What is a Patent bet?
A Patent bet is a full-cover multiple made up of seven individual bets using three selections. It contains three singles, three doubles and one treble, with each line settled separately.
Because singles are included, a return is possible even if only one selection wins.
Patent bets are used across horse racing, football, and other sports where multiple independent outcomes are available and always use three selections to create seven lines, but they can be placed in different formats:
- A win-only Patent settles all lines on win terms.
- An each-way Patent adds place terms to every line, creating fourteen bets in total.
Read our full article on Each Way bet (+ How it works and when to use it)
How does a Patent bet work?
A patent combines your three selections into seven separate bets.
A Patent splits three selections into seven bets: three singles, three doubles, and one treble, each settled independently. Singles pay using individual odds, doubles roll two winning odds together, and the treble combines all three.
One winner returns the winning single; two winners return singles and doubles; all three return every line. This structure covers all possible winning combinations from three selections.
Here's the breakdown:
Bet Type | Combinations | Example |
|---|---|---|
3 Singles | A, B, C | Horse A wins, Horse B wins, Horse C wins |
3 Doubles | AB, AC, BC | A+B both win, A+C both win, B+C both win |
1 Treble | ABC | All three horses win |
Total bets | 7 | £1 patent = £7 total stake |
Practical Example:
Three horses at Cheltenham Festival
Player back:
- Horse A at 3.50 (5/2)
- Horse B at 8.00 (7/1)
- Horse C at 3.25 (9/4)
With a £1 patent stake (£7 total), here's how different scenarios play out:
Scenario 1 – Only Horse A wins:
- Single on Horse A returns: £3.50
- All other bets lose
- Total return: £3.50
- Overall loss: £3.50
Scenario 2 – Horses A and B win:
- Single on Horse A: £3.50
- Single on Horse B: £8.00
- Double on A+B: £1 × 3.50 × 8.00 = £28.00
- Total return: £39.50
- Profit: £32.50
Scenario 3 – All three horses win:
- Three singles: £3.50 + £8.00 + £3.25 = £14.75
- Double AB: £28.00
- Double AC: £1 × 3.50 × 3.25 = £11.38
- Double BC: £1 × 8.00 × 3.25 = £26.00
- Treble ABC: £1 × 3.50 × 8.00 × 3.25 = £91.00
- Total return: £171.13
- Profit: £164.13
The more selections that win, the greater the player total return as multiple bets within the patent pay out.
See our article on the Super Heinz bet, a similar type of system bet.
How is a Patent bet calculated?
A Patent bet is calculated by multiplying the unit stake by the seven lines included in the wager.
For example:
A £1 Patent has a total cost of £7, covering three singles, three doubles and one treble.
Each winning line is settled using the standard rules for multiples, with returns from singles, doubles and the treble combined to form the final payout.
If a selection wins, its single is settled at the declared odds. Doubles are calculated by applying the odds of two winning selections in sequence, while the treble applies to all three.
Non-runners are treated according to bookmaker rules, with voided lines removed from the total calculation and remaining lines settled normally.
Strategies for smarter Patent betting
Patterns in how Patent bets are used across sports and racing reveal several common approaches:
- Event grouping: Patents often appear in betting slips where all three selections come from the same race day or matchday, creating a consistent theme across the seven lines.
- Form-based clustering: Some bettors structure Patents around selections that show similar form or market positioning, leading to combinations with related performance trends.
- Market diversity: Patents are sometimes built from different market types within the same sport; match results, player performance, and totals, creating varied combinations within one structure.
- Price balancing: It is common to see Patents combining a mixture of shorter and longer-priced selections, which naturally changes the way returns scale across singles, doubles and the treble.
Conclusion
A Patent bet is a three-selection full-cover multiple of seven lines, including all singles, doubles, and the treble, each settled independently. Used across various sports, it lets bettors combine outcomes without relying on a single result, following standard full-cover multiple rules for stake, settlement, and variations.
Frequently asked questions (FAQs)
What is the difference between a Patent, a Trixie and a Yankee?
A Patent, Trixie and Yankee are all full-cover multiples but differ in size. A Patent has 3 selections and 7 bets (including singles), a Trixie has 3 selections and 4 bets (no singles), and a Yankee uses 4 selections and 11 bets. All lines are settled separately.
What happens if one selection in a Patent is a non-runner?
A single on the non-runner is void, and the stake for that line is returned. Doubles and the treble adjust to reflect the remaining selections, with affected lines settled according to bookmaker rules.
Can I mix different sports in a Patent bet?
Yes, different sports can be combined in a Patent, like football, tennis, and horse racing. However, each-way options only apply to racing, so sports without place terms won’t qualify.
Is a Patent bet better than an accumulator?
A Patent suits bettors seeking insurance, as singles return with just one winner. Accumulators require all selections to win but offer higher payouts. Patents cost more (£7 vs £1 for a treble) but provide safety, while accumulators are cheaper and higher-risk.
Do bookmakers limit winnings on Patent bets?
Bookmakers may cap payouts, limiting patent returns on longshots or big trebles. Limits typically range from £100,000 to over £1,000,000. Check your bookmaker’s maximum win before placing large patents.