Rule 4 deductions reduce the winnings from certain fixed-odds horse racing bets when another horse is withdrawn after the bet has been placed. The withdrawal leaves the remaining runners with one fewer opponent, so a deduction may be applied to bets accepted before the market changed.
The deduction is expressed in pence per pound of winnings. For example, a 20p Rule 4 reduces the profit from an affected winning bet by 20%. The original winning stake is returned in full.
The amount deducted generally depends on the price of the withdrawn horse at the relevant time. A short-priced non-runner usually produces a larger deduction than a horse withdrawn at long odds.
Use the Rule 4 deduction chart below to identify the relevant deduction, then enter your bet details into our free bet calculator to work out the adjusted return. The calculator supports Rule 4 deductions alongside win, each-way and multiple bets.
Rule 4 Deductions Chart
Here is the Rule 4 Deductions Chart, which provides the amount of money deducted calculated against the betting odds.
| FRACTIONAL ODDS | DECIMAL ODDS | RULE 4 DEDUCTIONS |
|---|---|---|
| 1/9 or shorter | 1.11 or shorter | 90p in £1 |
| 2/11 to 2/17 | 1.18 to 1.12 | 85p in £1 |
| 1/4 to 1/5 | 1.25 to 1.20 | 80p in £1 |
| 3/10 to 2/7 | 1.30 to 1.29 | 75p in £1 |
| 2/5 to 1/3 | 1.40 to 1.33 | 70p in £1 |
| 8/15 to 4/9 | 1.53 to 1.45 | 65p in £1 |
| 8/13 to 4/7 | 1.62 to 1.57 | 60p in £1 |
| 4/5 to 4/6 | 1.80 to 1.66 | 55p in £1 |
| 20/21 to 5/6 | 1.95 to 1.83 | 50p in £1 |
| Evens to 6/5 | 2.00 to 2.20 | 45p in £1 |
| 5/4 to 6/4 | 2.25 to 2.50 | 40p in £1 |
| 8/5 to 7/4 | 2.60 to 2.75 | 35p in £1 |
| 9/5 to 9/4 | 2.80 to 3.25 | 30p in £1 |
| 12/5 to 3/1 | 3.40 to 4.00 | 25p in £1 |
| 16/5 to 4/1 | 4.20 to 5.00 | 20p in £1 |
| 9/2 to 11/2 | 5.50 to 6.50 | 15p in £1 |
| 6/1 to 9/1 | 7.00 to 10.00 | 10p in £1 |
| 10/1 to 14/1 | 11.00 to 15.00 | 5p in £1 |
| Over 14/1 | Over 15.00 | No deduction |
Not all online sportsbook bookmakers make a deduction when Rule 4 is 5p in the pound for a non-runner in a race.
If more than one horse is withdrawn in the same race, the figure will likely be higher.
What is a Rule 4 deduction in the UK?
A Rule 4 deduction in the UK applies to winning bets and deducts a set value in pence out of every pound won.
The betting odds of the horse withdrawn determine the size of the deduction.
The level of the Rule 4 deductions ranges from 90p in the pound at 1-9 or shorter to 5p in the pound at odds of 10-1 to 14-1.
Non-runners can hugely affect the payouts when the favourites are withdrawn.
What is the maximum Rule 4 deduction?
The maximum combined Rule 4 deduction is normally 90p per £1 of winnings, equivalent to 90% of the profit from an affected winning bet.
A single withdrawn horse priced at 1/9 or shorter can produce a 90p deduction. Several withdrawals can also produce deductions that add together, but the combined deduction is capped at 90p per £1 under the standard scale.
The deduction is not taken from the returned stake.
For example, a £10 winning bet at 4/1 would ordinarily return £50: £40 profit plus the £10 stake. If a 90p Rule 4 applies, the £40 profit is reduced to £4. The total return is £14, including the original £10 stake.
The deduction that applies to your bet depends on the relevant withdrawals, their prices and the bookmaker’s settlement rules.
How do you calculate Rule 4?
A Rule 4 deduction is calculated from the winnings on an affected bet, not from the total return including the stake.
To calculate a straightforward win bet, first work out the profit at the accepted odds. Apply the Rule 4 percentage to that profit, then add back the original stake.
For example, you place a £10 win bet at 5/1. Your horse wins, but another runner has been withdrawn and a 20p Rule 4 applies.
| Calculation | Amount |
|---|---|
| Original stake | £10 |
| Profit at 5/1 before Rule 4 | £50 |
| Rule 4 deduction at 20% of profit | £10 |
| Profit after Rule 4 | £40 |
| Total return including stake | £50 |
Without the deduction, the bet would have returned £60. The 20p Rule 4 reduces that return by £10.
For a different deduction, the same method applies. A 10p deduction removes 10% of the relevant winnings, while a 40p deduction removes 40%.
If more than one horse is withdrawn, the applicable deductions may be combined, subject to the standard maximum. The bookmaker’s rules determine which deductions apply to your particular bet.
For an each-way bet, the win and place parts are settled separately under the applicable terms. Non-runners can also affect the number of paid places, so check the bookmaker’s settlement rather than assuming the original place terms remain unchanged.
Our bet calculator lets you enter the applicable Rule 4 deduction instead of calculating the adjusted return manually.
Do Rule 4 Deductions Vary Between Bookmakers?
The Rule 4 price will be dependent on the betting odds at which the non-runner was trading at the time of its withdrawal and will be specific to the sports betting bookmaker.
It is unusual for rule 4 deductions to vary between online sportsbook bookmakers.
Bookmaker odds on horses when races are first priced up the day before the race can vary significantly, but rule 4 costs generally are very similar.
Does the best odds guaranteed bonus still apply after a Rule 4?
Rule 4 still applies to bets placed under the best odds guaranteed bonus.
The bet will be paid out on whichever return is better – the original odds with Rule 4 applied or the starting price.
Does Rule 4 Work Differently on Betting Exchanges?
Betting exchanges use reduction factors when a runner is withdrawn. These adjust affected matched bets to reflect the withdrawal, but they are not necessarily calculated using the same pence-per-pound scale as a fixed-odds bookmaker’s Rule 4 deduction.
The reduction factor and its application depend on the exchange’s market rules. Back and lay bets can both be affected.
If you have placed an exchange bet, check the reduction factor and settlement information for that market. Do not use the fixed-odds Rule 4 chart above to calculate an exchange return unless the exchange’s rules specifically support that calculation.
Summary of Rule 4 Deductions in Betting
Rule 4 is an industry-wide deduction rule created for when there are non-runners in a horse race after the final declarations have been made.
Rule 4 is simply a payout deduction that is made to winning bets when the race is impacted by a horse not running.
Rule 4 will affect how much a winning bet pays out, so check that out using our calculator.
