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- What is Best Odds Guaranteed?
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- Best Odds Guaranteed examples
- Why BOG matters for punters
- The small print: what to check
- BOG and multiple bets
- BOG vs exchange betting
- How to get the most out of BOG
- A short history of BOG
- Is BOG worth choosing a bookmaker for?
- Where to bet with Best Odds Guaranteed
- Key points to remember
Best Odds Guaranteed, usually shortened to BOG, is one of the most valuable offers in UK horse racing betting. The idea is simple: if you take a price on a horse and its starting price ends up bigger, the bookmaker pays you at the bigger price. You never get less than the odds you took, and sometimes you get more. In this guide we explain how Best Odds Guaranteed works, show worked examples, list the small print to check and show where you can get it.
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What is Best Odds Guaranteed?
New! Our Top 3:
18+ · New UK players only · T&Cs apply. 100% up to £1.500 + 250 Free Spins Please gamble responsibly · BeGambleAware.org
18+ · New UK players only · T&Cs apply. 100% up to £1.500 + 300 Free Spins Please gamble responsibly · BeGambleAware.org
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When you bet on a horse race, you can either take the price on offer at that moment, known as the fixed odds, or take the starting price (SP). The SP is the official price at the moment the race starts, based on the odds available in the betting market just before the off.
Without BOG you have to choose. Take the early price and you risk missing out if the horse drifts to bigger odds. Wait for the SP and you risk the price shortening. With Best Odds Guaranteed the choice disappears: you take the early price, and if the SP is bigger, you are paid at the SP.
Best Odds Guaranteed examples
Example 1: the price drifts
You back a horse at 9:30 in the morning at 4/1 with a £10 win bet. By the off the horse has drifted and returns an SP of 6/1. It wins.
- Without BOG: £10 at 4/1 returns £50.
- With BOG: you are paid at 6/1, so £10 returns £70.
That is £20 extra, simply because you placed the bet with a BOG bookmaker.
Example 2: the price shortens
You back a horse at 5/1 and it is well backed, going off at 3/1. It wins. You are paid at 5/1, the price you took, because that is the bigger of the two. BOG never pays less than the price you took.
Example 3: each way
BOG also applies to each way bets. If you take 8/1 each way and the horse goes off at 12/1 and finishes third, the place part is paid at a fraction of 12/1 rather than 8/1. Use our each way calculator to see what that difference is worth.
Why BOG matters for punters
Over a single bet, BOG may seem like a small extra. Over a season it adds up. Horses drift in the betting market all the time, often for reasons that have nothing to do with their chance of winning: a big gamble on a rival, a general market move or simply less money than expected. Each time a winner you backed early drifts, BOG pays you the higher price.
BOG also removes the stress of timing. You can place your bets in the morning when you have time to study the card, without worrying that you are locking in a worse price than you would get later.
The small print: what to check
Best Odds Guaranteed is offered by many UK bookmakers, but the terms differ. Check these points before relying on it:
| What to check | Why it matters |
|---|---|
| Which races | BOG usually covers UK and Irish horse racing only, not overseas racing |
| From what time | Many bookmakers offer BOG from a set time on race day, such as 8am or 10am |
| Which bet types | Singles and each way singles almost always count. Multiples, forecasts and tricasts may not |
| Maximum payout | The extra payout from BOG is often capped per day or per customer |
| Account restrictions | Some bookmakers remove BOG from accounts that win consistently |
| Greyhounds | A few bookmakers also offer BOG on UK greyhound racing |
BOG and Rule 4
Rule 4 deductions still apply with BOG. If a horse is withdrawn late, winning bets in the race are reduced by a set amount per pound. How the deduction is applied when BOG kicks in differs between bookmakers, and Rule 4 can reduce or even cancel the BOG gain. Do not count on the full difference when there are late non-runners, and check the settlement rules of your bookmaker.
BOG and multiple bets
At most bookmakers BOG applies to each leg of a multiple, such as a double, Yankee or Lucky 15. That means one drifting winner improves the return of every multiple it is part of. It is one of the best reasons to place full cover bets with a BOG bookmaker. Check the terms though, because some bookmakers only apply BOG to singles.
BOG vs exchange betting
On a betting exchange you bet against other punters and usually get bigger odds, but you pay commission on your winnings and there is no BOG. With a traditional bookmaker the odds are sometimes slightly shorter, but BOG gives you free upside when the price drifts. Many experienced racing punters use both: the exchange for big prices at the off and a BOG bookmaker for early bets. Compare the options in our guide to the best UK betting sites.
How to get the most out of BOG
- Bet early. BOG only adds value if you take a price before the off. Place your bets once you have studied the card.
- Compare prices. BOG pays the best of your price and the SP, so taking the best early price still matters.
- Keep an eye on the terms. Make sure the race, time and bet type are covered.
- Combine with other offers. Extra places and price boosts can often be used together with BOG.
For more tips, read our complete horse racing betting guide or work out what your bets pay with our bet calculator.
A short history of BOG
Best Odds Guaranteed became widespread among British bookmakers during the 2000s, as online bookmakers competed for racing customers. It quickly turned into a standard feature for UK and Irish racing. Over time many bookmakers added conditions, such as start times and payout limits, but the core promise has stayed the same: if the starting price is bigger than the price you took, you are paid at the bigger price. For a punter who bets early, it remains one of the most valuable free extras in racing.
Is BOG worth choosing a bookmaker for?
For regular racing punters, yes. Best Odds Guaranteed costs you nothing and only ever adds to your returns. If you bet on racing a few times a week, the extra from drifting winners can easily add up to more than a one-off welcome bonus over a year. For punters who mainly bet on football or other sports, BOG matters less, and odds, markets and in-play features are more important.
Where to bet with Best Odds Guaranteed
BOG terms change, so check the current terms on the bookmaker’s site before you bet. Our three top-rated sites are a good place to start:
Our pick: bet on racing at Inky Bet, or compare racing offers at Tip-Top and Jackpot City. Whatever offers you use, keep to a fixed budget and never chase losses.
Key points to remember
- With BOG you are paid at the bigger of the price you took and the starting price.
- It usually covers UK and Irish horse racing, often from a set time on race day.
- It applies to each way bets and, at many bookmakers, to the legs of multiples.
- Rule 4 deductions and payout caps still apply.
- Betting early with a BOG bookmaker has almost no downside.
BOG stands for Best Odds Guaranteed. If you take a price on a horse and the starting price is bigger, the bookmaker pays you at the starting price.
Yes, at most bookmakers BOG applies to both the win and place parts of an each way bet.
Usually only on UK and Irish horse racing, and often only from a set time on race day. Some bookmakers also offer it on UK greyhounds.
Yes. Rule 4 deductions for late withdrawals still apply and can reduce or cancel the extra you gain from BOG.
Yes. Bookmakers can restrict offers such as BOG on individual accounts, which is why it is worth checking your account terms.