What is a Superfecta Bet? Superfecta Betting Explained

Placing a Superfecta bet gives gamblers the possibility of a monumental win, just for the outlay of a little amount of money. The opportunity of striking a massive superfecta bet happen often, and 6-figure payouts are not unusual, particularly on the biggest days in horse racing, like the Preakness Stakes or Kentucky Derby.

What is a Superfecta Bet?

In order to win, you must choose the top four finishers in a race precisely in that order if you are wagering on a superfecta bet. Many tracks now provide $0.20 and even $0.10 superfecta bets in place of the $1 minimum stake that was previously available, which prohibited many smaller bettors from being able to successfully cover multiple superfecta combinations. This has given even occasional gamblers a chance to win a large sum of money, as the lines (and now app activity) are heavy on the mornings of any of the Triple Crown races especially. 

Now is also a great time to be looking to get involved with this exciting form of betting, too, as there is plenty of money being pumped into racing pools across the US, with the horse racing sector forecast to reach $3.68 billion in 2022.

Covering as many likely possibilities as you can without breaking the bank is the secret to superfecta wagering. With more than 1,600 possible winning superfecta combinations in a field of eight horses, this is not a simple task. Although superfecta boxes can be useful in some circumstances, they are often the least effective way to wager the superfecta since they allow the same amount of money to every potential combination.

Below is a quick breakdown of the costs of the various superfecta box options:

How Does Superfecta Betting Work?

When it comes to superfecta bets, most of which use pool betting, payouts are determined differently than with most common horse racing bets. There are no odds involved with superfecta bets because it is based on the pari-mutuel wagering system. Betting payouts are instead determined by the volume of winning bets and the size of the betting pool once the action has concluded.

Here’s a quick example.

Assume that 5,000 people each purchased a $.50 superfecta ticket for a certain race. The total amount of these tickets is included in the $2,500 superfecta betting pool for that race. The compensation, if there was only one winning ticket, would be for that total amount of $2,500. The prize would be $1,250, however, if there were two winning tickets, and would then of course then would be just $250 if 10 winning tickets were decided. 

Payouts for the less pricey superfectas are only computed pro rata. So in other words, if a winning $10 ticket pays out $1,000, a winning $.10 ticket would pay out $100, and so on down the line.

You might now be wondering, but how does the racetrack book get paid? They take a cut of the pool, of course. Whether it is a betting app such as DraftKings or BetOnline, when it comes to pool betting, the organizer definitely takes their cut. Ranging from anywhere from 15-20%, the actual betting pool being divided is calculated once that cut, with the remainder being paid out to the winners of the superfecta bet. 

One of the biggest draws to superfecta betting is, of course, the monster pay days that can be on hand. In 2019, a Las Vegas gambler placed a pair of $4 superfecta bets on the Kentucky Derby, picking the first four horses in order exactly correctly. Amazingly, these bets hit 22 minutes after the race ended, when it was deemed by officials that one of the horses ran into the path of another. As a result, each ticket was cashed for $51,400, or a total of $102,800 (before taxes) from a $8 bet.

Another huge Kentucky Derby superfecta bet was cashed last year, this one on just a $1 ticket at the Mohegan Sun in Connecticut. Cashing his $1 ticket for a staggering $321,500, a Kentucky Derby bettor correctly selected the first four horses in exact order to cash his superfecta bet ticket. 

What Are the Advantages of Superfecta Betting?

Next up, let’s look at the advantages of Superfectas, and how they can deliver much bigger returns than regular wagers.

Bet Small, Win Big

With very little financial commitment, bettors may win substantial sums of money when placing superfecta bets. With pool betting, the total amount gambled by all players in the pool determines the payout, as opposed to fixed-odds betting, where the odds established by the bookmaker are the only possible outcome. As a result, the payment could possibly go significantly higher, especially when there aren’t many winning wagers, something bettors often encounter.

Numerous Betting Methods

To accommodate diverse sorts of gamblers, pool betting on superfecta bets offers a variety of betting possibilities. For instance, bettors can select from a variety of stakes while participating in pool betting for horse racing, including win, place, exacta, and trifecta wagers; not just superfecta bets. This enables you to adjust your wagers based on your degree of expertise and your tolerance for risk.

Excitement on the Big Day

As with the Kentucky Derby, Belmont and Preakness, nothing quite beats the excitement of a Triple Crown horse race. While you can get down on a superfecta bet at any horse race both in person or online, getting involved is the fun of it. When it comes to pool betting, the pots involved are the biggest for the Triple Crown races, and depending on where you place your bet, can reach as high as 7 figures on some special occasions. 

How to Work Out Your Return From a Superfecta Bet?

In terms of figuring out the calculation for your return from a superfecta bet, things are much different than other types of horse racing bets. Parimutuel betting does not rely on the odds but instead takes the number of people who have bet and calculates the winning amounts based on the number of people that have won their bet.

Here is an example:

Let’s just say there are 50,000 people betting $1 each on a straight Superfecta ticket for the upcoming Preakness Stakes. At that size, the betting pool is equal to $50,000, and for the sake of simplification, the organizer is not taking a percentage of the betting pool. 

After the race is complete, 10 bettors have winning tickets. With a total betting pool and 10 winners, each winner will walk away with $5,000 (50,000/10). With a superfecta bet, it doesn’t matter if the top four on the odds board finished in the top four, just that the winning tickets have all four in the correct order.

Let’s take a look at a few other superfecta bet examples with betting pools and payouts.

Is Superfecta Betting Legal?

Despite a recent decline in racetrack attendance at brick-and-mortar locations/tracks, horse racing betting has steadily seen a rise in popularity starting more than 150 years ago. Especially as the rise of online streaming has become more and more popular as of late, American horse racing bettors, especially, have flocked to exotic methods such as superfecta betting.

Doing so legally all along the way.

In fact, horse racing wagering has been permitted in the United States since the early 19th century, and while it’s seen its peaks and valleys, remains very popular amongst new and seasoned gamblers even today.

Generally speaking, superfecta betting is legal to bet on horse races in the USA, in almost all states except for a few. The majority of states allow betting on horse races, although not every one of the states has active racetracks, the majority of them do, and the majority of them also provide off-track betting services for a variety of parimutuel betting options.

While almost all states have horse racing betting in one form or another, one might choose to use offshore sites if they want to wager on horse races in places where it is banned. Legal superfecta betting on horse racing is different from sports betting because of the way it is paid out. In horse racing betting, payouts are not locked in, as they are set initially and then move based on the action received.

As previously said, practically everywhere is a legal spot for betting on horses. As of 2023, nearly 40 states have active racetracks and racebooks and even more have horse racing betting options at racetracks, off-track betting locations, and physical casinos.

Superfecta Betting – The Pros and Cons

Best Sports For Superfecta Betting

When it comes to superfecta betting, nothing is better than horse racing for getting in on the action. Other exotic betting such as exacta betting and trifecta betting are ways to get in on the betting action when it comes to the horses. 

Tips For Superfecta Bets

No matter if you’re betting on Preakness Stakes, Kentucky Derby, or an afternoon race at your local track, you’ll want to make sure you are well equipped in your attempt to hit your Superfecta Bet.

Do Your Research – Check the Terms & Conditions

When approaching any wager, not just a superfecta bet, it’s important to know the intricacies of what you’re signing up for. Just as you do your research in terms of picking the horses, make sure you are aware of how pool betting works at your race track. Things like fees that the organizer takes to manage the pool are things you should be aware of before putting your hard-earned money down. 

Take it Slow

Whether you are betting in person or betting on your phone, it’s easy to get excited and start firing upon any and everything. Take your time. Make sure you accurately select the horses you have an interest in, as once your bet is locked in, it can’t be later adjusted or changed.

Manage your Bankroll

This is a big principle in sports betting, but the same thing applies to horse racing and superfecta bets. Go into the day of the superfecta bet with a set amount of money you want to gamble with that day, never more than you can afford, and have the plan to spend that money responsibly. If that money runs dry, have the discipline to walk away from the betting window and not go back until your bankroll is replenished.

Know When to Make Use of Superfecta Betting

The most popular time, of course, to make a Superfecta bet is on a big race such as the Belmont on the Kentucky Derby. Not only is it more fun with all of the coverage and attention, but it also provides a bigger betting pool with bigger potential payouts. Also, make sure to make use of the other exotic bets mentioned today, if you don’t have four horses that you love for your superfecta bet. There is of course, the option of checking out some of the best horse racing tipsters out there for your selections.

How to Sign Up and Have a Superfecta Bet?

Now that you are well-versed in the ins and outs of superfecta betting, the time has come for you to get involved in the action. While there’s no shortage of solid and reputable racebooks out there, a few of my favorites include BetOnline, Bovada, BetUS, MyBookie, Jazz Sports, Everygame, XBet, and of course, SportsBetting.ag. 

At the top of my list, however, is BetOnline. With quick payouts, an overload of betting options that expand into sports betting as well, and top-of-the-line client service, BetOnline has got it all. 

Let’s take a step-by-step look at how you can get in on the action. 

Step 1 – Pick a Racebook

There are so many options when it comes to picking a sportsbook and a racebook, it can at times by overwhelming. Fear not, however, as we have done the research in terms of the top racebooks out there, with BetOnline being at the very top.

Step 2 – Create an Account

Once you have navigated to BetOnline.ag, in the upper right, click sign up and enter basic information to get registered for an account. 

Step 3 – Make a Deposit

Now that your account is set up and ready to go, it’s time to put money into your account. One of the many reasons we like BetOnline is the plethora of deposit methods available to its users.

Step 4 – Join a Betting Pool

You’re signed up, you have money in your account, you’ve done your research; and now you’re ready to finally place your Superfecta bet. Navigate to ‘Racebook’ on the upper toolbar, and join a Superfecta betting pool of your choice.

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