Each Way Betting Explained – What EW Means in Horse Racing

Each Way betting, often abbreviated as EW, is a popular betting option that combines two bets into one. It is most commonly used in horse racing and greyhound racing.

An Each Way bet consists of two separate wagers placed at the same time:

• Win Bet – your selection must win the event.

• Place Bet – your selection must finish within the top positions specified by the bookmaker.

Both parts of the bet are placed with equal stakes. This means that when you place an Each Way bet, your total stake is split between the two bets.

How Each Way Betting Works

When placing an Each Way bet, half of your stake goes toward the Win portion and the other half goes toward the Place portion.

The outcome depends on how your selection performs in the event:

• If your selection wins, both the Win and Place bets are successful.

• If your selection finishes in a place position but does not win, the Win bet loses but the Place bet wins.

• If your selection finishes outside the paid places, both bets lose.

Example of an Each Way Bet

Imagine a horse race where a horse has odds of 3.00 to win. The bookmaker offers 1/4 odds for the place part of the bet and pays places for the top three finishers.

You place an Each Way bet of €10 EW, which means:

• €10 on the Win

• €10 on the Place

Your total stake is therefore €20.

If Your Horse Wins

Both bets are successful:

• Win return: €10 × 3.00 = €30

• Place return: €10 × (3.00 × 1/4) = €7.50

Total return: €37.50

If Your Horse Finishes in the Top 3 but Does Not Win

Only the Place part of the bet wins:

• Place return: €10 × (3.00 × 1/4) = €7.50

The Win portion of the bet loses.

If Your Horse Finishes Outside the Places

Both the Win and Place bets lose, meaning the full stake of €20 is lost.

How Many Places Are Paid?

The number of finishing positions that qualify as a place depends on several factors:

• The number of runners in the race

• The type of race (handicap or non-handicap)

• The rules set by the bookmaker

Typical Place Terms for Non-Handicap Races

• 2–4 runners – Win only

• 5–7 runners – 1/4 odds for places 1–2

• 8 or more runners – 1/5 odds for places 1–3

Typical Place Terms for Handicap Races

• 2–4 runners – Win only

• 5–7 runners – 1/4 odds for places 1–2

• 8–11 runners – 1/5 odds for places 1–3

• 12–15 runners – 1/4 odds for places 1–3

• 16 or more runners – 1/4 odds for places 1–4

Why Bettors Use Each Way Betting

Each Way betting provides a balance between risk and reward. Instead of needing your selection to win outright, you can still receive a payout if it finishes within the specified place positions.

This makes Each Way betting particularly popular in large races where predicting the winner can be difficult but certain competitors still have a strong chance of finishing near the top.

Conclusion

Each Way betting is a flexible option that combines a Win bet and a Place bet into a single wager. It is widely used in horse racing and greyhound racing, where the number of competitors and race conditions can make outcomes less predictable.

Understanding how Each Way bets work allows bettors to manage risk while still having the potential to earn returns if their selection performs well.