How to Bet on Greyhounds

Learning how to bet on greyhounds is actually a pretty easy process. Race tracks like to keep their bets simple so that people are more willing to give greyhound betting a try. First, let’s talk a little bit about the types of greyhound bets that are out there.

Types of Greyhound Bets

Greyhound betting closely resembles horse racing betting. The following bets are the most common types of greyhound bets.

Straight Bet / Win Bet

A straight bet or win bet is a simple bet in which you predict which dog will win the race. This is one of the easiest and most popular wagers of them all. The payout odds for straight bets are fairly high because it is difficult to predict a single dog to win the race. The payout odds of each dog are based on the perceived likelihood of that dog winning the race.

Dogs that are seen as highly likely to win are given lower payouts. Dogs that are seen as unlikely to win (underdogs) are given higher payouts.

Place Bet

This is a wager in which you pick a dog to take either first or second place. If the dog you choose takes first or second place, the bet is considered a win. The payout odds for place bets aren’t as high as the payout odds for straight bets because place bets are easier to win.

Show Bet

This is a wager in which you pick a dog to take first, second or third place. It does not matter which of those places your dog takes; if the dog you pick ends up in the top three, your bet is considered a winner.

Each Way Bet

This is a combination of the win bet and place bet. In this wager, you place a regular straight bet on a greyhound and then a place bet. If your dog takes first place, you collect on both bets. If your dog takes second place, you collect on the place bet only.

Across the Board Bet

This is a combination of the win bet, place bet and show bet. In this wager, you place all three bets on a single greyhound. If your greyhound takes first place, you win all three bets. If your dog takes second place, you win the place and show bets. If your dog takes third place, you win the show bet only.

Forecast

This is a wager in which you pick two greyhounds to take first and second place in the correct order.

Reverse Forecast

This wager is similar to the forecast except the dogs can finish in either order.

Quiniela

This is the same thing as a reverse forecast. Just a different name.

Perfecta / Exacta

These are just different names for the forecast bet.

Trifecta

This is a wager in which you pick three greyhounds to take first, second and third place in the correct order.

Superfecta

This is a wager in which you pick four greyhounds to take first, second, third and fourth place in the correct order. This is not an easy bet to win, but it is a high paying bet.

Pick 3

This is a bet that spreads across three consecutive races. In each race, you pick the dog that will finish first place. Get all three races correct and you win the bet.

Pick 6

Same thing as a pick 3 except this bet is spread across six consecutive races.

Daily Double

This is a wager in which you pick the first place finishers of two consecutive races. Similar to a pick 3 except this bet is only spread across two races.