Greyhound Dogs Racing | OTB - How to Wager

How To Wager

When you're at the track, remember, we want you to have fun and be successful. If you have any questions, be sure to ask any member of our staff and they will be delighted to help.

Placing Your Bet

Placing a bet is easy. You never have to feel intimidated or that you're going to say something wrong. Just remember these easy hints and steps. Before you go to the window, write down your selections and the amount you want to bet. Have your money or winning ticket in hand, and then...

  • Tell the clerk the track you want to bet
  • Tell the clerk the race you want to bet
  • Tell the clerk the dollar amount and type of bet
  • Tell the clerk the numbers you have selected
  • Example: "I would like Phoenix, 4th race, $2.00 Quiniela, 1-2."

That's all there is to it!

Check Your Ticket Before Leaving The Window

Always check your ticket(s) before leaving the teller window to make sure the bet, track, race number and date are correct. Tickets cannot be changed or canceled after leaving the teller window.

Never throw your ticket away, unless you are positive it is not a winner. If there is any doubt, let the teller's computer tell you by reading the ticket.

How To Cash A Winner

As soon as the race is declared official, take your winning ticket to any window and give it to the mutuel clerk. The display screen on the machine will show the amount of your winnings. To save time, make your next wager at the same time you cash your winning ticket.

Winning tickets must be redeemed 180 days following the last race of each meet. The first meet ends the last week in June. The second meet ends December 31.

The Pari-Mutuel Concept

The great thing about pari-mutuel wagering is that the majority of the money wagered goes right back into the hands of the bettors. The track, the state and the greyhound owners simply receive a straight percentage of each wager. The rest of the money is placed in a pool and paid out proportionally to each winner. The number of people who bet on the same dogs determines the odds and therefore, the payoff.

Reading the Odds 

Each runner is listed by number on the Odds Board (or tote Board). Odds are posted next to the number. These odds are for the WIN pool only. They have no relation to the PLACE, SHOW, QUINIELA, or any other pool. On the right of the Odds Board, each Quiniela combination is listed with odds posted next to the combinations.

The odds change often before the race, based upon the amount of money being bet on each runner in each pool and are based on the number of wagers placed on a particular runner. As more wagers are placed on a runner for a WIN or Quiniela combination, the odds go down. If fewer wagers are placed on a runner, the odds go up.

Odds listed on the Board are all $1.00 odds. If a runner or Quiniela combination wins at 5-1 odds, the payoff on a $2.00 wager is approximately $12.00 (your $2.00 wager plus five times that amount for a winning selection). Regardless of how much money is bet on a favorite, the track must pay $2.10 for each $2.00 winning bet.

There's no limit on how much can be won on any single bet. Only the odds determine the amounts. After each race, the Odds Board will show which runners came in first, second, third, and fourth. The Odds Board show payoffs on all wagers for that race and remember, the Odds Board is only an aid to the bettor. Errors on the Board will be corrected, however, the Association will pay only the correct winning price.

Odds And Indicated Payoffs On A $2.00 Bet.

IRS Rules
  1. By order of the Internal Revenue Service. winnings of $600 or more, unreduced by the amount of wagers, must be reported for every person paid winnings from greyhound racing. Form W2-G must be filled out and Federal income tax withheld at the rate of 28% on winning payments of $5,000 or more if at least 300 times the amount of the single wager. If more than one person shares in the winnings from a single wager, the aggregate amount of winnings shall determine whether or not the winnings are more than $5,000. In case of multiple wagers sold on one ticket, each wager shall be considered separate and distinct for purposes of computing the amount to be reported or withheld, and Federal income tax must he withheld if the winnings amount to more than $5,000. Taxpayer identifying number and another ID must be presented before payment can be made. No metal Social Security Cards will be honored. For foreign Nationals, the takeout is 30% if the winnings amount to more than $600.
  2. Effective January 1, 1984, new aggregation regulations require that gambling winnings from identical wagers be aggregated to determine whether those winnings are subject to a 28% withholding tax. For example, when a winning ticket in the $600 to $1,000 range is presented for payment, the cashier at the designated IRS window is required to ask the patron if they have identical wagers, and if so, how many. All such wagers must be presented at the same time for aggregation by the cashier. Should the patron state that they have no additional wagers, it will be shown on the form the accuracy of the patron. action will be determined by the IRS. The same rule applies to residents of another country, but Federal income tax withholding of 300/0 is required. (An identical wager is one in the same race and wagering pool, not withstanding that the type of wager is a box, key or wheel).