Goliath Bet

What Is a Goliath Bet?

A goliath bet is a full-cover multiple using eight selections, combining every possible double, treble and higher accumulator bet up to an eight-fold.

There are no singles in a goliath bet. So one winning selection isn’t enough to produce a return. At least two selections must win before any part of the bet settles as a winner.

Goliath bets are most often linked with sports such as horse racing and football, where bettors may want to combine several selections across different events. The core rule doesn’t change: the bet is built from eight separate selections and 247 individual betting lines.

How Many Bets Are in a Goliath?

A goliath contains 247 bets in total. That’s why the unit stake matters so much. The stake you enter is usually applied to every line, not to the whole slip.

How Does a Goliath Bet Work?

If you’re asking how a goliath bet works, think of it as a bundle of accumulators. You choose eight selections, then the bet automatically creates every multiple combination from two selections upwards.

For example, if selections A, B, C, and D win but the other four lose, the winning parts of the goliath are the doubles, trebles, and four-folds that can be formed from A, B, C, and D. Any line containing a losing selection loses.

This makes a goliath more flexible than a straight eight-fold accumulator, because not all eight selections need to win for a return. The trade-off is cost. You’re paying for 247 lines instead of one.

Goliath Bet Calculator: How to Work Out Your Returns

Our sports bet calculator supports Goliath bets, helping you estimate potential returns by calculating the winning combinations within the 247-bet structure. To calculate returns manually, you need the odds for each selection, the unit stake, and the results of each selection.

The basic process is:

1. Identify which selections won.
2. Work out every winning double, treble, and higher accumulator from those winners.
3. Calculate the return for each winning line.
4. Add those returns together.
5. Subtract the total stake to estimate profit or loss.

For decimal odds, an accumulator return is:

For fractional odds, many bettors find it easier to convert to decimal odds first. For example, 3/1 becomes 4.00 in decimal odds, because the return includes the stake.

A calculator earns its keep here. Goliath bets can involve dozens of winning lines when several selections win. Always remember that projected returns aren’t guaranteed. They depend on the final results and the settlement rules of the bookmaker.

Goliath Bet Example: Step-by-Step Breakdown

Suppose you place a £1 unit stake goliath on eight selections, all priced at 3/1. In decimal odds, each selection is 4.00. The total stake is:

If only one selection wins, there’s no return, because a goliath has no singles. If two selections win, one double wins. At 4.00 × 4.00, that double returns £16 from a £1 line. Still far below the £247 total stake.

If four selections win, the successful lines are:

At 3/1 each, those winning lines would produce a combined return of £608. After the £247 total stake, the profit would be £361. This example shows why a goliath can return money without all eight winners. It also shows why two or three winners may still mean an overall loss.

How Much Does a Goliath Bet Cost to Place?

The cost of a goliath bet is:

So a 10p goliath costs £24.70, a 50p goliath costs £123.50, and a £1 goliath costs £247.

This is one of the most common mistakes with goliath bets. A bettor may enter a stake that looks small, then realise it’s multiplied across 247 lines. Before confirming the bet, check the total outlay on the bet slip. Then decide whether losing that full amount would still fit your betting budget.

Each-Way Goliath Bets: How They Work

An each-way bet combines a win wager with a place wager, and an each-way goliath applies this structure to all 247 individual betting lines.

The cost is:

A 10p each-way goliath therefore costs £49.40. A £1 each-way goliath costs £494.

Each-way terms, place odds, dead heats, non-runners, and deductions can all affect returns. Because of this added complexity, each-way goliaths are generally better suited to bettors who already understand both each-way betting and system multiples.

How Many Winners Do You Need to Profit?

You need at least two winners for any return. But that doesn’t mean you’ll make a profit. Profit depends on the odds of the winning selections and the total cost of the bet.

At short odds, even several winners may not cover the full 247-line stake. At bigger odds, fewer winners may be enough to produce a profit, but those selections are usually less likely to win.

A sensible approach is to ask two questions before placing the bet. How many winners are realistically needed to break even? And would a smaller multiple give a better balance of cost and potential return?

Goliath vs Other Multiple Bets (Heinz, Super Heinz, Super Goliath)

Among the larger system bets, a goliath is bigger than both a Heinz and a Super Heinz because it uses eight selections and covers 247 betting combinations.

A Heinz uses six selections and contains 57 bets. A Super Heinz uses seven selections and contains 120 bets. A goliath uses eight selections and contains 247 bets. A Super Goliath is larger again because it uses nine selections and contains 502 bets. A goliath with singles would be a separate full-cover-with-singles variation rather than the standard goliath.

The main comparison point isn’t just potential return. It’s cost and complexity. If you only have six strong selections, a Heinz may suit you better than forcing two extra picks into a goliath. Adding weak selections can increase the number of losing lines and drag down the overall quality of the bet.