Flat betting vs backing to win
Flat betting fixes your stake. Backing to win targets a fixed combined win-and-place profit.
Bookmakers care more about their exposure than the amount you stake. At 101.00 and 1/5 place terms, £5 each-way can win £600 profit. At 11.00, the same stake can win £60. This means they're happy to lay larger stakes at shorter prices.
Back-to-win can increase turnover by staking more at shorter prices. If your account is reviewed anyway, keeping every stake tiny only meant less money on your value bets.
Back-to-win calculator
| Odds (decimal) | Plan | Stake each-way | Win profit | Place profit |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 7.00 | Flat | £10.00 | £72.00 | £2.00 |
| Back to win | £27.77 | £199.94 | £5.55 | |
| 13.00 | Flat | £10.00 | £144.00 | £14.00 |
| Back to win | £13.88 | £199.87 | £19.43 | |
| 26.00 | Flat | £10.00 | £300.00 | £40.00 |
| Back to win | £6.66 | £199.80 | £26.64 | |
| 51.00 | Flat | £10.00 | £600.00 | £90.00 |
| Back to win | £3.33 | £199.80 | £29.97 | |
| 101.00 | Flat | £10.00 | £1,200.00 | £190.00 |
| Back to win | £1.66 | £199.20 | £31.54 | |
| Flat | ||||
| Back to win |
Historical comparison
EWEdge / 10,655 selections / 2026-07-11 to 2026-10-30
We compared £3 each-way flat with a £50 back-to-win profit target on the same selections. We chose this target because it requires a similar bankroll.
Cumulative profit
Total staked
| Measure | Flat | Back to win |
|---|---|---|
| Net profit | £8,403.86 | £7,930.99 |
| Total staked | £63,930.00 | £66,181.60 |
| Starting cash required | £787.80 | £827.19 |
| Largest daily drawdown | £613.64 | £319.14 |
Choosing a staking plan
Flat betting made £472.87 more profit from a £1,000 starting bankroll.
Flat betting is convenient because you can reuse the same stake without recalculating it. Back-to-win gives you more control over the profit a winning selection generates.
Further reading
See the value for £1
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