Each way betting is one of the most common, yet misunderstood, betting markets available at an online betting site. Each way betting means your stake is split into two bets: one on your selection to win and one on it to place. If your selection wins, both parts pay out. If it only places, the place portion still returns winnings. In practical terms, betting each way gives punters two chances to win from the same selection. If your pick wins, both parts of the bet pay out. If it does not win but finishes in the paying places, the place portion still returns a profit.
Each way bets are most popular when betting on horse racing, greyhound racing, and golf tournaments. It is particularly useful when backing outsiders at bigger odds, offering protection while still allowing strong returns if the selection wins. This guide explains the meaning behind each way bets, how betting each way works, how payouts are calculated, and when this betting option is worth using.
What is an Each Way Bet?
While an each way bet is straightforward for experienced punters, it can seem confusing to beginners. For example, say you are backing a runner in the Grand National at 10/1 with a €10 each way bet. This costs €20 in total, as €10 goes on the horse to win and €10 goes on it to place in the top five.
If your selection wins, both parts of the bet pay out. The win portion returns €110 (€100 profit plus your €10 stake), while the place portion pays at one-fifth of the odds, or 2/1. That returns €30 (€20 profit plus your €10 stake). Combined, the total return is €140.
If the horse does not win, but finishes in the places laid out by the online sportsbook, only the place portion wins. In this case, you would receive €30 back from your €20 stake, resulting in a €10 profit. The only way to maximise your returns from an each way bet is for your selection to win the race.
How do I know if my horse has placed in an each way bet?
You can tell if your horse has placed by checking the bookmaker’s place terms before the race. Most horse races pay the top three or four finishers, but larger fields and special promotions can increase this. Smaller fields may offer only the top two or no each way betting. Many online betting sites also offer extra place races, where the top five, six, or even seven horses qualify for the place portion of an each way bet.
How Does Betting Each Way Work?
The best way to think about betting each way is to consider it as two wagers. The first is a straightforward bet on the winner. If your horse wins the race, they multiply your stake by the odds displayed at Novibet. Part two requires the horse to finish in the top five places, unless stated otherwise or if the field is small. No matter where they finish in the top five, you will only get 1/5 of the odds.
To make an each way bet work, you must consider the likelihood of the horse winning and the odds. You will also need to figure out what 1/5 returns will look like. Once again, this may sound difficult, but there are a few tricks to remember. If the runner has odds worth less than 5/1, then the second part of the each way bet will return the value of your stake. This is important because you will not make any profit if the runner finishes in the top five. If you want to know how betting each way works, then try to bet on horses with odds worth more than 5/1.
| Size of Bet | Odds | Top 5 Odds | First Part Returns | Part Two Returns | Total Returns |
| €10×2 | 5/1 | 1/1 | €60 | €20 | €80 (€60 Profit) |
| €10×2 | 10/1 | 2/1 | €110 | €30 | €140 (€120 Profit) |
| €10×2 | 15/1 | 4/1 | €160 | €40 | €200 (€180 Profit) |
| €10×2 | 33/1 | 15/2 | €340 | €76 | €416 (€396 Profit) |
| €10×2 | 50/1 | 10/1 | €510 | €110 | €620 (€600 Profit) |
How to Calculate Each Way Bet
Anyone who wants to calculate betting each way can use our handy bet slip. When you enter your selections at Novibet, you can choose each way and see how many places we are paying. You can then adjust the size of your stake to see how much you can make from each bet. This applies to straight-up bets and multiples like trixie bets and accumulators, meaning you do not need to work anything out for yourself.
However, let’s say you wanted to figure out some returns without adding wagers to your bet slip. What is the best procedure? Start with the odds for each runner. Obviously, the lower the odds, the more likely a runner is to win. If you see someone in the field with odds worth 3/4, they are not a suitable candidate for each way betting. Not only will you win less than the value of your bet if they win, but you will receive one-fifth of these returns when they come in the top five.
The higher the odds, the more you will win from both parts of the bet, but remember the rule of 1/5. If a runner has odds of 33/1, you do not need to work out exactly what one-fifth of 33 is. Instead, you can round down to 32 and divide by five, which is six. For this bet, you will make at least six times your stake if they place in the top five. If they win, then it will be 33/1 plus 6/1.
Is Betting Each Way Worthwhile?
Yes, betting each way on horse racing predictions or greyhounds is 100% worthwhile, depending on the runner. If you are wagering on the clear favourite, then each way is not the way to go. Instead, this wager offers insurance to anyone looking to bet on an outsider. It works by paying if they finish in the top five, and it does not handicap you if the horse wins the race.
If you only chose a bet on the top four places and they won the race, you would miss out on their displayed odds. Choosing a 100/1 horse that won would make €1,220 if you bet €10 each way. If you bet €10 on them finishing in the top five, you would only get €200. This market offers cover for backing an outsider, but costs double the amount you enter as your stake.
To make betting each way worthwhile, you need to choose a horse that has a chance of winning the race and has odds that are still reasonable, even when you divide them by five. Anything less than 5/1 usually means you will not make any profit if the runner only comes in the top five. When above 50/1, it is doubtful the runner will win the race, so you are better off just backing them to place in the top positions.
What Sports Accept Each Way Bets?
The two most common sports that accept each way bets include horse racing and greyhound events. However, you can also bet each way in some golf tournaments. That is because golf follows a similar format to racing events. There is a large field of individual competitors, and you can bet on golfers finishing in the top five, ten, or even 20 places. While it is not a common wager, betting each way on golf events can be a lot of fun! Most major tournaments include real shocks, such as outsiders finishing in the top few places. An each way bet is a fantastic way to capitalise on these unusual outcomes and often includes fantastic returns.
What Does Each Way Mean in Football Betting?
Each way betting in football works slightly differently compared to horse racing. While you rarely see each-way options on standard match bets like Match Result or Both Teams to Score, they are commonly available in outright markets. In football betting, an each way bet usually applies to long-term competitions such as:
- League winners
- Top goalscorer markets
- Tournament winners
- Relegation markets
For example, if you back a team at 12/1 each way to win the Premier League with 1/4 odds for the top two places, your stake is split into two equal bets. Half of the bet backs the team from your soccer predictions to win the league, and the other half backs the team to finish in the top two. If the team wins the league, both parts of the bet pay out. If they finish second, only the place portion pays at 1/4 of the original odds.
Betting each way in football is particularly popular in outright markets because it offers protection when backing teams or players at higher prices. It allows punters to benefit from a strong season even if their selection falls just short of lifting the trophy. As with racing, always check the place terms before placing the bet, as the number of qualifying positions can vary depending on the competition and the bookmaker.
What Does Each Way Mean in Horse Racing?
Betting each way on horse races is the most common use of this type of market. Each way betting became popular as players could maximise their options. Rather than just picking horses to win, punters can bet each way and receive a payout if the runner finishes in the top five positions.
The biggest obstacle new players must overcome is figuring out how much they can expect to win. As the bet requires two stakes, it’s difficult to understand how much each part of the wager returns. The key to remember is that a top-five finish will return one-fifth of the odds displayed. While this wager offers low returns when betting on the favourite, it remains a fantastic option for punters looking to make the best wagers on a horse race.
