What a Canadian (Super Yankee) bet means

A Canadian — also called a Super Yankee — is a full-cover bet on five selections producing 26 bets, with no singles:

  • 10 doubles
  • 10 trebles
  • 5 fourfolds
  • 1 fivefold

The two names describe the exact same bet. It is the five-selection step up from the Yankee (four selections, 11 bets). A £1 Canadian costs £26.

A worked example

Back five selections at 2.00 each, £1 unit, £26 staked.

If two win, one double pays 2.00 × 2.00 = 4.00 → £4 returned. Against £26, a heavy loss.

If all five win, every layer pays:

  • 10 doubles at 4.00 → £40
  • 10 trebles at 8.00 → £80
  • 5 fourfolds at 16.00 → £80
  • 1 fivefold at 32.00 → £32
  • Total: £232 from £26.

Our accumulator calculator computes all 26 lines for any prices, so you can see exactly how many winners you need to profit.

When and why it is used

A Canadian suits punters who:

  • Have five selections and want fuller coverage than a single fivefold.
  • Are happy to skip singles (unlike the Lucky 31) to keep the stake lower.
  • Want multiple ways to win across a race meeting or football coupon.

It is the natural five-pick version of the Yankee family, one rung below the six-selection Heinz.

The honest downside

  • 26 slices of margin. Every selection carries the bookmaker’s edge, compounded across all 26 lines. Big multiples carry the steepest overround — check any book with our margin calculator.
  • No singles. A lone winner from five returns nothing.
  • Two winners often still loses. As the example shows, a single winning double rarely covers a £26 outlay unless the odds are large.
  • Each-way doubles the cost to £52 for a £1 unit.

The Canadian is a fun way to cover five picks, but the no-singles rule and the layered margin make it a high-variance, high-edge bet. Skipping singles saves stake but removes your only one-winner protection.

Compare markets and each-way terms at our best betting sites. Twenty-six bets on one slip adds up, so keep staking measured with our responsible gambling tools.

18+. Gambling involves real financial risk. If it stops being fun, take a break — play responsibly.