What Is a Patent Bet?

PATENT BETTING EXPLAINED

• WHAT IS A PATENT BET?
• HOW DOES A PATENT BET WORK?
• PATENT BET EXAMPLE
• WHAT HAPPENS IF ONE SELECTION LOSES IN A PATENT BET?
• PATENT BET VS TREBLE: WHICH IS BETTER?
• WHEN MIGHT A PATENT BET BE WORTH CONSIDERING?
• DO PATENT BETS MATCH YOUR BETTING STYLE?

WHAT IS A PATENT BET?

A Patent bet is a structured multiple made up of three horse racing betting selections, all from different races or markets. From those three selections, seven bets are automatically created. These consist of three singles, three doubles and one treble, all placed together as a single wager.

Because singles and doubles are included, a Patent bet does not rely on all three horses winning to generate a return. This sets it apart from a treble and is often the main reason punters choose this format. When people ask what is a Patent bet, the simplest explanation is that it spreads three selections across several bet types, so you may receive a return even if all three slections do not win. However, you can still lose your entire stake.

HOW DOES A PATENT BET WORK?

To understand how a Patent bet works in horse racing, it helps to think in terms of stake per line. Each of the seven bets within the Patent carries the same stake. If you stake €1 per line, the total cost of the bet is €7, as you are effectively placing seven separate bets at once.

Those bets are formed automatically from your three selections. Each horse is backed as a single, every possible pairing is backed as a double, and all three are combined into a treble. In the doubles and trebles, the odds multiply, which is why the potential return increases when two or more horses win, even if one loses.

This structure removes the need to manually place multiple bets and means the same three selections can generate several different outcomes, depending on how many of them win. 

PATENT BET EXAMPLE

Let’s use an example to make this concrete for fans of sports betting in Ireland. Imagine backing three horses at an Irish meeting such as Leopardstown. Suppose you select Galopin Des Champs at 5/2, Blue Lord at 3/1, and El Fabiolo at 7/2, with a €1 stake per line. Your total stake for the Patent bet is €7.* 

If only Galopin Des Champs wins, the single on that horse pays out while the other singles, doubles and the treble all lose. If Galopin Des Champs and Blue Lord both win, you receive returns from both singles and the double that combines them. If all three horses win, every single, double and treble pays out, producing the highest overall return.

*Please note that these names and prices are illustrative only, and do not represent betting tips or current odds.

WHAT HAPPENS IF ONE SELECTION LOSES IN A PATENT BET?

One of the main advantages of a Patent bet in horse racing is that it can still return money when not all horses win. If one horse loses but the other two are successful, the two winning singles and the double between them remain active. This can lead to a return, depending on the odds involved.

For example, if Galopin Des Champs and El Fabiolo win but Blue Lord loses, you still get payouts from the singles on each winner and the double combining them. If only one horse wins, the return comes from that single bet alone. While this may not cover the full stake, it means that some Patent bets with at least one winning selection will not result in a total loss of the stake. 

PATENT BET VS TREBLE: WHICH IS BETTER?

Comparing a Patent bet with a traditional treble highlights the trade‑off between risk and stake. A treble involves just one bet and one stake but requires all three horses to win. If any selection loses, the bet fails completely.

A Patent bet spreads the same three horse racing selections across seven bets. This increases the total stake but reduces reliance on a perfect outcome. While the headline payout from a single treble bet can look more attractive, a Patent bet offers more possible returning combinations, because singles and doubles are included. This changes the balance between total stake and the chance of receiving some return, but the overall risk of losing money remains. 

WHEN MIGHT A PATENT BET BE WORTH CONSIDERING?

A Patent bet may be worth considering in horse racing when you have three horses you feel reasonably confident about, but do not want to rely on all of them winning. However, there is never any guarantee that any selection will win, and you should only stake what you can afford to lose. It is often used when backing strong contenders across separate races on the horse racing calendar, like the Irish Grand National, Punchestown Festival, or Navan afternoon cards.

DO PATENT BETS MATCH YOUR BETTING STYLE?

Whether a Patent bet is right for you depends on how you approach horse racing betting. It offers more flexibility than a treble and introduces structured multiples in a straightforward way, but also requires a higher total stake. Of course, it must be kept in mind that there is no such thing as a risk-free bet. If all of your selections fail to win, then you will lose your stake entirely.