Whilst placing bets in your matched betting journey, some players may have heard the term “bad each way” to describe a particular horse race. However, this is not bad for the player, but bad for the bookmaker to take each way bets on; these can be extremely valuable for the backer and can lead to some decent profits if utilised effectively. Here at OddsMonkey, we will explain why these races are described as bad, how these races can be used effectively and the ways these races bring risks to your account.
What is a Bad Each Way Race
A bad each-way race gives the backer great odds for each way, making it an obvious choice to back or make part of your matched betting journey. An example of a bad each-way race would be the classic example of:
- 8 Horses
- 5 At Higher Odds
- 3 At Shorter Odds
With these runners, the bookmakers may offer the following odds with something like this:
- Horse A at 2.2
- Horse B at 4.5
- Horse C at 5.5
- Horse D to H at 21.0 or higher
If players back a horse each way in this race, then the place part of the bet will most likely be an arb. An arb is basically the event on which the back odds are higher than the odds available at a betting exchange.
If an each-way bet was placed on Horse C at 5.5, with each way term being one-fifth, we could calculate the odds for the win part of this bet to be 5.5, and the place part of this bet would have odds of 1.90. This will be an arb as the place market on the exchanges will place the odds closer to 1.60.
It is important to note that even with the fantastic value that these types of races offer, they come with different ratings that can be displayed. Anything with a rating over 100% is considered to be an arb, which means profits can be locked in if a lay bet is placed. However, these can be flagged on your account and can lead to some risks. Here at OddsMonkey, we have tools such as the Arbitrage Calculator, which can be handy when there are discrepancies in odds from different bookmakers.
How To Use Bad Each Way Races
As it is clear to see, these bad each way races and offers can be extremely valuable as the odds are boosted compared to others; it is important to understand how each way bets work first of all to ensure sustainable play. Each way, bets allow for players to place a bet on the winner of the race and for the horse to place; these places can change depending on how many horses are in the race. For these bets to be placed, the stake you originally placed, half of the stake, will go on the horse to win, meaning if a user places a £5 bet each way, it will come to £10 in total. For players wanting to learn more about horse racing, check out our horse racing guide here at OddsMonkey.
If these bad each way races are found, a small arb can sometimes be fine. However, these can not be good for your bookie accounts and can lead to accounts being gubbed if these are betted on regularly. If your account is gubbed, this means bets can still be placed, yet players are not able to take part in any special promotions or offers, which would not be good for matched bettors! To make the most of your matched betting journey, check out our matched betting blog for a bunch of content to help you through the world of matched betting!
How Bad Each Way Races Link To Matched Betting
These bad each way races link to matched betting as these enhanced odds can be handy to matched bettors as the enhanced odds present more opportunities for someone to place a lay bet. If done correctly with our matched betting calculator, this could lock in a profit with precise mathematics and a correct strategy which can allow for a return no matter the outcome.
As bad each way races link well to matched betting, it might be useful for users to check out our horse racing matched betting guide, which also features some useful tips for players to check out and use throughout their matched betting journey!
