What is a Union Jack Bet? Union Jack Betting Explained
In this guide, we will answer the question "What is a Union Jack bet?", look at the different types of Union Jack bets and provide some suggestions regarding when and how they should be used.
How Does a Union Jack Bet Work?
The basic Union Jack bet is a complex wager involving a series of trebles (3-part bets) that the punter arranges in a grid pattern that suggests the Union Jack (hence the name). It is most often used on football and horseracing bets and is probably something those new to sports betting should shy away from until they get their legs under them. That said, let's dive in, starting with the basics.
Bet Structure
The typical Union Jack bet comprises 9 selections that are arranged in a 3x3 grid like so:
A B C
D E F
G H I
Within that grid are 8 trebles:
- 3 trebles on the horizontal lines (A/B/C, D/E/F, G,H,I)
- 3 trebles on the vertical lines (A/D/G, B/E/H, C/F/I)
- And 2 diagonal trebles that give the bet its Union Jack overtones (A/E/I, C/E/G)
Note: Because the central square (E) appears in half of your trebles, it is essential that you choose that selection carefully.
Because each treble is a separate bet, that's a total of 8 bets. If you wagered, say, £1 on each treble, you would be wagering a total of £8. In order to see any return on a basic Union Jack bet, you will need to hit on all 3 of the selections in at least one treble (for example, A/B/C). The more of your trebles that win, the greater the payout.
Types of Union Jack Bets: Trebles, Trixie, Patent & Round Robin
As you can see in that heading, there are several types of Union Jack bets, although they all exist within the grid structure we described above. The following chart provides a breakdown of these 4 Union Jack bet types.
| Type | Total Bets | Combinations Included |
|---|---|---|
| Trebles | 8 | A/B/C, A/D/G, C/E/G |
| Trixie | 32 | A/B, A/C, A/B/C |
| Patent | 56 | A, A/B, A/B/C - B, B/E, B/E/H |
| Round Robin | 56 | A/B/C, A/E/I |
Union Jack Trebles Explained
Each line of a Union Jack treble has 3 selections, with each 3-selection combo placed as a treble bet. That's a total of 8 trebles for the entire grid. Therefore, if you stake £1 per treble, your total stake will be £8. To enjoy a return, you will need at least 1 of those treble wagers to win.
Union Jack Trebles Bet Example with Possible Outcomes
Let's use selection A/B/C for a sample horse racing treble with all selections priced at 3/1. If such a treble were to hit, the payout would look like this: 3/1 odds with a £1 stake on A gives us £4 going into selection B. 3/1 odds on B with that £4 stake give us £16 going into selection C. And 3/1 odds with that £16 stake on C gives us a tidy return of £64. Subtract the £8 initial stake and you have a profit of £56.
Union Jack Trixie Explained
Each line of a Union Jack Trixie consists of 3 doubles and 1 treble for 4 total bets. That's a total of 32 bets for the grid. If you stake £1 on each wager, your investment will be £32. You will enjoy a return on your wagers if just one of your doubles scores a win. Although depending on the odds, you may need more than that to break even.
Union Jack Trixie Bet Example with Possible Outcomes
The presence of doubles in the Union Jack trixie bet increases your odds of making a profit.
For example, if you place horse racing doubles on A/B and A/D at fictional odds of 3/1 on A/B and 4/1 on D, and they win, your payout will look like this: 3/1 odds on A gives you £4 heading into B. 3/1 odds on B produces a total payout of £16 for the first double. On double A/D at 3/1, your £1 stake will return £4 heading into D. At 4/1 on D, those £4 from A will return £20. As a result, we have won a total of £36 against a total stake of £32 without ever cashing in on a treble.
Union Jack Patent Explained
Each 3-letter line is placed as a patent bet consisting of 3 singles, 3 doubles and 1 treble. That's a total of 7 wagers per line and 56 total for the patent Union Jack. If you stake £1 per bet, your total upfront stake will be £56. All you need is 1 single to win in order to receive some return.
Union Jack Patent Bet Example with Possible Outcomes
With both doubles and singles in the mix, you have maximum coverage with a patent. All you would need is for one of those singles to win and you would enjoy a return.
For example: if your single bet on C (of line A/B/C) pays out at odds of say 5/1, you will receive £5 to offset the total £56 stake. And if your double on A/B paid out, you would be doing even better. Your £5 winnings from A would carry over to B. If odds on B were, say, 4/1, your payout on the double would be £25, which you would add to your £5 payout from the single on A for a total payout of £30, recouping more than half your initial stake of £56.
Union Jack Round Robin Explained
The Union Jack round robin is similar in composition to the Union Jack patent in that there are 56 total bets involved, including doubles, trebles and singles. The difference is that the singles are up-and-down singles. If the first of the 2 wins (let's call it A) you pocket the winning and the stake on A is rolled over to B as a single bet. If B wins, the stake is rolled back to A, completing the up-and-down.
Union Jack Round Robin Bet Example with Possible Outcomes
With the Union Jack round robin, you are covered for nearly any eventuality. The nature of the up-and-down bets adds yet another potential payout opportunity, and if just one up-and-down pays out at sufficient odds, you could recoup a nice chunk of your original total stake of £56.
Selection Strategy: Why Placement Matters in Jack Bets
Placement matters because - when it comes to trebles anyway - if your most likely winners are not grouped together but are instead distributed on different lines, you will be undermining your potential payout. Even if you have more than one winner, you might not see any return because those winners weren't properly aligned. The bottom line is that carefully choosing where to place your most likely winners can significantly improve the potential result.
How to Calculate Union Jack Returns
Let's suppose your Union Jack treble across line A/B/C features these odds: 2.0 on A, 1.8 on B and 2.2 on C, with a £1 stake on each selection. The payout would be calculated like this: £1 × 2.0 × 1.8 × 2.2 for a total payout on your A/B/C treble of £7.92.
Now let's look at how the returns on a Union Jack trixie are calculated. (Just to refresh your memory, each trixie comprises 3 doubles and 1 treble for a total of 4 bets for each 3-selection line in the grid.)
So let's say you have winners right across the top horizontal line - A/B/C in the grid. And let's say your stake on each selection is £1 and the odds on those selections are 2.0 on A, 1.5 on B and 2.5 on C.
Your returns would be calculated thus: double 1 (A/B) with total odds of 3.0 would return £3. Double 2 (A/C) with total odds of 5.0 would return £5 and double 3 (B/C) with total odds of 3.75 would return £3.75. The treble, with total odds of 7.5, would return £7.50. So your total return for the trixie comprising A/B/C would be £11.25.
Wish you had a trebles, trixie or patent calculator? Now you do with our calculator. It's part Union Jack trebles free bet calculator, part Union Jack trixie free bet calculator and part patent bet calculator. Give it a try today.
Popular Sports for Union Jack Betting
Union Jack bets are most often used on sports that A) produce clear win/loss results and B) allow for multiple selections. Those sports include:
- Horseracing: Horseracing attracts more Union Jack bets than any other sport. Because horseracing typically offers attractive odds and features numerous participants, it offers potentially high returns on trebles.
- Football: By most accounts, football attracts the 2nd most Union Jack bets. This is attributed to several factors, including fixed scheduling that makes planning easy, along with odds that can vary significantly, which allows for a high degree of strategising.
- Greyhound racing: Greyhound racing attracts a lot of Union Jack bets because it involves a lot of races in a short period of time, making it fertile ground for the Union Jack's multiple selections.
- Tennis: Tennis tournaments where many matches are held each day also attract a significant number of Union Jack bets. Loaded match schedules make it easy to select 9 potential winners for placement on the Union Jack grid.
How to Place a Union Jack Bet: Step-by-Step Guide
Here's a brief step-by-step guide demonstrating how to place a typical Union Jack bet.
Step 1: Make 9 selections
Select 9 potential outcomes from different events you want to bet on that offer win/loss results. (See above for popular choices).
Step 2: Arrange them in the Union Jack grid
Your selections are placed in the 3x3 grid format with 3 horizontals, 3 verticals and 2 diagonals. Remember to choose your placements carefully to help ensure optimal outcomes.
Step 3: Choose your type of Union Jack bets
As we described above, you can choose either trebles, trixies, patents or round robin bets, depending on your comfort level.
Step 4: Choose your stake
Choose how much you are comfortable betting on each bet. The total stake will vary depending on which type of Union Jack bets you choose.
That's it. All that's left to do now is to place the bet with your sportsbook.
Benefits of Choosing the Union Jack Betting Strategy
Union Jack bets are popular with punters fond of combining multiple selections into a single betting format. Here are some of the main benefits of choosing Union Jack bets.
- Bet consolidation: With Union Jack bets, you can create 8 to 56 individual bets in one place. This type of consolidation eliminates the need to place dozens of individual bets.
- Enhanced potential for winning: A Union Jack bet provides dozens of opportunities within the single overriding bet structure to see some return.
- Reduced risk: You don't need to win on all your individual bets in a Union Jack. By just hitting on a few, you can potentially turn a profit.
- Variety: If you are looking for something to reinvigorate your betting activity, the Union Jack may be just the thing, as it provides a variety of different bet types and configurations.
- The ability to strategise: The Union Jack format promotes strategising, since the placement of your strongest choices can have a significant impact on overall payout.
Responsible Gambling Considerations When Using Jack Bet
While Union Jack bets can enliven your gambling activity and help in some ways to mitigate risk, they can also potentially undermine responsible gambling efforts. Here's how:
By encouraging large stakes
The cost of Union Jack bets with 56 individual stakes can add up quickly. If you stake just £2 on each Union Jack bet, your stake will be £112. And you may not see any return.
By potentially requiring big investments in time
Placing 56 individual bets in a way that optimises your potential return is no easy feat. Some might find themselves dedicating hours to the task. Time they could be spending working or with family.
Difficulty tracking losses
With so many potential wagers involved, it can become difficult to track them all, and you may lose track of how much you've lost.
Final Thoughts on Union Jack Betting
Union Jack bets can ramp up your engagement, add excitement to your gambling activities and provide potentially large payouts, all while allowing you to exercise your strategic acumen. Because of the nature of the Union Jack bet, however, I would only consider employing it on horseracing, dog racing and perhaps tennis.