Goliath Bet Explained
A Goliath bet explained simply: it's one of the largest multiple bets available in UK bookmaking, combining eight selections into 247 separate bets covering every possible double, treble and accumulator combination. It's designed for bettors who want broad coverage across multiple events without needing every single selection to win. This page breaks down exactly how the bet is structured, what it costs to place, and how to weigh up whether it suits your betting style before choosing where to place it.
What Is a Goliath Bet?
A Goliath is a fixed-odds multiple bet made up of eight selections from different events. Rather than backing all eight in a single accumulator, the bet splits those selections into every mathematically possible combination of two or more, generating 247 individual bets from one slip. It sits within the same family as the trixie, yankee and Canadian, just several sizes larger, and it's aimed at bettors who want a return even when not every leg comes in.
How a Goliath Bet Works
The 247 bets break down into 28 doubles, 56 trebles, 70 four-folds, 56 five-folds, 28 six-folds, 8 seven-folds and a single eight-fold accumulator. Because every combination is covered, you only need two of your eight selections to win for some return to come back, though the total payout depends heavily on how many legs actually land and at what odds. This is the key trade-off: a Goliath spreads risk across many outcomes, but the overall stake is large because you're effectively placing 247 separate bets rather than one.
Working out the total stake is straightforward once you know your unit stake per bet. Multiply your chosen stake by 247 to find the total outlay, since every one of those combinations needs covering. A £1 unit stake, for example, means £247 staked in total, even though it might feel like a single bet when you're placing it.
Is a Goliath Bet Worth It?
Whether a Goliath makes sense depends on what you're trying to achieve. It suits bettors who genuinely rate eight selections but accept that getting all eight right in a straight accumulator is unlikely. The insurance of picking up returns from doubles and trebles within the same slip has appeal, but the overall stake required is considerably higher than a yankee or canadian covering fewer selections, and the bulk of any meaningful return still tends to come from the higher-fold combinations landing.
The honest drawback is that most Goliath bets return less than the total staked unless several selections come in at reasonable odds. It isn't a shortcut to consistent profit, and it works best when treated as a structured way to bet on multiple events you have genuine confidence in, rather than a way to manufacture value from long-shot picks.
Where to Place a Goliath Bet
Most established UK bookmakers support multiple bets including the Goliath through their sportsbook bet slip, though the exact naming and slip layout varies. bet365 offers extensive market coverage across football, racing and other sports, which matters for a bet needing eight separate events to fill out sensibly. Betfred is well known among UK multiple-bet fans and covers a wide range of markets suitable for building a Goliath slip.
William Hill is one of the more established names in UK betting and offers broad market coverage across the sports typically used for multiples. Ladbrokes and Paddy Power both offer similarly wide-ranging sportsbooks under the Entain and Flutter groups respectively, with straightforward bet slip options for building larger multiples. BetVictor is also worth checking if you're comparing odds across several events, given its competitive market pricing.
What to Look For Before Betting
Check that the bookmaker actually lists a Goliath option on its bet slip before assuming it's supported, as some platforms only offer the more common yankee or canadian by default and require selections to be added manually. Compare odds across a shortlist of UK betting sites before committing, since even small differences in individual selection odds compound significantly across 247 combinations. It's also worth checking current welcome offers, as some new customer promotions apply specifically to multiples or accumulators and can add value to a first Goliath bet.
Above all, treat the total stake as the real cost of the bet, not the per-line amount, and only place a Goliath with money you're comfortable losing in full. Our safer gambling page has practical guidance on setting deposit and stake limits if multiples like this are becoming a regular habit rather than an occasional bet.
FAQs
- What is a Goliath bet?
- A Goliath bet is a multiple bet made up of eight selections, combined into 247 separate bets covering every double, treble and accumulator possible from those eight picks. It's one of the largest standard multiples offered by UK bookmakers, sitting above the yankee and canadian in size.
- How much does a Goliath bet cost?
- The total stake is your unit stake multiplied by 247, since that's how many individual bets make up the slip. A £1 unit stake means £247 staked in total, so it's worth calculating the full cost before confirming the bet rather than just looking at the per-line figure.
- Is a Goliath bet worth placing?
- It depends on your confidence in all eight selections and your appetite for a large total stake. It offers more built-in coverage than a straight accumulator since you don't need every leg to win for some return, but most Goliath bets still return less than the stake unless several selections land at decent odds.
- How do I place a Goliath bet?
- Add eight selections to your bet slip and look for the Goliath option among the multiple bet types, which most major UK bookmakers list alongside yankees and canadians. Enter your unit stake, confirm the total cost shown for all 247 bets, and check the slip carefully before placing it since the outlay is considerably higher than it first appears.