Dutch Betting Calculator
Spread your stake across multiple selections so that any one of them winning returns the same profit. Used by bettors covering several outcomes in a race or match.
About this calculator
Dutching is a strategy where you back multiple outcomes in the same event, sizing each stake so that a win on any selection returns an identical amount. The core idea is to divide total stake in proportion to the inverse of each outcome's decimal odds (i.e. its implied probability). For two or three outcomes the individual stakes are calculated as: stake_i = totalStake × (1 / odds_i) / divisor, where divisor = Σ(1 / odds_i) for all selected outcomes. The equal return from each outcome is: return_i = stake_i × odds_i. Because each stake_i × odds_i equals totalStake / divisor, all returns are identical. The strategy only generates profit when the sum of implied probabilities across your chosen selections is less than 1.0 — meaning the combined market overround on those specific selections is low enough. Dutching is popular in horse racing, where backing several horses from a large field can still yield positive expected value.
How to use
You want to Dutch three horses with odds of 4.0, 6.0, and 8.0 and a total stake of $100. Step 1 — compute the divisor: 1/4.0 + 1/6.0 + 1/8.0 = 0.25 + 0.167 + 0.125 = 0.542. Step 2 — calculate individual stakes: stake1 = $100 / 0.542 × 0.25 = $46.12; stake2 = $100 / 0.542 × 0.167 = $30.81; stake3 = $100 / 0.542 × 0.125 = $23.07. Step 3 — verify equal returns: $46.12 × 4.0 ≈ $184.47; $30.81 × 6.0 ≈ $184.47; $23.07 × 8.0 ≈ $184.47. Step 4 — net profit: $184.47 − $100 = $84.47 regardless of which horse wins.
Frequently asked questions
When does dutching actually produce a guaranteed profit?
Dutching guarantees a profit only when the sum of implied probabilities (1/odds) across your chosen selections is less than 1.0, meaning the combined overround on those outcomes is negative from the bookmaker's perspective. In practice this is rare in standard markets but can arise when different bookmakers price the same selections differently, allowing you to shop for the best odds on each. If the sum of implied probabilities exceeds 1.0, dutching locks in a guaranteed loss, not a profit — you would be better off picking a single selection.
How is dutching different from arbitrage betting?
Arbitrage (or arbing) covers every possible outcome of an event across different bookmakers, guaranteeing a profit no matter what happens. Dutching only covers a subset of outcomes — those you believe are most likely — and relies on one of your chosen selections winning. If none of your selections wins, you lose your entire stake. Dutching is therefore a value-seeking strategy rather than a risk-free one, though both strategies use proportional stake sizing based on implied probabilities.
How many outcomes can I include in a Dutch bet?
Theoretically there is no upper limit; you can Dutch as many outcomes as you wish as long as the formula remains viable (sum of implied probabilities below 1.0). In horse racing, bettors commonly Dutch anywhere from two to six horses from a large field, eliminating perceived no-hopers. Adding more selections increases the chance that one of them wins but compresses the profit margin because more stake is spread across the field. Beyond about six selections, the profit margin typically becomes negligibly small in standard markets.