This article explains the so called 10p rule in UK horse racing, what triggers it and how it affects fixed-odds payouts. It is written for bettors and racing fans who want clear, practical guidance on when a Rule 4(c) deduction might reduce their winnings. We cover the timing that matters, how the deduction is calculated, which bet types are affected, worked examples you can follow and simple checks to perform before you bet. Throughout the guide we point to operator tables and consumer guidance as the authoritative references so you can verify calculations for your own bets.

The 10p rule is a Rule 4(c) deduction applied to winnings when a late withdrawal falls in the 6/1 to 9/1 band.

Rule 4 applies only after final declarations and before starter's orders, so timing is decisive.

Check the operator's published Rule 4 table and your payout slip to verify any deduction.

Quick answer: what the 10p rule means in horse racing

The 10p rule is shorthand for a 10 pence in the pound deduction, applied under Rule 4(c) when a declared non-runner was priced roughly 6/1 to 9/1 at the time of withdrawal, and the deduction is taken from the winnings portion of a fixed-odds bet rather than from the original stake, which operators treat separately IBAS Rule 4 guide.

Put simply, if your winning fixed-odds bet was struck before a late withdrawal and the withdrawn horse met the 6/1 to 9/1 band, you will usually see a 10p deduction applied to the winnings component at payout, not an automatic loss of stake.

Why people call it the 10p rule, rather than Rule 4(c), is mainly shorthand: public guides and betting media commonly describe the scale by the pence amounts so winners can quickly recognise the likely deduction band Racing Post rule 4 explainer. Media outlets such as Sporting Life also use shorthand descriptions in their guides.

When Rule 4 deductions apply: timing and triggers

Rule 4 deductions are only applied when a horse is withdrawn after final declarations and before the horses come under the starter's orders, so the timing of the withdrawal relative to declarations is critical to whether a non-runner deduction is used IBAS Rule 4 guide. Operators such as Sky Bet publish help pages explaining how they apply deductions.

Check the FundedPlays Challenges page to understand platform rules and where bookmaker Rule 4 tables apply

Before you place a fixed-odds bet, check whether withdrawals happened after final declarations and compare the withdrawal time to your bet time, because only that late window can trigger a Rule 4 deduction.

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Earlier withdrawals, where a runner is withdrawn before declarations or well in advance of the starter's orders, normally cause the market to be reformed and adjusted prices to be displayed rather than a Rule 4 deduction being applied at payout Timeform guide to Rule 4.

A practical way to judge whether your stake was exposed to Rule 4 is to note when your bet was struck and then check the racecard or operator help pages for the exact time of the withdrawal; if the book adjusted prices before you placed the bet or before the market closed, the adjustment is usually reflected in the odds rather than via a Rule 4 deduction. You can also check our blog for general notes on timing and market changes.

How the 10p deduction is calculated

Rule 4 deductions are taken from the winnings portion of your successful bet, not taken directly from the original stake in most operator implementations, so you still see the stake handled according to the operator's payout rules Racing Post rule 4 explainer.

Calculate deduction on winnings for a single bet

Use Decimal odds for accuracy

To keep the math simple, follow these steps. Step 1, calculate the gross winnings as Stake times (Decimal odds minus 1). Step 2, convert the pence deduction into a percentage of a pound, for example 10p equals 10 percent of one pound. Step 3, multiply the gross winnings by one minus that percentage to get the adjusted winnings. Use the operator table for the exact pence value in your case At The Races Rule 4 guide.

The Rule 4(c) scale places the 10p deduction in the band around 6/1 to 9/1, while other bands use smaller pence amounts for longer prices or no deduction above a set band, and operators publish these tables so you can check the exact pence rate for a given price band HBF Rule 4 scale guide.

Which bets are affected: fixed odds, SP and pool bets

Fixed-odds bets struck before a withdrawal can be subject to Rule 4 deductions when the withdrawal happens in the post-declaration window, because these bets keep the price that was available at the time the bet was accepted and may be adjusted by Rule 4 at settlement Racing Post rule 4 explainer.

Was my fixed-odds bet affected by a Rule 4 deduction because a declared runner was withdrawn after final declarations?

Check the time your bet was struck and the official withdrawal time; if the withdrawal occurred after final declarations and before starter's orders, and your bet was a fixed-odds bet struck before the withdrawal, a Rule 4 deduction may have been applied to the winnings, as shown on your payout slip.

Starting Price bets are handled differently. If an SP bet is placed after the market has adjusted to a withdrawal, that SP is set from the market that already accounts for the non-runner, and therefore Rule 4 deductions normally do not apply to SP bets placed after the market reformed Timeform guide to Rule 4.

Pool or tote bets are governed by pool rules rather than the Rule 4 bookmakers' deductions, so payout calculations follow the tote operator's own terms and may not use the Rule 4 scale; always check the operator's conditions for pool bets before assuming Rule 4 applies UK Gambling Commission consumer guidance.

The Rule 4(c) scale: where 10p sits and neighbouring bands

Industry explainers and operator tables show a band where the 10p deduction applies, commonly around 6/1 to 9/1, while nearby bands apply different pence levels such as 5p for roughly 10/1 to 14/1 or no deduction at longer prices, and this banding remains standard practice into 2026 according to published guides IBAS Rule 4 guide. See operator help pages such as William Hill for their published table.

Operators publish their precise Rule 4(c) table and customers should consult that table for the exact pence figure the operator uses for a given price band. Although the general scale is widely used, operator wording is the authoritative source for calculations at settlement At The Races Rule 4 guide.

Remember that the band labels like 6/1 to 9/1 are approximate price ranges and operators may show the bands in odds format or as decimal equivalents, so confirm the mapping before computing expected deductions HBF Rule 4 scale guide.

Multiple non-runners and cumulative deductions

When more than one declared runner is withdrawn after declarations, Rule 4 deductions are applied sequentially and can add up, because each withdrawn horse can trigger its own pence deduction which is applied to winnings at settlement IBAS Rule 4 guide.

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Industry practice commonly references an overall cap on cumulative deductions, often stated around 90p in the pound, which limits the total deductions that can be applied across multiple non-runners; that cap is a practical control used in typical payout examples At The Races Rule 4 guide.

To see whether multiple deductions affected your payout, read the payout slip or settlement breakdown your operator supplies; the slip should show each applied deduction or a net deduction, so you can verify both individual and cumulative amounts against the operator's published table IBAS Rule 4 guide.

Practical worked examples: calculate the impact on your return

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Example one, single non-runner in the 10p band. Suppose you placed a fixed-odds single at decimal odds 4.00, staking 10 pounds. Gross winnings are 10 times 3.00, which equals 30 pounds. Convert a 10p deduction to 0.10 of a pound, then adjust the winnings by multiplying 30 by one minus 0.10, giving adjusted winnings of 27 pounds; the stake handling depends on the operator but is usually returned or shown separately at settlement Racing Post rule 4 explainer.

Example two, two deductions adding up. Using the same stake and odds, if two eligible non-runners trigger successive deductions of 10p and 5p, the practical result is sequential reduction of the winnings. Apply the first deduction to the gross winnings, then apply the second deduction to the reduced total, or use the operator's published method if it shows a single combined deduction figure; check your payout slip for the operator's approach Timeform guide to Rule 4.

These examples are illustrative. Always use the operator's exact Rule 4 table and settlement rules because presentation and rounding may vary slightly between operators, and the slip is the final record of how deductions were calculated UK Gambling Commission consumer guidance.

What to check in bookmaker terms and your consumer rights

Before placing bets, check the operator's published Rule 4 table and the timing rules that define when a withdrawal triggers a deduction, because operators state the precise pence bands and the treatment of stake and winnings in their help pages Racing Post rule 4 explainer. See how Funded Plays evaluations work for an example of evaluation write ups.

Consumer protection guidance stresses transparency and fairness for deductions, and if you believe an operator applied Rule 4 incorrectly you can seek clarification under the operator's complaints process and, if needed, refer to independent adjudicators or regulator guidance for further help UK Gambling Commission consumer guidance.

Because pool or tote bets follow different rules, check the pool operator's terms separately; the tote may not use Rule 4, and its payout method is a distribution of the pool after deductions set by the pool operator At The Races Rule 4 guide.

Common mistakes and how to avoid losing value

Common mistake one is not checking the withdrawal timing relative to your bet. If you assume every withdrawal causes a market reform you may miss cases where a late withdrawal after declarations triggers a Rule 4 deduction instead Racing Post rule 4 explainer.

Common mistake two is assuming an SP bet always protects you. If the SP is set after the market has already adjusted, SP bets are usually safe from Rule 4, but placing an SP bet before the market reformed can still be subject to deductions depending on timing Timeform guide to Rule 4.

Simple pre-bet checks reduce surprises: confirm the current market price near race time, check the operator's Rule 4 table and timing rules, and keep a note of bet time so you can compare it to any later withdrawal notices or settlement details UK Gambling Commission consumer guidance.

How to adapt your staking and strategy around Rule 4 deductions

If you use conservative bankroll management, factor a small adjustment into stakes for races where late withdrawals are common, because fixed-odds early-price bets can be exposed to non-runner deductions that reduce expected returns Racing Post rule 4 explainer.

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When an early-price board bet gives you an attractive price, weigh the risk that a late withdrawal could trigger Rule 4 and reduce winnings. In some cases waiting for a market that has reformed, or choosing an SP stake placed after adjustments, reduces the risk of deduction exposure Timeform guide to Rule 4.

Keep staking rules disciplined rather than trying to chase back value after a deduction. Practical steps include setting a maximum stake fraction per selection and sticking to it, and always checking the operator's settlement examples so you know how payouts will be shown after deductions UK Gambling Commission consumer guidance.

Summary: key takeaways and a quick pre-bet checklist

Two-line summary: the 10p rule refers to a 10 pence in the pound Rule 4(c) deduction applied to winnings when a declared non-runner was priced roughly 6/1 to 9/1, and it only applies to late withdrawals after final declarations, with the stake treated separately by operators IBAS Rule 4 guide. See the Funded Plays homepage for our main site.

Three things to check before you bet. First, confirm whether withdrawals occurred after final declarations. Second, consult your operator's published Rule 4 table for the precise pence bands. Third, note whether you are placing a fixed-odds early-price bet or an SP bet placed after market adjustments, because that affects exposure to Rule 4 deductions Racing Post rule 4 explainer.

If you are unsure about a specific settlement, review the payout slip and the operator's terms, and raise a query with the operator if the deduction shown does not match the published table or timing rules.

Does the 10p rule take my stake as well as winnings?

No, the usual practice is to apply the Rule 4 deduction to the winnings portion; how the stake is treated is set out in the operator's terms.

Are SP bets protected from Rule 4 deductions?

SP bets placed after the market has adjusted for a withdrawal are typically not subject to Rule 4, but timing matters so check when the SP was taken.

Can multiple non-runners wipe out my payout entirely?

Multiple deductions can reduce winnings and are often capped in practice, but consult your operator's settlement details and table for exact limits.

Use the pre-bet checklist in this article to reduce surprises from non-runner deductions, and always consult the operator's published Rule 4 table and settlement examples if a late withdrawal affects your bet. If a deduction appears incorrect, raise it with the operator and, where necessary, follow the published complaints and adjudication routes.