• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar

BettingSites.co

Betting Sites - Best UK Online Bookmakers & Sports Betting Websites

  • Home
  • Top 10
  • New Sites
  • Free Bets
  • Bookmakers
  • Sports
    • American Football
    • Athletics
    • Baseball
    • Basketball
    • Boxing
    • Cricket
    • Darts
    • Football
    • Formula 1
    • Golf
    • Greyhound Racing
    • Horse Racing
    • Ice Hockey
    • Rugby
    • Snooker
    • Tennis
    • UFC/MMA
  • Events
  • Banking
  • Articles

Dead Heat Rules – What Happens in the Event of a Tie?

Horse Racing Dead HeatDead heat rules are something that can catch out people who are new to betting, whether online or not, and whilst they may appear unfair if you get stung by them and weren’t expecting it, once you understand the rule it should all make sense.

In this article, we’ll take a look at dead heats in horse racing, as well as other sports, such as football and golf and we’ll also take a look at how dead heat rules apply to each way bets.

Dead Heats in Horse Racing

Dead heat horse race

Many bets can be subject to dead heat rules but we’ll start with a very simple example and the one where the rule was probably first applied. In a horse race, in the unlikely event of a dead heat – that is to say the horses cannot be separated even by a photo finish – dead heat rules will apply.

In effect, because both horses finished first they share first place between them. This means that half your stake is settled as a winner, whilst half is settled as a loss. If there are more than two horses involved in the dead heat then the bet is split proportionately, such that in a three way dead heat one third is settled as a winner and you lose two thirds of your original stake.

For Example: If you backed Sir Winsalot for £15 at 4/1 and he won you would receive £75 back, made up of £60 net win and your £15 stake. However if the race ended in a dead heat with Nearly Always Second then half of your £15 would win and half would lose, meaning your returns are £7.50 @ 4/1 or £37.50.

In events that offer a tie, draw or similar there can be no dead heat but otherwise the rules stated above will apply and could explain why the returns on your bet are less than you were expecting.

Dead Heats in Other Sports

Players in action

Whilst a dead heat is common in horse racing, it can happen in pretty much any event where there is the possibility of a joint winner. Even sports, such as football, can have dead heats on certain markets such as top goalscorer, however the way different bookmakers settle these bets actually varies.

For example, at Euro 2012 Fernando Torres was one of six players to score three goals in the tournament. Some bets on the top scorer would have settled a six way dead heat, meaning only a very small payout. In fact, a £60 bet at 10/1 would have returned just £110, which would have been exceptionally upsetting had you been expecting to receive the full £660!

However, some bookmakers settled this as a straight win for Torres, based on his official Golden Boot title by virtue of having created the joint most assists and played the least minutes. Great if you had Torres and were paid out at the full odds, but not so good for those that backed Mario Gomez and the other four players who bagged three goals who received nothing.

For this reason it is important to always check the terms at whichever bookmaker you use so you are at least aware of what might happen to your bet.

Each Way Betting

The other thing to be aware of is how dead heat rules apply to each way bets. This probably applies most regularly to golf, although it will also apply to other events such as top scorer bets in football. If you place an each way (let’s say top four) bet on the golf and your player finishes in a tie for third with four other players – not uncommon in golf where there are very large fields – then dead heat rules will apply.

In the example given the payout depends on the number of places remaining – so in this instance your player finished third and each way paid third and fourth, hence two places; and how many people involved in the dead heat – in this case four.

The first number is divided by the second to calculate what percentage of your stake won, so in this example it is 2/4 or 1/2. As such half your bet is settled as a winner and half as a loser (subject to the standard each way terms too of course).

Primary Sidebar

Sports Betting Guides

  • American Football
    • Super Bowl
  • Athletics
  • Baseball
  • Basketball
  • Boxing
  • Cricket
  • Darts
    • BDO World Darts Championship
    • PDC World Darts Championship
    • PDC World Matchplay
  • Football
    • Football Articles
    • Premier League
    • Premier League Big Six
    • Championship
    • Football Cups
    • FA Cup
    • Champions League
    • World Cup
    • European Championships
    • Football Awards
    • English Football Teams & Leagues
    • Scottish Football Teams & Leagues
    • Irish Football Teams & Leagues
    • Welsh Football Teams & Leagues
  • Formula 1
    • Circuits
    • F1 Constructors Championship
    • F1 Drivers Championship
  • Golf
    • Golf Tournaments
    • The Open Championship
    • U.S. Open Golf
    • The Masters
    • Ryder Cup
    • US PGA Championship
  • Greyhound Racing
    • Greyhound Racing Tracks
  • Horse Racing
    • Horse Racing Articles
    • Horse Races
    • Major Meetings
    • Horse Racing Fixtures
    • Racecourses
      • England
      • Ireland
      • Scotland
      • Wales
    • Horse Racing Series
    • Prize Money
    • Race Classes
      • Grade 1
      • Grade 2
      • Grade 3
      • Group 1
      • Group 2
      • Group 3
      • Handicaps
      • The Classics
  • Ice Hockey
  • MotoGP
  • Motorsport
    • MotoGP Circuits
  • Rugby
    • Super League
    • Six Nations
    • Rugby World Cup
  • Snooker
    • Masters Snooker
    • World Snooker Championship
    • UK Championship Snooker
  • Tennis
    • Wimbledon
    • US Open
    • French Open
    • Australian Open
  • UFC/MMA

Events By Country

  • Countries
  • UAE (Dubai & Abu Dhabi)
  • South Africa
  • India
  • New Zealand
  • France
  • Australia
  • Canada
  • USA
  • Ireland
  • UK
  • Saudi Arabia

Banking

  • Apple Pay
  • Bitcoin
  • Entropay
  • Neteller
  • PayPal
  • Paysafecard
  • Skrill

Popular Articles

  • Picking Winners: How To Study Horse Racing Form
  • Betting & Tax In The UK – Do I Have To Pay Tax On My Gambling Winnings?
  • Both Teams to Score & Goals Galore Explained
  • Multiples Betting Explained
  • Dead Heat Rules – What Happens In The Event Of A Tie?

Latest Articles

  • How Does the Tote Swinger Bet Work?
  • Tote Exactas and Trifectas Explained
  • Online Betting Account Verification - Understanding KYC & ID Checks at the Bookies
  • Horse Racing Fixtures
  • Scottish Racecourses
  • Welsh Racecourses
  • English Racecourses
  • Premier League Golden Boot
  • European Golden Shoe
  • Motorsport

Recently Updated

  • Europa League Winners
  • Emilia Romagna Grand Prix
  • US PGA Championship
  • FA Cup Stats & History
  • Lockinge Stakes
  • Yorkshire Cup
  • Dante Stakes
  • Duke Of York Stakes
  • Dante Festival
  • FA Vase Winners
  • Turkish Airlines Open
  • Truist Championship
  • Chester Cup
  • Ormonde Stakes
  • Chester Vase
  • FAI Cup Winners
  • EFL Trophy Winners (Johnstone's Paint Trophy)
  • World Snooker Championship: Past Winners, Stats & History
  • CJ Cup Byron Nelson
  • Miami Grand Prix
Copyright © 2025 BettingSites.co | 18+ GambleAware.org - Gamstop

Disclaimer: Please note that the legality of betting online varies between countries and it is your responsibility to verify that your actions are legal in the country you reside. All offers subject to terms and conditions. Please gamble responsibly - if you feel you may have a problem and need advice please visit Gamble Aware (UK) or Gamblers Anonymous.

gambleaware.org