Best Odds Guaranteed Explained
Written by Andy Walker
Best Odds Guaranteed, usually shortened to BOG, is a promotional promise offered by many UK bookmakers on horse racing and greyhound racing: if you take a price on a horse or dog ahead of the race and the official starting price (SP) turns out to be bigger than the price you took, you're paid out at the better starting price instead. It sounds straightforward, but BOG comes with a specific set of conditions and exclusions that vary between bookmakers, and it's easy to assume it applies more broadly than it actually does. This guide explains the core mechanism and the exclusions worth checking before you place a bet expecting BOG to apply.
How Best Odds Guaranteed works
When you back a horse or greyhound ahead of a race at a fixed price — say 5/1 — you lock that price in. If the starting price when the race goes off turns out to be bigger, say 8/1, a bookmaker offering BOG on that market pays your bet out at 8/1 instead of the 5/1 you originally took. If the starting price is the same or shorter than your taken price, you're simply paid at the price you originally took — BOG only ever works in your favour, never against you, but it only applies within the terms set for that market.
Which bets it typically covers
BOG most commonly applies to win singles on horse racing and greyhound racing. Some bookmakers extend it to each-way bets on the same sports, and a smaller number apply a version of it to other sports such as golf tournament winner markets — but this is the exception rather than the rule, and coverage varies significantly bookmaker to bookmaker, so it's worth checking the specific terms for the sport and bet type you're placing.
Common exclusions
There are several standard exclusions worth knowing before you assume BOG applies to a bet:
In-running exclusion: BOG generally only applies to bets placed before the race goes off. Once the race is in progress ("in-running" or "in-play"), the guarantee typically no longer applies to new bets on that race.
Multiples and accumulators: BOG is usually restricted to single bets. Multiples, accumulators, and each-way doubles or trebles are commonly excluded, though a small number of bookmakers offer a limited multiples version.
Non-runner rule interactions: If a horse is declared a non-runner after you've placed a bet, standard non-runner rules (such as Rule 4 deductions in horse racing, which reduce your winnings to account for the reduced field) can apply on top of, or separately to, how BOG is calculated — the two rules interact and it's worth reading the specific terms rather than assuming one overrides the other.
Stake and market caps: Some bookmakers cap the maximum stake or restrict BOG to specific meetings, races, or bet types (for example, only UK and Irish racing, excluding some overseas fixtures).
Promotional withdrawal: BOG is a promotional offer, not a permanent product feature, and bookmakers can withdraw, amend, or restrict it at any time, including on a per-account basis.
Why the small print matters
Because BOG terms vary meaningfully between bookmakers — in which sports are covered, which bet types qualify, and how it interacts with non-runner rules — it's worth checking the current terms on the specific bookmaker's site before you place a bet expecting the guarantee to apply, rather than assuming it works the same way everywhere.
FAQs
- Does Best Odds Guaranteed apply to accumulators?
- Usually not. BOG is typically restricted to single bets on horse racing and greyhound racing. Some bookmakers offer a limited version that extends to certain multiples, but this is the exception — check the specific terms before assuming it applies to a multiple bet.
- Does BOG apply once a race is in progress?
- No. BOG generally applies only to bets placed before the race goes off. Once a race is in-running, new bets placed during the race are typically outside the scope of the guarantee.
- What sports offer Best Odds Guaranteed?
- It's most commonly offered on horse racing and greyhound racing win singles, with some bookmakers extending it to each-way bets on the same sports. A smaller number of bookmakers apply a version of it to other sports, such as golf, but coverage is inconsistent, so check each bookmaker's terms.
- How does BOG interact with non-runners?
- Non-runner rules, such as Rule 4 deductions in horse racing, can apply alongside BOG, reducing payouts to reflect a reduced field even where the guarantee itself has been triggered. The exact interaction depends on the bookmaker's specific terms, so it's worth reading them rather than assuming one rule overrides the other.
- Can a bookmaker withdraw Best Odds Guaranteed?
- Yes. BOG is a promotional offer rather than a permanent guarantee, so bookmakers can amend, restrict, or withdraw it at any time, including for specific accounts, meetings, or bet types.