A system bet is similar to a parlay in that you can bet on multiple outcomes on a single bet slip, but you don’t need all of those outcomes to hit in order to win.
Many bettors enjoy placing system bets for this reason, as you eliminate the “all or nothing” aspect of a parlay wager. However, with a system bet, you must increase your total number of wagers by grouping selected outcomes into “systems.” In essence, when placing system bets, a customer is placing multiple parlays at the same time.
To make a system bet, select a minimum of three wagers. Once you have determined your choices, you will find the “System” tab pop up on your bet slip in the right-hand corner.
How does a system bet work?
To further explain system bets, let’s create an example using the Moneyline odds for three NBA games.
Let’s say you want to bet the Golden State Warriors to defeat the Orlando Magic, the Atlanta Hawks to upset the Boston Celtics, and the Memphis Grizzlies to beat the Detroit Pistons.
Once you have selected the three teams’ Moneyline odds, you will find the option to place a system bet.
In this example, let’s make a Trixie bet — a type of system bet in which you make four total bets (three doubles and one three-fold wager). The total stake will equal $40 for a potential payout of $156.18.
Here is how each bet would look:
1st double = Warriors and Hawks to win
2nd double = Warriors and Grizzlies to win
3rd double = Hawks and Grizzlies to win
Three-fold wager = Warriors, Hawks, and Grizzlies to win
With a Trixie, your bet can hit under two circumstances. First, you will win your bet if all of the outcomes you selected are correct (the Warriors, Hawks, and Grizzlies each win). Thus, your three doubles and three-fold wager all hit, and you will earn the maximum potential profit.
Under the second circumstance, your bet would partially hit if one team loses. For example, if the Hawks lose, you would still hit on your second double (Warriors and Grizzlies to win);
1st double = Warriors and Hawks to win
2nd double = Warriors and Grizzlies to win
3rd double = Hawks and Grizzlies to win
Three-fold wager = Warriors, Hawks, and Grizzlies to win
If more than one of your teams loses, all four bets lose.
With a Patent Bet, you are creating a Trixie bet plus three single bets. With this type of system bet, you will select three outcomes and place seven total bets (three singles, three doubles, and one treble).
Using the same example above, with a patent bet, two of the teams could lose (let’s say the Warriors and Hawks), but you would still hit on the single bet, or straight wager, you placed on the one winning team, the Grizzlies.
Additional types of system bets
In addition to the Trixie and Patent, there are numerous other types of system bets. Read below for a list of the types of system bets you can wager:
Trixie: Three selections producing 4 bets (3 doubles, 1 three-fold)
Patent: Three selections producing 7 bets (3 singles, 3 doubles, 1 treble)
Lucky 15: Four selections producing 15 bets (4 singles, 6 doubles, 4 trebles, 1 four-fold)
Yankee: Four selections producing 11 bets (6 doubles, 4 trebles, 1 four-fold)
Super Yankee / Canadian: Five selections producing 26 bets (10 doubles, 10 three-folds, 5 four-folds, and 1 five-fold)
Lucky 31: Five selections producing 31 bets (5 singles, 10 doubles, 10 three-folds, 5 four-folds, 1 five-fold)
Heinz: Six selections producing 57 bets (15 doubles, 20 trebles, 15 four-folds, 6 five-folds, 1 six-fold)
Lucky 63: Six selections producing 36 bets (6 singles, 15 doubles, 20 trebles, 15 four-folds, 6 five-folds, 1 six-fold)
Super Heinz: Seven selections producing 120 bets (21 doubles, 35 three-folds, 35 four-folds, 21 five folds, 7 six-folds, 1 seven-fold)
Goliath: Eight selections consisting of 247 bets (28 doubles, 56 trebles, 70 four-folds, 56 five-folds, 28 six-folds, 8 seven-folds, and 1 eight-fold)