How a Lucky 15 bet works
The 15 bets are four singles, six doubles, four trebles and one four-fold accumulator. Every possible combination of your four picks is covered, which is why a £1 Lucky 15 costs £15 and a £1 each-way Lucky 15 costs £30.
Because the singles are included, a single winner always returns something. Whether it shows a profit depends on the price: one winner at 2/1 returns £3 on a £15 stake, while one winner at 14/1 returns £15 and gets the stake back. Two winners add a double, three add three doubles and a treble, and four winners land every bet on the slip.
It is the most popular full-cover bet for horse racing in the UK because it softens the all-or-nothing nature of an accumulator. The cost is that you are paying for 15 bets, so on short-priced selections the singles and doubles rarely cover the outlay.
What is in a Lucky 15?
| Bet | Number |
|---|---|
| Singles | 4 |
| Doubles | 6 |
| Trebles | 4 |
| Four-folds | 1 |
| Total bets | 15 |
At £1 a bet, a Lucky 15 costs £15.00 win only, or £30.00 each way. At 10p a bet it costs £1.50.
Lucky 15 returns by number of winners
A £1 Lucky 15 (£15.00 in total) on selections at 2/1, 3/1, 5/2, 6/4, with the winners taken in that order.
| Winners | Stake | Return | Profit |
|---|---|---|---|
| 0 | £15.00 | £0.00 | -£15.00 |
| 1 | £15.00 | £3.00 | -£12.00 |
| 2 | £15.00 | £19.00 | £4.00 |
| 3 | £15.00 | £89.00 | £74.00 |
| 4 | £15.00 | £314.00 | £299.00 |
At these prices the bet first shows a profit with 2 winners. Longer prices lower that number, and shorter prices raise it.
Worth knowing
Many bookmakers add their own Lucky 15 extras, such as double or treble odds on a single winner, or a bonus when all four win. Those offers differ between bookmakers and change often, so this calculator settles the standard bet only. Check the bonus terms on your own slip and add them to the result.
Lucky 15 questions
Is a Lucky 15 better than a Yankee?
A Lucky 15 is a Yankee plus four singles. It costs 15 stakes instead of 11, and in return one winner pays out, where a Yankee needs two. If you expect winners at bigger prices the singles are worth having. On short prices the Yankee is cheaper for the same doubles, trebles and four-fold.
Can you do a Lucky 15 on football?
Yes. A Lucky 15 is just a bet structure, so it works on any four selections from different events. Most bookmakers will not accept it on related outcomes in the same match, because those results are linked.
How many bets are in a Lucky 15?
15, on 4 selections. A £1 Lucky 15 costs £15, or £30 each way.
How many winners does a Lucky 15 need to pay out?
One. The Lucky 15 includes bets that pay from a single winner, though one winner at a short price will not cover the full stake.