When Do Bookies Pay 4 Places Instead of 3?
If you’ve come across a horse racing market with a bookmaker paying four places instead of three, you might be wondering what that means, and why it may be offered in the first place.
This blog breaks it down in simple terms, focusing on how these extra place offers usually work, what they might mean for each-way betting, and how race conditions can influence them.
Whether you’re curious about racing terms, or just want to better understand what’s shown on a race card, this guide is designed to be beginner-friendly and fact-based. It doesn’t make predictions or suggest betting strategies. Instead, it gives you a clear explanation of what you might expect and how place terms can change from one race or bookmaker to another.
Paying 4 Places Instead of 3 Meaning
An each-way bet is a type of wager split into two parts: one part covers your horse to win the race, and the other covers it to finish within a certain number of top positions. These positions are referred to as “places”.
In UK horse racing, bookmakers often pay out on the top three places in races with at least eight runners. This means if your horse finishes first, second or third, the “place” part of your bet returns a payout at a reduced fraction of the win odds—often 1/5 or 1/4, depending on the terms for that race.
When a bookmaker lists “4 places paid”, the place part of your bet would also pay out if your horse finishes fourth. This isn’t a standard rule, but rather a promotional term used by some bookmakers, particularly during larger race meetings or in races with many runners.
For example, if you place a £5 each-way bet (total stake £10) on a horse at odds of 12/1 with place terms of 1/5 the odds, and your horse finishes fourth in a race offering 4 places, your place part pays out at: 12 ÷ 5 = 2.4/1. That’s £5 × 2.4 = £12 profit, plus your £5 stake returned, giving you £17 from the place part.
How Many Runners for Bookies to Pay 4 Places?
In most cases, the number of horses running in a race helps determine the standard each-way place terms. These terms are often based on widely accepted industry guidelines. Here’s a general guide:
- 5 to 7 runners – place terms cover 1st and 2nd
- 8 to 15 runners (non-handicap) – 1st, 2nd, and 3rd
- 16+ runners (handicap only) – 1st through to 4th
So, in a 16-runner handicap, you might expect four places to be paid as part of the bookmaker’s default terms. However, bookmakers are free to offer different place terms as part of promotions, such as paying out on five, six, or even more places, especially during events like the Grand National or Cheltenham Festival.
Some may even offer four places in non-handicap races, or where there are fewer than 16 runners, but these cases are usually part of a specific offer rather than the standard terms.
Place terms should be clearly displayed on the race page or bet slip before you confirm your bet. These terms can vary from one bookmaker to another.
Can Bookies Change the Place Terms Before the Race?
Yes, the place terms shown can be updated before a race begins. This is usually a result of changes to the number of runners. For example, if a 16-runner handicap race is offering four places, and two horses are withdrawn before the race starts, that leaves only 14 runners. In line with standard industry practice, the bookmaker might reduce the number of places paid to three.
That change should only affect bets placed after the adjustment. If you placed your bet before the field was reduced, the original terms should still apply to your wager. This is sometimes referred to as “terms taken” and is based on the conditions shown at the time you placed the bet.
The timing of when bookmakers apply these changes may differ depending on the platform. Some update place terms instantly after any non-runners are declared, while others may do so closer to the start of the race. It can be worth checking the terms displayed when your bet is confirmed to help avoid any surprises.
Is 4th Place Ever Paid in Accumulators?
It can be, depending on the race terms and the type of bet placed. An each-way accumulator is a bet that links multiple each-way selections across different races. Each selection, or “leg”, carries its own win and place parts, and these follow the place terms for the race in question.
For instance, let’s say you create an each-way accumulator with four horses. If one of those races pays four places and your chosen horse finishes fourth, the place part of that leg wins. However, if another race in your bet pays only three places and your selection finishes fourth, that part of the bet loses.
Extra place offers might apply to accumulators, but it depends on the bookmaker. Some specifically limit these offers to single bets. Others might include them in multiples, but only under certain conditions. The promotional terms will usually explain if an extra place offer applies to combination bets like accumulators.
What to Expect on Multiples and Each-Ways
Multiples, often called accumulators or “accas”, combine two or more selections into a single bet. If you choose to place your accumulator each-way, you’re effectively creating two separate bets: one covering all horses to win, and the other covering them all to place based on each race’s terms.
Here’s an example. You bet £2 each way on a four-fold accumulator. That’s £4 in total. For the win part to succeed, all four horses must win their respective races. For the place part, each one must finish within the place positions stated for its race. These place positions can differ depending on race type, number of runners, and bookmaker terms.
So, if three horses place and one doesn’t, the place part of the accumulator won’t return a payout. Some punters may prefer singles or smaller doubles and trebles, especially when betting each way.
Promotional place offers might apply to multiples, but this depends on the bookmaker and the terms of the specific offer. Checking the terms and conditions can help you understand whether your bet qualifies.
Multiples can lead to higher possible returns, though they also rely on more outcomes going your way—if just one selection doesn’t meet the place or win terms, the whole bet can be affected.
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**The information provided in this blog is intended for educational purposes and should not be construed as betting advice or a guarantee of success. Always gamble responsibly.