What a Lucky 15 covers
A Lucky 15 takes four selections and covers every possible combination of them in 15 separate bets:
| Bet type | How many | Winners needed |
|---|---|---|
| Singles | 4 | 1 |
| Doubles | 6 | 2 |
| Trebles | 4 | 3 |
| Four-fold accumulator | 1 | 4 |
| Total | 15 | — |
Because the four singles are included, one winner is enough to get a return. Each extra winner brings more of the doubles, trebles and the four-fold into play, which is why returns climb so steeply on a good day.
How to use the calculator
- Choose your odds format, fractional (like 5/1) or decimal (like 6.0). You can also type "evens".
- Enter your stake per bet. This is the unit stake, not the total, so £1 here means a £15 Lucky 15.
- Enter the odds for each of the four selections and set how each one finished.
- Tick each-way if you placed it that way and choose your place terms.
- Optionally switch on the bonus terms if your bookmaker offers them.
The breakdown table shows what each group of bets returned, so you can check the settlement line by line rather than taking one number on trust.
How non-runners are settled
If one of your four selections does not run, the bet is not void. The standard rule is that the non-runner settles at odds of 0, a price of 1.0, inside every bet it appears in. In practice a Lucky 15 with one non-runner pays out like a Patent on the three remaining selections, plus the void single, which simply returns its stake. This calculator applies that rule automatically when you set a selection to "Non-runner".
The bonuses, and why they are optional here
The bonuses are what make the bet "lucky", but they are bookmaker goodwill rather than a rule of the bet, so they are switched off by default on this calculator:
- One-winner consolation. If only one of your four wins, some bookmakers pay that single at double the odds (a few pay treble). Applied here as double, and only when there is no non-runner, because firms' terms diverge once a leg is void.
- All-winners bonus. If all four win, some bookmakers add a percentage, commonly 10%, to your total return. Applied here to the whole return, including the place part on an each-way bet.
Some firms apply these differently, or advertise a single boosted price instead. Read the rules before you bet. For the full explanation of the bet itself, see our Lucky 15 explained guide, which also covers the Lucky 31 and Lucky 63.
Lucky 15 vs Yankee vs Patent
| Bet | Selections | Bets | Includes singles? |
|---|---|---|---|
| Lucky 15 | 4 | 15 | Yes |
| Yankee | 4 | 11 | No |
| Patent | 3 | 7 | Yes |
A Yankee is the same four selections without the singles: cheaper, but you need two winners before anything pays. A Patent is the same idea as a Lucky 15 with three selections instead of four. For straight singles, doubles and accumulators, use the bet calculator.