What exactly is Dutching? A straightforward guide to Dutch betting

Dutch betting, often referred to as Dutching, is a well-known betting practise, and we discuss everything from its fascinating beginnings to whether it is profitable for punters. With its origins in the 1920s American underground, Dutching, or Dutch betting as it is also known, has evolved into a respectable and commonly utilised betting tactic for profit-seeking.

Arthur Flegenheimer, alias Dutch Schultz, was Al Capone’s accountant who created the word Dutching while looking for a strategy to beat the bookies at the races. Fast forward a century, and the approach has evolved into one that is mostly utilised in horse racing and football to boost one’s chances of winning a single event. We cover everything you need to know, from how Dutching works to whether you should try it.

What exactly is Dutching?

Dutching, often known as Dutch betting, is a betting practice that involves backing many outcomes in the same event rather than simply one. The purpose of betting on numerous outcomes in a single event, most commonly in football and horse racing, is to profit from one of your selected events succeeding.

The punter’s stake is divided and placed in such a way that regardless of which bet wins, the punter earns an equal profit. While Dutching helps lessen the danger of losing money, you must know the exact stake to place to ensure that you receive the same amount of money regardless of which option wins. Dutch betting carries a high level of risk, as if both outcomes are incorrect, you will lose your whole stake on both bets.

Dutching betting examples

There are three primary methods open to bettors interested in placing Dutch bets, which we detail below.

1. Simple Dutch betting

Simple Dutch betting is when the stake on each pick remains the same or is reduced in accordance with the odds to ensure a profit is made. Here are some examples of Dutching with an equal stake and with a lower stake.

Identical stake Dutch wager

• Bet £10 on horse A at 3/1 • Bet £10 on horse B at 3/1 • Total investment = £20 (£10 + £10) • If either horse wins, you profit by £20 (£40 return – £20 total stake).

Reduced risk Dutch wager

• £5.45 on A at 6/1 • £9.55 on B at 3/1 • Total stake = £15 (£5.45 + £9.55)
• Horse A wins, resulting in a profit of £23.15 (£38.15 return – £15 total stake).
• Horse B wins, resulting in a profit of £23.20 (£38.20 return – £15 total stake).

2. Dutch bets with a predetermined profit

As the name implies, this is a strategy in which a bettor seeks a specific profit from a race or event, regardless of the number of picks made. The examples that follow contain a predetermined profit of £30 and demonstrate how it works with two or three picks.

Dutch wager with two selections and a fixed profit

• Profit target = £30 • Bet £10 on A at 4/1 • Bet £10 on B at 4/1 • Total stake = £20 (£10 + £10)
• If each horse wins, the profit is £30 (£50 profit – £20 stake).

Dutch wager with three selections and a fixed profit

Your specified profit target remains £30, but because you’ve added another pick, betting £10 on a 4/1 winner would earn you only £20, so you’ll need to increase each individual investment to £15.

• Profit target = £30 • Bet £15 on A at 4/1 • Bet £15 on B at 4/1 • Bet £15 on C at 4/1 • Total stake = £45 (£15 + £15 + £15)
• Any horse that wins equals a profit of £30 (£75 return – £45 stake).

While it is improbable that three horses will begin a race at 4/1, this is the simplest way to describe the Dutch betting system, which becomes progressively complicated as more selections are added. The most accurate method of calculating your Dutch bet is to use a Dutch bet calculator.

3. Fixed-odds Dutching betting

Additionally referred to as stake-limited Dutch betting, this strategy emphasises restricting your total investment rather than aiming for a certain profit.

Dutch bet with two selections and a fixed amount

• Total stake = £20 • £13.33 on horse A @ 4/1 • £6.67 on horse B @ 9/1
• If Horse A wins, the profit is £46.65 (£66.65 returns – £20 total stake).
• Horse B wins, resulting in a profit of £46.70 (£66.70 return – £20 total stake).

Dutch bet with three selections and a fixed amount

Again, the total stake remains the same, but the individual stakes and possible profit are reduced, especially if one of your selections is a short price.

• Total stake = £20 • £13.33 on horse A @ 4/1 • £6.67 on horse B @ 9/1 • £10.53 on horse C @ 2/1

• Horse A wins, resulting in a profit of £11.60 (£31.60 returns – £20 total stake).
• Horse B wins, resulting in a profit of £11.60 (£31.60 return – £20 total stake).
• Horse C wins, resulting in a profit of £11.59 (£31.59 return – £20 total stake).

How to  Dutch or Dutching

Dutching is a subset of matched betting. You place your initial wager and then cover the remaining outcomes in the same market with a different bookmaker.

To earn an equal profit or loss regardless of the outcome, you must wager a different amount on each option based on the odds.

I’ve developed a Dutching Calculator that handles the math for you. Enter your starting bet and odds, and the calculator will calculate the optimal stake for each selection.

When should I dutch?

While Dutching is always an option, it is often easier and more cost effective to place your bets through a betting exchange.

However, there are circumstances in which dutching makes great sense, which we will discuss shortly.

Dutching rather than laying

At times, betting on a betting exchange is simply not possible. When this occurs, dutching can be the ideal solution, and it’s a useful skill to have on hand for when the right offer comes along.

Let’s look at a few examples.

Tennis retirement regulations

Tennis offers are quite popular in the matched betting market, particularly around the time of the Grand Slam events. Each of the four Grand Slam tournaments lasts two weeks, providing ample opportunity to profit across hundreds of matches.

However, there is a problem.

With any tennis offer, the first thing to evaluate is whether the bookmaker’s retirement rules align with those of the betting exchange. If their regulations differ, the bets you’ll be matching will not be identical, putting you vulnerable to a sizable potential loss.

Dutching arbitrage

Arbitrage dutching, or dutching for profit, is the conventional form of dutching. If bookmakers’ odds are set excessively high in comparison to the rest of the market, it can give an opportunity to benefit quickly. These are referred to as ‘arbs’.

Whether you lay them off at an exchange or dutch them at another bookmaker, arbs can attract unwelcome attention to your account. As a result, you should never accept arbs on any of your profitable accounts, as the risk is not worth it.

While you are unlikely to employ arbitrage dutching frequently, it can be quite beneficial for extracting value from any gubbed accounts you may have. The same is true for any bookmaker that does not conduct promotions on a regular basis.

The mathematical foundations of arbitrage dutching

If the probability of all selections inside a market is less than 100%, there is an arbitrage opportunity.

Divide 100 by the decimal odds to obtain the implied probability of a result.

As an example, suppose Red Rum is given odds of 1/3 to win a two-horse race against Tiger Roll, who is given odds of 10/3. 100 1.333 = 75% (Red Rum)

100 divided by 4.333 equals 23.08 percent (Tiger Roll)

75% + 23.08 % = 98.08 % (Total)

As you can see, their relative probabilities are less than 100%, indicating an arbitrage dutching opportunity.

When using my Dutching Calculator for arbitrage dutching, you have three alternative ‘Targets’ to choose from…

• Initial Selection
• Total Investment • Total Profit

Each choice allows you to customise a specific aspect of the dutching process. Now, let us examine each one more closely.

Dutching arbitrage

Arbitrage dutching, or dutching for profit, is the conventional form of dutching. If bookmakers’ odds are set excessively high in comparison to the rest of the market, it can give an opportunity to benefit quickly. These are referred to as ‘arbs’.

Whether you lay them off at an exchange or dutch them at another bookmaker, arbs can attract unwelcome attention to your account. As a result, you should never accept arbs on any of your profitable accounts, as the risk is not worth it.

While you are unlikely to employ arbitrage dutching frequently, it can be quite beneficial for extracting value from any gubbed accounts you may have. The same is true for any bookmaker that does not conduct promotions on a regular basis.

The mathematical foundations of arbitrage dutching

If the probability of all selections inside a market is less than 100%, there is an arbitrage opportunity.

Divide 100 by the decimal odds to obtain the implied probability of a result.

As an example, suppose Red Rum is given odds of 1/3 to win a two-horse race against Tiger Roll, who is given odds of 10/3. 100 1.333 = 75% (Red Rum)

100 divided by 4.333 equals 23.08 percent (Tiger Roll)

75% + 23.08 % = 98.08 % (Total)

As you can see, their relative probabilities are less than 100%, indicating an arbitrage dutching opportunity.

When using my Dutching Calculator for arbitrage dutching, you have three alternative ‘Targets’ to choose from…

• Initial Selection
• Total Investment
•  Total Profit

Each choice allows you to customise a specific aspect of the dutching process. Now, let us examine each one more closely.

Initial Selection

The ‘First Selection’ parameter allows you to enter the wager amount for the first selection. This sum will remain constant regardless of the odds or the number of selections dutched.

Stake Total

The ‘Total Stake’ parameter allows you to specify the total stake for all selections. This amount will remain constant regardless of the number of dutched selections.

Overall Profit

The ‘Overall Profit’ parameter enables you to specify the profit you intend to earn regardless of the outcome. This amount will remain constant regardless of the number of dutched selections.

Conclusion

Dutching is arguably more beneficial currently than it has ever been in terms of matched betting offerings. As bookies continue to adjust their incentives and expand into new markets, dutching will provide you with access to previously locked doors. Additionally, it’s rather pleasant to wring some additional value from your gubbed accounts that are otherwise idle. When the next opportunity presents itself, give dutching a try and begin maximising your gains!

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