The expression “under 12.5” is used a lot in betting circles, and it means a whole lot. To put it simply, under 12.5 means that the stake you have put down on a particular horse is less than 12.5% of its price. For example, if you bet £10 on a horse that was priced at £100, you would be looking at a £90 winnings. That’s a hefty return on your investment!
Let’s take a closer look at the conditions that apply to bets made on horses under 12.5.
Which Horses Can I Bet On?
If you’re new to betting, the first thing you need to do is determine which horses you can actually gamble on. It’s important to bear in mind the type of bet you’re making as well as the conditions surrounding it. For example, you can’t bet on greyhounds as they’re not considered race animals and are therefore not covered by the National Lottery.
Certain restrictions may also apply to the type of horse you can bet on. For instance, you can’t bet on a horse that’s won a heat in the Cheltenham or Ascot Gold Cups. These prestigious events occur every year at the end of June and are often referred to as “the Gold Cups” because of the large amount of money they typically bring in. Don’t forget: in some places, like the U.S., it’s illegal to bet on certain animals including greyhounds and pigeons!
How Do I Place A Bet?
You’ll need to establish a gambling account with a bookmaker in order to place a bet. Once you’ve done that, you can start to investigate the different types of bets available. Depending on where you are, the options may vary. In some places, you’ll only have the choice of placing a straight bet or an ‘all-bets-barred’ bet. If that’s the case, choose the former as it gives you more options. If you don’t mind missing out on some opportunities, all-bets-barred betting is the way to go.
Placing a bet is actually quite straightforward. When you’ve decided on a horse you want to bet on, follow these steps:
- Choose your stake;
- Click on the button that represents the type of bet you want to make (e.g. ‘Win’ or ‘Place’);
- Follow the instructions on the screen. If you’re using a mobile device, make sure you’re in a “hands-free” zone.
If you’re satisfied that the horse is suitable for you to bet on and you want to place a single bet, choose the stake size at roughly 10-20% of the horse’s price. If you want to increase your chances of winning, opt for an all-bets-barred bet. In that case, stake size should be around 40-50% of the horse’s price.
Once you’ve placed your bet, make sure you verify it. Sometimes, an unscrupulous bookmaker will try to dupe you by asking you to verify a price that is different from the one you initially saw. The best way to avoid that is by double-checking the price before you place the bet. You can also do so after you’ve placed the bet, but that’s a bit more difficult. If the price turns out to be correct, pat yourself on the back and enjoy your winning. If it’s not, you might want to ask the bookmaker to give you your money back.
Some booksies require you to ‘break even’ after winning a bet. This means you need to place a winning bet and then win another one to make your first bet profitable. Most sportsbooks will waive the ‘break even’ requirement once your account reaches a certain balance. You should therefore aim to accumulate as much money as possible before you start betting. Once you’ve reached that point, you can effectively ‘play’ the games for free!
How Do I Win Money Back If My Horse Loses?
If you’ve chosen the right horse and followed the advice laid out in the previous section, you’re bound to win. After all, you can’t possibly lose with the right bet!
However, it’s important to remember that all gambling leads to loss. In fact, you could lose all your money if you aren’t careful. That’s why it’s always a good idea to back your horse with some cash. This way, you won’t lose everything. If your horse wins, you’ll just have to reinvest your winnings or give it a nice relaxing bath to get it clean again. The same applies if it loses – except, in that case, you’ll have to find a way to replace your losses!
If you’re new to betting, it’s a good idea to start small. For example, if you’re using a cash-based bookmaker and you want to play on the same site, start with £10 and monitor your profits and losses. Once you’ve tasted blood, you can step up your game and see how far you can go. Just remember: the more you gamble, the more you’ll lose. It’s a never-ending cycle!
What If I Don’t Have The Cash On Hand?
There will inevitably be times when you don’t have enough cash on hand to place a bet. Fortunately, there are ways around this. For example, you can use a credit card to make a purchase and then use the card’s built-in cash reward to play the game. The same is true for a debit card. Make sure you research the limits on both types of cards before you make a purchase. In some cases, you might not be able to use the reward immediately. In that case, you could lose out on some great opportunities if you don’t have enough cash on hand to cover your stake. The key is to ensure you don’t miss out on anything because you didn’t have enough cash to gamble with. The alternatives are too many to list here, but there are plenty of options out there. Just do a little bit of research and you’ll find a way to play legally.