Dutching | Extensive Guide to Dutch Betting

Nowadays, however, dutch betting is used for all kinds of sports and includes lay bets too: It almost means the same thing as matched betting. There are even dutching strategies football out there and it became very easy to calculate the implied probability thanks to dutch betting calculators.

Today, dutch betting means placing multiple bets to cover all outcomes and securing a payout no matter what the actual outcome is. Check the examples below: After reading them, you will have a better understanding of what this term means.

Now you have a basic understanding of what is dutching: Let’s give some actual examples so you can find out what it really is. Doing so will also teach you how to find dutching opportunities. Based on the odds and betting types, we can divide dutch betting into four main categories. You can see them below – we also explain how to calculate them (even without using a dutching tool).

1. Each way dutching

This is the simplest example and the most common use of this technique – it is also known as dutching matched betting. You find two bookmakers that give the same odds for two different outcomes and place the same amount of bet on each. Let’s use a dutching football example:

2. Unequal dutching

In the example above, the odds and the stakes were exactly the same. While that example tells you how dutch betting works, these values won’t be that “equal” in real life. However, you can still guarantee a profit by calculating payouts even the odds and stakes are different. Here is an example based on another football dutching system:

3. Fixed-bankroll dutching

In this scenario, you have a fixed bankroll and you cannot simply divide it by two: You need to stake much different values at each bookmaker to secure a profit. Simply put, the bookmaker with the lower odds gets more than half of your bankroll. Here is an example that will also show you what an ideal dutching staking plan looks like: 

4. Fixed-profit dutching

And in this scenario, you are targeting a specific profit amount, so you need to look for the right odds. Let’s say you want to make a net profit of 30 EUR. This time, we will use a greyhound dutching system for the example and bet on three different outcomes (note that the same example works for UK horse racing betting too). This technique is also known as dutching first three favourites.

5. Reverse dutching

If you noticed, all of the dutching examples above are based on betting two or more teams/horses/dogs. However, you can use a single team for dutch betting too by using back and lay bets together – this is called dutching and laying.

Moreover, if you use a betting exchange, you don’t have to look for multiple bookmakers: You can place both bets at the same place. To explain this topic, we will use Betfair as an example, but all betting exchanges will do – check our best sports betting exchanges article for more suggestions. 

So, what is dutching on Betfair? Well, a betting exchange is a place where members (bettors) can create their own odds and sell them. A member can create a back bet, another a lay bet, and you can “purchase” both of them at the same time – this is called double dutching. Let’s give an example to dutching Betfair so you can understand what it really means: 

We also recommend reading our Betfair trading strategies and making a living on Betfair articles for more info about this topic.

Above, we talked about calculating implied probability values using a formula: Now, it is time to talk about it. Our goal is to find whether the implied probability is below or above 100: If it is below, there is a dutching opportunity. If it is not, there is no opportunity – simple as that. So what is that formula that will help you to find this result?

The formula is: 1 / (Bookmaker A odds) + 1 / (Bookmaker B odds)

• Let’s say Bookmaker A offers 2.1 odds for the outcome of “Bayern Munich wins”.
• Bookmaker B, on the other hand, offers 1.8 odds for the outcome of “Liverpool wins”.
• 1 / 2.1 + 1 / 1.8 = 0.476 + 0.556
• 0.476 + 0.556 = 1.032
• The result is over 100: There is no opportunity here

But what if we find another bookmaker that offers 1.95 odds for the outcome of “Liverpool wins”?

• 1 / 2.1 + 1 / 1.95 = 0.476 + 0.513
• 0.476 + 0.513 = 0.989
• Now the result is under 100: This is a dutching opportunity.

We highly recommend reading our how to beat the bookies guide for more info about implied probability. This formula will show you how dutch betting works but we mentioned that this technique can cover multiple outcomes, right?

So let’s give another example using a horse racing dutching system, which will also work for dutching greyhounds and/or greyhound betting. Dutching horses for a living is perfectly possible and you don’t even need to use a dutching calculator to find opportunities. Check the table below:

Now, this table tells us: 

• The total of the implied probability values is 1.05 (over 100)
• We are betting 210 EUR in total 
• No matter which horse wins, the bookmaker always pays 200 EUR in total

Simply put, there is no dutching opportunity here: The bookmaker beats us by 10 EUR. You can add more horses to this table – you can even add a dozen ones. As long as the implied probability total is less than 100, you can guarantee a profit no matter which horse wins the race. But if it is over 100, the bookmaker has the advantage.