What Does ‘Lucky 15’ Mean in Sports Betting?
A “Lucky 15” is a specific type of “full-cover” bet that is very popular in the UK and horse racing, though you’ll occasionally see it on US apps.
It involves making four selections, but instead of placing one big parlay, you are actually placing 15 separate bets at once.
The Breakdown
You pick four horses or teams (A, B, C, and D). A “Lucky 15” automatically breaks them down into every possible winning combination:
- 4 Single Bets: (A, B, C, D)
- 6 Doubles: (A+B, A+C, etc.)
- 4 Trebles: (A+B+C, etc.)
- 1 Four-Team Parlay: (A+B+C+D)
⚠️ The Important Rules
- The “Safety Net”: Unlike a Yankee (which has no singles), you only need one winner to get some money back. If Team A wins and the others lose, you still cash that one single bet.
- The Cost: Because you are placing 15 bets, it costs 15x your unit stake.
- If you want to bet $1 per line, the total ticket will cost you $15.
Why Is It Called “Lucky”?
It’s called “Lucky” because bookmakers traditionally offer bonuses on this specific bet.
- 1 Winner Bonus: If you only get one winner, many books will pay you double or triple the odds on that one win as a consolation prize.
- All 4 Bonus: If you get all 4 right, they often add a 10-20% bonus to your total winnings.