Dutching Calculator (2–8 Outcomes)
What is dutching in betting?
Dutching is a staking technique where you split a total stake across multiple outcomes in the same event — a race, a match, a tournament — so that any one of your chosen outcomes returning a winner gives you the same profit. The stakes are sized in inverse proportion to the odds: a short-priced outcome gets a larger slice of the total stake, a long shot gets a smaller one. The name reportedly comes from Al Capone's accountant "Dutch" Schultz, who used the method to cover horse races.
How the dutching calculation works
The maths is straightforward. For each outcome, calculate its implied probability: 1 ÷ decimal odds. Add all implied probabilities together. Each outcome's individual stake is then: (total stake × implied probability of that outcome) ÷ sum of all implied probabilities. If you do this correctly and there were no bookmaker margin, every outcome would return exactly your total stake. The margin is the gap between reality and that ideal — it's why dutching on a standard market produces a small guaranteed loss rather than a guaranteed profit.
Dutching vs arbitrage: what's the difference?
Arbitrage (or "arbing") uses different bookmakers offering different odds on the same event to guarantee a profit. Dutching usually uses a single bookmaker and targets equal returns — not guaranteed profit. Because a single bookmaker's market overround (margin) means the combined implied probabilities exceed 100%, a dutched bet across the whole market always returns less than the stake. The calculator flags when you've found genuinely overpriced odds where dutching becomes arbitrage territory.
When is dutching profitable?
Dutching is profitable when the sum of your chosen outcomes' implied probabilities is below 100% — that is, when the sum of (1/odds) for your selections is less than 1. This happens when you identify outcomes where the bookmaker has priced them generously, or when you use enhanced odds or promotions. In practice, profitable dutching usually means using multiple bookmakers (making it an arbitrage) or having a genuine edge in assessing probabilities. Never assume dutching is automatically profitable — the calculator shows the market margin honestly.
Dutching example: Premier League match
Say you want to dutch a 1X2 market with €50 total stake: home win at 2.50, draw at 3.20, away win at 4.00. Sum of implied probs: 1/2.5 + 1/3.2 + 1/4.0 = 0.40 + 0.3125 + 0.25 = 0.9625 — wait, that's below 1, suggesting a rare overround-free market. Enter these in the calculator above to see exact stakes (approx €20.78 / €16.28 / €12.99) and confirm any winner returns approximately €51.95. The calculator automatically shows whether a market is offering value or carrying a margin.
Frequently Asked Questions
Splitting a total stake across multiple outcomes in proportion to their odds so you win the same profit whichever of your selections wins.
Only when the sum of (1/odds) for your selections is below 1. Most single-bookmaker markets have a margin making this sum exceed 1, resulting in a guaranteed small loss. The calculator shows the margin for your inputs.
Arbitrage uses multiple bookmakers to guarantee a profit. Dutching usually uses one bookmaker and aims for equal return — but the bookmaker margin typically makes that return slightly less than your total stake.
Individual stake = (total stake × (1/odds)) ÷ sum of (1/odds) for all outcomes. Enter your figures above for instant results.
Yes — horse racing is the most common use. Pick the horses you fancy, enter their odds, and the calculator splits your stake so any winner returns the same profit.