What is a Patent Bet? Patent Bet Explained

If you are looking for a wager that offers a high potential upside but provides a safety net if one of your selections lets you down, a Patent bet is an excellent choice. A Patent is a type of multiple or "combination" bet consisting of seven distinct bets spread across three separate selections.

Because a Patent includes single bets on each of your selections, you only need one of your three picks to win in order to guarantee a return on your investment. While the math behind multiples can sometimes seem complex, getting your head around this wager is straightforward when you have patent betting explained clearly.

To make things even easier, you can bypass the manual math entirely and use the free AceOdds Patent Bet Calculator to instantly work out your total stakes, potential returns, and overall profit in seconds.

How a Patent Bet Works

When you place a Patent bet, you are selecting three different outcomes (let's call them Selection A, Selection B, and Selection C). Instead of rolling them all into one accumulator where one loss ruins the entire slip, a Patent breaks them down into seven individual bets:

• 3x Single Bets: One on Selection A, one on Selection B, and one on Selection C.
• 3x Double Bets: One on A & B, one on A & C, and one on B & C.
• 1x Treble Bet: One encompassing all three selections (A, B & C).

Because you are placing seven different bets, your base stake is multiplied by seven. For instance, a £1 Patent will cost you £7 in total. If only one selection wins, you are paid out for that single bet. If two selections win, you are paid out for two singles and one double. If all three win, all seven bets pay out, resulting in a maximum return.

What is the Difference Between a Patent Bet and a Trixie Bet?

A common question among bettors is how a Patent differs from a Trixie, as both require exactly three selections. The difference comes down to the single bets.

• Trixie Bet: Consists of 4 bets (3 Doubles and 1 Treble). It does not include any singles. Therefore, you need a minimum of two winning selections to see any return.
• Patent Bet: Consists of 7 bets (3 Singles, 3 Doubles, and 1 Treble). Because it includes singles, you only need one winning selection to generate a return.

In short, a Patent gives you greater coverage and a lower threshold for a return, but it requires a higher total stake (seven unit stakes compared to four) to cover the extra single bets.

Patent Bet Examples

To understand how to calculate a patent bet, let's look at a practical, real-world example in horse racing. Let's assume you place a £1 Patent (total stake £7) on three horses, with the following outcomes:

Here is how your returns break down for this specific scenario:

• Single A (Wins): £1 stake at 2/1 = £3 return (£2 profit + £1 stake)
• Single B (Wins): £1 stake at 3/1 = £4 return (£3 profit + £1 stake)
• Single C (Loses): £0 return
• Double A & B (Wins): £1 stake at 2/1 and 3/1 (3.00 x 4.00 decimal) = £12 return
• Double A & C (Loses): £0 return
• Double B & C (Loses): £0 return
• Treble A, B & C (Loses): £0 return

Total Return: £3 + £4 + £12 = £19.00

Total Profit: £19.00 - £7.00 initial stake = £12.00

Even though Horse C lost, the inclusion of single and double coverages in the Patent ensured that you walked away with a healthy profit.

Best Sports for Patent Bets

While you can place a Patent on almost any sport, it is particularly effective in markets where the odds are long enough to ensure a profit even if only one or two selections win.

• Horse Racing & Greyhounds: These are the traditional homes of the Patent bet. Because standard race odds are frequently 2/1, 3/1, or higher, a single winner can often cover the total cost of the seven bets, meaning any subsequent winners are pure profit.

• Football: Standard match result (1X2) odds are sometimes too short to make a Patent worthwhile (a single 1/2 winner won't cover your £7 stake). However, Patent bets are excellent for higher-odds football markets like Correct Score, First Goalscorer, or Both Teams to Score & Win.

How to Use the AceOdds Calculator for a Patent Bet

Calculating combinations manually can be tedious, especially if you encounter a non-runner, a dead heat, or an each-way condition. Here is how to use our tool to do the heavy lifting:

1. Open the Calculator: Navigate to the free AceOdds Bet Calculator on your device.
2. Select Your Bet Type: From the primary dropdown menu, choose Patent.
3. Input Your Selections: Enter the odds for your three selections. You can toggle between fractional, decimal, or American odds depending on your preference.
4. Set Your Conditions: If any of your selections resulted in a Place, Dead Heat, or Void/Non-Runner, mark the corresponding boxes.
5. Enter Your Stake: Type in your stake. Be sure to clarify if your inputted amount is your "Stake per Bet" (e.g., £1) or your "Total Combined Stake" (e.g., £7).
6. View Your Returns: The calculator will instantly output your total outlay, gross return, and net profit.

How to Place a Patent Bet with bet365

If you are ready to put your knowledge to the test, here is a quick guide on how to place this wager with bet365 (the process is virtually identical across all major bookmakers):

1. Log In: Sign in to your bet365 account on mobile or desktop.
2. Make Your 3 Selections: Navigate to your chosen sport (e.g., Horse Racing) and tap the odds of the three selections you want to back. This will automatically add them to your bet slip.
3. Open Your Bet Slip: Click or tap on the bet slip at the bottom or right-hand side of your screen.
4. Find the Multiples Section: Scroll down past the "Singles" options and select "Show all multiples" if the Patent option is hidden.
5. Enter Your Stake: Find the box labelled Patent. Enter your unit stake into this box. Remember, whatever you type here will be multiplied by seven (e.g., typing £5 means your total bet will cost £35).
6. Confirm Your Bet: Review your total stake and potential returns, then click the Place Bet button.

Final Thoughts

For those who like to try and mitigate risk as much as possible, the Patent bet is one of the best ways. With singles added to the betting slip, the potential to make money only increases further, and with the right selections, this combination can be profitable.