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Best Price Guarantee Bookmakers – don’t miss the opportunity to lock in higher returns

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Best price guaranteed at the races

How do Best Price Guarantees work?

When a bookmaker offers Best Price Guaranteed (or BPG) on any event or market this guarantees all board and early prices against the starting price (SP). Essentially, Best Price Guaranteed, or Best Odds Guaranteed (BOG) as it is sometimes called is best explained by an example.

Best Price Guaranteed Example

  • You spot a horse is available at 12/1 on the morning of a race and proceed to take place a bet of €10 with a bookmaker offering BPG.
  • At the off your horse has drifted to 14/1
  • Your horse wins and because you bet with a Best Price Guaranteed bookie you are guaranteed the best price. This means that you don’t miss out on €20.
  • In the long run this could add up to a lot so it is a good idea to bet with Best price guaranteed bookmakers

It is estimated that offering best price guaranteed costs bookies approximately 2.5% of turnover and as such offers excellent value for punters.

If you are a keen horse or dog racing punter, then it should be a prerequisite to bet with a best price guaranteed bookmaker. 

Sounds good, but what are the caveats with best odd guarantees?

As with every promotion or offer that bookies run, there are terms and conditions. The most common are below.

Best Odds Guaranteed (BOG) is a popular promotion offered by bookmakers, primarily for horse and greyhound racing. However, the offer typically comes with a set of terms and conditions that bettors need to be aware of. The most common terms and conditions associated with BOG include:

1. Race Day Only:

  • BPG is typically only available for bets placed on the day of the race, and sometimes only after a specific time (e.g., 8 AM or 9 AM). Some bookmakers may extend BOG to bets placed the preceding evening however.

2. Eligible Markets Only:

  • Best Price Guarantees usually apply to horse and greyhound racing only. 
  • Bets on international races may not be included unless it is otherwise explicitly stated. Typically, BPG is available only for UK and Irish races, though some bookies do extend it to selected international races​.

3. BPG Bet Restrictions:

  • Multis/Parlays/Accas/Accumulators and system bets: Some bookmakers exclude multiple bets (e.g., accumulators or Lucky 15s) from BPG.
  • Free Bets: Winnings from free bets are often excluded from the BPG offer​.
  • Cashed-Out Bets: Bets where punters cash out early may not qualify for BPG. 

4. Payout Limits:

  • Bookies often impose a maximum payout limit for BPG winnings. The max payout amount varies by bookmaker.

5. Excluded Races:

  • Not all races may qualify for BPG. Some bookmakers might exclude specific high profile events, such as large, popular international races.

6. Minimum Bet Requirements:

  • Some bookies impose a minimum stake requirement for BPG to be applied. This is not common, mind you.

7. Bettor Account Limitations:

  • Eligibility may be dependent on the bettor’s account status or risk factor. Some bookies restrict BPG from accounts that have been flagged for bonus abuse, professional betting behavior, or because their future expected margin is negative. This allows them​ to increase their margins. 

8. Timing of BOG:

  • Many bookies specify a cutoff time for BOG offers, such as after 8 AM or 9 AM on race day.

Avoid disappointment. Always check the Terms & Conditions section on the bookmaker’s website to ensure you’re familiar with their BPG specifics, as they can vary slightly between operators.

– Genie’s tip

Directory of Best Price Guaranteed Bookies

We’re updating our list of BPG bookies. Check back again soon.

Free Bets Guide – what you need to know

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Free bets are offered by bookmakers, usually to win you over as a new customer. With so many betting operators competing for your business, the availability of free bet offers presents a huge opportunity to punters. In recent years however, new betting legislation has restricted bookmakers from offering sign up incentives like free bets, so their availability will depend on the legislation in the country you reside in. Genie’s free bets guide covers the key info you need to know.

Another common use of free bets is to reward loyal customers or as part of a reactivation campaign to get you to return if your account has been dormant for a period. The old adage that it’s cheaper to retain a customer than acquire a new one applies, so expect to receive incentives to reactivate if you have an account with a bookie, but haven’t used it in a while.

Restrictions on free bets

Depending on your country of residence, there may be some restrictions on free bets. In Australia for example, there are different restrictions in each state meaning that bookies cannot offer free bet incentives to acquire a punter. The can however do so after the member has joined, though there are certain restrictions on the types of offers also.

Online free bets – what are the typical terms and conditions?

Nothing in life is free. The same applies to free bets. When offered, they typically come with some terms and conditions you need to be aware of, that usually include the following:

  • Stakes on free bets are typically not returned – This means that the punter is usually better advised to spend freebies on an outcome with higher than average odds. Why? Because if you bet on Man City to win at 1/2 with your 20 quid free bet, you will only be returned the winnings (10) if they are successful.
  • Free bets are excluded from other special offers – as an example, if there is a cashback special on an event you are betting on, the bookmaker may not return free bets in the event of the cashback clicking. The reason for this is often due to restrictions in the bookmaker’s backend systems that make it an extremely manual process to re-credit free bets.

GENIE SAYS: Punters should love free bets and avail of them where possible. Because almost all of the bookmakers these days give away free bets as part of sign-up offers, when you see a good sign-up offer take it while it is available. Try get ahead of the bookie before they clip your wings.

Cashback Specials Guide – uncover value bets

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Cashbacks, also known as money back specials, are quite common among the more generous bookmakers nowadays. Genie’s cashback specials guide is a quick overview of how these promotions work, and why you should keep any eye on offers to maximise your punting returns.

What is a cashback special?

A cashback special is a promotion run by a bookmaker, whereby payout is dependent on one or more outcomes occurring in an event. If that outcome occurs, then the bookmaker refunds losing stakes on one or more markets on the event.

For example: “If Erling Haaland scores the last goal in this game then we will refund all losing bets on the following markets; First, Last or Anytime goal scorer, Correct Score and HT/FT”

This means that if Haaland does indeed score the last goal of the game then all losing bets placed on the named markets are recredited back into the punter’s account balance. Not all cashbacks are refunded in cash. Sometimes they are refunded as free bet credit.

Who offers Cashback specials?

Cashback Specials are only offered by fixed-odds bookmakers, not by Betting Exchanges. For the most part the bookmaker only offers to refund on the higher margin markets  to encourage punters to bet on these markets. It still represents very good value for the customer who wants to bet on this market.

Cashback specials guide – how to find value

Some bookmakers become almost overly generous with their cashback specials and offer to refund on the win-draw-win market meaning that they run the event at an expected loss in order to encourage betting on the event.

GENIE SAYS: Keep and eye on our Cashback Specials section in our offers page, where we inform you of all cashback specials available from the top bookies.

Common Cashback Specials

There are a number of frequently promoted cashback specials.

Cashback specials guide – Frequent promos:

  • If player X scores the last goal, we will refund losing bets on said markets.
  • If player Y wins the tournament, we’ll refund all losing bets on said market(s) (placed before tournament commenced).
  • If team A win the tournament, we’ll refund all losing bets on said market(s).

Keep an eye on Genie’s offers page for the cashback specials where punters can find some value.

Guide to Live Betting – an opportunity for higher margin

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Betting in-running, or live betting as it is commonly known, accounts for about half of all betting on sports nowadays. In Genie’s guide to live betting, he summarises the key info you need to know. As the name suggests, live betting involves betting on an event once the event has already begun. In a football match punters can now bet on the outcome of a game or if another goal will be scored right up until the final whistle. Most sporting events now have betting markets available right up until the result is determined.

Benefits of Live Betting

  1. Bookmakers yield a much lower return on the average live bet than on the non-live which suggests that live betting is better for the bettor.
  2. You can wait and see how an event is unfolding and offer a more educated opinion.
  3. Things change fast and it can be very exciting.
  4. You have many more opportunities to bet.
  5. You can bet on the next player to win a point in a tennis match or the next player to throw a 180 in darts. There is never a dull moment for the bettor.
  6. You can lock-in a profit before the result is in. Take for example a tennis match. You have backed Nadal to beat Murray at 2/1 before the match starts. Nadal wins the first set and now Murray is 2/1 to win the match so you put some money on Murray at 2/1 to guarantee that whoever wins, you make a profit (This is how you would do it with a fixed odds bookmaker. With a betting exchange you can just ‘lay’).
  7. You can cash out a bet in play (with some operators), if you want to take a profit or limit a loss.

Delayed Bet Processing

When placing a live bet you will notice a delay in processing the bet. Most bookmakers traditionally put a 7 second delay (5 seconds only on betting exchanges) on placement of a live bet. This is so that the bookmaker has a cushion in order to react to something happening and either suspend the market or adjust their prices accordingly. It also protects against the possibility that some punters may be getting their television pictures a few seconds ahead of the bookmakers – or even actually be a spectator at the event while they are betting.

If the odds get shorter in the 7 seconds while you wait for your bet to go through, it will not be accepted and you will be reoffered the same selection but at a lower price.

If the odds get longer during that 7 seconds then your bet will be placed and you will receive the higher (and better) odds.

Guide to live betting – Automated Trading

Some bookmakers manually adjust their prices in-running but most of the major bookmakers now run off pre-determined models. Every price on every market is linked to the starting prices of the competitors and the current score. This means savings for the bookmakers in resource overheads because 1 trader can trade several in-running events at one time.

A punter who is aware of this fact should be able to use it to their advantage. Bookmakers don’t always get the starting price correct so in a situation where you think they have obviously miscalculated the starting price you will be able to find excellent in-running value because the latest prices being churned out by the robot are all coming from the incorrect starting price.

 

GENIE SAYS: Live betting is booming and will continue to get more popular. It allows a more educated prediction of the outcome and a knowledgeable punter should be able to make a profit.

A guide to live betting by country restrictions

Depending on the country you are based in, there may be live betting limitations or legal restrictions that betting operators need to abide by. In Australia for example, punters can’t place a live bet directly via their phone or laptop device. In order to place a live bet, they need to do so by calling the bookmaker and placing a bet over the phone.

A guide to live betting, demonstrating only the countries where it is restricted or illegal is highlighted below. If your country isn’t in this list, assume that it is legal as of 2024 (though bear in mind that this is subject to change).

Country/RegionStatus of Live BettingNotes
United StatesRestricted/Varies by stateLegal in some states under strict regulation (e.g., Nevada, New Jersey); banned or restricted in others.
AustraliaRestrictedAllowed only over the phone or in person; online live betting is prohibited.
IndiaIllegal/UnregulatedLive betting is generally illegal, though some offshore websites operate in a legal grey area.
TurkeyIllegalOnly state-controlled operators offer sports betting; private live betting is banned.
SingaporeRestrictedLive betting is allowed only through government-regulated entities.
United Arab EmiratesIllegalAll forms of gambling, including live betting, are banned under Sharia law.
ChinaIllegalLive betting is prohibited; only state-run lottery systems are allowed.
NorwayRestrictedOnly state-owned Norsk Tipping can offer live betting; offshore sites are illegal but widely used.
PolandRestrictedLive betting is legal but heavily regulated, with high taxes and limited options.
RussiaRestricted/UnclearLive betting is restricted to licensed operators, but many use offshore websites.

Value Betting – fundamental to your punting toolkit

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Everybody wants to be a winning punter – to tell their mates the tales of the day they bashed the bookie. Winning is not that simple because the bookmakers are shrewd – but they can be beaten. If you’re serious about winning, then you need to know about value betting. In this guide, Genie wants to tell you a few simple tips that you punters can follow to try to enhance your expected return from betting.

1) Record Your Bets

Bettors should keep a record of every bet they have. This enables the bettor to constantly monitor how much they are winning/losing over a certain amount of time. It may also help to pinpoint certain types of bets or a certain sport which is particularly profitable or costly and maybe decide to adjust the stakes accordingly. Once you know the sports and markets that you make a profit on then can should focus on those primarily.

2) Do Your Homework

Bettors should try to arm themselves with as much information as they can before placing a bet. Where possible they should try to get the updated team news at the time of the bet to see if the team news impacts on what price the selection should be. Bookmakers will be sure to be doing their research on these factors so in order to give yourself a chance to compete on a level playing field you must get as much information as possible.

3) Price the market before looking at the prices

Ideally the bettor should try to compute the prices on a market before he looks at the bookmaker’s odds on the market. He should try to compute the odds to the 100% line.

Next in value betting – comparing your own odds

The bettor should then compare his odds against the prices being offered by the bookmakers to see if he believes there to be any value available in the market. If the bookmaker is offering a price which is bigger than the bettor’s 100% line after the research has been done then this can be perceived to be a value bet with a positive expected return. Punters should refrain from betting at a price that does not represent a value bet based on the customer 100% line prices.

4) Always get the Best Available Price

Bettors should endeavour to get the best price available on their selection before backing it. This is key to value betting. There are various betting odds comparison sites where it’s easy to identify which company are offering the best price. This may involve opening accounts with a number of bookmakers to place your bets rather than just one specific bookmaker. It is free to open these accounts and in fact many offer incentives to join up so it is worthwhile opening a number of accounts if needed.

An important point to remember on placing bets with betting exchanges is that they will deduct a certain amount off your winnings if successful. So although the betting exchange is appearing as the best available price the bettor should calculate the return after the deduction to check if the price is still more generous than the fixed odds firms.

5) Keep an eye out for Special Offers

In searching for the best price on a selection you should make yourself familiar with any of the companies that may be offering cashback specials that may refund your stake if it loses.

Check out Genie’s offers section for a quick look at all available cashback specials. Employing offers and promos is key to value betting.

6) Compare the Each-Way terms

If planning to place an each way bet have a look at the terms being offered by the various companies as the more attractive the place terms gives you a better chance of success and will represent the value bet. For example some companies may pay out on the first 4 places in the Grand National while others will pay out on the first 5 finishers giving you an extra chance of success.

7) Watch out for Bookmaker Oversights

Bookmakers can at certain times offer different prices for the same selection. An example of this would be offering 5/6 on a team to win a football match while offering a better price of 10/11 on the same team -0.5 on the Asian Handicap which is exactly the same thing. So when thinking of placing a match bet or handicap bet on soccer it is worthwhile comparing the Asian handicap prices also to see if there is an extra incentive to be had which would represent value betting.

Value betting – a conclusion

If you only take one thing from our website, let it be this article about value betting. If you don’t understand the fundamentals of value betting and how to find value, you will be a bookie’s wet dream!

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