Rule 4 Explained - How to calculate a Rule 4 deduction
Horse racing punters will have seen that on some occasions when they are paid out by their bookmaker that their returns are smaller than they expected. On their bet slip receipt, they see ‘rule 4 deduction wrote, and that is the reason for the smaller returns. Has this happened to you before? Do you know what a rule 4 deduction is, and how they work? Even the most seasoned punters can struggle with the rule 4, so here is all you need to know about it before you place your next horse racing bet.
What is a Rule 4 Deduction?
When you place a horse racing bet and you take an early price, you are backing your horse based on the field at the time of your bet, and taking a price based on that. If there are 10 runners in the race, and you back your horse at 8/1, the reason that horse is 8/1 is because of the other nine runners in the field, and their chances of winning.
If the favourite is taken out of the race, and you go down to nine total runners without the favourite, then your horse would have a much better chance and be a much shorter price than the 8/1 that was on offer. To protect the bookmakers in this instance, they will apply a rule 4 deduction to your bet, taking off an amount of money per pound that you win to compensate them for the fact that the favourite did not run.
While rule 4 deductions can be very annoying for punters, what the bookmakers are doing is completely fair and above board. There are standard rules in place to help you work out rule 4 deductions, and these are followed by all bookmakers. After you have taken the price on your horse you are entered into a fixed agreement with the bookmaker, the much smaller SP doesn’t matter to your bet, which is why these deductions have to be used.
How Much is Taken in a Rule 4 Deduction?
It is important to understand the rule 4 process fully and the main part of that is knowing what the bookmaker will take off you. This is fixed and the same across all bookmakers, so whatever gets taken from you will get taken off every punter who is in the same situation.
The amount of money taken from you is based on every pound that you get back, and it is based upon the price of the horse that is withdrawn. The price taken is the last price that was available before the horse was withdrawn, and the amounts taken off you are all in the table below.
|
Price at Withdrawal |
R4 Deduction |
|
1/9 or shorter |
90p |
|
2/11 to 2/17 |
85p |
|
1/4 to 1/5 |
80p |
|
3/10 to 2/7 |
75p |
|
2/5 to 1/3 |
70p |
|
8/15 to 4/9 |
65p |
|
8/13 to 4/7 |
60p |
|
4/5 to 4/6 |
55p |
|
20/21 to 5/6 |
50p |
|
Evens to 6/5 |
45p |
|
5/4 to 6/4 |
40p |
|
8/5 to 7/4 |
35p |
|
9/5 to 9/4 |
30p |
|
12/5 to 3/1 |
25p |
|
16/5 to 4/1 |
20p |
|
9/2 to 11/2 |
15p |
|
6/1 to 9/1 |
10p |
|
10/1 to 14/1 |
5p |
|
Over 14/1 |
No deduction |
Advice on Picking Your Selections-How to pick winners in horse racing
Best 10 New Bookmakers
 |
£50 | SIGN UP HERE |
|
New customers online only, use code B10G50. Bet £/€10+ at 1/1 (2.0) or higher within 7 days to get £/€20 Tote Credit, £/€10 Sports Bet, 2×£/€5 Accas & 50 Free Spins. 7-day expiry. 18+ T&Cs apply. GambleAware.org. |
||
 |
£10 | SIGN UP HERE |
|
New Customers use code EPL10. Deposit £10 and place a bet of £10 on any Premier League Outrights 2025/26 market at minimum odds of 2.0. Free Bet credited within 24 hours and must be wagered on English Premier League markets only. Full Terms apply. Bangers N'Cash rewards are a separate promotional scheme and must be opted into during the weekly promotional period via the BetWright Rewards Section. 18+ begambleaware. |
||
 |
£100 | SIGN UP HERE |
|
New UK/IE customers . Place your first Football bet as an Accumulator (minimum four selections) and AK Bets will boost the return by 25% in the form of a Free Bet up to a value of £100. 18+ BeGambleAware.org." |
||
 |
10 | SIGN UP HERE |
|
100% Casino Bonus up to £100 (new players only), £10 min deposit, no max cash out, 40x wagering, £5 max bet with active bonus, eligibility restricted for suspected abuse, cashback unrestricted, Skrill & Neteller excluded, T&Cs apply. Free bet min odds 2.0; free bet value deducted from winnings. |
||
 |
£30 | SIGN UP HERE |
|
T&Cs: 18+ New Customers. Opt in, deposit and bet £10 on any football (odds 1/1+) within 3 days of sign up. Get 3x£10 Free Bets for set football markets. Bonuses expire in 14 days. T&Cs Apply. GambleAware.org. Please gamble responsibly. |
||
 |
£25 | SIGN UP HERE |
|
Bet £50 to Get a £25 Free Bet. Offer available to new customers only signing up with Promo Code BET50GET25 only. Full T&C's apply. 18+. Gambleaware.org |
||
 |
£20 | SIGN UP HERE |
|
18+ UK only. Bet £10 at 1/2+ odds to get £20 in free bets (4 x £5 on Football, Racing, Tennis & Any Sport). Affiliate link required. Free bets expire in 7 days. T&Cs apply. |
||
 |
£10 | SIGN UP HERE |
|
#ad. 18+. Gamble Responsibly. Gambleaware.org. New customers only. £10 in real money. Bets placed on sports at odds of 2.00 ore more to qualify. Bets must be placed 24 hours within of registration. £10 free bets must be wagered on sports. Cashback is cash without restrictions. - Full Terms Apply |
||
 |
£40 | SIGN UP HERE |
|
New customers only. 7 days to place qualifying bet of £10 at 1/1 (2.0) to receive 4 x £10 Free Bets: 1 x £10 football, 1 x £10 horse racing & 2 x £10 Bet Builders. Free Bets cannot be used on e-sports and non UK/IE horse racing. 7 day expiry. Exclusions apply. Stake not returned T&Cs apply. 18+ GambleAware.org |
||
 |
£25 | SIGN UP HERE |
|
New customers only, 18+, 3 bets of £10+ at odds of evens or greater. Max Free Bet: £25, credited within 24 hours. Free Bet valid for 7 days. T&Cs Apply. BeGambleAware.org. |
||
