Trixie, Yankee, Lucky 15, Heinz, Goliath. The names sound like a pub quiz round, and the maths behind them puts plenty of people off. It’s simpler than it looks.
What a multiple bet actually is
A multiple takes several selections and combines them into every possible accumulator. Pick 4 horses and you can pair them into 6 different doubles, group them into 4 different trebles, and put all 4 together in a fourfold. Add the 4 singles and you’ve got 15 bets.
That’s a Lucky 15. The stake is per bet, so a £1 Lucky 15 costs £15.
The appeal is that you don’t need everything to win. One winner in a Lucky 15 still gets you a return, which is why it’s the most popular multiple in Welsh betting shops by a distance.
The full list
| Bet | Selections | Bets | Singles included? |
|---|---|---|---|
| Trixie | 3 | 4 | No |
| Patent | 3 | 7 | Yes |
| Yankee | 4 | 11 | No |
| Lucky 15 | 4 | 15 | Yes |
| Canadian / Super Yankee | 5 | 26 | No |
| Lucky 31 | 5 | 31 | Yes |
| Heinz | 6 | 57 | No |
| Lucky 63 | 6 | 63 | Yes |
| Super Heinz | 7 | 120 | No |
| Goliath | 8 | 247 | No |
The pattern is straightforward once you spot it. The “Lucky” bets are the ones that include your singles, which is what lets a single winner pay. The others need at least 2 winners before you see anything back.
The bonuses
Most bookmakers attach bonuses to the Lucky bets. Typically you’ll see a boost if all your selections win, and a consolation if only one does. The exact terms vary between firms and change often, so check before you place rather than assuming.
A word of caution
The stake multiplies fast. A £2 Goliath is 247 bets and costs £494, which is a lot of money to have running on 8 selections. Work out what the bet costs before you write it out, not after.
And the more selections you add, the longer the odds of landing the lot. Multiples are fun and they can pay handsomely. They’re also how a lot of small stakes quietly disappear.
More on how betting works
Read our each-way explainer, or how Best Odds Guaranteed works.
18+. Please gamble responsibly. For guidance and support visit GambleAware.
