Learn How to Bet

Betting Basics

Need a little help understanding how to place a wager when visiting a track or off-track betting location? Check out our betting guides below!
 

How to wager

Place your bet by visiting a teller, or using a self-serve terminal.  

To place a bet here are just 5 things you need to know:

1. Name of racetrack (choose from any track in the simulcast feeds)
2. Number of the race
3. Amount of your bet (e.g. $2)
4. Type of bet (see step 2)
5. Horse’s number (see step 4)

Once you have decided what you want to bet, head to the nearest seller’s window and use the sample statement as your guide: Hello, (Racetrack), race 6, $2 to WIN on Horse #4  

How to use a self-serve terminal:

1. Swipe your Cash Card/Insert Cash
2. Enter the initial PIN #1234 (then choose a new PIN)
3. Press/Tap the track you would like to bet: (defaults to current race)
4. Tap the Horse Number: #4
5. Press/Tap the Bet Type: WIN
6. Press/Tap the Bet Amount: $2
7. Press/Tap the Race Number: Race #6
8. Press Green “Make BET” button
9. Press/Tap the “Finish with Receipt” button
10. Be sure to check your ticket to confirm it’s the bet you wanted To get a Cash Card or for assistance ask a teller, or a staff member.  

Helpful facts for betting on horse racing

• Some racetracks have a television simulcast commentator who tries to identify winning horses (handicaps) between the races. Listen and see if you can pick up any good tips to bet on.

Helpful facts for betting on

Stats you can count on:

WIN BETS on the FAVOURITE pay 32% of the time
PLACE BETS on the FAVOURITE pay 53% of the time  
SHOW BETS on the FAVOURITE pay 67% of the time
* Numbers listed above are approximate, may vary by racetrack

How to Place a Bet

General information for beginners

1. Choose your horse

You can choose the horse you want to bet on for fun (because you like its name, its number is your lucky number or its saddle pad is your favourite colour) or you can refer to the detailed information in the racing program which will allow you to make a more informed decision based on the horse’s record as well as that of its jockey/driver, or trainer. See “Understanding Odds” to choose a horse based on the morning line (who is most likely to win).
 

2. Decide on the finish position you want to bet on

WIN: Your horse must finish first.
PLACE: Your horse must finish first or second.
SHOW: Your horse must finish first, second or third. This is the safest bet for someone starting out. You won’t win too much money, but you may have a better chance of winning something.
 

3. Place your bet

1. Once you've decided on your horse, where you think it will finish and how much you want to bet, it’s time to go to the betting or “mutuel” window. Each window has a teller who will process your bet.

2. Watch the tote board for the MTP number. That means “minutes to post”. You can bet right up until post time, but when you’re starting out it’s best to give yourself some extra time.

3. You will need to give the teller the following information: the racetrack name, race number, bet amount, horse number, bet type. E.g. “Mohawk Racetrack, Race 4, $2 on #7 to WIN” or “Mohawk Racetrack, Race 7, $8 on #5 to SHOW”.

4. The teller will collect your money and print out your ticket. Be sure to check your ticket to confirm it's the bet you want.
   
   

    

    

4. Watch the race

Cheer your horse on! Shout out loud! Have fun!!
 

5. Check your ticket

1. When the race is finished, check the tote board again. It will display the order of finish and show you what the winnings are for the top three horses based on a $2 bet. If you bet more than $2, just multiply the figure. E.g. If a “Show” bet pays $2.80 and you bet $4, you would win $5.60.

2. If you won, you must wait until the tote board says “OFFICIAL”, before you take your ticket back to the teller to cash in.

3. If you didn’t win, always keep your ticket until the tote board says the race is official. If your horse placed 4th and one of the top 3 horses gets disqualified for some reason, you could still cash in!

To learn more about betting – from simple bets to exotic bets and more, see some of the other articles on this website.

Simple Bets

Win Bet

YOUR HORSE MUST FINISH IN 1ST PLACE

Minimum Bet: $2
Your job: Pick the horse you think is going to win.
You win if: The horse you picked finishes 1st.
Example: If you choose horse #1 to win Race 5, you will win if the race results are:

1ST2ND3RD4TH1   

What to ask for: "Race 5, $2 on #1 to win"

Place Bet

YOUR HORSE CAN FINISH IN EITHER 1ST OR 2ND PLACE

Minimum Bet: $2
Your job: Pick a horse to finish in the top 2 places -- either first or second in the race.
You win if: The horse you picked finishes first or second.
Example: If you choose horse #3 to “place” in Race 5, you will win if the race results are:

 1ST2ND3RD4TH 3   or 3  

What to ask for: "Race 5, $2 on #3 to place"

Show Bet

YOUR HORSE CAN FINISH IN 1ST, 2ND OR 3RD PLACE

Minimum Bet: $2
Your job: Pick a horse to finish in the top 3.
You win if: The horse you picked finishes first or second or third.
Example: If you choose horse #7 to “show” in Race 5, you will win if the race results are:

 1ST2ND3RD4TH 7   or 7  or  7 

What to ask for: "Race 5, $2 on #7 to show"

Understanding Odds

The odds listed in the race program are the “morning line” odds. These are the odds placed on the horses by the track’s handicapper when the race program is published, before the wagering starts. At the track, the odds will be posted on the tote board before the race; they change up until post time, depending on how customers are betting on each horse in the race.
The horse that customers have bet the most money on is called the "favourite". This horse will have the lowest odds.

The "longshots" have the least amount of money wagered on them and therefore have the highest odds. The racetrack handles the money, keeps a percentage (called a “take-out”) and calculates the horses' odds based on the amount of money wagered on each horse. The remaining money is then paid back to the players who have winning tickets.
Win odds on the tote board are displayed based on $1.00 unless otherwise noted. A "3" displayed next to a horse's number indicates that the horse is 3-1. An example of an exception to this general rule is when "5/2" is shown. The tote board does not show decimals, therefore, 5/2 odds means that the odds on a horse are 5 divided by 2, or 2.5-1. Win payoffs are calculated based on a $2.00 wager because at most tracks this is the minimum bet. Example #1: A horse that wins at 5-1 will return $5.00 for every $1.00 wagered. If you had placed the minimum bet of $2 on that horse to win, your payoff will be: $10 (5 x 1 x $2) + your original bet of $2 – for a total of $12.
Example #2: A horse that wins at 9-2 will return $4.50 for every $1.00 wagered. If you had placed the minimum bet of $2 on that horse to win, your payoff will be: $9.00 (4.50 x 1 x $2) + your original bet of $2 – for a total of $11.
Generally, payoffs are as follows, based on a $2 wager:

ODDSPAYS ODDSPAYS1-102.20 7-29.001-52.40 4-110.002-52.80 9-211.001-23.00 5-112.003-53.20 6-114.004-53.60 7-116.001-14.00"even money"8-118.006-54.40 9-120.007-54.80 10-122.003-25.00 12-126.008-55.20 15-132.009-55.60 20-142.002-16.00 50-1102.005-27.00 60-1122.003-18.00 99-1200.00

Understanding Results

Simple Bet Results

Lower risk/Lower payoff

• If you made a $2 bet for horse #1 Hopetobefirst (2.00-1) to win, you would have won $6.00.

• If you made a $2 bet for horse #4 Cowboy Cody (9.00-1) to “place” (come either 1st or 2nd), you would have won $4.60.

• If you made a $2 bet for horse #2 Rocknroll Band (3.50-1) to “show” (come 1st, 2nd or 3rd), you would have won $3.10.

• If you made a $6 bet “Across the Board on #1”, you would have bet all three of the above bets at once ($2 x 3 bets). Here, you would have won $10.10.

Exotic Bet Results

Higher risk/Higher payoff

• Exactor - If you had bought a $2 Exacta for horses 1 and 4 to finish 1st and 2nd in that exact order, you would have spent $2.00 and won $18.30.

• Triactor - If you had bought a $1 Triactor Box for horses 1, 4, 2 to finish 1st, 2nd and 3rd in that exact order, you would have spent $6 and won $28.10. If you had bought a $2 Triactor for horses 1, 4, 2 to finish 1st, 2nd and 3rd in that exact order, you would have spent $2 and won $56.20.

• Superfecta - A $1 Superfecta Box (1-4-2-5) would have cost you $24 – but it would have paid out: $114.90.

Why the higher payoff?
In a race with 8 horses there are 56 possible exactor combinations. In the same race there are 336 possible triactor combinations.

Responsible Gambling

Nova Scotia Racing - Commitment Policy

Nova Scotia Racing is committed to reducing the occurrence of problem gambling and providing support, through information and resources, for those who experience gambling-related concerns. Ontario Racing's commitment to Responsible Gambling is an essential component of our core values and guiding principles. 

Nova Scotia Racing - Responsible Gambling Policy

Nova Scotia Racing 

 is working with provincial racetracks and industry partners to educate and create awareness around Responsible Gambling. As the voice of the NS horse racing industry and leader in best practices in horse racing related policies, OR is deeply committed to providing its customers with positive experiences and administering assistance where needed to those who may experience problem gambling behaviours.

NS has developed this policy to provide information relating to responsible gambling and how we are connecting with our industry partners to provide that information to the public. Part of that process is understanding wagering and how those who participate at our member racetracks can keep their wagering habits safe while enjoying the thrill of horse racing.

Understanding Your Wagers
People who gamble may bet on horse racing, go to casinos, buy lottery tickets, try their luck at bingo, or bet on sports and other events. While most gambling doesn’t hurt anyone, sometimes it does. Consequences can include losing money, adding to debt and ruining relationships with friends and family. Woodbine Entertainment Group’s Know When to Take the Reins initiative suggests some ways to avoid losing control.

Know When to Take the Reins
For many people betting on horseracing is exciting and entertaining. They make careful decisions about spending time and money and Know When to Take the Reins.
 
The following are some ways people can keep their betting safe:

• only gamble with money set aside for entertainment, never with money for everyday expenses
• decide on a loss limit ahead of time and stick to it 
• never borrow money to gamble
• set a time limit
• take breaks
• balance gambling with other activities
• don’t gamble when highly stressed, troubled, or depressed

Are You at Risk?
These are some signs of problem gambling behaviours: 

• “chasing losses” and making larger bets 
• borrowing money to gamble 
• increasing debt because of gambling
• engaging in fraud or theft to finance gambling
• lying to cover up gambling
• neglecting work, family or friends
• gambling to escape from obligations
• increased frequency of gambling
• preoccupation with gambling

Responsible Gambling initiatives that OR is deeply committed to include:
Responsible Gambling Training
Training modules developed with OLG to enhance knowledge, awareness, attitudes and skills of staff at member racetracks to ensure appropriate responses given to guests who may be experiencing problems.

Responsible Gambling Literature 
Easily accessible Responsible Gambling literature and brochures available at kiosks at all member racetracks in the province and promotion of responsible gambling policies, practices and procedures within the industry.

Responsible Marketing 
Working with our marketing partners, WEG and OLG, OR is committed to high ethical marketing standards that do not target minors in any way possible or portray extravagant or misleading wins.

No Minors 
No minors are allowed to wager at any member racetrack. The 19+ rule is strictly enforced.