Rule 4 Calculator – How to Work Out Rule 4 Deductions

Ian Bruce

Senior Editor

Updated: 12 February 2024

The free Rule 4 calculator on this page will let you work out bet returns even when they involve Rule 4 deductions. No bettor likes Rule 4, but it’s important for fair betting markets in horse racing and other sports. Use this calculator, and whether you’re betting to win or each way, it will tell you exactly how much you’ll get back from the bookie.

What is a Rule 4 Deduction?

Before we discuss how to use our Rule 4 bet calculator, we should first explain what a Rule 4 deduction is. Basically, it’s something that adjusts payouts on winning bets in events where one or more competitors are withdrawn. Horse racing Rule 4 deductions are most common, but the rule can also apply to other sports. For that reason, someone who likes to bet on greyhound racing or golf can be just as affected as a horse racing fan.

When the oddsmakers at online betting sites set their prices for competitors in an event, they do so based on the assumption that all of those competitors will participate. If bets are made and then one or more competitors withdraw, it can give the remaining competitors a better chance of winning. That means the odds should be shorter than the ones that were taken by previous bettors.

That’s where Rule 4 comes in. If a competitor withdraws at odds of 14/1 or less, payouts on previously made bets will be reduced to reflect that withdrawal. The shorter the odds of the withdrawn competitor, the larger the Rule 4 deduction will be. We will provide you with a Rule 4 deductions table later that shows the exact correlation between odds and deductions.

Rule 4 is important to keep things fair for all concerned and the Gambling Commission works hard to ensure bookmakers use it properly. But because it leads to lower payouts, few bettors would claim to like it. The fact that it also complicates calculating returns on bets makes it even less popular. Fortunately, for our free bet calculator Rule 4 deductions don’t pose any problem at all.

Rule 4 Ready Reckoner

We said earlier that the shorter the odds of a withdrawn competitor, the larger the Rule 4 deduction will be on bets already made. In the old days, it was common for people to use a horse racing ready reckoner to see how much a deduction would be. So, to give a nod to tradition and at the same time show you the relationship between odds and deductions, allow us to present our own Rule 4 chart of deductions.

Additional Free Bet Calculators

When you have used this Rule 4 calculator you might also want to consider our other apps. We have an accumulator bet calculator, an each-way bet calculator, a dedicated horse bet calculator, a Lucky 15 bet calculator and more. Take a look at our Free Bet Calculator page for more details.

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Ian Bruce

Senior Editor

Ian Bruce joined Safest Betting Sites in 2024 as Senior Sports Editor to oversee the quality and usefulness of its gambling content. He originally developed an interest in betting after landing a winning Yankee on his first attempt. He then spent years figuring out how to replicate that success. Along the way, he became one of the UK’s leading writers on the topic of betting and gaming. Ian’s career has now spanned more than three decades, and his enthusiasm for systematic and responsible betting hasn’t waned one bit. However, his preferred approach to winning these days is Dutching, for the simple reason that “It’s a lot easier than landing Yankees.”

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