What Is a Lucky 31 Bet & How Do You Work a Lucky 31 Out?

Ever wondered what a Lucky 31 bet is and how it works? You’re in the right place.

A Lucky 31 brings five selections together and turns them into 31 separate bets. It spreads your stake across lots of combinations, so returns can still be possible even if not all five win.

Below, we explain what a Lucky 31 includes, how it’s settled, and how to work out potential returns with clear examples.

What Is a Lucky 31?

A Lucky 31 is a “full cover with singles” multiple on five selections. It creates 31 individual bets made up of:

1 five fold accumulator
5 four fold accumulators
10 trebles
10 doubles
5 singles

You place your stake on each of the 31 bets. So a £1 Lucky 31 costs £31 in total.

Because singles are included, a return is possible with just one winner. As more selections win, additional doubles, trebles and accumulators start to pay out, which can increase the overall return. Keep in mind that a return is not guaranteed and the total outcome depends on your odds and how many selections win.

Curious how those 31 bets actually settle across different results? Let’s look at the mechanics next.

How Does a Lucky 31 Work?

As outlined above, you’re placing 31 separate bets that cover every combination of your five selections, including singles. Each of the 31 has its own stake and settles independently.

A simple way to think about it:

Pick five different outcomes, often from separate events such as horse races.
Your bet slip then builds every possible single, double, treble, four fold and the five fold from those five selections.
If only one selection wins, just the relevant single pays. If two win, the two singles and their double can pay, and so on.

Two quick points to keep in mind:

Staking: the total cost rises with your unit stake because it is multiplied by 31.
Settlement: each winning part pays at the odds taken for that selection or combination. The losing parts of the 31 simply settle as losses.

Some firms may offer bonuses or guarantees on full cover bets. If that applies to your account, check the specific terms before you place your bet.

How To Work Out a Lucky 31

There are two parts to this: the total stake and the returns on any winning parts.

Total stake is straightforward: unit stake x 31.
To calculate returns, use fractional odds as multipliers. For a single at A/B with stake S, the return is S x (A/B + 1). For multiples, multiply the factors together. For example, a double on 2/1 and 3/1 with stake S returns S x 3 x 4.

To make it concrete, let’s use the same notional odds across both examples:

Selection 1: 3/1
Selection 2: 2/1
Selection 3: 4/1
Selection 4: 5/1
Selection 5: 6/1

20p Lucky 31 Example

Stake per bet: £0.20
Number of bets: 31
Total stake: £0.20 x 31 = £6.20

How returns are worked out in practice:

A winning single on 3/1 with a 20p stake returns 0.20 x (3 + 1) = £0.80.
A winning double on 3/1 and 2/1 with a 20p stake returns 0.20 x 4 x 3 = £2.40.
A winning treble on 3/1, 2/1 and 4/1 with a 20p stake returns 0.20 x 4 x 3 x 5 = £12.00.

Your actual payout is the sum of all the winning parts from the 31 bets. If only one selection wins, you’ll only receive the relevant single(s). If several win, the applicable doubles, trebles, four folds and the five fold are also included.

50p Lucky 31 Example

Stake per bet: £0.50
Number of bets: 31
Total stake: £0.50 x 31 = £15.50

Using the same odds as above:

A winning double on 3/1 and 2/1 with a 50p stake returns 0.50 x 4 x 3 = £6.00.
A winning treble on 2/1, 4/1 and 5/1 with a 50p stake returns 0.50 x 3 x 5 x 6 = £45.00.

The method is the same every time: convert each price to its decimal factor, multiply the factors together for that multiple, then multiply by your unit stake. Add up all winning parts to get the total return.

If you prefer not to calculate by hand, refer back to the explanation above and apply the same multipliers to any set of prices on your slip.

Lucky 31 Bet Each Way Meaning

An each way Lucky 31 doubles the number of bets because you’re placing a win and a place version of every part. That means 62 bets in total.

Total stake: unit stake x 62. For example, a £1 each way Lucky 31 costs £62.
Win part: settled at the win odds.
Place part: settled at a fraction of the win odds, such as 1/4 or 1/5, depending on the event and place terms.

Place terms vary by sport, field size and market rules. To work out place returns, adjust the win odds by the place fraction, then apply the same multiplication method as for win bets. The win and place parts settle separately, and your overall payout is the sum of all winning win parts plus all winning place parts.

How Many Horses Need To Win In a Lucky 31?

Only one winner is needed to generate a return, because the bet includes five singles. That said, a single winning selection may not cover the total cost of all 31 bets, especially at shorter odds.

More winners unlock more of the combinations. With two winners, you can return from two singles and their double. With three or more, trebles, four folds and the five fold come into play. As always, returns depend on the prices taken and how many of your selections win.

Is a Lucky 31 a Good Bet?

Whether a Lucky 31 suits you comes down to your preferences and budget.

Personal approach: if you like covering a range of outcomes across five selections rather than placing one straight accumulator, this format gives you more ways to receive a return when some, but not all, picks win.
Budget: remember you are staking 31 times your unit stake. For instance, £1 per bet is £31 in total, or £62 if placed each way. Make sure that outlay fits within what you are comfortable spending.

Pros

Multiple ways to return, not just all-or-nothing on one accumulator
Singles included, so one winner can still return something

Cons

Higher total stake than placing just a few singles or a smaller multiple
More moving parts to track and settle

If you choose to place a Lucky 31 with us, set a clear staking limit first and only bet what you can afford to lose. Used with a sensible budget and clear expectations, a Lucky 31 can be a structured way to cover five selections within one bet.

*All values (Bet Levels, Maximum Wins, etc.) mentioned in relation to these slot games are subject to change at any time. Game features mentioned may not be available in some jurisdictions.

**The information provided in this blog is intended for educational purposes and should not be construed as betting advice or a guarantee of success. Always gamble responsibly.