Sports betting has continued to evolve throughout the years, with hundreds of sports to choose from and numerous betting options available. One unique option is the Tricast bet, a type of multiple bet commonly used in horse racing and greyhound racing.
Here at OddsMonkey, we will go through everything you need to know about Tricast betting, including how it works, how to place it, and whether it is used in value betting.
What Is A Tricast?
A Tricast is a bet where you predict the top three places in a race, but you must correctly choose which horses or dogs will finish in first, second and third. There is a slightly different variation of the bet that allows users to pick three selections to finish in the top three, but in any order.
The Tricast is usually only seen across horse racing and greyhound racing, due to the nature of the bet. If you are interested in learning more about horse racing, then you can check out our horse racing betting guide, which is available on the site.
How Does A Tricast Bet Work?
Similar to each-way betting, a Tricast bet is multiple bets rolled into one, with the Tricast featuring three bets. In order to have a successful bet, you have to predict the finishers in first, second and third in the correct order. While other versions, such as Trixie bets and Patent bets, multiply your stake, a Tricast bet multiplies the odds but not the stake.
It is important to note that a Tricast bet can only be placed on one race, and you cannot spread a Tricast bet across different races.
As you could most likely guess, predicting the top three horses in their exact positions would be quite hard, so the returns are usually pretty high.
Let’s have a quick look at an example to understand how one of these bets would work fully. To place a Tricast bet, you have to pick three horses or greyhounds to finish in the top three positions, in a specific order. By using the horse racing example, we can create a Tricast bet like this:
- Horse number 5 to finish 1st
- Horse number 1 to finish 2nd
- Horse number 8 to finish 3rd
For those placing Tricast bets, these bets are only available in handicap races with eight or more runners.
How To Place A Tricast Bet
By using a specific example, we are going to look at how you would place a Tricast bet with Bet365. Here, we are looking at the 4:08 Beverley race, and you can find the Tricast betting section in the ‘More markets’ tab.
Simply, you can tick the boxes accordingly to select which horse you want to finish 1st, 2nd and 3rd, and this will display a small icon at the bottom of the screen, allowing you to add it to your bet slip. Once you have added it to your bet slip, you can then select your stake and place the bet, with your returns being displayed on screen if the bet is successful.
Bet365 is not the only bookmaker which allows for Tricast bets, yet the menu and betting slip might look slightly different.
Calculating Tricast Bets
These bets can be incredibly complex to work out for bookmakers, as there are so many combinations available for bettors to choose from throughout every horse race. The majority of bookmakers provide Tricast dividends only after the race has finished, as the starting price of each runner determines them.
Like Bet365, some bookmakers will offer a fixed price, meaning you will know the returns before the bet has been placed, but some bookmakers will not inform you of the odds until the race has finished.
By using a specific formula, you can quickly find out how much you would expect to make from a tricast:
- Stake x Tricast Odds = Return
For example, this means that if you use the example mentioned above, we can see that 1 x 504.50 = £504.50. If we used a stake of £5, then the returns would be £2,552.50.
Types of Tricast Bets
There are a handful of Tricast bets used throughout the market, each with unique features and requirements. We will go through exactly what these are and how they work here at OddsMonkey.
Straight Tricast:
A Straight Tricast is the same as the example we have already mentioned, with a bettor needing to predict the first three finishers in the race in the correct order. This is the most basic form of Tricast betting.
Combination Tricast:
The standard combination tricast bet requires a bettor to choose three selections to finish in the top three of the race. Unlike the straight tricast, they can finish in any particular order provided that they all finish in the top three. However, the bet differs as your stake will be higher as you are placing six bets and multiplying your stake by six. The combination tricast has a higher chance than a straight tricast, but the odds are not as high.
Placing a combination tricast is very similar to placing a normal tricast, but instead of ticking the boxes for certain positions, you only have to tick the ‘Any’ boxes.
Whilst you won’t see the initial odds, you will see that the stake is multiplied by 6x. Combination tricasts use fixed odds, unlike standard tricasts, which use the starting price.
Trifecta:
The Trifecta is an alternative to standard Tricast and Combination Tricast betting. The difference is that the Trifecta relies on the tote, meaning there are no fixed odds and all stakes placed on the Trifecta market are added to a total prize pot. This pot is then shared among the winners in proportion to the stakes they placed.
Placing a trifecta bet is very similar to other tricast bets. The Trifecta option is available in the ‘exotics’ section of the Bet365 site.
Tricast Vs Trifecta
Determining which one is better than the other can be challenging, as there is no definitive answer. Predicting the top three finishes can be extremely difficult; however, they are used due to their large return values if successful. The main difference between the two is the odds, as Trifecta betting relies on the pool of money placed by customers; however, in the UK, Tote takes 25% of that pool.
If you are interested in more ways of betting, then you can check out our matched betting blog, which goes through all the fascinating betting techniques you can use.
Pros and Cons of Tricast
Tricast is something worth considering, and understanding exactly what is good and bad about the system can help you decide if it is a technique you are willing to use. As there are many aspects to consider, we will examine the pros and cons of tricast betting.
✅ Large Odds – Due to the difficulty of choosing the top three finishes in a race, the bookies will offer bettors higher odds if they successfully predict the top three.
✅ Race Selection – Tricast bets can be advantageous in races with larger fields, as they provide an opportunity to predict the result despite the competitors.
✅Potentially High Return on Investment – As the odds are high, users can place lower stakes and still have the chance to make a large return if they correctly predict the outcome of a race.
✅Diversify Betting Strategy – As Tricast betting is quite unique, it is something that can be used in your betting strategy. Understanding how this betting market works adds another element to your betting knowledge to potentially use in the future.
❌Difficulty – It’s a very hard task to be able to successfully predict the top three finishers of the race, with luck and horse racing knowledge coming into play.
❌Cost – Whilst straight tricast bets can be used with lower stakes, combination tricast bets can require higher stakes as the original wager will be multiplied by 6x.
❌Success Probability – Due to the difficulty, the successful results may not be as frequent when compared to other bets.
❌Complex Returns – With starting prices and other factors coming into play, the returns in Tricast bets are very complicated when compared to other types of betting.
Whilst we have mentioned both horse racing and greyhound racing here, tricast options can also appear in other sports, but this is not very often. It will occasionally be offered by some bookies for tournaments such as the FIFA World Cup.
Can Tricast Betting be used in Matched Betting?
Tricast betting is not typically associated with matched betting due to its complex nature and the way it operates. Due to there being three horses or selections in the bet, this can become quite tricky.
Instead, tricast betting is traditionally used for creating the potential for larger returns, and if you are very confident about the finishing positions of horses, then it is a betting market that can be used to your advantage.
Tricast Bets at OddsMonkey
Tricast bets can add a new dimension to your betting strategy, as they allow you to bet on races and provide the potential for greater returns if deemed successful. Whilst they are incredibly challenging to get right, the odds are high, making them a great mix of complexity and cost.
If you are placing other types of bets, we offer incredibly fast and reliable betting calculators, like our each-way calculator and accumulator calculator. These can be used alongside your betting to make the most of horse racing events, and to ensure you know how much you could be returned.
