Why do favourites lose money over time?

Favourites win often, but their prices are short and include the bookie's cut, so the small wins don't cover the losses.

Winning often and making money are not the same thing. What matters is the price.

To come out ahead on $1.40 shots, more than 7 in 10 must win.

As of 5 October, the bookies keep about $5 of every $100 bet on who-wins bets across the games we track.

Related questions

• What does odds-on mean?
• What does a 60% chance to win mean?
• Is there such a thing as a sure bet?

Updated 5 October 2026. More betting questions · How we write and correct our pages.