Yankee Bet explained: What it is and how does it work?

A Yankee bet is a type of multi-bet where the bettor wagers four different picks and eleven bets on the system. The most common use of it is in the racing of horses and greyhounds. Some bookies also offer Yankee bet opportunities, for example, to football. To guarantee a return, at least two of the four selections must be successful.

This guide aims to provide you with a clear understanding of what Yankee bets are, what the advantages and disadvantages of Yankee bets are, and how you can utilize them to improve your betting experience in the future.

What is Yankee Bet?

To put it briefly, Yankee bet comprises eleven bets of equal value, each placed on a different event: six doubles, four trebles, and one four-fold accumulator.

When two out of four picks win, a Yankee bet is a winning wager. Thus, it is easier to profit from a Yankee bet than from an accumulator bet with four selections. Nevertheless, it would be best to keep in mind that the Yankee bet contains 11 variations, so its price is inherently higher than traditional multiple bets. That is why a Yankee bet can be a more appealing option for experienced bettors than first-timers.

To further clarify the issue, we can consider that if Yankee bet were a song, the lyrics would be something like this: I've got my eye on four horses, four dogs, or four teams, going to make a Yankee bet, see what this dream means, 11 bets in one, going to win big or fall, but at least two of them must come through, that's all.

How does a yankee Bet work best in practice?

Let's take, for example, that you want to bet £5 per horse in a Yankee bet. First things first, let's understand the total costs.

If you bet £5 on the Yankees, you would have to pay 11x £5 = £55.  Detailed pricing is determined as follows -> Yankee bets are comprised of eleven individual bets, six doubles, four trebles and one four-fold bet. These individual bets cost £5 each, making the total Yankee bet cost £55.

The next step is to examine the potential payouts under different scenarios:

A Yankee bet's potential winnings can be calculated by accumulating the odds for each selection and then summing up the payouts. For example, if you are making a Yankee bet with four selections, each with odds of 1/1 (2.00) and with £5 stake, the potential winnings for each choice would be calculated as the following Yankee bet calculator indicates

Doubles:

• Double 1 (Horses 1 and 2): 2.00 x 2.00 x £5 = £20
• Double 2 (Horses 1 and 3): 2.00 x 2.00 x £5 = £20
• Double 3 (Horses 1 and 4): 2.00 x 2.00 x £5 = £20
• Double 4 (Horses 2 and 3): 2.00 x 2.00 x £5 = £20
• Double 5 (Horses 2 and 4): 2.00 x 2.00 x £5 = £20
• Double 6 (Horses 3 and 4): 2.00 x 2.00 x £5 = £20

Trebles:

• Treble 1 (Horses 1, 2 and 3):  2.00 x 2.00 x 2.00 x £5 = £40
• Treble 2 ( Horses 1, 2 and 4): 2.00 x 2.00 x 2.00 x £5 = £40
• Treble 3 ( Horses 1, 3 and 4): 2.00 x 2.00 x 2.00 x £5 = £40
• Treble 4 ( Horses 2, 3 and 4): 2.00 x 2.00 x 2.00 x £5 = £40

Four-fold bet:

• Fourd-fold (Horses 1, 2, 3 and 4): 2.00 x 2.00 x 2.00 x 2.00 x £5 = £80

For the Yankee bet, the highest potential payout would be the sum of the payouts for each single and the doubles and four-fold selection. In this example, the maximum payout would be £360 (£20 + £20 + £20 + £20 + £20 + £20 + £40 + £40 + £40 + £40 + £80). Using this bet, you would receive £305 profit in your account (£360 payout minus £55 stake = £305 profit).

Obviously, this is only an example, and you should remember that the odds and payouts could vary depending on the selections you make and the odds the bookmaker offers when the bet is placed.

pros of Yankee bet

As a result of incorporating Yankee bets into your horse race betting strategy, you will benefit from many advantages.

• Lots of different opportunities for making a profit: It is possible for a Yankee bet to win and result in a payout even if one or two selections lose.
• Flexibility to choose odds: Combined with doubles, trebles and a four-fold, a Yankee Bet offers more flexibility when selecting the most favourable odds for different events.
• Improved chances of winning: Since a Yankee bet includes multiple bets, the chances of winning more money are higher than a single bet.

cons of yankee bet

• Higher costs: A Yankee bet involves multiple bets, so the overall cost is higher than a single bet.
• Equal stakes for all bets: At Yankee Bet, all 15 bets have the same stake (the unit stake). So you can't choose to bet more on the doubles than a four-fold, for example.
• Requires familiarisation: Yankee bets can be quite challenging, especially for newcomers, since they are still learning to place them and calculate potential payouts.

How to place a Yankee bet in 4 steps

1. Choose your bookmaker. Find a reputable online bookmaker that offers Yankee bets and create an account if you still need to get one. You can also check out our Yankee betting site list to find the best bookie for you.
2. Select your events/horses/teams to bet. Decide on the four selections you want to bet on. Make sure to research and consider the odds, form and other relevant information.
3. Decide what your stake is. Pick an amount you are willing to bet on each event or team.
4. Place a bet. Navigate to the bet slip on the bookmaker's website and select the 'Yankee' option. Enter your four selections and your stake. Review the potential returns (check out our Yankee bet calculator) and confirm the bet to place.

Best sites for Yankee bets

At Bojoko, our mission is to guide you to the proper betting site that caters to all your requirements. That's why we've meticulously reviewed an array of sportsbooks and handpicked the crème de la crème of UK betting sites specialising in Yankee bets. You can discover these select options alongside the top-rated betting sites on our platform.

Rest assured, each bookmaker listed below is a paragon of trustworthiness, possessing a UKGC license. Not only do they maintain the highest technical standards for safety, but they are also unwavering in their commitment to responsible gambling. And if that wasn't enough, these brands boast many horse racing betting markets and irresistible odds. If you're looking for even more top-tier horse racing bookies, check out our dedicated page about the topic.

Try yankee in betting at bet uk

Several betting sites offer free bet offers for newly registered bettors. However, using system bets is almost always forbidden when playing free bets. The same is true for Bet UK, which offers free bets worth £30 - Although, to get the bet £10 get a £30 bonus, you must play a minimum of four selections on a Yankee Bet-style betting slip.

Check out this excellent place to bet on all sports, especially traditionally British ones, with a 95% average payout and enjoy 3x£10 free bets by clicking the green button below. 

Yankee bet or Lucky 15

You probably heard of two intriguing options in horse racing: the Yankee bet and the Lucky 15 bet. Both are popular betting options among horse racing enthusiasts, but each has unique features and differences that make them better suited to different types of bettors.

As we have already learned, a Yankee bet involves four selections of 11 bets: six doubles, four trebles, and one four-fold accumulator. At least two of your choices must win to win a Yankee bet.

Alternatively, a Lucky 15 bet includes 15 bets on four selections: four singles, six doubles, four trebles, and one four-fold accumulator. To win a Lucky 15 bet, just one of your selections must win, and if all four win, you'll receive a bonus payout on top of your winnings.

Sports betting guides

Want to learn more about betting and its basics and even more intensely on the best tips for making profitable sports bets? First, you should look at our online betting guide, where you can find tons of helpful information.

Then if you want to focus on more horse betting tips and handbooks, we recommend you get familiar with Bojokos Trixie and Patent bet guides. You will also find a menu with reasonably comprehensive coverage of betting on different sports via the navigation bar on our homepage.  

Yankee Bet explained - FAQ

About the author

Article by:

Teemu Mattila

With a career starting in 2015, Teemu has an extensive background in content writing, collaborating with global companies in Finnish and English. Since 2021, he has been working with Bojoko, focusing on sports betting and casino content, combining his passion for sports and the iGaming industry.

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