What does Dead Heat mean in Sports Betting? Dead Heat Rules Explained.

Q: How are dead heat bets calculated?

‘For’ bets equation: Return = (Backer’s stake (number of expected winners/number of actual winners)) original odds. ‘Against’ bets: Return = ((1 – (expected number of winners/number of actual winners) * original odds) / (original odds – 1))

Your betting education continues here at MyTopSportsbooks with a topic every bettor should understand — dead heats. Most of the time, your wager will result in either a win or a loss. But occasionally, a game, race, or tournament ends in a tie. While we place bets expecting a clear outcome — whether it’s a straight bet or one involving handicaps — ties do happen, and when they do, it’s known in the betting world as a dead heat. Though rare in sports, dead heats are accounted for by sportsbooks, and it’s important to know how they’re handled. In this guide, we’ll break down the rules around dead heat scenarios so you know exactly what to expect if your bet ends without a clear winner.

Bonus:

50% up to $250

Bet now

What is a Dead Heat Result?

A dead heat occurs when two or more competitors finish an event in a tie, making it impossible to determine a single winner. This is most common in sports like horse racing, greyhound racing, track events, and motorsports. In golf, dead heats often happen when multiple players tie for positions like Top 5, Top 10, or Top 20 — but not for first place, which is settled through playoffs.

Dead heats are extremely rare in sports like the NFL, NBA, NHL, or MLB, since those leagues use overtime or extra innings to ensure a winner is declared.

Why Is It Called ‘Dead Heat’?

The term “dead heat” dates back to horse racing in the 1600s. At the time, horses often competed in multiple races or “heats,” and when no clear winner could be determined in a particular race, the result was declared “dead.” The word “heat” refers to a single round or qualifying race — similar to how it’s used in track and field today. The phrase “dead heat” has endured and is still used to signal that no outright winner was declared in a tightly contested finish.

What Are The Dead Heat Rules?

Dead heat rules determine how payouts are handled when a bet ends in a tie. The simplest way to think about it is this: you win part of your bet and lose part of it. Most sportsbooks have specific policies in place for handling dead heats, though a small number may not. While dead heats are relatively rare in sports betting, it’s important to understand how they affect your potential payout when they do occur.

Key Concepts: Stake and Odds

Bets are resolved either by dividing the stake among tied selections or halving the effective odds, depending on sportsbook rules. For example, a two-way tie would be split evenly. In a 3-way tie, each winner is treated as 1/3 winning stake. If the sportsbook or bookie you gamble with offers ties on their betting menu, they will payout ties in full. Different rules govern different sportsbooks; instead of cutting the payout, the sportsbook may cut the odds, reducing the payout.

How Often Do Dead Heat Results Happen?

Dead heat results typically depend on two main factors: the type of sport and the precision of the technology used to determine winners. In events like horse racing or track meets, advanced photo-finish technology has reduced the chances of dead heats, but they can still occur. Horse racing remains the sport with the highest frequency of dead heat outcomes, especially when two competitors cross the finish line at virtually the same time.

Which Sports Are Dead Heats Common In?

Dead heats are commonplace in many different sports. Some of these include:

Horse racing
Greyhound racing
Draw horse racing
Golf
Swimming
Motorsports
Soccer
Swimming

Prop bets—e.g., top goalscorer markets in soccer—frequently use dead heat rules

What are the Golf Dead Heat Rules?

You never see a tie for the top spot in any golf betting event, they go to extra holes to crown the tournament champion, but you can have ties after the top spot. In golf, the dead heat depends on the total number of players tied and the places on offer.

What Happens When a Dead Heat Occurs in Golf?

If your golf bet ends in a dead heat, your payout is adjusted based on how many players tied for the position you bet on. Typically, your stake is divided by the number of tied golfers, and that portion is applied to the original odds. Some sportsbooks may reduce the odds instead, which can result in a lower payout — and in some cases, even a loss. For example, if your golfer ties for sixth place with three others, you’d receive a 1/4 stake win. The only exception is when players tie for first place; in that case, a playoff is used to determine the outright tournament winner.

Bonus:

50% up to $1,000

Bet now

A Stakes Cut

You bet $10 on a certain golfer to be the first-round leader one at 100 to 1. The golfer you are backing ends up tied with another golfer. Your payout would be $500 – a 50/50 split – instead of a $1000 payout for sole possession of first place.

Dead Heat Rules In Horse Racing

The same as golf, the number of ties is divided by the stake in horse racing betting.

Here’s what happens in a Dead Heat at the racetrack:

Second-place bets and third-place bets pools are combined
The track gets paid
The pot winnings are divided in half, and winning tickets – bettors holding win and place betting slips – are paid.

The Money Split In Dead Heat Scenarios In Golf

If you bet $100 and five golfers tied, your stake is reduced to $20 and multiplied by the odds. See the example below.

Reduced Stake x Betting Odds + Reduced Stake = Total winnings; or

$20 x 10/1 + $20 = $220

The Money Split, Horse Racing, Dead Heat

Two options:

Pick a winner.
Pick place and show results.

A win with two horses tied:

[(Stake/2) x (Odds – 1)] – (Stake/2) = profit

Do Sportsbooks Take Advantage of Dead Heat Results?

Most, if not all, sportsbooks have rules governing dead heat results, so they don’t use the results to their benefit. But they can use the results in other ways, like the vig or vigorish, if you prefer. The sportsbook collects the fee for handling your bet, and they get paid on win, lose, or dead heat. Line movement is another area where sportsbooks can gain an edge when the algorithm is triggered based on public money coming in, an injury, or, in the case of horse racing, a scratch.

Dead Heat FAQs

Find answers to common questions bettors like you have when researching which sportsbook to join.

What is a dead heat bet?

Dead heat bet refers to a situation in which two or more participants finish a sporting event or a race exactly at the same time, making it impossible to determine the winner. In such a case, the bookmaker declares a tie or a dead heat. In a dead heat bet, the stake is divided by the number of winners, and the payout depends on the odds of the winner at the time of placing the bet. Dead heat bets are common in horse racing, athletics, and other events with multiple participants. It is essential to understand dead heat rules before placing a bet to avoid any confusion or disappointment.

How does a dead heat work?

A dead heat is a term used in sports or horse racing when two or more participants finish a race with the exact same time or score, making it impossible to determine a clear winner. In such cases, the participants who finish in a dead heat are usually awarded an equal share of the prize or the win is split between them. For example, in horse racing, if two horses cross the finish line at the same time, they will be considered as having finished in a dead heat, and the betting payouts will be split evenly among those who placed bets on either horse to win. In other cases, a tiebreaker round or a coin flip may be used to determine a winner in the event of a dead heat.

How are dead heat bets calculated?

‘For’ bets equation:

Return = (Backer’s stake (number of expected winners/number of actual winners)) original odds.

‘Against’ bets:

Return = ((1 – (expected number of winners/number of actual winners) * original odds) / (original odds – 1))

Do you get full price on a dead heat?

In horse racing, a dead heat occurs when two or more horses finish a race at the exact same time. In this situation, the payouts for the winning bets are divided evenly among the horses who finished in a tie. So if you bet on a horse that finished in a dead heat, you would not receive the full payout for a winning bet, but rather a portion of that payout based on the number of horses involved in the dead heat.

Can you lose money on dead heat reduction?

Yes, it is possible to lose money on dead heat reduction if you do not properly understand the rules and potential outcomes. When a dead heat occurs in a race, it means that two or more horses have finished the race at the same time and cannot be separated by the judges. In this case, the original odds of each horse are divided by the number of horses involved in the dead heat and the payout is reduced accordingly.

If you have placed a bet on one of the horses involved in the dead heat, your potential payout will be less than if there was no dead heat. However, if you have placed a bet on a different horse that was not involved in the dead heat, you may lose money if the reduction results in a smaller overall payout for your bet.

To avoid losing money on dead heat reduction, it is important to understand the rules and potential outcomes before placing your bets. You should also consider using strategies such as hedging your bets or spreading risk across multiple horses to minimize potential losses.

Who gets paid in a dead heat?

If there is a dead heat in a race or competition, it means that two or more participants finish at the same time. In these situations, the prize money is usually divided equally among the participants who tied. For example, if two runners cross the finish line at the same exact time in a race with a $1,000 prize, each runner would receive $500. The division of the prize money between the tied participants is usually determined by the rules of the competition or by agreement among the participants themselves.

Are dead bets common?

I’m assuming by “dead bets” you mean bets that are unlikely to win or have already lost. The frequency of dead bets depends on the specific betting context, but they can be relatively common in some situations. For example, in sports betting, a bet on a team that is heavily favored to lose may be considered a dead bet. Similarly, in horse racing, a bet on a horse with very long odds of winning may be seen as a dead bet. However, experienced bettors typically try to avoid dead bets by carefully analyzing the available information and making informed decisions. Ultimately, whether dead bets are common or not depends on the skill and knowledge of the bettor, as well as the particular betting market.

What is a dead heat result?

A Dead Heat Result is when two or more participants in a race or competition finish with an equal score or time. This can occur in many sports, including horse racing, athletics, and even in academic competitions like quizzes. In the event of a Dead Heat Result, the prize money or rewards are usually split equally among the participants who finished with the same result. The rules and regulations regarding Dead Heat Results can vary depending on the sport or competition, so it’s always best to check with the governing body to ensure you understand how they handle this type of outcome.

Dead heat rules, what are they?

Dead heat rules are applied in sports or racing betting situations when two or more competitors finish in a tie. In these cases, bets are settled differently to account for the tie. Essentially, the money that would have been paid out to the winning bettor is split between the tied competitors. The exact rules and calculations for dead heats vary depending on the specific sport or betting market. It’s always important to check the rules and terms and conditions of your chosen bookmaker or betting site to make sure you understand the dead heat rules before placing your bet.

In which sports do you get dead heat bets?

A dead heat bet is a type of bet in which two or more competitors finish a race or event in a tie. Dead heat bets are common in horse racing, and they can also occur in other sports such as swimming, track and field, and winter sports like skiing or speed skating. When a dead heat occurs, the bet is typically settled by dividing the stake evenly between the tied competitors and paying out accordingly. It’s important to note that dead heat rules can vary between different sports and bookmakers, so be sure to check the specific terms and conditions of your bet before placing it.