What is an each-way bet?

An each-way bet is one of the most popular types of sporting bets to be placed and, when done correctly, can often prove to be a big money maker for bettors. 

An each-way bet is effectively two different bets being placed on the same selection. The first of those bets is for your selection to win, while the second of those bets is for your selection to place- ie, to finish second, third, fourth or maybe even as low as fifth or sixth, depending on the betting site. 

Placing an each-way bet is very easy, and almost every major online betting site will have it available on the appropriate sports. 

The first thing you should do is find your chosen sport and event on the bookmakers website. 

Following that, there should be an option, usually at the top of the screen, which will say each way or E/W. 

From this point, there are a number of things that you should be aware of. Firstly, the odds of the selection winning will not be affected by you placing an each-way bet. 

Secondly, you should see how many places the bookmaker has to offer.  This will explain to you where a selection needs to finish for the place side of your bet to be successful. 

Some betting sites will offer slightly more generous places, especially during the bigger events, though, it is worth noting that you will see less of a return the lower your selection finishes. 

The biggest thing you will want to keep an eye on when placing an each-way bet is the each-way fraction. This is commonly displayed at the top of the screen as well. 

The each-way fraction will tell you what the odds will be if your horse places. For example, if the each-way fraction is 1/4, then your returns if your horse won would be quartered if your horse places.

To someone unaccustomed to gambling, placing an each-way bet can seem like quite a daunting and confusing task, so let's take a look at how an each-way bet would actually work using an example. 

Horse A is 12/1 to win the race and you fancy him as an outsider. The each-way fraction offered by the site is 1/4, and the site offers placement down to third place. That means you would have to divide the winning odds by four to work out the placing odds, which is this case is a simple exercise- 12 ÷ 4= 3, meaning your odds on placing are 3/1. 

You place $10 on the horse at each way, which means you are placing $10 on the horse to win, and $10 on the horse to place, bringing your total stake to $20.

Now let's take a look at the possible outcomes.

If your horse wins the race, then you would receive the winnings from both of these bets and your returned stake, taking your total to $170.

Each-way betting’s biggest selling point is that it increases your chances of making a return on your selection, even if that does have the potential to be a lower payout. 

To a lot of gamblers, when a favourite is not clear, and there is a good range of odds available on several outcomes, then an each-way bet is likely to be a good option. 

Each-way betting is also incredibly common among those who do not gamble often and only tend to have a wager during big annual sporting events. This is because, in many ways, an each-way bet is seen as a much safer way of betting.

The biggest disadvantage to each-way betting is that while you do decrease your chances of losing, you also stand the chance of winning less money. 

Unless you are willing to part ways with some serious cash, then placing an each-way bet is not necessarily going to be the most fruitful unless your selection wins.  That being said, those with a good eye for these things can certainly make each way betting work in their favour. 

There is also the fact that your stake for the bet is effectively doubled when you go to place it, which can come as quite a nasty surprise if this is your first time placing such a bet.