Betting, Racing, and Other Means of Chaos

BETTING ON THE RACE

 What follows is a simple approach a GM can use to adjudicate betting results, and by extension, race results for any given race. This method can also accommodate any player action taken to affect the outcome.

1. This example will use only 4 entries and the number will also identify the “racers” lane assignment.

The GM posts whatever odds they want for each racer. The PCs place their wagers.

2. The GM rolls a d4 to see who wins and pays out all winning bets.

 For players casually betting this, or any other race, you can complete an entire race card in minutes. To reflect player impact on the outcome of a race here is what you do. Assign a percentage chance for the PCs getting their way. Roll d100 to find out if they succeeded. This method can be adjusted easily to reflect any advantages the PCs try to create. For Example; the PCs have bribed members of the race committee to place their preferred entry in a favorable starting position, lane 1. To reflect the higher likelihood the PCs wagering choice will win the GM says their race entry has a 70% chance. Roll 1d100 and if it is 70 or less the character cashes their bet.

 If you have people in your game group who know more of the exotic bets one can make on a race (think Exactas and Trifectas) challenge the PCs with a hand of Rock, Paper, Scissors. Each time they win they get to pick the entry for that position. So, if a PC places a bet for the #3 Horse to come in first and the #1 Horse to come in second, they will have to win two consecutive hands of Rock, Paper, Scissors.

 

Before a winning bet can be paid out, we need to know what the odds on the entry is before the race starts. The odds can be whatever the Game Master and/or situation dictates. The only thing to keep in mind is the entry with the lowest odds (and corresponding lower payout per dollar risked) is the race “favorite”. Meaning that entry has had the most money placed on it to outright win the race.