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- BGG rating
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Ready Set Bet
- 2–9 players
- 45–60 min
- Complexity 1.3/5
- 2022
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- BGG rating
- 5.8
Bookmaker
2012
Rules assistance for Bookmaker
Plain-language explanations of turns, card effects and disputed situations, with official source references and saved question history.
- 3–9 players
- 45 min
- 12+
- Complexity 1.8/5
For 3 players
Rules assistant for Bookmaker
What would you like to know?
Answers come from the official rulebook, with the page to check.
Bookmaker is a board game released in 2012 for 3–9 players, 45 minutes per game, and ages 12 and up. It was designed by Giuseppe De Carolis and its main mechanics are Track Movement, Deduction, and Paper-and-Pencil.
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About the game
In Bookmaker, players bet on horses in a series of races. They're not concerned about which horse wins, however, so much as making as much money as possible from the bets they place based on which race cards they hold in hand. Each turn is divided into two phases: the bidding and the race. During each race two players will be the bookmakers, the ones who set the odds on the four horses. At the start of the race, four race cards from the deck of 80 cards are turned face-up, while each player (including each bookmaker) is dealt four race cards face down. Players look at these cards to determine which cards are out of play – that is, which horses are less likely to move during the race. The bookmakers secretly exchange two cards each to give them extra information. Then the bookmakers individually set odds on the four horses (1:1, 1:2, and so on, with the total of the second numbers adding to at least ten). They reveal these odds to the other players, who must then place at least one bet with one bookmaker. They can place more bets if desired, even with both bookmakers. Each bookmaker records the amount bet and the odds for that horse, and he can then lower the odds on that horse if desired (but if the total of the odds would drop below ten, he must raise the payoff on another horse. Players continue placing bets as long as they want. Once all bets are finished, players remove all cards from play, then reveal cards from the top of the deck one-by-one, moving the appropriately colored horse forward one space for each card revealed. Whichever horse reaches the #10 spot on the track first wins. All players who bet on this horse are paid off in the appropriate amount from the bookmakers. During the race, the betters can ask for credit from the bank to spend and win more money – but of course in the end, they will be forced to pay the money back to the bank with interest! After an agreed upon number of races, with each player being bookmaker the same number of times, whoever has the most money wins! Variant rules in Bookmaker add wild race cards that move the horse which moved on the previous turn, a bet on which horse is the nag, and a harness option in which horses can break from the track and be disqualified.
Categories
Designers
Publishers
- Giochi Uniti
Questions and answers
Bookmaker supports 3–9 players according to the catalogue. This range comes from the publisher’s listed player count, so the game can be set up for any group size within it. Some setups, rules and scoring details may still vary by player count, so check your edition’s rulebook for the exact configuration.
The listed playing time for Bookmaker is 45 minutes. This is the publisher’s estimate for a full game. The actual duration depends on the group, the player count and familiarity with the rules: first sessions usually run longer, while experienced groups often finish faster. Setup and teaching time are not included in this estimate.
The catalogue lists Bookmaker for ages 12 and up. This is the publisher’s recommendation and reflects reading demands, rule complexity and small components rather than theme alone. Younger players can often join with help from an adult, so check the age guidance on your edition and consider your group’s experience with board games.
Bookmaker has a complexity rating of 1.8 out of 5 from BoardGameGeek players, which makes it a light game. The rating reflects how much rules knowledge, planning and decision-making a typical game demands. Expect a longer first teach for heavier games, and use a preparation guide before game night.
Bookmaker belongs to these categories: Animals, Party Game, and Real-time. Its main mechanics are Track Movement, Deduction, and Paper-and-Pencil. Categories describe the theme and setting of a game, while mechanics describe what players actually do on their turns. Each mechanic links to a catalogue hub with similar games, which helps when you want something comparable.
The credited designers of Bookmaker are: Giuseppe De Carolis. These credits come from the published game data and name the people responsible for the game’s design, not its illustrators or publishers. Designer pages on MeepleRules collect other titles by the same designers, which helps when you enjoy a game and want to find similar ones.
The catalogue lists Bookmaker as a base game. It can be played on its own with the components in the box and does not require any other title. Expansions, if any exist, add new content or rules on top of it and are listed separately in the catalogue with a link back to this base game.