Dutching Calculator

Dutching is one of those betting strategies that sounds complicated but is actually pretty simple once you get it. The basic idea: you back multiple selections in the same event, staking different amounts on each so that you get the same profit no matter which one wins.

The name supposedly comes from 1930s gangster Dutch Schultz, who used this method at racetracks. Whether that story is true or not, dutching has been a staple of horse racing betting for decades. It's perfect for situations where you've narrowed down the field but can't pick just one winner.

Unlike a parlay where everything has to win, or arbitrage where you're betting on all outcomes, dutching is about backing multiple selections you like within the same race or event. You're not guaranteeing profit—you still need one of your picks to actually win. But you're distributing your stake efficiently across your selections.

The calculation works by figuring out what percentage of your total stake to put on each selection based on their odds. Lower odds get more of your stake, higher odds get less, all calculated so the profit is equal regardless of which selection comes through.

Let's say you've got $100 to split across three horses: one at 3.00 odds, one at 5.00, and one at 7.00. Without dutching, you might just split it evenly—$33.33 on each. But if the 3.00 horse wins, you make $100 profit. If the 7.00 horse wins, you make $233. That's a huge difference.

Dutching fixes this. It'll tell you to bet $48 on the 3.00 horse, $29 on the 5.00 horse, and $23 on the 7.00 horse. Now whichever one wins, you get roughly the same $44 profit. The calculator does all this math automatically—you just plug in the odds and your stake.

Horse racing: This is the classic use case. A 12-horse race where you can eliminate the obvious longshots and a couple of favorites, leaving you with 4-5 viable contenders. Dutch them and you've got a solid shot at hitting a winner.

Correct score betting: In soccer, you might fancy a low-scoring game but aren't sure if it'll be 0-0, 1-0, or 1-1. Dutch those three scores and you've covered your bases without having to pick exactly right.

Tournament winners: Got three golfers you think could win but can't pick one? Dutching lets you back all three while managing your stake efficiently. Better than just splitting it evenly, especially when the odds vary significantly.

Player props: Multiple players to score first, multiple quarterbacks to throw over X yards—anywhere you've got multiple good-looking options in the same category.

Here's the thing people sometimes miss: dutching doesn't create value. It's purely a staking strategy. If none of your selections are +EV bets on their own, dutching them together won't magically make them profitable. You're just distributing your losing bet more evenly.

Also, dutching increases your overall risk. You're putting money on multiple outcomes, so your total exposure is higher than a single bet. If none of your selections win, you lose everything. That's obvious, but it's worth remembering when you're calculating your bankroll risk.

The vig also gets you multiple times. Every selection you back has the bookmaker's margin baked in. Dutch five horses and you're paying that vig five times over. This is why dutching works better when you're backing 2-3 selections rather than trying to cover half the field.