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Best Odds Guaranteed (BOG) is a bookmaker promotion that pays a winning horse racing bet at the higher of two prices. The odds available when the bet was placed or the official Starting Price (SP) when the race begins.
For example, if a horse is backed at 4/1 and its Starting Price is 6/1, a qualifying bet is settled at 6/1. If the SP falls to 3/1, the original 4/1 odds still apply. The higher price is used in either case.
BOG is mainly associated with UK and Irish horse racing, although some bookmakers also offer it on greyhound racing. Not every bet qualifies, and conditions such as eligibility times, maximum payouts and excluded markets vary between operators.
This guide explains how Best Odds Guaranteed works, how it affects potential returns, and which rules can change the final payout.
What Is Best Odds Guaranteed?
Best Odds Guaranteed, often shortened to BOG, is a feature that compares the fixed odds accepted for a selection with its official Starting Price. If the SP is higher, the bookmaker uses that price to calculate the return on a qualifying winning bet. If the SP is lower, the original odds remain unchanged.
BOG involves two prices:
- Early price: The fixed odds accepted before the race starts.
- Starting Price (SP): The official odds calculated at the start of the race.
The important detail is that BOG compares these two prices only. It does not guarantee the highest odds available from every bookmaker or the highest price reached at any point before the race.
For example, a horse might be priced at 5/1 in the morning, drift to 8/1 during the afternoon and return an SP of 6/1. If the accepted early price was 5/1, a qualifying BOG bet would be settled at 6/1, not the temporary 8/1 price.
How Does Best Odds Guaranteed Work?
BOG is applied when an eligible bet is settled. The bookmaker checks the accepted odds against the official SP and uses the higher price to calculate any winnings.
Let’s compare two possible outcomes using a hypothetical £10 win bet.
Example 1: Starting Price Is Higher
A horse is backed at 4/1, but its official SP is 6/1.
| Without BOG | With BOG | |
|---|---|---|
| Odds used | 4/1 | 6/1 |
| Stake | £10 | £10 |
| Profit if the horse wins | £40 | £60 |
| Total return | £50 | £70 |
In this example, BOG increases the total return by £20 because the SP is higher than the original odds.
Example 2: Starting Price Is Lower
The same horse is backed at 4/1, but its SP shortens to 2/1.
| Without BOG | With BOG | |
|---|---|---|
| Odds used | 4/1 | 4/1 |
| Stake | £10 | £10 |
| Profit if the horse wins | £40 | £40 |
| Total return | £50 | £50 |
The original 4/1 price is retained because it is higher than the SP. In this case, BOG makes no difference to the payout. Both examples assume the horse wins, the bet qualifies for the promotion and no deductions apply. If the horse loses, BOG does not provide a refund or change the result of the bet.
What Is Starting Price (SP) in Horse Racing?
The Starting Price (SP) is the official price calculated for each horse when a race begins. In British horse racing, it is determined through an industry process using bookmaker prices around the start of the race. SP is different from an early fixed price, which is agreed before the event.
For example, a horse might have the following prices throughout race day:
| Time | Fractional odds |
|---|---|
| 9:00 am | 5/1 |
| 11:00 am | 4/1 |
| 1:00 pm | 7/2 |
| Race start | 3/1 (SP) |
Someone whose bet was accepted at 5/1 would normally retain those fixed odds, even though the horse’s SP is 3/1. With BOG, that 5/1 price also remains the settlement price because it is higher than the SP.
The key point is that SP is a single official price established at the start of the race. It is not necessarily the same as the odds displayed by an individual bookmaker at that moment.
How to Calculate Returns with Best Odds Guaranteed
The calculation uses whichever price is higher: the accepted early odds or the SP, subject to the promotion’s rules. With decimal odds, the basic formula is:
Total return = stake × applicable decimal odds
For example, a £20 win bet is accepted at decimal odds of 4.00 (3/1). The horse wins at an SP of 6.00 (5/1).
Because the SP is higher, the return is calculated as:
£20 × 6.00 = £120
This includes £100 profit and the original £20 stake. Without BOG, the return at the accepted odds of 4.00 would have been £80. The difference is £40.
The same principle applies to fractional odds. Our Betting Odds guide explains how to convert odds and calculate potential returns.
Which Bets Qualify for Best Odds Guaranteed?
BOG usually applies to selected fixed-odds horse racing bets, but the exact rules depend on the bookmaker. Common eligibility conditions include:
| Condition | What it means |
|---|---|
| Eligible races | Usually selected UK and Irish horse races |
| Bet timing | The bet must be accepted during the BOG eligibility period |
| Bet type | Often win and standard each-way bets |
| Fixed odds | A fixed price must normally be accepted before the race |
| Account eligibility | Some offers require an opt-in or eligible account |
| Payout limits | Maximum additional winnings may apply |
Some bookmakers extend BOG to multiples, while others restrict which combinations qualify. Ante-post bets, special markets, and certain promotional bet types are commonly excluded.
For example, an operator may activate BOG at 8:00 am on race day. A bet accepted at 7:30 am might not qualify, even if it otherwise meets the requirements. The exact start time matters because eligibility is based on when the bet was accepted, not simply when the race takes place.
Does Best Odds Guaranteed Apply to Each-Way Bets?
Yes, many bookmakers offer BOG on qualifying each-way bets, which combine a win bet and a place bet. The win part pays if the horse wins. The place part pays if it finishes in one of the qualifying positions, with the place return calculated using a fraction of the win odds.
When BOG applies, the higher eligible price is normally used to calculate both parts, although the place terms and exclusions still depend on the bookmaker.
Best Odds Guaranteed Each-Way Example
Consider a hypothetical £5 each-way bet on a horse at 4/1. The total stake is £10 because it contains two £5 bets. The place terms are 1/5 of the win odds, and the official SP rises to 6/1. If the horse wins, BOG changes the settlement price to 6/1.
Win part:
£5 at 6/1 produces £30 profit plus the £5 stake, giving a £35 return.
Place part:
At 1/5 of 6/1, the place odds become 6/5.
£5 at 6/5 produces £6 profit plus the £5 stake, giving an £11 return.
Total return: £35 + £11 = £46
Without BOG, the two parts settled at the original 4/1 odds with the same 1/5 place terms would return £34. The difference is £12. If the horse finishes in a qualifying place but does not win, only the place part pays. If it finishes outside the qualifying places, both parts lose.
This example assumes unchanged place terms, no Rule 4 deduction, and no promotional payout cap.
Does Best Odds Guaranteed Work on Accumulators?
Some bookmakers include eligible horse racing multiples in their BOG promotions. An accumulator combines several selections into one bet, with their decimal odds multiplied together. If BOG increases the price of one winning leg, the combined odds may also increase.
For example, consider a hypothetical double:
| Selection | Accepted odds | Starting Price |
|---|---|---|
| Horse A | 3.00 | 4.00 |
| Horse B | 2.00 | 1.50 |
Without BOG, the combined decimal odds are:
3.00 × 2.00 = 6.00
With BOG applied to both eligible selections, Horse A receives the higher SP of 4.00, while Horse B retains its original odds of 2.00.
The revised combined odds are:
4.00 × 2.00 = 8.00
If both horses win, a hypothetical £10 double would return £80 instead of £60. However, BOG does not change the usual accumulator requirement that every selection must win. It also does not automatically apply to all multiples.
You can learn more about doubles, accumulators, and system bets in our Bet Types guide.
How Do Rule 4 Deductions Affect Best Odds Guaranteed?
A Rule 4 deduction can apply when a horse is withdrawn from a race after fixed odds have been accepted.
Removing a runner changes the field, so the bookmaker may reduce the potential winnings on the remaining horses. The size of the deduction depends on the withdrawn horse’s price under the applicable rules.
For example, a horse might be backed at 5/1 before another runner is withdrawn. A Rule 4 deduction of 10p in the pound would reduce the original £50 potential profit on a £10 stake by £5. That leaves £45 profit and a £55 total return if the horse wins.
BOG can still apply to bets affected by Rule 4, but bookmakers have specific rules for comparing the adjusted early price with the SP. This means BOG does not guarantee that the original, unadjusted payout will be protected against non-runner deductions.
Does Best Odds Guaranteed Apply to Ante-Post Bets?
Usually not. An ante-post bet is placed before the final field for a race has been confirmed, sometimes weeks or months in advance. These bets have different settlement conditions from ordinary race-day fixed-odds bets. In particular, an ante-post selection that does not run may still be treated as a loser, subject to the market’s rules.
Most standard BOG promotions exclude ante-post bets. For example, a bet accepted at 10/1 several weeks before a major race would not normally qualify for BOG simply because the horse later starts at 12/1. The earlier bet remains subject to its original terms.
Some bookmakers offer separate promotions for ante-post racing, but those should not be confused with standard Best Odds Guaranteed.
Best Odds Guaranteed: Common Restrictions
The name makes BOG sound straightforward, but several conditions can affect whether it applies.
- Eligibility windows: Bets accepted before a promotion begins may not qualify, even if they are placed on race day.
- Opt-in requirements: Some bookmakers require customers to activate BOG or meet account eligibility conditions.
- Maximum benefit: An offer may cap the extra winnings provided by BOG, either per bet or over a particular period.
- Excluded markets: Ante-post, Tote, or pool betting, certain enhanced each-way markets and promotional prices may be excluded.
- Free bets: Some operators exclude bets funded with free bets or promotional tokens.
- Cash out: Bets settled through cash out are often excluded from BOG because they have been settled before the race result is final.
- Non-runners: A withdrawn horse may trigger Rule 4 deductions or other settlement adjustments.
For any BOG offer, the terms should explain when it begins, which bets qualify and whether the extra payout is limited.
Best Odds Guaranteed vs Cash Out: What’s the Difference?
Best Odds Guaranteed and cash out are both betting features, but they serve different purposes. BOG affects the odds used when a qualifying winning bet is settled. Cash out allows certain bets to be settled before the event finishes, using an amount offered by the bookmaker.
| Feature | Best Odds Guaranteed | Cash Out |
|---|---|---|
| Main purpose | Apply the higher eligible odds | Settle a bet early |
| When it matters | When the bet is settled | Before the event finishes |
| Changes the odds used? | Yes, if SP is higher | No, a separate cash-out amount is offered |
| Available on losing bets? | No refund for a losing selection | May be available while a bet is open |
| Guaranteed availability? | No, eligibility rules apply | No, availability can change |
An important difference is that cashing out a bet may remove its BOG eligibility. Our Cash Out guide explains how early settlement works and why cash-out values can change during an event.
Common Misunderstandings About Best Odds Guaranteed
BOG Means the Highest Odds Offered Anywhere
BOG compares the accepted early price with the official SP. It does not search other bookmakers or use the highest price that appeared during the day.
BOG Guarantees a Winning Bet
BOG can’t change the result of a race. If the horse loses, the bet normally loses regardless of whether the promotion applies.
Every Horse Racing Bet Qualifies
Eligibility depends on the bookmaker’s terms. Ante-post bets, certain each-way products, free bets, and bets outside the qualifying time window may be excluded.
BOG Protects Against All Changes to Returns
BOG protects the qualifying price comparison, but deductions, maximum payouts and other settlement rules can still affect the final amount received.
Best Odds Guaranteed FAQs
What does Best Odds Guaranteed mean?
Best Odds Guaranteed means that a qualifying winning bet is settled at the higher of the accepted fixed odds or the official Starting Price. It is most commonly used in horse racing.
What does BOG stand for in betting?
BOG stands for Best Odds Guaranteed, a bookmaker feature that compares an early fixed price with the official SP.
How does Best Odds Guaranteed work?
If a horse is backed at 4/1 and wins at an SP of 6/1, a qualifying BOG bet is settled at 6/1. If the SP is 3/1, the original 4/1 odds are retained.
Does Best Odds Guaranteed apply to each-way bets?
Many bookmakers include standard each-way horse racing bets. If the selection qualifies, the higher eligible price can affect both the win and place calculations, subject to the applicable place terms.
Can Best Odds Guaranteed apply to accumulators?
Yes, some bookmakers include qualifying racing multiples. If the price of an eligible winning selection increases under BOG, it can increase the combined return of a winning accumulator.
Responsible Gambling
Best Odds Guaranteed can increase the return on a qualifying winning bet, but it does not improve the horse’s chances of winning or remove the risk of losing money. Always read the terms of a promotion and never spend more than you can afford to lose. For free gambling advice and support, visit BeGambleAware.
About the writer
Sports Betting Editor
Mike Brown is the Sports Betting Editor at CaughtOffside. A former tipster and betting syndicate analyst, he writes on odds, bookmaker margins and expected value. He also reviews UK sportsbooks on withdrawals, KYC and promotional terms. He’s based in Manchester.
