What's inside a Canadian
| Bet | How many | Pays when |
|---|---|---|
| Doubles | 10 | Both selections in it win |
| Trebles | 10 | All 3 selections in it win |
| Fourfolds | 5 | All 4 selections in it win |
| Fivefold | 1 | All 5 selections in it win |
| Total | 26 |
How many bets pay out
The number of paying bets rises sharply with each extra winner, which is the whole appeal of a full cover bet:
| Winners | Bets that pay | Bets that lose |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | 0 | 26 |
| 2 | 1 | 25 |
| 3 | 4 | 22 |
| 4 | 11 | 15 |
| 5 | 26 | 0 |
Two winners pay just one of the 26 bets, so unless the prices are big, two winners won't cover the stake. Three winners pay four bets, and from there returns climb quickly.
Worked example: 50p Canadian with three winners
| Selection | Odds | Result |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | 2/1 | Won |
| 2 | 3/1 | Won |
| 3 | 5/2 | Won |
| 4 | 4/1 | Lost |
| 5 | 6/1 | Lost |
| Part of the bet | Stake | Returns |
|---|---|---|
| 10 doubles | £5.00 | £18.25 |
| 10 trebles | £5.00 | £21.00 |
| 5 fourfolds | £2.50 | £0.00 |
| 1 fivefold | £0.50 | £0.00 |
| Total | £13.00 | £39.25 |
Profit: £26.25
Each way Canadians
An each way Canadian is 52 bets: the 26 win bets plus the same 26 on the place part. Selections that only place still count towards the place multiples, so two or more placed selections produce a return even without a winner.
Canadian or Lucky 31?
A Lucky 31 is a Canadian plus five singles. It costs 31 stakes instead of 26, but one winner is enough for a return, and some bookmakers add bonuses to it.
Common questions
Why is a Canadian also called a Super Yankee?
It is the five-selection version of a Yankee: every double, treble and larger accumulator, with no singles. Both names mean exactly the same bet.
How much does a Canadian cost?
26 times your stake. A 50p Canadian costs £13 and a £1 Canadian costs £26. Each way doubles it to 52 bets.
What happens if one selection is a non-runner?
It counts as odds of 1, so every bet that includes it drops down a level: doubles become singles, trebles become doubles, and so on.