This is an editorial guide provided for information only. Bookmakers set their own odds, limits and rules, and the terms on your bet slip are the ones that apply. fortunegames.com does not take sports bets and is not affiliated with any bookmaker.
Each Way Bet Explained
An each-way bet is two equal bets: one on your selection to win and one on it to finish in the places. A £5 each-way bet costs £10. If your selection wins, both parts pay; if it only places, the place part pays at a fraction of the win odds, usually a quarter or a fifth.
How each-way bets pay
Take £5 each-way at 10/1 in a race that pays three places at a fifth of the odds, so the place part is settled at 2/1:
| Result | Win part | Place part | Total return from £10 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Wins | £55 | £15 | £70 |
| Finishes 2nd or 3rd | £0 | £15 | £15 |
| Unplaced | £0 | £0 | £0 |
Standard place terms
How many places pay, and at what fraction, depends on the number of runners and the type of race. These are the standard terms most UK bookmakers use for horse racing:
| Race and runners | Places paid | Fraction of the odds |
|---|---|---|
| 2 to 4 runners | Win only | – |
| 5 to 7 runners | 2 | 1/4 |
| 8 or more runners (not a handicap) | 3 | 1/5 |
| Handicap, 8 to 11 runners | 3 | 1/5 |
| Handicap, 12 to 15 runners | 3 | 1/4 |
| Handicap, 16 or more runners | 4 | 1/4 |
On big races many bookmakers pay extra places, and on-course bookmakers use slightly different terms, so the terms on your slip are the ones that count. Places depend on the horses that actually run, so non-runners can change them.
Each-way at short odds
The place part is only worth as much as the odds allow. At 2/1 with a fifth of the odds, the place part is settled at 2/5, so a £5 each-way bet that only places returns £7 from £10. At longer odds the place part can return more than the whole stake, as in the 10/1 example above.
Rule 4 and dead heats
If a horse is withdrawn after the betting has formed, winning bets can have a deduction taken from their winnings under Tattersalls’ Rule 4, based on the withdrawn horse’s price. If your selection dead-heats for the last paying place, the place stake is divided by the number of horses tied and paid at full odds, so with two horses, half the stake counts. If there are enough places for every tied horse, the place part is paid in full.
Race bets and instant games: the difference
A bet on a race waits for the result, and the bookmaker settles it at the odds you took. Scratchcards, slots and Slingo are instant games with an immediate result, and every game lists its rules and return to player (RTP) before you play.
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Frequently asked questions
How much is a £5 each-way bet?
£10: £5 on the win and £5 on the place.
How many places are paid in a horse race?
It depends on the race. Under standard terms, non-handicaps with 8 or more runners pay three places at a fifth of the odds; handicaps pay three at a quarter with 12 to 15 runners and four at a quarter with 16 or more.
What happens if my each-way selection wins?
Both parts pay: the win part at the full odds and the place part at the place fraction.
Can you bet each-way on other sports?
Yes, on some outright markets such as golf tournaments, where the bookmaker sets its own place terms.
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