What Does ‘Across the Board’ Mean in Sports Betting?
The term “Across the Board” comes almost exclusively from horse racing betting.
It’s a simple, three-in-one bet. When you bet “Across the Board,” you are placing three separate bets on the same horse at the same time:
- A bet to Win (finish 1st)
- A bet to Place (finish 1st or 2nd)
- A bet to Show (finish 1st, 2nd, or 3rd)
How It Works & How You Get Paid
Because it’s three bets in one, your cost is tripled. If you make a “$2 Across the Board” bet, you are actually betting $6 total ($2 for the Win, $2 for the Place, and $2 for the Show).
Here’s how you collect:
- If your horse finishes 1st: 🥳 You win all three bets! You get the Win payout, the Place payout, AND the Show payout.
- If your horse finishes 2nd: 🙂 You win two bets. You get the Place payout and the Show payout. (You lose the $2 Win bet).
- If your horse finishes 3rd: 🙂 You win one bet. You get only the Show payout. (You lose the $2 Win and $2 Place bets).
- If your horse finishes 4th or worse: 😥 You lose all three bets.
Think of it as a way to cover your bases. You’re giving yourself three chances to cash a ticket on a single horse, with the biggest reward coming if it wins the race.