What is a yankee bet? Our guide explains it all.
For more information on other horse racing terms, check out our glossary.
What is a yankee bet?
A Yankee is a four-selection wager that consists of 11 different bets: six doubles, four trebles and a four-fold accumulator.
It is very similar to a Lucky 15, but doesn’t include the four singles element.
How does a yankee bet work?
By placing a Yankee, you don’t need all four of your selections to win to receive a payout.
For example, this Yankee:
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
Should Horse A and Horse B be your only winning selections, you would be paid out on the one double that they create. Everything else would be a loser.
If Horse A, Horse B and Horse C all win, you would be paid out on the three doubles and one treble that those selections create.
If Horse A, Horse B, Horse C and Horse D all win, you would be paid out on the six doubles, four trebles and one four-fold that those selections create.
How much does a yankee bet cost?
The stake that you enter into your betslip when placing a Yankee will be multiplied by 11 to cover all of the bets that you are effectively placing.
That means that it is always worth double-checking what you are actually staking before you place your bet.
How to calculate a yankee bet
Take the following example:
In this example, the £1 stake will cost £11.
Caerphilly and Barak create a 12/1 double. Should they win but the other two selections lose, your payout out would therefore be £13.
Caerphilly, Barak and Curvation create a 34.75/1 treble, as well as 12/1, 10/1 and 7.94/1 doubles. Should they win but the fourth selection loses, your payout would be £68.69.
Caerphilly, Barak, Curvation and King Of The Delta create a 159.88/1 four-fold as well as four trebles and six doubles. As you can see, should they win, your payout would be £422.78.
Consider using an online calculator to determine the worth of your Yankee bet before you place it.
The total potential winnings displayed in your betslip will be what you would receive if all of your six doubles, four trebles and one four-fold landed, with winnings deducted if any of those don’t win.
How does a yankee bet work in horse racing?
Yankee bets are most commonly placed on horses.
It works like the above example. Simply select the four horses that you fancy across four different races and you will receive a payout if at least two of them win.
How does a yankee bet work in football?
There are many more available markets available in football, but Yankee betting works exactly the same way.
Simply make any selection from four different matches – whether it be win/draw/win, BTTS, anytime goalscorers or anything else – and you will receive a payout if at least two of them win.
Can I place an each-way yankee?
Yes, place an each-way Yankee in exactly the same way. All you need to do is click the ‘E/W’ box next to Yankee on the betslip.
When placing an each-way Yankee, the number of bets you are placing is doubled from 11 to 22. In effect, you are backing all of them twice – once for all of them to win, and again for all of them to place.
That means that the stake you enter into the betslip is multiplied by 22 rather than 11, so double-check before placing your bet.
Alternatively, you may want to back some of your horses to win and others each-way.
In that instance, simply tick the ‘E/W’ box next to your horse in the betslip. The number of bets that you are placing then remains at 11.
When should I place a yankee?
A Yankee is commonly placed on horse racing, but can be used for any sports or across a combination of sports.
What happens to a yankee bet with a non-runner?
If a Yankee includes a non-runner, all 11 bets still stand.
One non-runner and one winner in a double would see you paid out to the value of the single winner.
One non-runner and two winners in a treble would see you paid out to the value of the double that the two winners create.
One non-runner and three winners in a four-fold would see you paid out to the value of the treble that the three winners create.
