© Clarence Alford (Fotolia) race horses & jockeys
© Clarence Alford (Fotolia)
Placing a bet
Off-line
It is recommended that first time ‘punters’ choose one of the major High Street bookmakers when they wish to place their first bet. The staff are usually trained in explaining the principles of betting to first time gamblers.
The most popular "bookie" brands are William Hill, Ladbrokes, Betfred and Coral.
When entering the "LBO" (Licensed Betting Office), you will notice that the walls are covered in newspapers.
Each paper contains information on one of that day’s race meetings (e.g Aintree, Cheltenham, Pontefract). The individual races at that track are listed, along with the runners in each race and useful information such as each horse‘s recent results.
This is a good starting point for choosing a horse. The LBO usually has several large TV screens showing latest betting odds on each horse.
Online
High street bookies also have their own websites, and there are also some dedicated web only sites such as Bet365.com.
It is advised to shop around before signing up for a site, as many offer signing up bonus (i.e place your first £5 bet and get another £5 free.)
Placing a bet online is easy. Simply click on the site’s "Horse racing" tab. It will then show the day’s meetings and you can select an individual race and horse. This is similar to looking at the papers in a betting shop, with the advantage of having the information constantly updated online.
Odds and popular bets
Odds
If a horse is displayed with odds of 5/1, it means for every £1 bet on it, £5 will be returned, plus the initial £1 staked, giving a total of £6.
So a £2 on a 7/2 horse would win £9, £5 on a 2/1 shot returns £15 etc.
Popular bets
A single – simply a bet on the horse to win the race.
Each way – 2 bets, one on the horse to win, one on it to finish in the top 4/5 at a quarter of its odds. So an each way bet on an 8/1 horse is a bet on it to win at 8/1 and to "place" in the top 4/5 at 2/1.
Multiples – a bet on more than one horse.
So a ‘double’ would be a bet on two different horses to win their respective races, a ‘treble’ would require 3 horses to win etc.
Dougie Mackenzie’s dedication and family support lead to prestigious award in Glasgow.
The engineering firm Wood Group experiences a dramatic decline in share value due to an independent financial review.
Momcozy's 'Stand Up for Mums', a show to discover the beauty of motherhood.
Entrepreneurs Thomas Lindie and David Taylor launch a unique outdoor store in Aberdeen.
The Emonika project, featuring shopping centre, apartments, two hotels and offices is set to redefine the city’s skyline and the concept of modern office spaces in Ljubljana.
Despite the Saudi Pro League champions' persistent pursuit, Liverpool remains resolute in their stance, making it abundantly clear that Salah is not for sale
A couple leaves urban life behind for their dream jobs on the Isle of Rum.
Unwind in luxurious spa hotels that offer rejuvenating experiences within reach of the city.
Industry leaders warn of inflation and reduced investment due to tax rises
Chronic itch, lasting longer than six weeks, can be debilitating and is associated with various medical conditions.