Lately bookmakers have been forced into guaranteeing their odds, so don’t forget to take advantage of Guaranteed Odds, it gives you a big advantage on profitability.

What does mean?

As investors into the market, you must look at every angle and advantage, and more importantly using it.

Guaranteed odds means that if you take early odds and the starting price is better, then you receive the larger of the two. For example it a horse is priced at 15/8 and you take those odds early, if later in the live market the selection drifts to 11/4 then you will be paid out at 11/4 not 15/8.

If the selection shortens then you will receiving the early price you took of at 15/8, in other words you have nothing to lose.

Now this may seem a small point but don’t pass this over lightly. You are effectually guaranteeing the best pay out price and therefore profitability. Like any business profitability is key and if a selection looks to be within the price band, then lock in your profit !

The added advantage of using bookmakers guaranteed odds, is that there is no commission to pay on winnings. We are all aware of the recent increases in Betfair commissions, they do advertise heavily that their stating price is bigger than the bookies, but if a horse has been backed from 2/1 to 6/4 a pay out at 2/1 with the bookies is better than 2/1 with Betfair (due to commission).

I will give an example here to put things into perspective. Lets say after a few Months you have built up your bank to a £200 stake which is not unrealistic.

On average four selections drift every Month from 2/1 to 5/2, so we are looking at a ½ a point drift in the live market and they win (especially in the flat season – there is a lot more racing).

We are looking at a 2 point gain on what you would have won, without commission. That’s £400 per Month £4800 per year ! Now that’s a lot of money in anyone’s book.

So I would recommend strongly that if you are betting on a horse, that is unlikely to drift beyond the recommended price, lock in a guaranteed price commission free.