Betting Odds Drifting

Betting odds drifting in price is at the discretion of the individual betting company.

There are numerous reasons why the odds are drifting and bookmakers may lengthen the odds to ensure profitability on the outcome.

Some horse racing betting terms used for a selection lengthening in price are “drifting like a barge”, “weak in the market” or “friendless in the betting ring”.

Punters should always compare the bookie’s online odds and place bets with the online bookmakers with the highest odds on offer.

In our Betting Odds Drifting guide, we explain what causes odds to lengthen, examples and how to identify selection odds getting bigger in price.

What does drifting the odds mean?

To lengthen the betting odds on something happening means to make it less likely to happen.

When the odds in the betting market are getting larger, the bookmakers are lengthening the odds due to the lower volume of money wagered on the selection.

Drifting the odds is the same thing as “lengthening”, which is an increase in odds.

What causes the odds to drift out?

The causes of betting odds drifting are:

• A low volume of bets is placed on the selection
• Little money wagered on the selection
• New information coming to light
• Ground conditions making an outcome less likely

The main causes for the odds to drift are the lack of money wagered. If the volume is weighted to laying, then the price likely lengthens.

Examples of Odds Drifting

Here are several examples of odds drifting in the betting ring:

• A banker drifted out from 4-7 odds into 11-10 odds
• A favourite drifted out from 7-2 odds into 5-1 odds
• 2nd fave drifted out from 13-2 odds into 8-1 odds
• A racehorse drifted out from 9-1 odds to 16-1 odds
• An outsider drifted out from 50-1 odds to 66-1 odds

How do you know if a selection is drifting in the betting market?

Odds comparison websites like oddschecker.com show all the runner’s and riders’ latest odds.

Check out the image showing the betting market of a race and any pink squares mean the selection is drifting in price.

The above picture shows all online bookmakers’ odds with pink meaning the horse is drifting in the betting market and blue means the horse is shortening in odds.

Summary

Racehorses can be said to be drifting which is where the odds are getting bigger in price.

Many punters lay horse drifting in the betting market as believe “money talks” and the selection might not be fully fit or not be suited to the race conditions.

We strongly advise placing bets only with online bookies offering BoG deals which allow you to take the early price and if your selection drifts in betting odds you get paid on the higher SP (starting price).

Betting Odds Guide

The odds of an event happening are the likelihood or probability of that result.

Check out all the betting odds used for football betting and for horse racing events in the UK.

Check out our in-depth guide to understanding sport betting odds.