A Yankee bet is a unique type of wager that is made up using four selections. It is known as a full-cover bet, which means you can still win something even if not every single one of your selections comes true, just like a trixie bet. That is the fundamental difference compared to an accumulator, which will not award a payout unless every leg comes true.
The Yankee bet consists of three other types of wagers. While you only need to make four selections, there are 11 bets in total. One Yankee will have six doubles, four trebles, and one four-fold accumulator. This results in several winning outcomes, even if one of your predictions is incorrect.
As there are 11 different wagers in this one bet, the amount staked is multiplied by 11. If you want to bet €1 on this market, it will cost you €11 to place the bet. While this might sound intimidating to new players, a Yankee bet is a fantastic way to ensure you get a payout versus an accumulator. It will also return more in profit compared to placing straight-up bets.
The best way to understand what a Yankee bet is to look at an example. Using A, B, C, and D to represent your four selections, we can break down a Yankee bet like this:
- Four-Fold Accumulator: All four of your selections combined into one wager (A/B/C/D)
- Six Doubles: Your selections are split into all six possible doubles combinations (A/B, A/C, A/D, B/C, B/D, C/D).
- Four Trebles: Your selections split up into all four possible treble combinations (A/B/C, A/B/D, A/C/D, B/C/D)
How Do You Make a Yankee Bet?
Making a Yankee bet is straightforward as long as you follow some simple steps. You can place them on essentially any sport, meaning you can even include some of the best boxers of all time in one bet. Follow these steps below to ensure you can make a Yankee bet whenever you choose.
- Four Selections Only: All Yankee bets must be made up of exactly four different selections that do not clash. For example, if you were betting on horse racing, all four selections must be running in separate races.
- Choose the Terms of Your Bet: When making a Yankee bet, there are different terms you can choose, particularly for horse racing. You can either select a straight-win bet or each-way terms, meaning your selection is a winner if your horse places (terms apply). However, be aware that this doubles your stake, in line with each-way betting. For example, if your original stake was €1 and you choose each-way terms, it increases to €2 (total stake €24).
- Choose Your Stake and Place Your Bet: To complete your bet, you must select your stake. As a Yankee is made up of 11 selections, your stake is multiplied by 11. Be aware of this when choosing your wager and your terms.
- Wait For Your Results: At least two of your selections must win (or place if each-way terms) for your Yankee to return winnings. If all four of your selections win, you receive the maximum payout of all 11 bets combined.
Yankee Bet Odds and Returns
The returns on a Yankee bet are shorter than placing an accumulator on the same selections with the same wager on an online betting site. This is because this type of wager offers more coverage. Having a full-cover bet makes the odds of winning more likely. That is unlike an accumulator, where there is only one possible winning outcome. Using the example below, we will show how your winnings are calculated from a €1 (€11 total) Yankee bet.
Four-Fold Accumulator
- Horses A (2/1), B (4/1), C (6/4) D (4/5) All Win – Returns: €221.90
Trebles
- Horses A, B and C Win, D Loses – Returns €72.50
- A, B and D Win, C Loses – Returns €56.50
- A, C and D Win, B Loses – Returns €30.90
- B, C and D Win, A Loses – Returns €48.50
Doubles
- Horses A and B Win, C and D Lose – Returns: €15.00
- A and C Win, B and D Lose – Returns: €7.50
- A and D Win, B and C Lose – Returns: €5.40
- B and C Win, A and D Lose – Returns €12.50
- B and D Win, A and C Lose – Returns €9.00
- C and D Win, A and B Lose – Returns €4.50
As you can see, your max payout comes from all four selections winning. However, you can still make a profit if just two are successful and an even healthier one from three. That is why it is known as a full-cover bet. If you are betting each way, remember that place terms apply to these odds. For example, if place terms are ⅕, then the odds are slashed to a fifth of the original odds (e.g. 2/1 becomes 2/5).
Why Make a Yankee Bet?
Yankee bets are excellent for wagering on sports where the outcome may be tight. That is because of the cover offered if one or two legs let you down. It is a popular option for horse racing, where results are unpredictable. You receive more chance of a payout than you would if you were wagering on an accumulator and can at least make some money back if you only have two winners.
Pros and Cons of a Yankee Bet
| Pros | Cons |
| Multiple betting opportunities | Higher cost for 11 bets |
| Increased potential for returns | Smaller returns on smaller stakes |
| Lower risk than other bet types | Complexity in calculating payouts |
| Diverse bet types | Need multiple selections to win for a payout |
Yankee Bet vs Lucky 15
There are some similarities between a Yankee and a Lucky 15, specifically because both are full-cover bets. However, a Lucky 15 is 15 bets made up of four selections. Just like a Yankee, it covers an accumulator, six doubles and four trebles, but also covers four singles. This means that you only need one selection to win to see some sort of return.
A Lucky 15 costs more to place than a Yankee because of the four extra markets, but the payout is bigger. If all selections win, you receive the payout from the accumulator and all four selections as singles bets.
Tips For Making Yankee Bets
- Do Your Research: Take time to research each of your four selections. Analyse form, head-to-head stats, injuries, weather conditions, and any other factors that might affect the outcome of the sport you are betting on. You want to ensure you’re making well-informed decisions on each leg of the bet.
- Choose Your Odds Smartly: While it’s tempting to pick selections on the end of both extremes, short-odds favourites and longshot outsiders can negatively affect your Yankee bet. Instead, choose selections with reasonable odds to ensure that your winnings from the combined bets will justify the stake. If you are going to choose longer odds, it may be smart to take advantage of each-way betting where applicable.
- Plan Your Bet Efficiently: A Yankee bet involves 11 different bets, so take notice of your returns when betting online. Our website can show your total stake and returns, allowing you to adjust accordingly.
- Balance Risk and Reward: Don’t pick overly risky outsiders for all four selections. You need to hit at least two legs for a return. However, adding one or two higher-odds selections can increase your potential payout significantly.
- Stick to What You Know: If you have more knowledge or expertise in a particular sport or event, it’s better to stick to it rather than betting on something unfamiliar. This allows you to make more confident decisions about each selection.
- Limit the Number of Sports/Markets: While it’s possible to spread your Yankee bet across different sports, it’s generally best to focus on one or two markets (e.g., soccer, horse racing) to increase your chances of success.
- Manage Your Stake: Use the calculator to set your stake at a level where you feel comfortable with the risk. It’s essential to balance your potential rewards with your bankroll.
- Set a Limit: Since a Yankee bet involves multiple selections and stakes, it’s easy to get carried away. Set a strict budget for how much you’re willing to stake on a Yankee and stick to it. Betting responsibly is key to long-term success.
Using Yankee Bets on Different Sports
You can utilise Yankee bets on dozens of sports, but some are more favoured than others. Horse racing is the most popular. The unpredictability of the sport leaves many bettors wanting to cover their horse racing predictions and opt for Yankee bets over accumulators. Betting on the favourite in a horse race is often more valuable because of their inflated prices compared to other sports. Each-way betting is another reason Yankee bets are so popular in horse racing. This way, your selection does not need to win and allows you some leeway to choose a horse at longer odds.
There is value to be had in Yankee bets on soccer. As a three-way result market, many bettors will pick four draws for cover bets. This is because they are usually longer odds than wins, despite making up 25% of most Premier League fixtures.
Yankee bets on combat sports are becoming more popular. In boxing and MMA, we often see huge underdogs triumph in fight cards. While it is rare to see them win, we still see plenty of upsets every year. Every underdog has a puncher’s chance of winning,g and it takes just a split second for the fight to end. Underdog Yankee bets on UFC fight cards have become a fun way of watching along and adding an extra layer of excitement.
Conclusion
Yankee bets are one of the most enjoyable ways to bet on sports while also maintaining some protection. It can represent a sensible option if some of your picks fail to win. The security allows you to relax more than waiting for an accumulator to come in, even if the returns are not quite as big. The method you use for your Yankee bets can change from sport to sport, making it yet another way to bet smartly and bankroll your bets!
