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What Does ‘Yankee’ Mean in Sports Betting?

what-does-yankee-mean

A “Yankee” is a classic “full-cover” bet that gives you a safety net if one of your picks loses.

It involves making four selections, but instead of placing one big parlay, you are actually placing 11 separate bets at once.

The Breakdown

You pick four teams (let’s say A, B, C, and D). A Yankee bet automatically breaks them down into every possible combination except for singles:

  • 6 Doubles: (A+B, A+C, A+D, B+C, B+D, C+D)
  • 4 Trebles: (A+B+C, A+B+D, A+C+D, B+C+D)
  • 1 Four-Fold Parlay: (A+B+C+D)

⚠️ The Important Rules

  1. No Singles: This is the key difference between a Yankee and other system bets. You need at least two teams to win to get any money back. If only one team wins, you lose all 11 bets.
  2. The Cost: Because you are placing 11 bets, it costs 11x your unit stake.
    • If you want to bet $1 per line, the total ticket will cost you $11.

Why Bettors Use It

It is safer than a massive 4-team parlay.

  • In a Parlay: If Team A loses, your entire bet is dead.
  • In a Yankee: If Team A loses, you still have winning doubles and trebles involving Teams B, C, and D. You can still make a profit (or minimize your loss) even with one or two mistakes.