What is a Canadian bet? This guide explains what this bet type means, how it works, and how you can make money from it.
When you’re betting on your favourite sports, you may see an option to place a Canadian bet. This is a popular form of ‘multiple bet’, meaning you can still earn money if only a couple of your predictions are correct. Our guide will teach you everything you need to know before placing a Canadian, so that you can get the most out of your play.
What is a Canadian bet?
A Canadian bet – also known as a Super Yankee – consists of 26 bets using five selections across four bet variations (not to be mistaken with a Lucky 31, which also uses five selections but includes the five singles).
The variations used in a Canadian bet are:
1 five-fold accumulator
5 four-fold accumulators
10 trebles
10 doubles
You can read our guide to how accumulators work to learn more about the advantages of this bet type, or check out our betting terms glossary to learn more about the most common phrases you’ll hear when betting.
How many bets are in a Canadian?
A Canadian bet consists of 26 bets overall. This means you’ll be able to place more bets in one package than with a Yankee bet or a Lucky 15. By placing these 26 bets as part of one total bet, rather than placing 26 separate singles, you can increase your potential winning pot drastically.
How does a Canadian bet work?
A Canadian bet adds a form of insurance within your bet, as just two correct selections from the five will see a return, even if your other selections are incorrect. The more picks that you get right, the more money you win.
Here’s an example of a Canadian bet:
Horse A To Win the 13:50
Horse B To Win the 14:30
Horse C To Win the 15:10
Horse D To Win the 15:50
Horse E To Win the 16:10
If only one horse wins, you would not see a return, as at least one winning double is needed for any of the bets to come back as a winner. Should only two of horses A, B, C, D or E win, then you would be paid out on the corresponding double. Everything else would be a loser.
If three of the five horses win, you would be paid out on the three corresponding doubles and one treble that they create. If four of the five horses win, the six corresponding doubles, four trebles and one four-fold accumulator would win.
If all five horses win, you would be paid out on all the bets within the Canadian: the 10 doubles, the 10 trebles, the five four-fold accumulators and the five-fold accumulator.
What is the difference between a Canadian bet and a Yankee bet?
There’s a reason that a Canadian bet is often referred to as a Super Yankee. A Canadian and a Yankee are almost the same, but with one crucial difference.
The Canadian bet includes five selections, whereas a Yankee only contains four. Therefore, to cover a Canadian bet, a Yankee needs an additional four doubles, four trebles, four four-fold accumulators and a five-fold accumulator.
Can you place an each-way Canadian bet?
Yes, to place an each-way Canadian bet, all you need to do is click the ‘E/W’ box next to Canadian on your bet slip. When placing an each-way Canadian, the number of bets you are placing is doubled from 26 to 52. In effect, you are backing all of them twice – once for all of them to win, and again for all of them to place.
Alternatively, you may want to back some of your horses To Win and others to place. In that instance, tick the ‘E/W’ box next to the horse you’re backing to place in your bet slip. The number of bets that will be in your Canadian will then remain at 26.
What happens to a Canadian with a non-runner?
If a Canadian includes a non-runner, all 26 bets still stand. One non-runner and two winners in a treble would see you paid out to the value of the single double.
Meanwhile, one non-runner and three winners in a four-fold accumulator would see you paid out to the value of the treble and any doubles that the three winners create.
One non-runner and four winners in a five-fold accumulator would see you paid out to the value of the four-fold and other corresponding bets that the three winners create.
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