If you are new to sports betting, you will soon come across EW when you are placing bets - but do you know what it stands for? EW stands for Each Way and it is a very important term when it comes to placing sports bets.
Never placed an each way bet before? If you’re unfamiliar with the term and want to know exactly what each way means in betting, allow us to enlighten you.
Without beating around the bush, betting each way just means placing one bet that covers two outcomes – whether your selection wins, or if it places. It’s a popular strategy, and in our long standing experience, it comes in especially useful in the horse racing field, or when betting on other competitive, big-field events.
Each Way Betting Explained – Everything You Need To Know
Okay, so what does each way mean in betting, exactly?
Well, as we mentioned already, at its most basic level each way simply means betting on two outcomes within the same bet. But it’s a little more complex than that.
Yes, that’s right, betting each way allows you to place two bets
within a single wager. Effectively:
- 1x “win” bet – i.e., whether your selection
wins.
- 1x “place” bet – i.e., whether your selection
places.
How Does Each Way Betting Work?
Still wondering what each way means in betting? If you’re feeling confused at all, allow us to demonstrate using a quick example.
Let’s say you want to drop an each way bet on your favourite horse, MrEachWayBet, in the Grand National. Your budget is £100. The odds are 5/1.
In this situation, you can:
- Place a £50 bet on MrEachWayBet
to win.
- In the same betting slip put down a £50 bet on the horse
to place.
I’m sure I don’t need to explain what happens if your guy comes first, right? But what if he
places
second? Or third? Well, firstly, the number of places in a horse race will depend on the number of runners, but generally speaking second and third places are covered by each way bets.
The best betting sites may even offer extra places and even provide an
each way bet calculator
that’ll reveal what you can expect if things go your way.
This is all pretty great, right? Especially if you’re new to betting or a little bit anxious about parting with your cash. But of course, you won’t get the same return if MrEachWayBet doesn’t win - places usually pay out at ⅕ odds.
If you are placing an each way bet on a horse race, you are betting on two outcomes and because of that your bet will be split into two parts. If you have £50 to bet on the race, you will be placing £25 on the win and £25 on the place. If you tick the each way box and put a total of £50 in, you will be charged £100 for that bet. Make sure your amount is split.
Get Off To A Great Start With These Betting Bonuses
1.
New customers only. 7 days to place qualifying bet of £10 at 1/1 (2.0) to receive 4 x £10 Free Bets: 1 x £10 football, 1 x £10 horse racing & 2 x £10 Bet Builders. Free Bets cannot be used on e-sports and non-UK/IE horse racing. 7 day expiry. Exclusions apply. Stake not returned.
18+. T&Cs Apply.
2.
£20 Back-Up Bet as Free Bet
Min. Deposit: £10
18+ | New UK players only | Min deposit req. £10 | Certain deposit methods excluded | Place 1 sport bet (3+ selections) | Excl Horse Racing | Min stake £10 | Max stake £20 | Min Odds 2/1 (3.0) | Max FreeBet £20 for football only | FreeBet valid for 7 days | FreeBet stake not returned |
T&Cs apply.
3.
Bet £10 Get £30
Requirements (WR): £10 Slots bonus on selected slots
18+ Opt in, bet £10 on any football (odds 1/1+) within 3 days of sign up. Get 2x£10 and 1x£5 Free Bets for set football markets + £5 Slots Bonus on Big Bass Splash, 30x wagering, max redeem £125. Bonuses expire in 14 days. Click for T&Cs. GambleAware.org
4.
Bet £10 Get £30 Surprise Bet
Min. Deposit: £10
New customers & 18+ only. Min. deposit of £10. Qualifying real money bet of £10. Min odds greater than or equal to 1.5 required. E/W bets excluded. Offer awarded immediately but could be issued the next working day in exceptional circumstances such as technical fault. Additional T&Cs apply. Please gamble responsibly.
5.
Bet £10 Get £50
Min. Deposit: 10
New customers only. Register (excl 05/04/25), deposit with Debit Card, and place first bet £10+ at Evens (2.0)+ on Sports within 7 days to get 3 x £10 in Sports Free Bets & 2 x £10 in Acca Free Bets within 10 hours of settlement. 7-day expiry. Eligibility exclusions & T&Cs Apply.
Which Sports Work Best For Betting Each Way?
While each way horse betting is incredibly popular (and with good reason, too) there are several other sports you can enjoy each way bets on.
So, if you’ve ever wondered to yourself “what does each way mean in football betting?”, or in golf. Well… here’s what you ought to know:
But what happens if you’re eyeing up a sport where each way betting just isn’t appropriate? Well, there are plenty of other strategies you could consider instead.
Check out our recent guide on
what a Canadian bet is
to see what we mean. Or have a click around some of our other betting tip articles. You won’t regret it.
Five Bookies Worth Considering For Your Next Each Way Bet
What does each way mean in betting? Well, if you’ve been paying attention,
you should know by now. But which bookies offer the best opportunities for each way betting? Well, I’d like to draw your attention to the following:
BetMGM – Extensive Range Of Sports
Pros & Cons
- Wide range of sports available
- Excellent iOS and Android apps
BetMGM is one of the top UK online bookmakers around with an impressive sports welcome offer as well other special features all over the site.
The welcome offer of Bet £10 Get £40 In Free Bets is enough to get anyone started. Once you have placed your first bet and your free bets have been credited, you can really get to grips with the site.
BetMGM has a wide range of sports for you to bet on, including football, horse racing, cricket, darts, rugby league, American Football, ice hockey, MMA, basketball, tennis and golf. Not only is the list of sports extensive, but the betting markets are as well.You can place normal result bets, Bet Builders, goalscorer markets and each way bets. The list is endless and so is the excitement.
BetMGM UK Highlights
- Many favourable odds
- Wide range of sporting events and matches
- Quite extensive sports betting markets
New customers only. 7 days to place qualifying bet of £10 at 1/1 (2.0) to receive 4 x £10 Free Bets: 1 x £10 football, 1 x £10 horse racing & 2 x £10 Bet Builders. Free Bets cannot be used on e-sports and non-UK/IE horse racing. 7 day expiry. Exclusions apply. Stake not returned.
18+. T&Cs Apply.
Bwin – The Most User-Friendly Option
Pros & Cons
- Great for sports and horse racing
- Easy-to-use
- Excellent iOS and Android apps
- Not great for esports betting
If you’re dipping your toe into each way betting waters for the very first time, look no further than Bwin. Their easy-to-use interface works seamlessly with any device or browser, and they have no less than 32 different sports for you to bet on.
Odds are competitive, the brand has a top-tier reputation, being an official part of the UEFA Europa League, and there are even hundreds of casino games here if ever you get bored of the dizzying number of sports selections on offer.
£20 Back-Up Bet as Free Bet
Bwin Highlights
- One of the largest ranges of sports in the current market.
- Bonuses including enhanced accas, best odds and more.
- Helpful features to filter the matches quickly.
18+ | New UK players only | Min deposit req. £10 | Certain deposit methods excluded | Place 1 sport bet (3+ selections) | Excl Horse Racing | Min stake £10 | Max stake £20 | Min Odds 2/1 (3.0) | Max FreeBet £20 for football only | FreeBet valid for 7 days | FreeBet stake not returned |
T&Cs apply.
Betano – Watch & Bet Feature Is A Bonus
Pros & Cons
- Extensive range of sports
- 24/7 customer support
- Impressive welcome offer
- Good range of payment methods
- Excellent iOS and Android apps
Betano is another UK online bookmaker that has made a splash among the big boys of betting and they can fully be trusted.
Betano has two welcome offers on the sportsbook that depends on your betting needs. The first one is football based and punters can claim £30 in free bets by betting £10 on any football market.
The second offer is if football is not your number one sport when it comes to betting. Bettors can deposit and wager £10 on any sports market and receive £10 in free bets. For both offers, there is no Bonus Code needed, all you have to do is opt in on the offers page.
Betano has a wide range of competitive odds with an extensive list of sports available. If you like placing each way bets, single bets, accumulators or player based wagers, then Betano has it all for you on their desktop site and mobile app.
Betano Highlights
- Watch and Bet feature means you never miss live action
- Bet builder tool for multi-part wagers
- Great offers for football and horse racing
18+ Opt in, bet £10 on any football (odds 1/1+) within 3 days of sign up. Get 2x£10 and 1x£5 Free Bets for set football markets + £5 Slots Bonus on Big Bass Splash, 30x wagering, max redeem £125. Bonuses expire in 14 days. Click for T&Cs. GambleAware.org
Kwiff – Choice Of Welcome Offers
Pros & Cons
- Numerous welcome offers
- Wide range of sports available
- Excellent iOS and Android apps
Kwiff has been around the online sports betting world since 2015 and continues to grow from strength to strength.
Heading over to the sportsbook section of the Kwiff website, you will find a couple of welcome offers you can choose from to start your Kwiff betting journey.
The first one allows punters to claim £30 in free bets once £10 has been deposited and wagered. The free bets will be distributed as 1 x £10 football bet, 1 x £10 racing bet and 1 x £10 acca bet.
The second offer will see bettors receive a £30 surprise bet by depositing and wagering £10. The surprise bet will be credited into the player’s account inside 48 hours of the qualifying bet being settled.
Aside from the offers, Kwiff has generous odds available on a wide range of horse racing, football, darts, cricket, tennis and rugby league markets.
You can get involved with Bet Builders, single bets, multiple accas and even each way betting markets. Kwiff has everything you need to have an enjoyable betting experience.
Bet £10 Get £30 Surprise Bet
kwiff Highlights
- Super range of betting markets for exciting bets
- Major and minor sports available
- Top-notch live betting feature
New customers & 18+ only. Min. deposit of £10. Qualifying real money bet of £10. Min odds greater than or equal to 1.5 required. E/W bets excluded. Offer awarded immediately but could be issued the next working day in exceptional circumstances such as technical fault. Additional T&Cs apply. Please gamble responsibly.
Betfred – Lucrative Welcome Offer
Pros & Cons
- Impressive welcome offer
- Wide range of sports
- Good mobile apps
Betfred remains one of the best online bookmakers around with an impressive welcome offer to get new customers interested in betting on the site.
The welcome offer at Betfred is one of the most lucrative around. Customers signing up for a new account can claim £50 in free bets once £10 has been deposited and wagered.
Unlike the other bookmakers we have previewed, Betfred customers will need to enter Promotion Code BETFRED50 to qualify for this Betfred welcome offer.
Once the qualifying bet has been settled, customers will receive their free bets within 10 hours. The bets will be distributed as 3 x £10 sports free bets and 2 x £10 in acca free bets. Each customer has seven days to use the free bets or they will expire.
Betfred Highlights
- £50 bonus offer for new customers
- "Pick Your Punt" feature
- Daily draw prizes of £800 from a £1 stake
New customers only. Register (excl 05/04/25), deposit with Debit Card, and place first bet £10+ at Evens (2.0)+ on Sports within 7 days to get 3 x £10 in Sports Free Bets & 2 x £10 in Acca Free Bets within 10 hours of settlement. 7-day expiry. Eligibility exclusions & T&Cs Apply.
How Do I Win With A Horse Racing Each Way Bet?
Each way bets are more commonly used with horse racing, so we will continue to use this sport as an example in order for it not to become confusing.
The possibilities of winning with an each way bet changes depending on how many horses are taking part in the race. The rules are as follows:
Runners In An Each Way Bet
- 1-4 Runners - No Places - Win Only
- 5-7 Runners - ¼ Odds - 1st & 2nd Place Only
- 8+ Runners - ⅕ Odds - 1st, 2nd & 3rd Place
- 12-15 Runners - ¼ Odds - 1st, 2nd & 3rd Place
- 16+ Runners - ¼ Odds - 1st, 2nd, 3rd & 4th Place
If you are placing an each way bet on the Grand National or Cheltenham Festival and the horse wins the race, your bet will be successful in the win and place part of the bet. The bet will pay out in full.
However, if your horse does not win and just places, you will receive the place winnings and nothing for the win part.
What Is The Difference Between Win & Each Way Bets?
The differences between win and each way bets are fairly obvious, but it is always good to get clarification on matters like these.
A win bet is where a punter is placing a bet on just one outcome to happen. That outcome is one team or player to win their match. Your bet will be paid out as a winner if your selection wins the game or event.
An each way bet is technically a two-part bet. The first part is for your selection to win - you will not receive a full payout if this does not happen.
The second part is for your horse to place. If the horse wins, it obviously places and you will be paid out your full winnings. If your horse fails to win but does place, you will receive part of your winnings depending on how many places the bookmaker pays out on.
A win bet only pays out if your bet wins - it’s as simple as that. The each way bet covers you if your horse fails to win. The payout for placing will not be as big as if the full bet won, but you will still receive some form of payout.
So, What Does Each Way Mean In Betting? Here’s A Quick Recap…
The meaning of each way in betting is simple. In a nutshell, an each way bet is a two-in-one wager that enables you to put money on a horse or player “to win” and “to place” simultaneously.
It’s an immensely popular strategy for big-field events like the Cheltenham Festival, the Grand National and the PGA Tour, and with good reason, too.
But before you try this out for size, you need to know what you’re doing, and you need to play with a bookie that offers each-way-friendly sports.
So, shape up on the rules we've outlined here, and we promise you, each of the five brands reviewed above are amazing places to start.
Check Out Our Reliable Betting Sites
1.
Visit Provider
New customers only. 7 days to place qualifying bet of £10 at 1/1 (2.0) to receive 4 x £10 Free Bets: 1 x £10 football, 1 x £10 horse racing & 2 x £10 Bet Builders. Free Bets cannot be used on e-sports and non-UK/IE horse racing. 7 day expiry. Exclusions apply. Stake not returned.
18+. T&Cs Apply.
2.
£20 Back-Up Bet as Free Bet
Visit Provider
18+ | New UK players only | Min deposit req. £10 | Certain deposit methods excluded | Place 1 sport bet (3+ selections) | Excl Horse Racing | Min stake £10 | Max stake £20 | Min Odds 2/1 (3.0) | Max FreeBet £20 for football only | FreeBet valid for 7 days | FreeBet stake not returned |
T&Cs apply.
3.
Bet now
18+ Opt in, bet £10 on any football (odds 1/1+) within 3 days of sign up. Get 2x£10 and 1x£5 Free Bets for set football markets + £5 Slots Bonus on Big Bass Splash, 30x wagering, max redeem £125. Bonuses expire in 14 days. Click for T&Cs. GambleAware.org
4.
Bet £10 Get £30 Surprise Bet
Bet now
New customers & 18+ only. Min. deposit of £10. Qualifying real money bet of £10. Min odds greater than or equal to 1.5 required. E/W bets excluded. Offer awarded immediately but could be issued the next working day in exceptional circumstances such as technical fault. Additional T&Cs apply. Please gamble responsibly.
5.
Bet now
New customers only. Register (excl 05/04/25), deposit with Debit Card, and place first bet £10+ at Evens (2.0)+ on Sports within 7 days to get 3 x £10 in Sports Free Bets & 2 x £10 in Acca Free Bets within 10 hours of settlement. 7-day expiry. Eligibility exclusions & T&Cs Apply.
What Does Each Way Mean In Betting? FAQS
🔎 Is Each Way Betting Worth It?
So long as you know what you’re doing, and playing the right sports, it’s a fabulous strategy.
❓ What Does Each Way Mean In Sports Betting?
On the surface, it means placing two bets within one. But there’s more to it than that. You are backing a horse or team to win and place in a race or tournament, If your selection fails to win, but does place, you will still receive a smaller payout.
🧐 Is Online Sports Betting Legit?
If you’re playing with a licensed provider, then
yes. Here at Betting.co.uk, we will not feature a bookmaker without the relevant licences.
❓ Do All Online Bookmakers Offer Each Way Betting?
There is not a specific rule that orders online bookmakers to have each way markets, but it will be harder to find a bookmaker that doesn't offer this method than ones that do. Bookmakers love adding markets to their sports and each way betting is very popular with horse racing and outright tournament winners in other sports.
❓ Can I Use Free Bets & Welcome Offers For Each Way Bets?
This is mainly down to each individual bookmaker. If you cannot use any offers with each way bets then it will clearly state in the terms and conditions.
