What Is A Union Jack Bet?

A Union Jack bet is a novelty bet or special bet in which nine selections are laid out in the shape of the Union Jack Flag to form eight trebles, with one selection in the middle and eight selections around it.

What is a Union Jack Bet?

A Union Jack is formed using nine selections that are set out on a betting form that looks like the Union Jack flag. The best way to picture it is to create a 3×3 grid. In the first row you have A, B, C. In the second row you have D, E, F. In the final row you have G, H, I.

Formation of a Union Jack Bet

The nine selections in the bet form eight trebles. There are three horizontal trebles, three vertical trebles, and two diagonal trebles.

The three horizontal trebles are made up of selections A, B, and C, and D, E, and F, and G, H, and I.

The three vertical trebles are made up of selections A, D, and G, and B, E, and H, and C, F, and I.

The two diagonal trebles are made up of selections A, E, and I, and G, E, and C.

Tactics for a Union Jack Bet

Because selection E features in half of the eight trebles in the full bet, it is normally a good idea to save this place for the selection you fancy the most.

Alternatively, you could pick the selection that is priced up at the shortest odds in the belief it has the best chance of winning according to the markets. Or you could pick the selection with the biggest odds in the hope it wins and gives you the best chance of winning the most amount of money.

Cost of a Union Jack Bet

In total, the bet is in fact eight bets and you can stake the same amount on each bet, for example, £1, £5, or £10. Your bets would then cost you 8 x £1 = £8, 8 x £5 = £40, or 8 x £10 = £80.

However, you can also place each-way versions of the bets. To work out how much one of these costs, simply double the stake of your win bet.

If you simply have a sum of money you want to stake on a Union Jack, you can work out how much to stake on each bet by dividing that sum by 8 for a win Union Jack bet or 16 for an each-way Union Jack bet. For example, if you have £20, you could have a £2.50 win bet or a £1.25 each-way bet.

Winnings from a Union Jack Bet

A Union Jack is simply eight trebles. It’s unlikely all your selections will be the same price but, for the purpose of showing you how to work out your winnings from each treble, we’ll say each selection is 2/1.

So, if selections A, B, and C all win, that means you’ve landed the first horizontal treble of your Union Jack Bet. If you’ve staked £1 on each treble, you’ll have £1 on selection A at 2/1, returning £3. You’ll then have £3 on selection B at 2/1, returning £9. You’ll then have £9 on selection C at 2/1, returning £27. That’s a 26/1 treble. If all nine selections win at 2/1, you would then get back 8 x £27 = £216.

Advantages of a Union Jack Bet

A Union Jack Bet is a fun way of combining nine selections into eight manageable bets and three winners could give you a nice return, whilst you could get a big return if all nine win.

Disadvantages of a Union Jack Bet

The problem with placing a Union Jack Bet is it’s possible that quite a few of your nine selections could win and you won’t get any sort of return.

If just one or two win you won’t get anything, whilst it’s possible you could have up to five winning selections without any three of them forming a winning treble line.

Perhaps the biggest disadvantage of placing a Union Jack bet is if all nine selections win. Sure, you’ll win all nine of the bets you placed, but you won’t be paid out on anything bigger than a treble. That’s why many punters prefer to place combo bets such as Super Yankees and other bets that combine lots of selections into doubles, trebles, four-folds, five-folds, and accas etc.

Just to put that into context, if you had a £1 accumulator on nine selections all priced at 2/1 – that would pay £19,683.

Union Jack Bet Calculator

As with most bet types of this nature, it’s far easier to use a calculator to determine your bets and winnings. We highly recommend this one from AceOdds:

Sports for a Union Jack Bet

You’ll need to double-check with your bookmaker to determine whether selections from certain sports can be used in a Union Jack bet. But many bookies will allow you to pick horse racing selections, football selections, and selections from many other sports. Some may even allow you to combine selections from different sports into a Union Jack bet.

Summary of a Union Jack Bet

• A Union Jack Bet is nine selections formed into eight trebles
• You’ll only get paid out if all three selections on a line win or place (if it’s an each-way Union Jack bet.
• A Union Jack bet costs 8x your stake or 16x if it’s an each-way Union Jack.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is a Union Jack bet?

A Union Jack bet is a unique type of wager that involves nine selections arranged in a 3×3 grid, creating a total of eight treble bets. These trebles include three vertical, three horizontal, and two diagonal combinations. For a return, all three selections in a treble must win. This bet offers enhanced coverage and the potential for substantial returns, but it requires careful selection and strategic placement of bets.

How does the Union Jack Trixie variation work?

The Union Jack Trixie is a more complex variant of the standard Union Jack bet, comprising 32 total bets. This includes the original eight treble bets along with an additional 24 double bets. It’s designed for punters seeking more complexity and higher potential returns, making strategic selection placement even more crucial.

Can I place a Union Jack bet with Ladbrokes or William Hill?

While Union Jack bets are not typically featured as standard offerings on online betting platforms, they can often be placed through direct contact with the bookmaker or by visiting a betting shop in person. Both Ladbrokes and William Hill might offer the ability to place these bets, especially for customers who inquire directly or have access to a physical betting shop. Be sure to check the latest terms and conditions or speak with a customer service representative for the most accurate and current information.

What are the pros and cons of placing a Union Jack bet?

Pros of Union Jack bets include the fun and excitement of placing a unique bet, the potential for returns even if only a subset of the trebles win, and the strategic placement of bets. However, there’s also the risk of no return if the selections don’t win as aligned in the grid, and the complexity of the bet can be challenging to understand for novice punters.

How are winnings calculated for a Union Jack bet?

Calculating the potential winnings from a Union Jack bet can be complex due to the numerous combinations and factors involved, such as odds format and unit stake. Online bet calculators can simplify this process by allowing you to input the details of your bet to see potential returns. These tools are especially helpful for more complex bets like the Union Jack Trixie or Patent.

What types of events can I include in my Union Jack bet?

Union Jack bets can include a wide range of sports, markets, or events, as long as the selections can be combined into trebles. This flexibility means you can mix selections from different sports or events taking place over a weekend, for instance, including football matches, tennis matches, horse races, and rugby games, among others.

For detailed strategies on placing Union Jack bets, consider exploring different bet types like the Trixie, Patent, or Round Robin variants, which can increase the complexity and potential returns of your bet.