Category: English

Bookmakers offer a wide variety of bets. Some of the most common are as follows.

 

Win single
This is one bet on the winner of a race.

 

Each way single
Two bets, one bet for the selection to win and the other for it to be placed. The place bet is settled as a fraction of the win odds. The number of places and the fraction of odds vary depending on how many runners there are and the type of race as shown below.

Number of     Type of race       Number of     Fraction of
runners                                 places           win odds
16 or more     handicap           4                 1/4
12 to 15         handicap           3                 1/4
8 to 15           not applicable    3                 1/5
5 to 7             not applicable    2                 1/4
4 or less         not applicable    1 (win only)   both bets win

 
Double
A win double is one bet on two runners to win two different races. If the first selection wins, the returns are put onto the second selection.
An each-way double is two separate bets of a win double and a place double on two runners in two different races. The win bet is the same as a win double. For the place part of the bet if the first selection is placed the returns become the stake for the second selection to be placed.

 

Treble
This is one bet on three selections in three different races. If the first selection wins, the returns are put on to the second selection and if the second selection wins the returns are put onto the third selection.

 

Accumulator
A bet on any number of selections, in different races where the winnings on the first horse go onto the second and then onto the third and then onto the fourth and so on. It is one bet win and two bets each way. Obviously, the returns can be quite large, depending on the prices of the winning selections. It is therefore worth checking that your winnings would not exceed the bookmaker’s maximum payout.

 

Straight forecast
Nominating which selections will finish first and second in the correct order.

 

Reversed forecast
Nominating two selections to finish first and second in either order. It is two bets.

 

Combination/full cover forecast
Selecting any number of runners in one race to finish first and second in either order. To calculate how may bets there are, Simply multiply the number of selections by one number fewer.

For example:

 

Tricast
Selecting three runners in the same race to finish first, second and third in the correct order.

 

Trixie
Three selections in three different races, comprising three doubles and one treble. It is four bets win and eight bets each way.

 

Yankee
Four selections in four different races, comprising six doubles, four trebles and one fourfold. It is 11 bets win and 22 bets each way.

 

Super yankee/Canadian
Five selections in five different races, comprising 10 doubles, 10 trebles, five fourfolds and one fivefold. It is 26 bets win and 52 bets each way.

 

Heinz
Six selections in six different races comprising 15 doubles, 20 trebles, 15 fourfolds, six fivefolds and one sixfold. It is 57 bets win and 114 bets each way.

 

Super heinz
Seven selections in seven different races, comprising 21 doubles, 35 trebles, 35 fourfolds, 21 fivefolds, seven sixfolds and one sevenfold. It is 120 bets win and 240 bets each way.

 

Goliath
Eight selections in eight different races, comprising 28 doubles, 56 trebles, 70 fourfolds, 56 fivefolds, 28 sixfolds, eight seven folds and one eightfold. It is 247 bets win and 494 bets each way.

 

Patent/twist
Three selections in three different races, comprising three singles, three doubles and one treble. There are seven bets win and 14 bets each way.

 

Lucky 15
Four selections in four different races, comprising four singles, six doubles, four trebles and one fourfold. It is 15 bets win and 30 bets each way. If there are four winners, a 10 per cent bonus is paid, usually at starting price. If there is only one winner, double the starting pnce odds are paid. These bonuses and consolations apply only to the win part of the bet. So if an each-way lucky 15 has just one placed horse, double the odds is not paid on the placed selection. Similarly, if one selection wins and one is a non-runner, the consolation is not paid.

 

Lucky 31
Five selections in five different races, comprising five singles, 10 doubles, 10 trebles, five fourfolds and one fivefold. It is 31 bets win and 62 bets each way.

The bonuses paid vary with different bookmakers. Some pay a bonus on four winners and five winners, others pay a bonus on only five winners. It is certainly worth shopping around to find the best offers. A consolation of double the starting price odds is paid for one winner.

 

Lucky 63
Six selections in six different races, comprising six singles, 15 doubles, 20 trebles, 15 fourfolds, six fivefolds and one sixfold. It is 63 bets win and 126 bets each way.

Bonuses vary with different bookmakers. A 10 per cent bonus is usually paid for five winners. For six winners, the bonus is likely to be between 15 and 25 per cent. A consolation of double starting price odds is paid for one winner.

Frenchmen Francois and Louis Blanc invented roulette with a single zero in 1842. They removed the double zero from the wheel and haphazardly rearranged the numbers 1 to 36. Despite removing one of the pockets, they kept the payout odds for a winning number at 35/1. This cut the house advantage to just 2.7 per cent, which proved extremely popular with gamblers. Since gambling had been made illegal in France in 1837, they introduced the game to Bad-Homburg in Germany. It was a great success. When gaming was outlawed in Germany, Francois and his son Camille brought the game to Monte Carlo.

In 1857 Prince Charles III of Monaco decided to introduce gambling to the principality to boost its finances. Gambling had just been outlawed in Germany. This prompted Leblanc to bring his game of single-zero roulette to Monte Carlo. Monte Carlo had the monopoly on roulette until 1933.

Two main versions of the game are played online – American and European roulette. Both games have the same basic principle of predicting the winning number but the betting layout and wheel are different.
Players bet on which number the ball will land in after it has been spun around the wheel. Bets are made by placing chips on the layout, which is marked with the same numbers. A wide choice of different bets can be made including individual numbers and groups of up to 18 numbers. Bets made on the winning number are paid at set odds. To start playing, onscreen chips are bought. To make a bet, players touch on a chip with their mouse pointer and drag it to the correct betting position. A timer indicates how long a player has left to bet. The ball is spun from the last winning number. So if the last winning number was 36, on the next spin the starting point of the ball will be number 36. The winning number will appear on the screen. The winning bets are automatically calculated and paid by the software.

Keep a notebook to record details of your online gambling activity. It is very easy to delude yourself into thinking that you do not lose. A record also helps you judge how well you are playing. If your records reveal that you are losing too much, too often, then you can analyse what is going wrong and take measures to reduce losses. Maybe you need more practice. Maybe you need to modify your betting strategy.

If you are gambling in the USA you will find the record useful if you have a big win. In the USA, gambling wins are subject to tax by both the IRS and many state governments. If players win more than $600 on the sports betting, $1200 on slots or $1500 on keno, the casino will notify the IRS. Players may offset gambling losses against winnings, but it is necessary to keep detailed records. The IRS requires players to keep an accurate diary. detailing dates, bets made, address of gaming establishment, names of people with you and the amount won or lost. Proof of expenditure like casino receipts and bank records will need to be shown if you are audited.

Know when to stop gambling
It can take an enormous amount of discipline to stop betting, particularly If you are on a winning streak. It is possible to get carried away by the excitement of the game. You may have intended to spend only an hour gambling but you’re on a winning streak, so you continue. Because you are betting with your winnings rather than the initial stake money, you decide to place larger bets. Your next best loses, what do you do? For a lot of people, the tendency is to bet more heavily to recoup that loss. This will usually continue until you run out of funds.

Try to decide in advance at what stage you are going to stop betting. Set yourself an amount to win or lose or impose a time limit. Stop playing when you have reached your limit. As soon as a winning streak stops, either bet smaller stakes or stop playing. This approach will minimize your losses.

You should always stop playing if you are tired. You need to ensure that you are concentrating on the game. When you are tired, you take longer to make decisions and are more likely to make mistakes.

It is also wise to avoid alcohol. It tends to slow down your reactions and your ability to think. It also lowers your inhibitions and makes you less likely to care about losses. You should certainly never play if you are drunk.

 

Staying in control
The majority of gamblers are able to keep to their budgets and bet without its becoming a problem. However, for some people, it can become addictive, leading to financial ruin and family breakdown. If you start losing more than you can afford, seek help.

You can recognize that you have a problem if you:
•    view betting as a way of earning money
•    continually exceed your budget
•    bet money that was intended for living costs
•    borrow money for betting
•    take days off work to bet
•    spend all your free time betting
•    find your betting interferes with family life.

There are organizations that can offer solutions. Many have a telephone help line where you speak to a councillor. They also hold meetings where gamblers can discuss their problems and find solutions. There are also organizations that support  gamblers’ families. Your general practitioner will also be able to offer advice on counselling.

Some sites also offer self-exclusion schemes. During the period of self-exclusion, they will not take bets from you.

 

GamCare certification
GamCare is a registered charity that is the UK’s national centre for information, advice and practical help regarding the social impact of gambling.
It gives certification to businesses that implement the GamCare code of Practice for Remote Gambling, which involves Implementmg the following practices:

•    age verification systems
•    controls for customer spend
•    reality checks within game screens
•    self-exclusion options for players
•    information about responsible gambling and sources of advice and support
•    social responsibility content and sources
•    training for customer services in problem gambling and social responsibility.

Details of accredited companies are available on the GamCare website

With internet gambling you are not restricted by local opening hours of casinos and betting shops. You can bet 24 hours a day, seven days a week in the privacy of your own home. With poker, for example, you will always find a game on. Games can be played for money or simply for amusement.

Betting over the internet does have its financial advantages. The costs of operating online gambling firms are considerably cheaper than those of offline firms. These savings are often passed on to the customer in the form of low commission charges and bonuses. For example, betting exchanges charge commission of just 5 per cent or less, with loyal customers often being charged lower rates. As a comparison, a traditional bookmaker will charge around 17 to 20 per cent. With horse racing and sports betting prices can be up to 20 per cent better than with traditional bookmakers. There are also savings to be made with online casinos. With bricks and mortar casinos, you may have to pay admission costs, membership fees and travelling costs. There are none of these costs with online casinos. Many internet betting firms are located offshore. This means that bets are often tax free although this may change later with any new legislation. Players do, of course, have to bear some costs. You will need to invest in a computer and subscribe to the internet.

In casino games, software is used to make the games random. For example, with roulette there is no dealer spinning the ball in most online casino, although some of them have started having live games with live dealers, instead a random number generator selects the winning number. With card games computer software with a random number generator determines the order of the cards dealt. Games are played at a much faster pace. This is because the human factor is removed and computers are used to deal cards, place bets and calculate payouts.
Social contact is limited. With online poker, for example, you don’t see your opponents. This means that you cannot assess someone’s likely hand through body language as you would in a traditional game. You can, however, chat to them via the site’s messaging service.