What Are Rule 4 Deductions?

Placed a bet on a horse race and won but got less return than anticipated? A Rule 4 deduction might be responsible.

In this article, we'll dive into the details of Rule 4 deductions, why they're implemented, and how they affect your earnings. Our Rule 4 Calculator is here to offer assistance in figuring out your adjusted returns.

Betting Essentials – Rule 4 Explained

What Is Rule 4 In Horse Racing?

Rule 4 comes into play when a non-participating horse is announced in a race after the entries are finalized. It’s a regulation consistent across the industry, so you won’t find variations among different bookies. bookmakers Don't stress about inconsistencies with Rule 4—it remains uniform, ensuring fairness regardless of where you place your wager.

When a horse withdraws from the competition, others have an increased winning chance, making original odds misleading. Rule 4 adjusts for fairness.

Withdrawn horse odds at the time of withdrawal determine the deduction under Rule 4, directly affecting your winnings.

Potential losses can be steep under Rule 4. If a top contender withdraws, deductions might reach 90% of your earnings! But, any non-runner priced at 14/1 or more will spare you from cuts.

Check today's updates on non-runners by visiting our site. list of non-runners page.

Rule 4 Table

Consult the Rule 4 chart below for how much of your winnings will be deducted based on the withdrawn horse's odds.

Rule 4 Example

Bet £10 on Red Rum to win at Aintree's 1.50 race at 10/1. If victorious, your expected profit is £100, with a total return of £110.

A horse priced at 4/1 becomes a non-runner after final declarations.

Now, calculate potential earnings considering the Rule 4 deduction, should Red Rum triumph.

Per our chart, non-runners priced from 16/5 to 4/1 incur a 20% deduction. Therefore, expect £20 off your £100.

Winning would typically yield £100, but Rule 4 leaves you with an adjusted return of £80, totaling £90 with your stake.

Rule 4 Calculator

Utilize the WhichBookie Rule 4 Calculator below to easily determine new odds and profits after accounting for non-runners.

Simply enter:

• Original odds of your selection
• Total runners when your bet was placed
• Original stake
• Each Way Bet? Y/N
• Handicap Race? Y/N
• Odds for each non-runner (add as many as needed)

Rule 4 Impact with Multiple Horse Withdrawals

What if more than one horse withdraws? Rule 4 calculates deductions multiple times consecutively.

Each subsequent deduction post-Rule 4 is based on the adjusted, not original, odds.

From our example, initial Rule 4 leaves you with £80 from £100. If another horse withdraws, further deductions apply to the £80.

Example

With second non-runner odds at 7/1, expect a 10% deduction per our chart.

Hence, new returns are calculated as £80 - 10% = £72.

Bookies might alter place payouts for each-way bets if Rule 4 reduces the laps number but honor them if you place bets before Rule 4. Always verify post-deduction offerings.

Rule 4 With Each Way Bets

Bookies uphold place payouts post-Rule 4. Winnings face deductions though, as with win bets, based on withdrawn horse odds.

Similar rules apply if betting on a horse 'not to place.' Bookmaker honors place numbers if bet predates the non-runner announcement.

Rule 4 With ‘Not To Place’ Bets

Reduced field size increases a 'no place' bet's success likelihood due to increased chances of placement—a reverse Rule 4 boosts potential winnings on non-runners.

No, deductions focus solely on winnings, sparing your original stake from being affected.

Rule 4's consistency makes deductions standardized, with an exemption by some bookies for 5% deductions when non-runners hold 10/1 - 14/1 odds.

Do Rule 4 Deductions Apply To Stakes?

For advanced details, small discrepancies may arise in fractional to decimal conversion, typically without significant outcome effects.

Are Rule 4 Deductions Always The Same?

Despite the consistent Rule 4 method across bookies, deduction amounts may vary due to differing odds each provides. Ladbrokes Example: A horse at 4/1 leads to a 20% Rule 4 cut with one bookie, but the same horse at 9/2 incurs only a 15% cut elsewhere.

No application of Rule 4 for ante-post bets, usually placed 24+ hours before race time. They sidestep Rule 4 deductions.

Ante-post bets bring benefits like enhanced odds but carry risks of non-runners without stake refunds.

Rule 4 governs horse and greyhound races, with similar deductions standardized industry-wide.

Does Rule 4 Apply To Ante-Post Bets?

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Explore WhichBookie's free Lucky 15 tips from expert analysts. Utilize our Lucky 15 Calculator accessible further below.

Does Rule 4 Apply To Greyhound Racing?

Check out our expert tips for the Ryanair Chase scheduled for March 13th, 2024, during the Cheltenham Festival.