A visit to the dog track to see the greyhounds can be a very fun evening. Although for the uninitiated or first time visitor, it can be a bit confusing given the different types of bets on offer if you fancy a bit of fun. You don’t need to gamble a lot to have some entertainment yelling “your” dog home and you can get a nice return for a small outlay. For you to understand all those different types of bets, let’s take a look together.
On the slopes of the UK you can bet with a traditional sportsbook. They will generally offer odds of winning alone, although some may offer a market without the favorite. In other words, the bookie will skip the dog he thinks will be the favorite and give odds for the other five dogs.
If you decide to bet with a traditional bookmaker, be aware that some will have minimum stakes, so it’s worth asking them about this first. You turn your back on a dog to win and he does it then you get paid. If you have chosen to endorse a dog “without” the favorite, in order for you to win that bet, your dog must win or finish second after the favorite (the dog that the bookmaker has omitted).
You have another option that offers you a much wider option on the court and that is to place your bets with the Tote. There are several different bets available through the Tote. Your money is pooled with everyone else who has wagered the same and then all winning bets are settled after the race based on a declared dividend. The amount of the dividend is calculated on the amount of money in the group and the number of winners. So what can you bet on through the Tote when you’re on the court?
Just win: just as it sounds. Support a dog to win. If so, you get paid.
Place: This involves reversing a dog. If you win or finish second, head over to the checkout window.
Forecast: Pick two greyhounds to finish first and second in that order. For example, catch 3 to win and catch five to be second. You can also do a reverse forecast which consists of choosing two dogs to finish first and second in any order. If your two selections finish first and second, then you win. Note that a reverse forecast consists of two bets. So if you ask for a £ 1 reverse forecast, it will cost you £ 2.
Trio: Choose three greyhounds to finish first, second, and third in that order. Like a forecast, albeit with an extra dog to select from. Trio dividends can be quite large, although that reflects how difficult it is to find three to finish in the correct order. You can go for a triplet “all the way around,” meaning your three selections can finish first, second, and third in any order, even though that’s six bets. So if you order a 50p trio “all the way around” it will cost you £ 3.
Jackpot: Choose the winner in each of the six races (usually) specified by the track. A way to earn a potentially large pool for a small outlay. Only a £ 1 gambling chamber wins if you pick all six winners. It is possible to select more than one dog per jackpot race, although the more you select, the higher your total stake, so keep that in mind. For example, if you go for two greyhounds in three of the jackpot races, then you will have eight lines as you multiply. In that example, an eight-line jackpot at 50p will cost you £ 4. In principle, it is no different than buying a lottery ticket and you can generally ask for a random picks lucky ticket.
So, we have looked at the different types of popular bets available on UK greyhound racing. A typical meeting has about 14 races. It’s a great social night with friends to maybe have a couple of drinks over a meal and watch the races.
