Best odds guaranteed is a familiar promotion in horse racing that promises a better payout when the official Starting Price ends up higher than the price you took. This article walks through the settlement mechanics, the role of the Starting Price, typical exclusions, and practical steps you can take to verify settlements and raise disputes. The guidance here is regulator-aware and practical, aimed at sports fans and bettors who want to make informed decisions when using BOG offers. FundedPlays advocates disciplined, evidence-based approaches to promotions and this piece focuses on understanding terms and documenting stakes rather than relying on promotional claims.

Best odds guaranteed pays the higher of your placed price and the official Starting Price for qualifying winning bets.

Keep a screenshot of the placed price and the bet receipt to support any settlement review or dispute.

Check promotional T and Cs for common exclusions such as multiples, free bets and ante-post markets before staking.

What best odds guaranteed means

Best odds guaranteed is a promotion that promises to settle a qualifying winning horse-racing bet at the higher of the odds taken when the bet was placed and the official Starting Price, rather than at the lower of the two prices. This core rule explains how the offer increases the payout if the official starting price exceeds the early price taken by the customer, and is central to understanding what the promotion actually delivers Racing Post guide.

Fundamentally, best odds guaranteed is a promotional term, not a guaranteed income or investment product. It applies only where the operator's terms say it applies and under the settlement rules set out by the independent Starting Price process, so it should be treated as a conditional customer benefit rather than a guaranteed profit source.

How does best odds guaranteed work and what should I check before placing a bet?

Best odds guaranteed compares your placed price with the independently produced Starting Price and pays the higher amount for qualifying winning bets; check market type, exclusions, and save receipts and screenshots to verify settlements and support disputes.

Quick definition

In short, a qualifying winning bet is compared after the race to the independent Starting Price and the bettor is paid at whichever price is higher at settlement Timeform overview.

Why operators offer BOG

Operators use best odds guaranteed to attract customers for day-of-race single win markets and to reduce friction around payouts, while relying on explicit terms to limit exposure where they choose; the promotional effect is typically focused on encouraging stake volume on the race day market rather than ante-post markets.

How best odds guaranteed settles winning bets

Settlement under best odds guaranteed follows a clear sequence: the customer places a bet at the price displayed, the race runs to completion, the Starting Price is produced independently, and the operator compares the two prices and pays the higher amount. This step-by-step sequence is the mechanic operators use to deliver the promotion when a bet qualifies Racing Post guide. See William Hill guidance for another operator description.

Close up smartphone showing bet receipt screenshot and operator settlement screen side by side with notepad and pen on dark minimalist Funded Plays background best odds guaranteed

Step 1, record the price you took when placing the bet and keep any receipt or screenshot. Step 2, after the race the official Starting Price is produced and published using the independent SPRC methodology. Step 3, the operator should apply the higher of the two prices when calculating payout, and that should appear on your settlement notice.

Settlement rule step by step

Place the qualifying bet and note the taken price and time.
Race finishes and the SPRC publishes the Starting Price for that race.
The operator compares the placed price and the SP and pays at the higher price if the bet qualifies under their terms SPRC starting price.

Example: early price vs SP

Imagine you place a single win bet at 5.0. On the day, the Starting Price later prints at 6.5. If the operator's terms cover that market and the bet type, your settlement should be at 6.5, not 5.0, meaning a larger payout than the early price would have delivered Timeform overview. See bet365 help for a typical operator example.

Always compare the receipt with the operator settlement. If the higher price is not applied where it should be, the receipt and the SPRC record are the core pieces of evidence to raise a review with the operator.

The role of the Starting Price (SP) in best odds guaranteed

The Starting Price is an independently determined race market price produced under the governance and methodology of the Starting Price Regulatory Commission, and it is this published SP that operators use as the post-race comparator when applying best odds guaranteed SPRC starting price.

Check the FundedPlays Challenges page for clear challenge rules and account-style examples

Use the checklist later in this article to confirm market type and to capture the placed price before you stake.

Read FundedPlays Challenges details

How SP is produced and governed

The SPRC collects and aggregates market information under its published methodology to produce an official SP; that independence is why operators use the SP as the objective post-race reference for BOG settlements SPRC starting price.

Why SP can differ from displayed odds

Displayed odds fluctuate as bets are taken and markets move; the SP reflects the market at the formal close period and can therefore be higher or lower than the early price you accepted, which is why best odds guaranteed can increase a payout when the SP is higher than the price taken Timeform overview.

Common exclusions and eligibility windows for best odds guaranteed

Most operators set explicit exclusions and eligibility windows for BOG. Common exclusions include ante-post bets, free bets, multiples, enhanced or boosted prices, cashed-out bets, and races or meetings where BOG has been withdrawn under the operator terms Racing Post guide.

Funded Plays Challenges

Read FundedPlays Challenges details

Many BOG offers are restricted to day-of-race single win markets rather than ante-post or future markets, so checking whether an offer applies only to day-of-race coverage is an essential step before staking. See the Funded Plays blog for related site guidance.

Typical exclusions listed by operators

Operators often list exclusions in their promotional T and Cs to protect against unusual markets and to exclude bets placed with bonuses or special credit, so reading the significant conditions before you place a stake is important for knowing whether a bet will qualify for the higher settlement price Racing Post guide.

Day-of-race vs ante-post and market coverage

Ante-post markets are commonly excluded because BOG is designed for live, day-of-race market movement; that distinction changes whether the SP can apply, so confirm market classification on the bet screen or in the terms before placing a bet.

Terms, marketing and regulatory expectations you should expect

Regulatory guidance requires that significant conditions for gambling promotions such as BOG are stated clearly and prominently at the outset of the offer, so consumers should expect to see any meaningful exclusions near the headline claim rather than hidden in small print CAP/ASA guidance.

The UK Gambling Commission also expects fair and transparent terms and practices for promotions and continues to emphasise consumer protection in how operators present promotional claims and conditions, so operators must make the key rules accessible to customers UK Gambling Commission guidance.

What regulators require in promotion messaging

The combination of CAP/ASA and Gambling Commission expectations means the most important conditions should be prominent and unambiguous, including whether the offer is day-of-race only, which markets are covered, and any stake or product exclusions CAP/ASA guidance.

How to find significant conditions up front

Look for a short summary near the promotional headline, a clear link to full T and Cs, and explicit callouts on the bet placement screen that show whether a bet type or market is excluded before you confirm the stake.

How to check a settlement and keep proof

Keep the bet receipt or a screenshot showing the placed price and timestamp as your primary evidence. If you need to check a BOG settlement, your receipt, the operator's settlement notice and the official SP are the three elements you will compare when asking for a review Racing Post guide.

Take a screenshot immediately after placing a bet and save any post-race messages from the operator that show the paid price; those records shorten queries and make it easier for the operator to verify whether BOG applied correctly.

What records to keep

Save: the bet receipt with price and time, a placed-price screenshot, and the operator settlement notice. These items are the standard evidence operators and ADR bodies request when assessing a dispute.

Common discrepancies to compare

Compare your placed price against the paid price and then check the SPRC published SP for that race. If the paid amount is lower than the higher of the two prices and the bet type qualified under the operator terms, raise a review with the operator and supply the saved evidence SPRC starting price.

If something goes wrong: disputes and escalation routes

The first step for a settlement disagreement is to contact the operator, provide the bet receipt plus any screenshots and clearly set out the discrepancy you are asking them to review. Operators are expected to investigate and respond in a reasonable time.

a simple template for the information to send when raising a settlement review

Contact name
Date
Evidence list

attach screenshots and the bet receipt

If the operator does not resolve the issue to your satisfaction, you can escalate to an Alternative Dispute Resolution provider such as IBAS; ADR can assess whether the operator applied the terms correctly and will review the supplied evidence before issuing a determination IBAS dispute resolution.

How to raise a dispute with an operator

Send a clear message to the operator with the bet ID, date, race name, placed price evidence and a concise request for settlement review; include a screenshot of the placed price and the operator's settlement notice to speed verification.

When to involve ADR such as IBAS

If an operator rejects your complaint or fails to respond within a reasonable timeframe, follow the operator's published complaints escalation route and, if allowed, bring the case to an ADR provider that covers betting disputes for an independent review IBAS dispute resolution.

Practical examples: step-by-step scenarios

Example A: early price higher than SP. You place a single win bet at 7.0 and keep a timestamped screenshot. The SPRC later publishes an SP of 6.0. The operator should pay at 7.0, the higher of the two, and your evidence will show the correct placed price and the settlement should match that amount.

Example B: SP higher than early price. You take 4.5 before the race and the SPRC later publishes an SP of 6.0. If the bet type and market are within the operator's BOG terms, settlement should be at 6.0 and your saved receipt plus the SPRC published SP will support a review if the operator pays at the lower price SPRC starting price.

Example A: early price higher than SP

Place the bet at 7.0 and save the receipt.
After the race check the SP and the operator settlement notice.
If the operator paid less than 7.0, send the receipt and SP proof and ask for a review.

Example B: SP higher than early price

Place the bet at 4.5 and save the screenshot of the bet confirmation.
When the SP prints at 6.0 check the operator settlement.
If the operator paid at 4.5, provide the screenshot and SP evidence and request an adjustment.

Typical mistakes and how to avoid them

Users often assume that all bets are covered by BOG without checking the terms; a common mistake is staking on ante-post, multiples or boosted markets that operators usually exclude from BOG coverage, which leads to unexpected settlements or no enhancement at all Racing Post guide.

Another frequent error is failing to capture the placed price with a screenshot or to save the receipt; without that evidence it is harder to prove the price taken when you ask for a review, so make capturing proof a quick habit.

Misreading the terms

Read the headline conditions and the full T and Cs to confirm whether the offer is day-of-race only, excludes multiples or excludes boosted prices; the short summary near the promotion should highlight significant exclusions.

Relying on promoted odds without checking exclusions

Promoted prices or boosts are often excluded from BOG, so verify whether enhanced odds apply to the stake you plan to place before relying on them for settlement expectations Timeform overview.

A short pre-bet checklist you can use

Five quick checks before you stake: confirm market type is day-of-race single win, ensure your stake type is not excluded, check for meeting-level exclusions, screenshot the placed price, and save the bet receipt immediately. These five items are the minimum to protect a BOG claim Racing Post guide.

Five quick checks

Market type: confirm day-of-race single win.
Stake type: ensure the stake is not a free bet or part of a multiple.
Exclusion flags: check promotional footnotes for meeting-level withdrawals.
Screenshot: capture the placed price and time.
Receipt: save the bet confirmation or receipt.

How to use the checklist in a mobile flow

On mobile, take a quick screenshot after confirming the bet, tap the promotion's T and Cs link on the bet screen, and copy the bet ID to a notes app for fast reference if you need to raise a query later. For context on how our processes work see how Funded Plays evaluations work.

How best odds guaranteed differs from price boosts and other offers

Best odds guaranteed is a post-event settlement mechanism that compares the early price with the independently produced SP and pays at the higher price where the bet qualifies, whereas price boosts or enhanced odds alter the temporarily displayed price at the time of staking and are often excluded from BOG comparisons Timeform overview.

Minimalist 2D vector infographic showing settlement flow from placed price to race finish to SPRC SP publication to operator comparison to higher price payout representing best odds guaranteed

If you want protection that captures late market drift and ensures the higher of early price or SP, BOG is appropriate; if you prefer a one-off enhanced price for publicity or a single higher payout on the stake, a price boost may be the better match, though that boost may not affect settlement under BOG rules.

Key differences

BOG is about post-event settlement at the higher of two prices; boosts change the offered price at stake time and may be excluded from BOG comparisons, so check the specific product rules before choosing which promotion to use.

When to choose BOG over other promotions

Choose BOG when you want protection against the SP being higher than the early price and when staking single race win markets on the day, and prefer boosts when the immediate, advertised enhanced price is the priority for your stake.

Using best odds guaranteed with multiples and enhanced markets

Multiples and combination bets are commonly excluded from BOG, and when included they are often treated differently by operators, so placing a multiple that includes a leg from a BOG-covered market does not always deliver the higher settlement across the whole bet Racing Post guide. See a broader discussion at Rules of Sport.

To understand the impact on a combined stake, check whether the operator offers partial BOG application to individual legs or simply excludes multiples entirely; the payout calculation will depend on that operator rule and how they treat each leg at settlement.

How multiples are commonly treated

Operators typically exclude multiples from BOG or apply BOG only to single-leg bets, so treat multiples cautiously and read the combined-bet rules to see if a higher SP on one leg will affect your total payout.

What to check with combination bets

Confirm whether BOG applies to each leg or whether the combination is excluded, and if in doubt place single bets on legs you want covered or ask the operator for clarification before staking.

When operators withdraw or limit best odds guaranteed offers

Operators retain discretion to withdraw BOG for specific meetings or markets and will usually publish meeting-specific limits or withdrawals in the promotion T and Cs or promotional footnotes; check those notices before placing a stake because terms can change at short notice Racing Post guide.

Spot meeting-level exclusions by reading promotional footnotes and T and Cs and by checking any live notices on the operator's race or market page, which commonly flag when BOG will not apply to a particular meeting.

Operator discretion and announced withdrawals

Operators will often announce meeting-specific withdrawals for coverage they consider too volatile or where special markets are in play, so a quick check of the promotional notes before staking is a practical safeguard.

How to spot meeting-specific limitations

Look for explicit callouts on the promotion page or the bet placement screen that list excluded meetings or markets and treat those callouts as binding guidance on whether BOG applies to your planned stake.

Wrap up: quick guide and final tips

The key rule to remember is simple: when a qualifying bet wins, the operator should pay at the higher of the price you took and the official SP, but that outcome only applies when the bet type and market are covered by the operator's terms and conditions and by the independent SP process UK Gambling Commission guidance. See Funded Plays for site information.

Use the pre-bet checklist, save receipts and screenshots, and follow the operator escalation route if a settlement looks incorrect; if the operator does not resolve the issue, escalate to an ADR such as IBAS for independent review IBAS dispute resolution.

BOG is a helpful, term-bound promotion when used correctly; treat it as a conditional customer protection rather than a guaranteed source of profit and make decision-making and record-keeping the centre of your approach.

Does best odds guaranteed apply to all bets?

No. BOG commonly applies to day-of-race single win bets and many operators exclude ante-post, multiples, free bets and enhanced-price stakes; always check the operator terms.

What is the Starting Price and who sets it?

The Starting Price is an independently produced market price created under the Starting Price Regulatory Commission methodology and used as the official post-race comparator for settlements.

What should I do if my operator pays the lower price?

Show the bet receipt and screenshots to the operator, ask for a review, and if unresolved escalate to an ADR provider such as IBAS with your saved evidence.

If you regularly use promotions such as best odds guaranteed, build a consistent habit of capturing placed prices and reading the significant conditions before you stake. That discipline reduces errors, speeds up dispute handling and helps you use promotions more effectively without assuming they are guarantees. Use the checklists and examples in this guide to make your next BOG-eligible stake with more confidence and clearer records, and remember that an ADR like IBAS can review unresolved settlement disputes if the operator does not correct an error.