A Patent bet lets you win money when just one of your selections comes through. This makes Patent betting easy to understand – it’s a clever way to protect your investment while aiming for bigger returns.
Patent bets combine seven different bets on three selections: three singles, three doubles, and one treble. The cost runs higher than a regular accumulator – you’ll need £7 for a £1 Patent. But this system gives you solid protection against losses. High-odds selections can bring impressive returns. A £5 stake could put £130 in your pocket if all three picks win. Patent bets work well with horse racing, football, and tennis. This flexibility makes them valuable for many betting strategies. Let’s explore how Patent bets work, look at some real examples, and help you decide if this betting approach fits your style.
What Is a Patent Bet and How Does It Work?
Patent betting is a chance to try multiple betting that balances risk and potential rewards. Traditional accumulator bets need all selections to win, but a patent bet gives you some insurance when selections lose. Let’s get into what makes this betting system so popular and practical.
Definition: What does a patent mean in betting?
A patent bet is a “full coverage” betting system with seven separate bets placed on three different selections. The betting structure has every possible winning combination from your three chosen outcomes. Patent bets give bettors more flexibility and security than simple multiple bets.
Patent betting is great because it’s forgiving – you’ll get some money back as long as one of your selections wins. This safety net makes patent bets perfect for anyone who wants a balanced risk profile.
How many bets in a patent and why?
A patent bet always has seven bets spread across your three selections:
- 3 single bets (one on each selection)
- 3 double bets (covering all possible combinations of two selections)
- 1 treble bet (requiring all three selections to win)
This seven-part structure has a strategic purpose. When all three selections win, you’ll get returns from all seven bets, giving you the biggest possible profit. If two selections win, you’ll still get paid on two singles and one double. And with just one winning selection, you’ll receive that single bet’s return.
The trade-off is stake multiplication. Your chosen unit stake gets multiplied by seven to cover all the bets in the patent. A £1 patent bet costs £7 in total. You should know about this multiplication before placing your first patent bet.
Patent bet vs Trixie and Yankee: Key differences
The biggest difference between a patent bet and a trixie is the single bets. Both need three selections, but a trixie has only four bets (three doubles and one treble), while a patent has those four plus three singles. Then a trixie needs at least two winning selections to pay anything.
This key difference explains why patents cost more (seven bets versus four) but are safer. Patents are better for bettors who want some guaranteed return.
A Yankee bet uses four selections and has 11 total bets – six doubles, four trebles, and one four-fold accumulator. Yankees are more complex and can get pricier than patents, but they might pay more when more selections win.
Your choice between these betting systems depends on how much risk you want to take and your betting strategy. Patents work well with medium-to-high odds selections where even one winner might return much of your stake. Trixies might be better for shorter-odds bets where singles wouldn’t pay much.
Patent betting stays popular in different sports, especially in horse racing, where it’s hard to win full accumulators.
How to Place a Patent Bet Step-by-Step
Patent betting becomes straightforward once you understand the simple steps. This piece walks you through the exact process to set up this popular betting system at any major bookmaker.
Selecting three outcomes in a variety of events
Patent betting starts with selecting three distinct outcomes to include in your bet. Unlike standard accumulators, a patent bet needs all selections from different events. To name just one example:
- Three horses running in separate races
- Three football teams winning in different matches
- Three tennis players won their respective matches
Your selections must not come from the same event. The patent option will not appear on your betting slip if you select three different horses from the same race.
Let’s look at this patent bet example: Lewis Barnes (5:35 pm race at 6/1), Union Island (6:10 pm at 3/1), and Crest Of Esteem (6:40 pm at 8/1). These three selections from different races create a valid patent combination.
Using online bet slips to choose the patent option
The process for placing the bet follows these steps after making your three selections:
- Log in to your preferred bookmaker’s website or app
- Browse and select your three outcomes, adding them to your betting slip
- Your slip should now display all three selections – look for the “Patent” option
- Most bookmakers’ interfaces show this either:
- Right in the “Multiples” section of your bet slip
- Under a “More Multiples” or “Show More Multiples” button
- Click on the Patent option to activate it
- Enter your desired stake amount
- Review your potential returns (automatically calculated)
- Click “Place Bet” to confirm
The patent option might not appear if your selections aren’t from different events. Each bookmaker’s interface works differently – Paddy Power displays the patent option on the right side of their sportsbook, while bet365 shows it automatically after adding three different event selections.
Stake multiplication: Why £1 becomes £7
Your chosen stake applies to each of the seven bets within the patent structure. This multiplication happens because:
- Your stake covers 3 single bets (one on each selection)
- Plus 3 double bets (all possible two-selection combinations)
- Plus 1 treble bet (all three selections combined)
A £1 patent bet costs £7 in total. A £2 patent costs £14, and a £5 patent requires a total stake of £35.
Bettors with smaller budgets can use fractional stakes. A 50p stake creates a patent costing £3.50 total (7 × 50p).
Each-way patents duplicate every bet—one set backs your selections to win, and another backs them to place. This creates 14 bets total, which doubles your stake.
Patent Bet Example with Real Odds
Patent betting becomes clearer when we look at practical examples with ground odds. The abstract concepts make more sense once we break down these seven-bet combinations with actual numbers and analyse their calculations and potential returns.
Horse racing patent bet example with 6/1, 3/1, and 8/1 odds
Let’s think over a horse racing scenario where you pick three horses running in different races:
- Horse A at odds of 6/1 (7.00 in decimal)
- Horse B at odds of 3/1 (4.00 in decimal)
- Horse C at odds of 8/1 (9.00 in decimal)
A £1 patent bet on these selections needs a total stake of £7 (£1 × 7 bets). Your seven bets are spread across:
- Three singles: one on each horse
- Three doubles: combining horses in pairs (A+B, A+C, B+C)
- One treble: combining all three horses (A+B+C)
Your stake would double to £14 for an each-way patent since you’d have seven additional place bets.
Breakdown of singles, doubles, and treble returns
The returns would break down this way if all three horses win:
| Bet Type | Selections | Calculation (£1 stake) | Return |
|---|---|---|---|
| Single | Horse A (6/1) | £1 × 7.00 | £7.00 |
| Single | Horse B (3/1) | £1 × 4.00 | £4.00 |
| Single | Horse C (8/1) | £1 × 9.00 | £9.00 |
| Double | A + B | £1 × 7.00 × 4.00 | £28.00 |
| Double | A + C | £1 × 7.00 × 9.00 | £63.00 |
| Double | B + C | £1 × 4.00 × 9.00 | £36.00 |
| Treble | A + B + C | £1 × 7.00 × 4.00 × 9.00 | £252.00 |
Your potential return would be £399.00 on a £7 stake.
You’d still get £7 from that single bet if only Horse A wins, which covers your total stake. Two winners (say Horses A and B) would bring returns from two singles (£11) plus one double (£28), adding up to £39.
The quickest way to calculate a patent bet
Patent bet calculations might seem tricky at first, but the process becomes simple when broken down:
- Convert odds to decimal format if you have fractional odds:
- Fractional odds need division of the first number by the second, then add 1
- Example: 6/1 becomes (6 ÷ 1) + 1 = 7.00
- Calculate each component separately:
- Singles: multiply stake by decimal odds
- Doubles: multiply stake by both selections’ decimal odds
- Treble: multiply stake by all three selections’ decimal odds
- Add all returns together to find the total potential payout
Some bettors prefer this shortcut method:
- Add 2 units to each price (e.g., 3/1 becomes 5/1)
- Multiply these new figures (e.g., 5 × 6 × 8 = 240)
- Subtract 1 unit for stake (240 – 1 = 239)
- Multiply by your unit stake (e.g., £0.50 gives £119.50)
Bookmakers’ patent bet calculators are a great way to get instant results. These tools need only your stake, odds, and results to show potential returns quickly.
When to Use or Avoid a Patent Bet
The timing of your patent betting can substantially affect your returns. These bets work best in specific situations but face challenges in others. Smart selection is vital to get maximum value.
Ideal scenarios: High-variance events with medium odds
Patent bets shine when betting situations have high variance and less predictable outcomes. You’ll find the best opportunities in:
- Medium-to-high odds selections (generally 3/1 or higher)
- Competitive events where outcomes aren’t certain
- Horse racing markets that feature longer-priced selections
Why this works: The patent’s structure gives you insurance while keeping the potential for big returns in high-variance events. These bets deliver their best value with medium-to-high odds selections. The structure helps alleviate risk when you bet on unpredictable outcomes in competitive events like championship horse races.
When not to use: Low odds and correlated outcomes
Despite their advantages, patent bets don’t work well in every situation:
- Short-priced favourites rarely give enough returns
- Selections that relate to each other reduce the overall value
- Events where you lack confidence in multiple picks
Patent betting is “probably not a betting type for those that prefer to back short-priced favourites”. Low-odds selections mean minimal returns on winning picks, even if one loses, which could lead to an overall loss. Standard accumulators often work better than patent bets with shorter odds.
Budget considerations: Managing 7x stake cost
Your stake gets multiplied by seven, so you need smart financial planning:
- Patent bets turn your £1 into a £7 stake
- Each-way patents double this to 14 bets total
- Stakes run higher than singles, doubles, or trixie bets
We focused on careful bankroll management, since patent bets “will require a higher stake amount than a single bet”. The seven-times stake multiplication means you should only bet what you can afford. Patents cost more than other multiples but give better insurance by including singles.
Patent betting strikes a balance between risk and reward when you strongly believe in three selections but want coverage against one or two losses. This creates a strategic middle ground between aggressive accumulators and safer single bets.
Materials and Methods: Tools and Calculators for Patent Bets
The right calculation tools play a vital role in patent betting success. Digital calculators and manual methods are a great way to get reliable returns and make patent betting more strategic.
Using a patent bet calculator for quick returns
Patent bet calculators help you avoid mistakes and save time with complex bets. These easy-to-use tools give you instant results with minimal input. You’ll need to provide:
- Your stake amount
- Odds for all three selections
- Outcome of each selection (win, lose, or void)
Most big bookmakers have free patent calculators on their sites. The tools handle advanced features like Rule 4 deductions, void selections, and dead heats. This lets bettors focus on strategy instead of math. You can pick your preferred odds format (fractional, decimal, or American) before entering your stake.
Manual calculation using decimal odds
Some bettors like to work through the math themselves. Manual calculation follows these simple steps:
- Convert fractional odds to decimal format (divide the numerator by the denominator and add 1)
- For singles – multiply stake by decimal odds
- For doubles – multiply stake by the decimal odds of both selections
- For trebles – multiply stake by the decimal odds of all three selections
The math formula looks like this:
- Single return = Stake × Odds
- Double return = Stake × Odds1 × Odds2
- Treble return = Stake × Odds1 × Odds2 × Odds3
Tracking ROI across multiple patent bets
Tracking Return on Investment (ROI) on multiple patents shows your long-term profits. Performance tracking tools can boost ROI by 5-10% per bet through analytical insights. A full picture should include:
- League-specific breakdowns that show the best-performing markets
- Interactive visualisation tools for ROI patterns
- Customizable filters to examine strategies closely
No-vig betting exchanges help cut costs while giving you applicable information about betting patterns. Immediate tracking keeps your data current so you can review active bets and adjust stakes based on past results. This method turns casual betting into a more analytical practice.
Patent Bet – The Conclusion
Patent betting ended up becoming a flexible multiple betting strategy that balances risk management and potential rewards. This piece gets into how these seven-bet combinations give valuable insurance against unpredictable sports betting outcomes. The patent bets are a great way to get flexibility in sports markets of all types, while you just need three selections.
Of course, patent betting works best with medium-to-high odds selections, especially when you have competitive scenarios like horse racing championships or evenly matched football fixtures. The patent structure’s singles ensure some return, even if just one selection wins. This gives it an edge over more restrictive betting systems like trixies or standard accumulators.
Notwithstanding that, bettors should think over this betting approach carefully. The 7x stake multiplication needs thoughtful bankroll management. Patents might not suit bettors with limited funds. Patent bets also give suboptimal value with short-priced favourites, where the insurance aspect is nowhere near worth the increased stake requirement.
Today’s betting platforms offer the quickest way to calculate potentially complex returns. Understanding patent betting’s basic math helps create stronger overall betting strategies. Making use of information across multiple patent bets lets you adjust your approach based on analytical insights.
Patent betting strikes a strategic balance for experienced bettors – less aggressive than pure accumulators yet more ambitious than individual singles. This balance and built-in insurance mechanism make patent bets valuable in any bettor’s toolkit when used at the right time with proper expectations.
Patent Bet – Your FAQs
Q1. What is a patent bet, and how does it differ from other multiple bets? A patent bet is a type of multiple bet that consists of 7 bets on 3 selections: 3 singles, 3 doubles, and 1 treble. It differs from other multiple bets like trixies or yankees by including single bets, which provides a safety net even if only one selection wins.
Q2. How much does a patent bet cost? The cost of a patent bet is 7 times your unit stake. For example, a £1 patent bet would cost £7 in total, as it covers 7 separate bets (3 singles, 3 doubles, and 1 treble).
Q3. When is a patent bet most effective? Patent bets are most effective for medium to high odds selections in competitive events with uncertain outcomes. They work particularly well in scenarios like horse racing championships or evenly matched sports fixtures where outcomes are less predictable.
Q4. Can I still win money if not all my selections in a patent bet are successful? Yes, you can still win money even if not all your selections are successful. With a patent bet, you’ll receive returns as long as at least one of your selections wins, thanks to the inclusion of single bets in the structure.
Q5. How do I calculate the potential returns from a patent bet? You can calculate patent bet returns manually by determining the returns for each component (singles, doubles, and trebles) separately and then adding them together. However, most bookmakers offer patent bet calculators on their websites, which can quickly compute potential returns based on your stake and the odds of your selections.
