What is a Goliath Bet? A Goliath is a bet that consists of 8 selections, as a multiple, this is a total of 247 bets, which consists of 28 doubles, 56 trebles, 70 four-folds accumulators, 56 five-folds accumulators, 28 six-fold accumulators, eight seven-fold accumulators, and one eight-fold accumulator.
A Goliath bet packs an amazing 247 separate bets from just 8 selections – can you believe that? 🤔
The name “Goliath” fits this massive betting option, and with good reason too! A £1 Goliath bet isn’t just a simple pound stake – it requires a total investment of £247. The bet combines 28 doubles, 56 trebles, 70 four-fold accumulators, 56 five-fold accumulators, 28 six-fold accumulators, 8 seven-fold accumulators, and 1 eight-fold accumulator.
The beauty of a Goliath bet lies in its flexibility. You’ll get returns even if only two of your eight picks come through.
A Goliath bet calculator might look complex at first glance. The structure of this wager can seem daunting initially. This detailed guide will walk you through everything you should know about Goliath bets.
Let’s take a closer look at full-cover bets and see how you can tap into the potential of this exciting betting option!
What is a Goliath Bet?
A Goliath bet ranks among the biggest betting options you can find in sports betting today. The name comes from the biblical giant, and this massive wager lives up to its legendary namesake through its size and complexity.
Definition and origin of the term
The name “Goliath” comes from the famous biblical tale of David battling the giant Goliath, which reflects this betting option’s massive scale. A Goliath bet combines eight different selections into various permutations.
Standard accumulator bets don’t offer the same coverage as a Goliath, which can still pay out even if some picks don’t win. This safety net comes at a price, though – you’ll need to handle more complexity and higher costs.
The Goliath stands out as the biggest standard full-cover bet you’ll find in most betting markets. You might know about other full-cover bets like Patents, Lucky 15s, and Heinz bets, but the Goliath takes everything up a notch with its complete combination structure.
How many bets in a Goliath
Your Goliath bet packs exactly 247 separate bets from your eight selections. Here’s how these bets break down:
- 28 doubles (two selections)
- 56 trebles (three selections)
- 70 four-folds (four selections)
- 56 five-folds (five selections)
- 28 six-folds (six selections)
- 8 seven-folds (seven selections)
- 1 eight-fold accumulator (all eight selections)
Each selection appears in multiple combinations to maximise your potential returns. Your stake multiplies by 247 to cover all possible combinations. To name just one example, see how a £1 Goliath needs a total stake of £247. A 10p Goliath would cost £24.70.
Why is it called a full-cover bet
Bettors call it a “full-cover bet” because it includes all possible accumulator combinations from your eight selections. The bet covers everything from doubles to the eight-fold accumulator, including every multi-selection combination possible.
The full-cover aspect doesn’t include single bets. You’ll need at least two winning selections from your eight picks to get any return. One winning selection means no payout at all.
This structure protects you against a total loss when one or more selections fail. Let’s say seven of your eight selections win – you’d still collect on many combinations even though you missed the eight-fold accumulator.
Experienced bettors often choose a Goliath over a straight eight-fold accumulator. The initial stake might be higher, but a Goliath gives you many more chances to win with different combinations.
Each selection carries the same weight in calculating your potential returns. The order you add selections to your betting slip doesn’t change the outcome.
Breaking Down the 247 Bets
A Goliath bet shows its true complexity by the way those 247 bets are spread out among different combination types. Let me break down each layer of this betting giant to show what your money buys when you place this wager.
28 Doubles
The Goliath structure starts with 28 double bets that pair two picks from your eight selections. These doubles cover every possible two-pick combo from your chosen eight. Your doubles would look like A+B, A+C, B+D, F+H and so on if your picks were labelled A through H.
Doubles serve as your safety net – you’ll get some money back if just two of your eight picks win. This is the lowest number of wins needed for any return from a Goliath bet.
56 Trebles
The next level up brings 56 treble bets covering all three-pick combinations. You need three right picks to win anything from these. Using our example, you’d see combos like A+B+C, A+D+F, C+E+H, plus every other possible three-pick group.
These trebles really boost your total winnings compared to doubles alone when several of your picks come through.
70 Four-folds
The biggest chunk of the Goliath has 70 four-fold accumulators. Each four-fold bundle contains four of your eight picks, hitting every possible four-pick combo. Think A+B+C+D, B+E+F+G, and similar groupings.
Timeform puts it this way: “If Juventus, Liverpool, Celtic and Bayern Munich were to win but none of the other teams did, then the bettor would win one of the four-fold accumulator bets”. These four-folds can pay out big even with just half your picks winning.
56 Five-folds
Your Goliath includes 56 five-fold accumulators. Each needs five winners to pay out, with groups like A+B+C+D+E or D+E+F+G+H. These bigger accumulators start offering serious returns as more of your picks win.
28 Six-folds
The bet packs 28 six-fold accumulators covering all six-pick combinations. These only pay when six of your eight picks win. Your returns typically jump up at this level compared to smaller accumulators.
8 Seven-folds
Near the top sit eight seven-fold accumulators. Each seven-fold mix has seven picks from your eight choices. Timeform explains: “If all the teams but one were to win, the bettor would win the seven-fold accumulator bet”.
1 Eight-fold accumulator
The crown jewel is an eight-fold accumulator needing all eight picks to win. This gives you the biggest possible payout from your Goliath bet. While hitting this full accumulator rarely happens, the payouts can be massive.
This layered structure explains why a Goliath needs 247 times your unit bet. A £1 per line Goliath costs £247 total. The beauty lies in getting paid across different winning scenarios instead of the winner-takes-all approach of regular accumulators.
How Does a Goliath Bet Work?
A Goliath bet might look impressive on paper, but its true nature shows up when you see how it works in real life. Let’s look at what happens after you pick your eight outcomes and see how this betting giant rewards you through its unique payment setup and risk-reward balance.
Minimum number of wins needed
The Goliath bet comes with a built-in safety net – you don’t need all eight picks to win something back. Since the bet combines various options starting with doubles, you only need two successful selections from your eight picks to get some money back. But don’t get too excited – two winners won’t guarantee you’ll make a profit on your original stake.
The math shows that two winning selections usually mean you’ll lose money unless they have really high odds. My research with real-life examples showed that eight selections at 3/1 odds would give you about £16 back on a £1 per line stake (£247 total). That’s a £231 loss.
How combinations generate returns
Your returns from a Goliath bet add up as winning combinations stack together. More winners mean your returns grow fast through different bet types.
Here’s what happens with eight picks at 3/1 odds when you bet £1 per line:
- 3 winners get you £112 (-£135 profit)
- 4 winners bring £608 (+£361 profit)
- 5 winners return £3,104 (+£2,857 profit)
- 6 winners pay £15,600 (+£15,353 profit)
- 7 winners give you £78,096 (+£77,849 profit)
- 8 winners reward you with £390,592 (+£390,345 profit)
Each extra winner makes your returns grow exponentially by creating more successful combinations within your 247 bets. You’ll typically break even when four of your selections win.
How odds affect your payout
Your selections’ odds make a huge difference to your Goliath bet’s profit potential. Lower odds need more winners to break even, while higher odds can make you money with fewer successful picks.
Picks at even odds need six winners before you see any profit. But with 2/1 odds, four winners leave you just £4 short (on £1 stakes), and five winners put £761 in your pocket.
This betting structure can beat single bets hands down. Eight winning horses at 3/1 with £1 base stakes would earn you £390,345 in a Goliath, while eight winning singles only bring in £24.
Small stakes can still bring big returns. A tiny 1 penny per line (£2.47 total) with eight winners at 3/1 could put over £3,900 in your pocket. These impressive scaling possibilities make Goliath bets attractive when you spot several promising picks at different events.
How to Calculate Winnings
Manual calculations for Goliath bet returns would be a mathematical nightmare. You would need hundreds of individual calculations for all 247 betting combinations. The good news is that specialised tools can handle this complexity.
Using a Goliath bet calculator
Goliath bet calculators make complex betting math simple. These tools compile odds for each selection across all 247 different permutations. Most bookmakers’ websites feature these calculators, which save you hours of tedious arithmetic.
These calculators do more than just save time. They help you:
- Make smart betting decisions before placing wagers
- Control your bankroll by finding the right stake amounts
- Spot value bets by comparing potential returns to your investment
Example with 2 to 8 winning selections
Let’s look at potential returns using a £1 per line Goliath (£247 total) with all selections at 3/1:
- 2 winners: £16 return (-£231 profit)
- 3 winners: £112 return (-£135 profit)
- 4 winners: £608 return (+£361 profit)
- 5 winners: £3,104 return (+£2,857 profit)
- 6 winners: £15,600 return (+£15,353 profit)
- 7 winners: £78,096 return (+£77,849 profit)
- 8 winners: £390,592 return (+£390,345 profit)
You’ll break even with four winning selections in this example. All the same, higher odds could mean profits with fewer winners.
Each-way Goliath explained
Each-way Goliath bets double your wager on 494 separate bets – 247 for wins and 247 for places. A £1 each-way Goliath costs £494, while a 50p each-way Goliath comes to £247.
This betting style works great in horse racing, where place terms might give you 1/4 or 1/5 of the winning odds. The higher cost brings extra chances to recover your stake through placing finishes. Five winners at 2/1 with a £1 line stake would bring £585.63 profit. However, if that fifth horse only places, you’d lose £179.37.
How to Place a Goliath Bet
A Goliath bet might look daunting because of its size, but you’ll find the process pretty simple once you get the hang of it. Let me show you how to get your 247-bet powerhouse onto the bookmaker’s books.
Step-by-step on betting platforms
Most online platforms share a basic pattern to place your Goliath bet:
- Select your eight picks from your chosen sports events
- Add all selections to your betting slip
- Look for the “Multiples” or “System Bets” section of your slip
- Find and select the “Goliath” option (it should indicate 247 bets)
- Enter your stake (this applies to each bet, not the total stake)
- Check the total cost (your stake multiplied by 247)
- Confirm and place your bet
Your stake goes toward each individual bet, not the total wager. Many people make the mistake of putting £1, thinking that’s their total bet, but they’re actually signing up for £247. You can start with stakes as small as 10p per bet, which adds up to £24.70 total.
Football vs horse racing Goliath
These sports work in similar ways but offer different betting features:
Football Goliaths usually involve match outcomes (home/away/draw) from different leagues. The markets tend to have shorter odds, which makes them great for steady returns. You can mix teams from various leagues or add international competition picks.
Horse racing Goliaths need winners from eight separate races. The higher odds in racing can lead to big payouts even if fewer selections win. Bettors love each-way options with horse racing Goliaths, though this takes your stake to 494 bets.
Tips for selecting your 8 picks
My approach to Goliath selections follows these guidelines:
Smart odds combinations help balance your risk and potential rewards.
Short-priced favourites shouldn’t just fill space – value matters more than anything.
Selections at odds of 1/1 (evens) or higher tend to give better returns.
New bettors should start with basic system bets before jumping into a Goliath. Small combination bets build your confidence and understanding before tackling this betting challenge.
Conclusion – Is a Goliath Bet Worth It?
Goliath bets definitely live up to their biblical name in both size and potential payouts. This piece explores how these 247-bet giants work and what makes them stand out from other betting options.
Goliath bets give you amazing flexibility compared to regular accumulators. You only need two winning selections to get some money back. With moderate odds, you’ll break even with four winners. On top of that, your potential profit shoots up with each additional winner beyond that point.
The way Goliath bets are structured gives you a solid safety net. An eight-fold accumulator fails if you get just one pick wrong. A Goliath keeps paying returns through many different combinations. That’s why seasoned bettors often choose this approach, even with the bigger upfront stake.
Notwithstanding that, Goliath bets aren’t right for everyone. A £1-per-line stake costs £247, which puts off casual bettors. So many people go for smaller stakes – even at 10p per line, you still need to put down £24.70.
You’d find it impossible to work out returns by hand, so using special calculators becomes vital. These tools show you potential profits before you place your bet.
Your success depends on how well you choose your eight selections. Don’t just throw random picks together. You can boost your chances by carefully looking at odds values and staying away from very short-priced favourites.
Each-way Goliath bets add another layer, especially when you have horse racing in mind. They double your stake to 494 bets but give you extra chances to get your money back through place finishes.
Goliath bets represent the peak of combination betting. They balance risk and reward across hundreds of combinations. My experience shows they work best when you spot several strong picks across different events and want some protection against unexpected losses. They might be complex and get pricey, but their potential returns explain why bettors who want more than simple accumulators keep coming back to these betting giants.
Your Goliath Bet FAQs
Q1. How many bets are included in a Goliath bet? A Goliath bet consists of 247 separate bets derived from 8 selections. These include 28 doubles, 56 trebles, 70 four-folds, 56 five-folds, 28 six-folds, 8 seven-folds, and 1 eight-fold accumulator.
Q2. What is the minimum stake for a Goliath bet? The minimum stake depends on the bookmaker, but typically, a £1 Goliath bet would cost £247 in total, as you’re placing £1 on each of the 247 bets. Some bookmakers allow smaller stakes, such as 10p per bet, which would total £24.70.
Q3. How many selections need to win for a return on a Goliath bet? You need at least two selections to win to receive any return on a Goliath bet. However, the break-even point typically occurs around four winning selections, depending on the odds of your picks.
Q4. Can I place a Goliath bet on different sports? Yes, you can place a Goliath bet on various sports. It’s commonly used in horse racing and football, but can be applied to any sport where you can make eight selections. The betting process remains the same regardless of the sport chosen.
Q5. What’s the difference between a regular Goliath and an each-way Goliath? An each-way Goliath doubles your bet to 494 separate wagers – 247 for your selections to win and 247 for them to place. This option is particularly popular in horse racing, providing additional chances to recoup your stake through place finishes, but it also doubles the total cost of your bet.