What is set profit Dutch Betting?
Set profit Dutching is a method of Dutch betting that helps punters analyse and target specific returns on their wagers. The practice is most commonly found in horse racing betting where multiple horses compete for the same race win.
We’ve already discussed the general principles of Dutch betting in our guide to basic Dutching, and explained the logic behind backing two horses to win the same race.
In this guide, we dig deeper into the art of Dutch betting with set profits in mind. Learn what it’s all about, and understand why punters choose this method when betting on sport.
What is set profit Dutch betting?
Set profit Dutch betting is a form of Dutching where you target a specific return. The idea is to align your bets and the size of your stakes accordingly, in order to generate the profit yield you want.
It’s the opposite of set stake Dutching, where you focus on how much you’re willing to risk, rather than on how much you stand to gain.
Here’s how set profit Dutching works:
You want to win around £20 on an upcoming horse race and have your eyes on two horses:
- Deadfavourite at 3/1
- You Never Know Mate at 9/1
To win around £20 on Deadfavourite you need to wager about £7. You need to bet just over £2 to win the same amount with You Never Know Mate.
However, you want to ensure you win exactly the same amount whatever the outcome. So, you tweak your stakes in order to reach the same profit margin for both horses:
- £7.50 on Deadfavourite at 3/1 = £22.50 profit
- £2.50 on You Never Know Mate at 9/1 = £22.50 profit
As you can see here, you’ll win £22.50 profit on whichever horse wins. Of course, the only drawback is your total returns for Deadfavourite are £30 compared to £25 for You Never Know Mate, because your stake on the favourite was three times as much.
Issues with set profit Dutching
The big issue punters face when setting profit targets for Dutch bets is forgetting about the stake. You might be confident about making the right picks but how much will you risk to chase your reward?
For example, what happens if you target an £80 return on a horse race but your two picks are priced at 3/1 and 4/1 respectively? You’ll have to wager £26.67 and £20 on your respective horses to meet that target return.
That’s a big outlay and highlights the need for bettors to think about their budgets before targeting high returns.
If you’re new to horse racing betting then our guide to set stake Dutching might be more useful. This method requires bettors to impose a stake limit on their Dutch bet before diving in. It’s a more conservative method that factors risk before reward.