EW in very small fields (≤7 non-handicaps): place-only can be poor at 1/4 or 1/5. Model first.
• Not checking current EW terms: field changes alter places/fraction.
• Ignoring dead-heats: ties reduce the relevant part.
• Forgetting Rule 4: withdrawals reduce winnings.

Run bets through the Calculator. For track quirks, see the Racecourse Guide.