What is a dead heat?

If two or more selections finish in a dead heat in a market, the return for a winning back bet would be reduced. The reduction is calculated by multiplying the original stake by the number of expected winners and dividing it by the number of dead-heated selections. The total return is then calculated based on the reduced stake (i.e. the reduced stake at the original odds) with the net winnings being this amount less the original stake.

Example 1: In a market where 3 selections dead heat for 1st place, a back bet on one of the winners for €60 at 6.0 or 5/1 is settled as follows: The stake of €60 is multiplied by the number of expected winners (1) and divided by the number of dead heated selections (3) to calculate the reduced stake (€60 x 1/3 = €20). The return is then the reduced stake at the original odds (€20 x 6 = €120). The net winnings are €60 or the return (€120) less the original stake (€60).

Example 2: Take a market with 3 expected winning selections (e.g. Horse racing place market), where 1 selection is an outright winner and 4 selections dead-heat for second place. Once the outright winner has been settled, there are two remaining 'places' in the market. A bet for €60 at 6.0 or 5/1 on one of the 4 dead-heated selections is settled as follows, the stake of €60 is multiplied by the expected number of winners (2) and divided by the number of dead heated selections (4) to calculate the reduced stake (€60 x 2/4 = €30). The return is then the reduced stake at the original odds (€30 x 6 = €180). The net winnings are €120, or the return (€180) less the original stake (€60)