A visit to the greyhound track to watch the greyhounds can be great nighttime fun. Although for the uninitiated or first time visitor it can be a bit confusing due to the different types of bets on offer if you fancy a little flutter. You don’t need to bet big to have fun yelling home “your” dog and you can get a good return for a small outlay. To give you an idea of ​​all those different types of bets, let’s take a look together.

On the slopes of the UK you can bet with a traditional bookmaker. They will usually offer win-only odds, although some may offer a market without the favourite. In other words, the bookmaker will skip the dog that he thinks he will be the favorite and give odds on the other five dogs.

If you decide to bet with a traditional bookmaker, be aware that some will have minimum bets, so it’s worth asking them about this first. You back a dog to win and you do it then you get paid. If you have chosen to back a dog ‘without’ the favourite, then to win that bet your dog must either win or finish second to the favorite (the dog the bookmaker has omitted).

You have another option that gives you a much wider choice on the track and that is to place your bets with the Tote. Several different bets are available through the Tote. Your money is pooled with everyone else who has wagered in the same way and then all winning bets are settled after the race based on a declared dividend. The amount of the dividend is calculated on the amount of money in the common fund and the number of winners. So what can you bet on through Tote when you’re on the track?

Just win: Just like it sounds. You support a dog to win. If you do, you get paid.

Place: This involves backing a dog. If you win or finish second, go to the payout window.

Forecast: Pick two greyhounds to finish first and second in that order. For example, catch 3 to win and catch 5 to be second. You can also make a reverse forecast, that is, choose two dogs to finish first and second in any order. If your two selections finish first and second, you win. Please note that a reverse forecast consists of two bets. So if you ask for a £1 reverse forecast, it will cost you £2.

Trio: Choose three greyhounds to finish first, second, and third in that order. Just like a prognosis, albeit with an additional dog to select from. The trio dividends can be quite large, although that reflects how difficult it is to find three to finish in the correct order. You can opt for an “all-way” trio, which means your three selections can finish first, second and third in any order, even though it’s six bets. So if you order a 50p trio “all the way around”, it will cost you £3.

Jackpot – Pick the winner in each of (usually) six races specified by the track. A way to win a potentially large group for a small outlay. Only a £1 betting house wins if it picks all six winners. It is possible to select more than one dog per jackpot race, although the more you select, the higher your total bet, so keep that in mind. For example, if you pick two greyhounds in three of the jackpot races, then that’s eight lines as you multiply. In that example, an eight-line 50p jackpot will set you back £4. In principle, it’s no different than buying a lottery ticket, and you can usually request a lucky ticket from random selections.

That’s why we’ve looked at the different types of popular bets available on UK greyhound racing. A typical meeting has around 14 races. It’s a great social night with friends to maybe have a couple of drinks over a meal and watch the races.