What is Dutching? Dutch Betting Guide 2024
Dutching is the process of betting on two or more opposing selections for the same game. It bears many similarities to arbitrage, so once you understand from our betting article what is dutching in betting you can use them both. The concept was developed a long time ago and it was used mainly for horse races, but it is quite versatile. Today, punters have various tools that can help them with dutching bets.
An advanced betting calculator is needed, because you will be juggling with betting odds. The goal is to find betting selections with an implied probability below 100 and in your favor. If you achieve this, you are guaranteed to make a profit, no matter who wins the game or race.
Best Bookmakers for Dutch Betting in 21 November 2024 – Updated List
What is Dutching in Betting?
Nowadays, however, dutch bets are used for sports and include lay bets too. It almost means the same thing as matched betting and you can also find a matched betting dutching calculator on some websites. There are even football betting strategies with dutching out there. Lately, it has become easier to calculate the implied probability thanks to dutch calculator betting.
Today, dutch betting means placing multiple bets to cover all outcomes and securing a payout no matter what the actual outcome is.
The Dutch Betting System - How it Works
Above, we talked about calculating implied probability values using a formula. Our goal is to find whether the implied probability is below or above 100. If it is below, there is a dutching opportunity. If it is not, there is no opportunity – simple as that. So what is that formula that will help you to find this result?
The formula is: 1 / (Bookmaker A odds) + 1 / (Bookmaker B odds)
- Let’s say Bookmaker A offers 2.1 odds for the outcome of “Bayern Munich wins”.
- Bookmaker B, on the other hand, offers 1.8 odds for the outcome of “Liverpool wins”.
- 1 / 2.1 + 1 / 1.8 = 0.476 + 0.556
- 0.476 + 0.556 = 1.032
- The result is over 100. There is no opportunity here.
But what if we find another bookmaker that offers 1.95 odds for the outcome of “Liverpool wins”?
- 1 / 2.1 + 1 / 1.95 = 0.476 + 0.513
- 0.476 + 0.513 = 0.989
- Now the result is under 100. This is a dutching opportunity.
We highly recommend reading our guide on how to beat the bookies for more info about implied probability. This formula will show you how dutch bets work but we mentioned that this technique can cover multiple outcomes, right?
So let’s give another example using a horse racing dutching system. It will also work for dutching greyhounds and/or greyhound betting. Dutching horses for a living is perfectly possible and you don’t even need to use a dutching calculator to find opportunities. Check the table below:
Horse Number
Odds
Implied Probability
Bet price
Bookmaker pays
Now, this table tells us:
- The total of the implied probability values is 1.05 (over 100)
- We are betting 210 EUR in total
- No matter which horse wins, the bookmaker always pays 200 EUR in total
Simply put, there is no dutching opportunity here. The bookmaker beats us by 10 EUR. You can add more horses to this table – you can even add a dozen ones. As long as the implied probability total is less than 100, you can guarantee a profit no matter which horse wins the race. But if it is over 100, the bookmaker has the advantage.
Types of Dutching Bets
Now you have a basic understanding of what dutching is and it’s time to give some actual examples. This will also help you find dutching opportunities. Based on the odds and types of sports betting, we can divide dutch bets into four main categories. You can see them below – we also explain how to calculate them (even without using a dutching tool).
1. Each way dutching
This is the simplest example and the most common use of this technique – it is also known as dutching matched betting. You find two bookmakers that give the same odds for two different outcomes and place the same amount of bet on each. Let’s use a dutching football example:
2. Unequal dutching
In the example above, the odds and the stakes were the same. While that example tells you how a dutch bet works, these values won’t be that “equal” in real life. However, you can still guarantee a profit by using a parlay calculator to calculate payouts even if the odds and stakes are different. Here is an example based on another football dutching system:
3. Fixed-bankroll dutching
In this scenario, you have a fixed bankroll and you cannot simply divide it by two. You need to stake many different values to secure a profit. Simply put, the bookmaker with the lower odds gets more than half of your bankroll. Here is an example that will also show you what an ideal dutching staking plan looks like:
4. Fixed-profit dutching
In this scenario, you are targeting a specific profit amount in one of the bookmaker’s currencies available, so you need to look for the right odds. Let’s say you want to make a net profit of 30 EUR. This time, we will use a greyhound dutching system for the example and bet on three different outcomes. This technique is also known as dutching first three favorites:
5. Reverse dutching
If you noticed, all of the dutching examples above represent betting advice based on betting two or more teams/horses/dogs. However, you can use a single team for dutch betting too by using bets like back a favorite and lay bets together – this is called dutching and laying.
Moreover, if you use a betting exchange, you don’t have to look for multiple bookmakers. You can place both bets at the same place.
Sports betting exchanges are places where members (bettors) can create their odds and sell them. A member can create a back bet, another a lay bet, and you can “purchase” both of them at the same time – this is called double dutching. Let’s give an example of this type of dutching so you can understand what it means:
Arbitrage Dutching
Arbitrage and dutching have the same goal, but there are slight similarities between them. Dutching demands you to find bookmakers offering odds above even value on opposing events for the same match. It is easier to achieve this if you also have accounts at a sports betting exchange.
Dutching is also more popular with horse racing fans and frequently implies betting on several events. Arbitrage is better suited for games with just two possible outcomes. Tennis and baseball games, as well as ice hockey and even football matches where overtime is played, are perfect candidates.
What Does Arbitrage Dutching Mean?
The meaning of dutching is closely related to finding the right odds. Using websites and tools such as odds checker calculator for dutching makes it easier to accomplish your goals. One of the straightforward ways is to find errors in the odds offered by bookmakers.
Dutching horse racing events are more likely to produce such circumstances. The odds are much higher on each horse and there are many competitors. If you have accounts with several online bookies, you might get lucky. Research, patience, and chance are needed to be successful.
Best Tips and Tricks for Dutching
While there is no single best dutching system, we can give you some dutching tips and tricks to increase your chances. Our first three tips are basic and understandable:
Tip
👉 Use an advanced dutching calculator to make calculations. Using a lay dutching calculator, for example, will make the whole job much easier and prevent you from making mistakes. The software and calculators are freely available on the internet.
👉 The lower the number of outcomes, the better the dutching results. It is, of course, possible to cover multiple outcomes as we stated above. As this number increases, the calculations become more complex and the budget you need to allocate becomes bigger. Therefore, try to keep the number of outcomes as low as possible.
Strategies for Dutch Betting
Here are some simple dutch betting strategies for specific sports betting:
What to Expect from Dutch Betting: Pros & Cons
PROS
- You can make a profit no matter what, as long as you find the best odds.
- You can make a living with it and offset the role-plays by luck.
- You can cover more outcomes and take advantage of betting opportunities in many sports.
CONS
- The profit margins are small and there are no guarantees you find the right odds.
- Calculations may be complex for beginners even if they use an advanced betting calculator.
Place Your Dutching Bet and Secure Your Profit Today
You learned what dutching is and how it works, so it is time to start placing some dutch bets. Check our compare bookmakers tool to find a bookie with a free dutching calculator and place your first bet today. Dutch betting offers lots of advantages and you don’t have to worry about the result of the game anymore. You can make a profit no matter who wins or loses! As always, we wish you good luck!
FAQ About Dutch Betting & Dutching Strategies
Dutching is the name of an advanced betting technique where you place a bet for more than one selection in a race or an event, so you can guarantee a payout.
Just like arbitrage/matched betting, traditional bookmakers don’t like dutch betting and they can ban your account for doing so. Betting exchanges, however, do not have such restrictions.
Yes, dutch betting is perfectly legal. However, as mentioned above, it may be against the terms and conditions of use of the bookmaker.
When done right, dutching is risk-free. You can make a profit no matter what the actual outcome is. However, bookmakers also know this technique and they check their implied probability values too.
In a way, yes, both techniques focus on securing a payout regardless of the actual outcome. Dutching is a special version of arbing that focuses especially on horse racing & multiple outcomes.
Yes, because they do not restrict the use of dutch betting techniques – you don’t have to use multiple bookmakers for your bets.
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