Lucky 15 Bet Explained – What Is It, And How Does It Work?

Today, we’re going to be examining accumulator-style betting – but more specifically, the Lucky 15 bet. By the end of today’s page, we hope you’ll have a crystal clear understanding of how this bet works with football betting, as well as the types of horse races you can use, and why it’s become a keen favourite for sports betting punters.

Lucky 15 betting explained

What Is A Lucky 15 Bet?

Don’t worry; we’ll explain this in today’s Lucky 15 betting guide using more detail and examples. We will also show you how it works for those looking to move toward niche, specialist horse racing bets instead of just standard markets.

A Lucky 15 bet encompasses four different types of horse racing betting selections. Four trebles, one four-fold, six doubles, and four singles. By fusing a number of these wagers, there are many options for a return instead of just once. Don't worry; our Lucky 15 betting guide will cover all of this for you today.

Lucky 15 bet explained – how It works

So, in horse racing, a Lucky 15 bet consists of four horses across different races. There can be slight variations, but this is the most common market. So, the first four single bets are self-explanatory.

Each requires a stake on each of the four horses to win outright. The six doubles bets then cover a range of payout potential for six different eventualities, all with varying return rates depending on the base odds. Four treble bets again cover a range of outcomes, with the potential payout increasing each time due to the lesser chance of landing a treble.

If every selection lands, the final four-fold can net you thousands of pounds off a relatively small wager. However, that means each horse must win, and the odds can stretch into the thousands. The main selling point of a is that you can cover so many eventualities and still look to land some sort of return within a structured approach.

Why place a Lucky 15 bet?

Instead of having one key focus on a specific market or waiting for every selection, like an accumulator, with an all-or-nothing approach, a Lucky 15 bet aims to provide coverage and some level of payback, even if the bet is primarily unsuccessful. This flexibility to cover a range of payouts, with a potential big payout at the end, helps balance your risk and reward.

How to work out a lucky 15 simply

If you look at a Lucky 15 bet on paper, it might look like a bunch of randomly collated odds and numbers. Like any bet, it becomes easier over time, especially once you have placed several of them and understand what you’re looking for in the market. Having a Lucky 15 bet explained can be difficult, especially if you've never dealt with a structured bet before.

The simplest way to work it out is to treat each of the groups of bets as individuals. So, take the odds from your one four-fold wager, then take the odds for the four trebles, the six doubles, and finally, the four singles. By breaking down the four individual groups, you can build a picture of the returns of each and what you will need to break even at least. However, sometimes you don't need the Lucky 15 bet explained, right down to every mathematical calculation – you can get a calculator to do the work for you.

Step-by-Step calculator guide for Lucky 15 bet explained

As we have just detailed above, a Lucky 15 bet calculator will usually give you a selection of drop-downs. This can vary depending on the site you use, but generally speaking, it’ll get you to confirm the decimal or fraction odds you have used.

In no particular order, it’ll usually ask for the total stake amount, whether per bet or the combined figure, if rule 4 applies, each way, and then the win and lose boxes for each of the four betting groups. Your total odds and potential winning amount will be revealed at the end once you have entered all this information – as shown in the diagram below.

odds calulcator lucky 15 betting

How to place a Lucky 15 Bet with your favourite bookmaker

In the age of digital betting, many platforms will allow you to select specific types of structured bets, often allowing you to select it, providing a pre-determined template and allowing you to fill in the selections without having to become too dragged into the specifics of the singles, doubles, and trebles and how to specify them as part of your Lucky 15 bet.

Lucky 15 betting guide

How to place a Lucky 15 bet on Betfred

Hopefully, our guide to the Lucky 15 bet explained what you should anticipate from this type of wager. As one of the prominent UK betting platforms, Betfred makes it simpler with an exclusive welcome offer. Once you have selected your four choices, you’ll be presented with a box that only appears when you make four choices.

You’ll see Fourfold and Lucky 15. When you enter the stake, it’ll give you the box to enter the amount, the betting odds, and the potential return. Betfred also have a brief introduction with the Lucky 15 bet explained on their website, too.

How to place a Lucky 15 bet on William Hill

Similarly, William Hill aligns with the user-friendly interface of Betfred. Despite the complexity of combined odds in a Lucky 15 bet, both Betfred and William Hill offer Lucky 15 calculators on their website and mobile app.

After selecting your four bets, you'll encounter a dropdown menu akin to Betfred's, which only appears upon making four selections. Simply input your stake, and you'll instantly view the odds and potential returns. Plus, while you're at it, don't forget to leverage the benefits of the William Hill promo code.

How to place a Lucky 15 bet on Bet365

Next up is Bet365, renowned as the largest sportsbook in the UK and boasting one of the most extensive operations globally. With its vast experience, it's clear they know their stuff. Following a similar pattern to the previous operators, Bet365 offers a dropdown menu for “multiple betting options” that you must navigate. Once selected, you can opt for Lucky 15 among other choices, while also enjoying the perks of the Bet365 bonus code.

Can I place a Lucky 15 bet at the Cheltenham Festival?

Of course, horse racing is by far the most common use of this type of bet. Whether you’re placing a bet on Cheltenham, Aintree, or any other big race festival in the UK calendar, a Lucky 15 is a bread-and-butter selection for thousands of punters.

Lucky 15 Cheltenham festival

What are the advantages of making a lucky 15 bet?

As you can see from its makeup, it is a unique bet style. Not only does it draw inspiration from several different accumulator-style bets, but the specific structure aims to pay at least a small amount to the bettor. Only one of the selections needs to land to trigger a return.

A Lucky 15 bet allows you to branch out and have a vested interest in several different races or matches instead of just having one that’s over and done with quickly. Over a race meet week or weekend, you can get more mileage out of your bet, knowing that just one of the selections could be a solid return.

Beyond Lucky bets: other kinds of multiple bets

If Lucky 15 seemed like a challenge to get your head around, that's just the tip of the iceberg. So, while an accumulator simply goes through the basic, usually outright or derivative market and a Lucky 15 combines multiples, there’s also another level to explore.

A Lucky 31 bet is the same principle we’ve discussed today – just with many more selections. It comprises five five-folds, five four-folds, ten trebles, ten doubles and five singles. Lucky 63s comprises a six-fold, six five-folds, fifteen four-folds, twenty trebles, fifteen doubles, six singles, and a partridge in a pear tree. No, I'm just joking. But it’s getting big, isn’t it?

Amongst these selections, there are also Heinz and Super Heinz bets. Super Heinz is a seven-fold, seven six-folds, twenty-one five-folds, thirty-five four-folds, 35 trebles, and 21 doubles.

If these types of bets are your style, and you enjoy the scattergun, mass approach to selections, then the highest it goes is a Goliath bet. A Goliath contains

  • One eight-fold.
  • Eight seven-folds.
  • Twenty-eight six-folds.
  • Fifty-six five-folds.
  • Seventy four-folds.
  • Fifty-six trebles.
  • 28 doubles.

Lucky 15 Bet Explained – Common FAQs

Below are some of the most common Lucky 15 bet questions and answers.

Is it worth doing a Lucky 15 each way?

That depends on the individual markets within your Lucky 15 bets and the sport you bet on. Usually, bettors will say anything of around 10/1 might be advantageous. As we have already established today, you can receive a small amount back even if the majority of the bet is unsuccessful.

No bet is foolproof; you must always exercise caution and gamble responsibly. So long as you are prepared to lose your whole stake, then you can play around with each way ideas. However, that doesn’t mean it’s necessarily a better or worse idea – it’s entirely up to you. Manage your bankroll correctly and know when to set up your time and deposit limits, and you'll be able to

Do you get double the odds of 1 winner in a Lucky 15?

Those sportsbooks that incentivize Lucky 15 bets will offer such promotional deals. You can get even more than double the odds for one winner at times, depending on the company and the promotions they use. If you’re just placing a standard bet, then you won’t get extraordinary odds – it’ll just be included as part of the original wager. Having a Lucky 15 bet explained to you can help you with the basics, but it is often the process of placing a wager and seeing all the races out to their completion, which often completes the most important stage of any Lucky 15 betting guide.

How much does a Lucky 15 each-way bet cost?

The most common denominator is £15 – as the title suggests, a Lucky 15 multiplies your initial stake by 15. Therefore, those bettors who place a £1 bet will have it spread right across all of their selections.

Is a lucky 15 better than an accumulator?

Better is subjective; Lucky 15 bets are more specialist as you combine specific odds instead of just choosing from a list of games or individual wagers. Accumulators are a popular bet, especially in the UK. Technically, Lucky 15 bets are also accumulators, so it entirely depends on your preference.

How many wins do you need in a Lucky 15?

Due to the structure of the multiple bets and the inclusion of single markets, just one of the selections could be a success. Ideally, the more, the better, which increases the payout. But the significant structure of the bet is also to offer some small insurance if most of the bet isn’t a success.

Do all horses have to win in a lucky 15?

No, you can win a couple of the selections and get a decent return. As we alluded to in the last question, it depends on the odds of your single selection. That by itself might be enough to break even. Instead of being boxed into one market or relying on every selection like in an accumulator, the scattergun approach is the crucial reason why Lucky 15 bets continue to find a global audience.


Gavin is a full-time copywriter based in the UK and has developed in-depth knowledge of the igaming world by working in the betting industry for over five years. During this time, he has written thousands of articles covering various topics, including bookmaker reviews, ‘how to’ guides, bonus comparisons and much more.