What does patent bet mean?
Table of contents
A patent bet is a full cover bet comprising just three selections unlike. It is similar to a standard Treble bet, which is a single-line accumulator also comprising three selections. However, a patent bet combines all other possible combinations of the three elections alongside the three-fold accumulator bet.
As such, this is a multiple-selection bet that comprises several lines, all of which need to be covered by a unit stake. Patent bets can be used on a wide variety of sports and betting markets and there is also an option to cover the bet each way, as well as a straight-up win. As with most multiple-selection bets, explaining a patent bet is much easier to understand utilising an example.
A patent bet explained
A customer adds the three following selections to their bet slip:
- Humpty Go-Kart to win the 3.30 at Lingfield - 4.00
- Arsenal to beat Manchester United - 2.00
- Bayern Munich to beat Real Madrid - 3.00
They have the option to place a single Treble bet, which would require all three selections to win in order to generate any return.
However, another option is the Patent Bet. With this bet, you cover each possible combination of the three selections, in addition to backing each of the selections individually as a single bet.
The combinations for the Patent Bet above are:
Singles
- Humpty Go-Kart to win (4.00)
- Arsenal to win (2.00)
- Bayern Munich to win (3.00)
Doubles
- Humpty Go-Kart & Arsenal to win (8.00)
- Humpty Go-Kart and Bayern Munich to win (12.00)
- Arsenal & Bayern Munich to win (6.00)
Treble
- Humpty Go-Kart, Arsenal & Bayern Munich to win (24.00)
This is a total of seven individual bets, which means to place a patent bet costs 7x your unit stake. If we assume a unit stake of £1, then that means the total cost of your stake would be £7. We’ll explore what that means in terms of payout in one of the selections below.
Placing a patent bet
Placing a Patent bet is relatively straightforward and requires no specialist knowledge, other than how to bring up the different betting options available on your bet slip.
To place a patent bet follow the outline below once you are logged in to your chosen betting site provider.
- Add your three single bet selections to your bet slip, usually by clicking on the odds.
- Click on the tab or link to open the different betting options for your three selections.
- From the options shown, select the Patent bet.
- Enter your unit stake in the box next to the Patent bet option, remembering your total bet will be seven times your unit stake.
- Check the bet details and when you are happy, click the button to place the bet.
Your patent bet has now been placed, and all you need to do is sit back and watch the result of your selections to see if you are a winner!
How a patent bet pays out?
The main difference, and advantage, of a patent bet is that it offers a return if one or two of the selections win, as well as all three. That doesn’t mean that a punter is guaranteed a profit if one, or even two of the three selections win, but it mitigates the potential total loss of a stake as would be the case if one or two parts of a treble bet do not win.
The other thing to remember about a patent bet is that if at least two selections win, then more than one line on the bet will be a winner and these returns are cumulative.
For example, if in the example above of our £1 patent bet, Humpty Go-Kart and Bayern Munich were to win, then the total patent bet would see three lines win.
Singles
- Humpty Go-Kart to win (4.00) - £4.00 return
- Bayern Munich to win (3.00) - £3.00 return
Doubles
- Humpty Go-Kart and Bayern Munich to win (12.00) - £12.00 return
As you can see, this would result in a £7 return on the two single bets and a £12 return on a successful double bet. A total return of £19, which would be a £12 profit on the bet. But if only one of those two single bets won, this would generate a return of either £4 or £3, which would mean a loss on the bet.
You can see exactly how much each of the seven parts of a patent bet would pay out based on the odds above and a unit stake of £1 below.
Singles
- Humpty Go-Kart to win (4.00) - £4.00
- Arsenal to win (2.00) - £2.00
- Bayern Munich to win (3.00) - £3.00
Doubles
- Humpty Go-Kart & Arsenal to win (8.00) - £8.00
- Humpty Go-Kart and Bayern Munich to win (12.00) - £12.00
- Arsenal & Bayern Munich to win (6.00) - £6.00
Treble
- Humpty Go-Kart, Arsenal & Bayern Munich to win (24.00) - £24.00
The maximum return would be achieved if all three selections were to win, which would see a total return of £59.00 (£4.00 + £2.00+ £3.00 + £8.00 + £12.00 +£6.00 + £24.00).
Advantages and Disadvantages of a patent Bet
Advantages
- Patent bets are one of the more affordable of all full cover with singles bets.
- They offer a return if just one or two selections win.
- If all three selections win, or two higher-priced selections win, you can win a considerable amount on the bet.
- Punters can select different markets from different sports and fixtures for this bet.
Disadvantages
- Patent bets are more expensive to place compared to accumulator bets or similar.
- A profit is not guaranteed if just one, or sometimes even two, of your three selections win.
Top Strategies to consider when patent betting
Patent bets are a sensible choice when you are confident that at least two of your selections will win on a bet. It is not a ‘do or die’ bet like an accumulator, where if one leg lets you down, the bet is a loser. Instead, you can guarantee a return, and mitigate any loss, even if one or two of your selections win, rather than all three.
Many punters enjoy the flexibility of adding a longer odds selection with two shorter odds selections when patent betting offers them a chance of a solid, potentially break-even or small profitable return, but a chance of a much bigger return if the longer odds selection wins.
A patent bet is a great option to consider alongside each way, single bets, doubles and treble bets. It can be used across multiple sports and multiple markets and can also be placed as an each-way option (provided your selections allow for each-way bets),
The additional cost of a patent bet makes it one to consider using carefully, but when used well, it can offer punters the chance of a return or even a profit, even if one or more of their chosen selections doesn’t win their line within the bet. It can be a powerful bet to use in the right circumstances across a wide range of sports.
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- Sports betting: should you bet on the small odds?
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- What is the European Handicap?
- How does Tote betting differ from traditional betting with a bookmaker?
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- Sports betting: what's the safest bet?
- Is it possible to bet without losing money?
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- What is Asian Handicap betting?
- What is Acca Insurance?
