Canadian Betting Explained

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What is a Canadian Bet?

A wager on 5 selections consisting of 26 bets: 10 doubles, 10 trebles, 5 four-fold's and a five-fold accumulator.

Snooker Game

The canadian, also known as a super yankee, is a bet where all runners have equal weight on determining the return from the wager. Very similar to the Lucky 31, the only difference being the 5 missing single bets that would have otherwise been placed on each selection.

Given the complexity of the bet, it can be difficult to predict what effect a losing runner might have on returns. However, you can experiment with different outcomes using the canadian bet calculator.

Should any two selections win, a return is made from this bet.

Canadian Composition

The Canadian is composed of the following parts:

PartSelection Permutations (1-5)Number of Bets
Double12, 13, 14, 15, 23, 24, 25, 34, 35, 4510
Treble123, 124, 125, 134, 135, 145, 234, 235, 245, 34510
Four-Fold1234, 1235, 1245, 1345, 23455
Five-Fold123451
Total:26

How It Works

With 26 different combinations to calculate, this can be a betting strategy that can be confusing. Thankfully, we have our Canadian betting calculator to make life easier as you look to turn your picks into profits.

If you were to use that calculator, you might well have a betting slip that looks as follows:

Selection Name

Odds

Horse A

1/1

Horse B

2/1

Horse C

3/1

Horse D

4/1

Horse E

5/1

As mentioned before, if any two selections are winners, then you will see a return on your betting slip. Whether you see enough to cover your additional outlay depends on the odds on offer and how many winners you have.

For example, if you used £1 stakes on your Canadian - £1 x 26 = £26 and Horse A B won at odds of 1/1 and 2/1, respectively, this would only return £6 at the end of the day. An overall loss of £20 for your efforts.

However, if Horse C was first past the post at odds of 3/1. Not only would three doubles be ticked off (AB, AC, BC), but a treble of ABC would also be declared a winner. Quickly turning that £26 stake into winnings of £50 and a profit of £24.

With this bet favouring those who decide to go for a mixture of favourites and outsiders, wins for Horse D and Horse E could also turn this into a profitable excursion. Odds of 4/1 and 5/1 being converted into winnings would also convert £26 into £30 and a profit of £4.

Therefore, it is not necessarily how many of the 26 bets you win but what combinations you can tick off. However, if we look at this positively, we can determine how much all five winning horses would be worth if they were the same odds.

Examples

If we take the mid-point of the five horses above and say that all of them are instead priced at odds of 3/1, here is what the winnings would look like depending on whether 2,3,4 or 5 horses finish first in the race.

Outcome

Winnings

Outlay

P/L

2 Winning Horses

£16.00

£26.00

-£10.00

3 Winning Horses

£112.00

£26.00

£86.00

4 Winning Horses

£608.00

£26.00

£582.00

5 Winning Horses

£3,104.00

£26.00

£3,078.00

As we can see, it only needs three winning horses to move out of the red and into the black. What is a £10 loss for just one winner less has quickly become £86 profit by the time you have landed your third winner of the day.

As with all combination bets that are placed, it all depends on the odds involved. For example, if we were to bet on football instead of horses and put a Canadian bet on five favourites who are each priced at odds of 1/2, the winning table would look as follows:

Outcome

Winnings

Outlay

P/L

2 Winning Teams

£2.25

£26.00

-£23.75

3 Winning Teams

£10.13

£26.00

-£15.87

4 Winning Teams

£32.06

£26.00

£6.06

5 Winning Teams

£89.16

£26.00

£63.16

In this example, we can see that the needle towards profitability has moved towards four wins instead of three. Even if three favourites recorded routine wins at odds of 1/2 each, it would still mean a loss of £15.87 by the night's end.

Instead, the threshold for this Canadian to break even and more is a fourth winner. Although any profit should be celebrated, seeing an additional £6.06 return to your back pocket or betting account is a lot of effort.

Of course, there is a huge caveat here, and it highlights how vital the odds of your selections are. If this same Canadian had an underdog also placed upon the coupon, and they pulled off an upset, then the threshold for victory could be lower.

To experiment with different outcomes, use this link for a bet calculator preloaded with the above example.

Reasons for making a Canadian Bet

Now that we have explained a Canadian bet, here are three reasons why you would place one:

  • Multiple Betting Options – Instead of opting for a five-fold Parlay, you can use the same five selections and utilise another 25 bets to go alongside it. Due to the number of additional combinations, this is a popular choice with experienced punters.
  • Offers More Lifelines – Once again, the Parlay is not the best option if you are looking for some security for your five-fold. If one leg loses, it is all over. However, this is not the case when it comes to the Canadian.
  • Maximise Your Returns – With the 26 bets being made, the potential to see your winnings grow is not all that far away. A small stake can be multiplied many times if all five selections come good.

The Canadian is undoubtedly a popular choice of bet within the betting community. Still, like all betting types, the benefits and potential drawbacks must be highlighted; therefore, we will now look at the two most prominent points in each category.

Pros & Cons

Pros
  • Partial Equals Profits – Regarding the Canadian, you do not need a perfect winning streak. Even two of your five selections may be enough to turn your stake into a profit – depending on whether the odds are long enough.
  • An Enjoyable Bet – Like many other combination betting types, the Canadian allows you to have an increased interest in multiple events. Even if winning is not the all end all, the 26 different bets will undoubtedly grab your interest over the next few days or hours.
Cons
  • Costing You More – 26 different combinations means your stake will be multiplied 26 times over, and this is something you need to be mindful of before you hand over your physical or digital betting slip.
  • Potential Complexity Issues – The more combinations made available, the more confusing a bet can sometimes be. Make sure to have a Canadian calculator nearby and avoid any issues when it comes to confusion regarding your stake and the money you are hoping to win.

How To Place A Canadian Bet with Bet365

1. Select the relevant sport you want to bet on. For this example, we have selected horse racing.

Canadian Sports Menu - Horse Racing
Sports menu options - Taken 08/02/2024

2. Then, select the five horse racing outcomes for your betting slip. Once they are selected, the bet will first be set up as a five-fold accumulator. Press the ‘Show More Multiples’ arrow to unlock all the other available bets.

Canadian Default Bet
Default Bet Selection Screen - Taken 08/02/2024

3. Then select the Canadian (or Super Yankee) option before adding your stake amount. Now, you are ready to place your Canadian bet.

Canadian Show Multiples
“Show more multiples” expanded view - Taken 08/02/2024

Conclusion

If you are not an experienced punter, the Canadian is arguably a bet to use further down the line. However, with the right amount of research and preparation, it can also be a bet that many soon become comfortable with.

Like all combination bets, the increased stake required is always a serious factor to consider. Although it allows an element of diversification across sports or markets, it should align with your appetite and aptitude for risk.

Last Update: 8 February 2024

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Also See

What is a treble bet? - Calculate returns for this three selection rollover bet. Suitable for horse race betting and all other sports, it handles a wide variety of options, including rule 4, EW, dead heats and not runners. All selections must win; otherwise, nothing is returned, and the original stake is lost.

What is an accumulator bet? - Follow the link for a football betting example that demonstrates how winnings are calculated with this wager. A detailed explanation of how this type works and advantages it confers to the punter. Requires 4 or more selections, all of which must win to generate a return (excluding each way).

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