What Is an ‘Omni’ Bet?

An Omni Bet, also known as a Swinger Bet, is a popular type of wager in horse racing, especially in international markets.

It is an “exotic” bet where you select two horses to finish in the top three positions, in any order.

How an Omni / Swinger Bet Works

To win an Omni / Swinger bet, both of your chosen horses must finish in the first, second, or third place.

There are three possible winning combinations:

1. Your horses finish 1st and 2nd (in either order)
2. Your horses finish 1st and 3rd (in either order)
3. Your horses finish 2nd and 3rd (in either order)

This bet is considered more forgiving than an Exacta (picking the top two in the exact order) or a Trifecta (picking the top three in the exact order), making it a popular choice for both beginners and experienced bettors.

Example

• You place an Omni / Swinger bet on Horse #5 and Horse #8.
• The race finishes:
  1. Horse #2
  2. Horse #5
  3. Horse #8
• You win because both of your horses (#5 and #8) finished in the top three.

Key Details to Know

Boxing: You can also “box” more than two horses. For example, boxing three horses (e.g., #1, #2, #3) creates three separate bets (1-2, 1-3, 2-3). If all three of your horses finish in the top three, you would win all three payout combinations.

Payouts: This bet is a “pool” bet (parimutuel), meaning the payout is determined by the total amount of money wagered in the pool, which is then divided among all winning tickets. There are separate payout dividends for each of the three combinations (1st/2nd, 1st/3rd, and 2nd/3rd).

Field Size: This bet is typically only offered in races with six or more runners. If scratches reduce the field to four or five, the bet often converts to a Quinella (picking the top two finishers in any order).