Ever noticed the term each way when exploring betting options and wondered what it really means? For newcomers, different bet types can feel a bit confusing at first, especially when you are comparing markets across a few betting sites.
The key is understanding how the bet is built and when it makes sense to use it. Licensed UK betting sites must show their terms clearly, so once you know what to look for, the details may fall into place.
If you are curious about a way of backing a selection to perform well without needing it to finish first every time, each way betting might be worth a closer look. Read on to learn more.
What Does Each Way Mean in Betting?
An each way bet is two bets placed on the same selection, most often seen in horse racing. One part is to win. The other is to place, which means finishing within a set number of top positions, such as the first three or four. The exact places that qualify depend on the event and the site’s terms.
Your stake is split equally between the win part and the place part. So a £5 each way bet costs £10 in total, £5 on the win and £5 on the place. If the selection wins, both parts can return a payout. If it only qualifies for a place, only the place part can return.
Place terms hinge on the size and type of event. In racing, fields with more runners usually pay more places. In sports like golf, the place part can run deeper, sometimes to the top five, six, or more. The bet slip or market rules show the positions that count and the fraction used for the place odds.
If you decide to try your hand at sports betting, remember to do so responsibly and within your means; never wager more than you can afford to lose.
How Do Each Way Bets Work?
Once you understand it is two bets in one, the outcomes are straightforward. If the selection wins, the win part is settled at the full odds and the place part is settled at a fraction of those odds. If the selection finishes in a place without winning, the win part is a losing bet and only the place part is settled.
The place part uses a set fraction of the win odds, often 1/5 or 1/4, although the fraction can differ by event. With a £2 each way bet, your total outlay is £4, £2 for the win and £2 for the place. If that selection places, the return comes from the place side only, calculated using the fraction shown on the market.
It might be worth checking the exact place terms for each market. Races with eight runners often pay the first three, larger handicaps may pay more places, and some big events use enhanced place terms. The rules on the market page set this out before you stake.
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When Should You Place Each Way Bets?
Each way betting could appeal when a selection has a realistic chance of finishing near the front, even if first place looks uncertain. That is why it is popular in large fields, such as a 12 or 16 runner horse race or a golf major with a deep leaderboard.
It can be a practical option if the favourite is strongly priced and you prefer a runner or player at longer odds. If that selection lands a place, the place part can still return something, even without the win. The trade off is simple, the total stake is doubled, so the decision rests on whether the place terms and price make sense for the event.
Place terms vary. A horse race might pay three places in a smaller field and four or more in bigger handicaps. Golf tournaments commonly pay to the top five or six, with some events running even deeper. Betting sites usually flag these terms clearly on the market, and some will offer extra places on selected races or tournaments. A quick look at the terms before you bet may potentially help you weigh up the value of going each way.
How Are Each Way Bets Calculated?
Each way bets are settled as two separate parts, the win and the place. The win part pays at the full odds if your selection comes first. The place part pays at a fraction of those odds if the selection finishes within the listed places.
Let’s take a look at a simple example. You place £2 each way, £4 in total, at odds of 10/1 with place terms of 1/5 for the first three places.
If the selection wins, the win part pays £20 profit plus the £2 win stake, and the place part pays at 1/5 of 10/1, which is 2/1, so £4 profit plus the £2 place stake. Put together, that is £28 returned in profit plus £4 in stakes, £32 in total.
If the selection finishes second or third, the win part loses and the place part pays £4 profit plus the £2 place stake, £6 returned in total.
Those fractions and the number of places are shown on the bet slip or market rules. They can vary by event and sport, so the calculation always follows the terms shown at the time you place the bet.
What Sports Commonly Use Each Way Bets?
Horse racing is the classic home of the each way bet in the UK. Races with bigger fields offer more place positions, which suits the format well.
Golf is another mainstay. With large tournament fields, bookmakers often pay places to the top five, six, or more, especially at majors, and sometimes offer additional places on special markets.
You may also find each way options in greyhound racing, motorsport, darts, snooker, and tennis, usually when there is a market with a defined set of finishing positions, such as a tournament outright or top scorer market in football.
Is an Each Way Bet Worth It?
Whether an each way bet is worth the extra outlay depends on your preferences, the event, the price, and the terms on offer. You are effectively paying for a second outcome to be covered, which doubles the stake, so the decision comes down to whether the place terms and the selection’s prospects justify that cost.
Many bettors use each way in large fields or with selections at longer prices, where a top finish is plausible even if first place is a stretch. The value lives in the details, the number of places, the fraction used for the place part, and how that combines with the odds.
Once you know how the parts are settled and what the terms mean, it becomes a straightforward choice rather than a guess, and you can back your pick in the way that fits your view of the event. Always keep responsible gambling practises in mind.
