What is a Union Jack Patent Bet?

A union jack patent bet covers nine selections and 56 bets in total.

These bets split into 24 singles and 8 trixies. The trixies consist of 24 doubles and 8 trebles.

This wager type is one of many which takes place on a 3×3 grid, known to bookmakers and punters as the union jack.

This is one of many types of bet where you can place nine selections across grid combinations such as ABC, DEF, GHI and more.

Here you will see how this type of wager works, and why choosing 9 selections might be your ticket to a fantastic total return!

How to Place a Union Jack Patent Bet?

A union jack patent bet will require you to place money on 56 bets, total.

  • This means that while your stake total for a simple straight bet might be £3, you will need to multiply this by 56 for the patent.
  • For example, a £3 stake will mean you need to invest £168 in a single bet. However, as there are multiple ways to win on this type of wager, many people see it as very lucrative.
  • To place this wager, you will have to make nine selections and to enter bet details by allocating each horse to each space on the grid.
  • There are, as mentioned, 56 different combinations. Therefore, you do not need all of your horses to win to make money back.
  • For example, if you have winning horses on 1 2 3 and 4 5 6 (or ABCDEF), you could profit on multiple trixies.
  • However, there is also the chance that you could lose money even if four or five selections win.

It is therefore always essential to use a calculator before you place this bet, no matter where your odds place in the grid. We’ll show you how to use a calculator to your advantage below.

How to Use the Union Jack Patent Bet Calculator?

As mentioned, bet calculators are a great way of working out both your total stake and your potential winnings – so make sure you use this union jack patent bet calculator before placing your bet:

  1. Select ‘Union Jack Patent’ on the dropdown for the Bet Type
  2. The Number of Selections will choose 9 picks for you
  3. Select the ‘Outcome’ for each selection, i.e. ‘Winner’, ‘Placed’, ‘Lost.’
  4. Select the ‘Odds’ for each selection, i.e. ‘3/1’, ‘5/1’, ‘12/1’
  5. Select the ‘Stake’ wagered per bet, i.e. ‘£2’, ‘£10’, ‘£30.’
  6. The Union Jack Patent bet Calculator calculates the total outlay, return & total profit
Enter Bet Details
Bets
# Outcome Odds Place Odds
1
/
Place Odds
Enter Bookmaker Bonuses
Summary
Total Outlay:

Total Return:

Total Profit:

Are Union Jack Patent Bets Worth It?

A union jack patent bet could give you a significant return even if only a few of your horses win.

However, as with all union jack wagers, there is a high amount of risk. The patent bet is one of the lower risk wagers of this kind, as there are fewer bets required.

The patent variation on this grid wager tends to be the midpoint option for many punters.

These wagers are worth it if you are smart about where you place your 9 selections. For example, you need to take a look at which grid picks appear the most in the 8 trebles and 24 doubles.

You may wish to place horses and picks with lower odds than most in these sections as they have a higher chance of converting.

However, some bettors and punters will choose longer odds for the more common grid picks in these combinations.

The choice is yours. However, a calculator for these bets will help you understand how they work, and how much you could potentially earn back.

How Many Horses Need to Win for a Union Jack Patent Bet?

You may only need three horses to win for you to make money on a union jack patent bet.

However, you may also find that if more of your horses win, you might still not make a return.

This is because while there are multiple combinations in a union jack bet, they do not cover every single possibility!

Therefore, you need to be careful about where you place different horses and picks in your grid.

Seven horses from your selections winning will likely be enough to guarantee a return. However, you should always use a calculator to be sure of what to expect.

Other Nine Selection Bet Types

Here are other bet types that include 9 selections:

  • Union Jack Trebles – this twist on the union jack bet is the lowest risk as it contains fewer bets than the patent. It also covers the same 3×3 grid.
  • Union Jack Round Robin – this is a riskier but potentially more lucrative wager. It covers all straight lines on the same 3×3 grid, and will need you to invest in 80 separate bets!
  • 9 fold accumulator

Which Bookmakers do a Union Jack Patent Bet?

Union jack patent bets are generally uncommon within the betting industry – however, some old school punters out are still out there that will place them.

If it’s something you’re interested in, you can place one of these bets at the following bookmakers:

What Happens if a Selection is a Non Runner?

As a rule, non-runners are treated the same way, no matter what the bet type. Therefore, if you have a non-runner in your union jack patent bet, that selection will be considered void, but the rest of your bet will run as usual.

If you already have a few winners on your bet, a non-runner is not the worst thing in the world, as it can guarantee you some winnings in some instances.

What Happens if the Selection Dead Heats?

As with all bets, be it singles or multiples, if one of your horses’ dead heats, the odds are halved if he shares the win with another horse.

In the unlikely event that it is a three-way dead heat, the odds will then be divided by 3.

Union Jack Patent Free Bets Bonus

If you’re not ready to part with your cash but have a free bet bonus available, that could be the perfect chance to try out a union jack patent bet.

Remember, however, if you win on a free bet, due to betting regulations, the stake is then taken back, so you’ll need to make sure you can win enough from your bet to cover more than the free bet stake if you want to walk away with any cash winnings.

FAQs

How Many Bets are On a Patent?

Patent wagers cover a total of 8 bets.

The union jack bet multiplies 8 x 7 bets to make 56 in total.

Is a Patent a Good Bet?

A patent can give you a lot of insurance, though it may often be more expensive than many other bet types.

What’s the Difference Between a Trixie and a Patent?

A patent bet is made up of 7 bets, while a trixie has 4.

Both consist of trebles and doubles, variably. The patent type of bet is likely to cost more in terms of initial betting stake because it also includes singles.

Other Bet Types

There are a range of other bet types too. To find out about the different types of bets, please take a look at these pages below:

Summary

Although it is an interesting bet type, we recommend taking a look at other union jack bets, too, as these may offer you lower stakes and potentially higher returns.

The patent variant of this bet tends to be popular as it is the middle ground between trebles and round robins.

Always use a calculator for this type of online sports bet, however, as working out any potential returns for this bet can be quite complex!