What is Dutching? The Smart Way to Split Your Stakes
Have you ever looked at a horse race and found yourself torn between two runners? You know the favorite is strong, but there is a dangerous outsider that could easily steal the win. In traditional betting, you might flip a coin or pick just one, risking frustration if the other horse wins.
This is where Dutching comes in.
Dutching is a betting strategy that allows you to back multiple selections in the same event so that you make the same profit regardless of which one wins. By using a mathematical calculation to split your total stake, you can cover several outcomes and significantly reduce your risk of losing.
Where Did the Name Come From?
The term is widely believed to be named after the infamous mobster Arthur Flegenheimer, better known as Dutch Schultz. He supposedly used this system at the racetrack to hide his money laundering and ensure consistent returns, though today it is used by legitimate bettors simply to manage variance.
How Does Dutching Work?
The logic is simple: you invest a total amount (e.g., £50) across two or more horses. You place a larger portion of the money on the horse with shorter odds, and a smaller portion on the horse with higher odds.
If done correctly, the return from either winning bet will be identical.
We do the hard work of identifying these opportunities for you every morning. You can find our latest calculated strategies on our Market Movers Info page.
A Real-World Example
To help you understand what a "Dutch" looks like in practice, we have provided an example below. In this scenario, we identified a "Safety Play" where we backed a strong favorite but covered our stake with the main danger in the race.
Note: Here is one of the dutching bets we created earlier to demonstrate the strategy:
🛡️ The Safety Play: Uttoxeter 14:38
Target ROI: 12-13%| Selection | Odds | Stake (£50 Total) | Return | Profit |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Drayton Flyer The Banker |
1/2 (1.50) | £37.50 | £56.25 | +£6.25 |
| Heart Over Head The Danger |
7/2 (4.50) | £12.50 | £56.25 | +£6.25 |
| TOTALS | - | £50.00 | £56.25 | +£6.25 |
Logic: We heavily weight the favourite. A win for either horse results in the same profit.
Pros and Cons
- ✅ Lower Risk: You are far less likely to lose your stake compared to backing a single horse.
- ✅ Consistency: It smooths out the "ups and downs" of betting, helping to protect your bankroll.
- ❌ Diluted Profit: Because you are splitting your stake, your ROI (Return on Investment) will be lower than if you had placed the full amount on the winner.
- ❌ The "Outsider" Risk: If a horse you didn't cover (e.g., a 33/1 outsider) wins the race, you lose your entire stake across all selections.
Conclusion
Dutching is an excellent tool for the disciplined bettor. It moves you away from "gambling" on a hunch and towards "investing" in probabilities. By covering the most likely outcomes, you can secure smaller, more frequent wins.