- Quick Answer
- What Is a Lucky 31 Bet?
- What Is a Lucky 31 Bet Made Of?
- What Is a Lucky 31 Bet Worth? How Much It Costs
- What Is a Lucky 31 Bet in Worked Examples?
- What Is a Lucky 31 Bet Compared with a Canadian and a Lucky 15?
- Each-Way Lucky 31 Bets and Void Selections
- When a Lucky 31 Makes Sense
- Frequently Asked Questions
- What is a lucky 31 bet in horse racing?
- How much does a Lucky 31 cost?
- How many winners do I need for a return?
- What happens if one selection is void?
- Is a Lucky 31 better than a Canadian?
- Can I place a Lucky 31 on football?
What is a lucky 31 bet? In fact, it is a full-cover multiple bet that turns five selections into 31 separate bets. For example, a punter picks five football teams or five horses, and the bookmaker builds every possible combination from those picks. As a result, the bet covers singles, doubles, trebles, four-folds and one five-fold accumulator in a single wager.
In addition, the singles give the bet its safety net. Therefore, one winner alone pays a return, while a plain five-fold accumulator needs all five picks to win. Overall, this guide covers the breakdown, the cost, worked examples and the Canadian comparison. For more explainers of this kind, visit our Betting Academy.
Last updated: November 2026
Quick Answer
- A Lucky 31 covers 5 selections in 31 bets: 5 singles, 10 doubles, 10 trebles, 5 four-folds and 1 five-fold.
- One winner is enough for a return, because the singles pay on their own.
- The cost is the unit stake multiplied by 31. For instance, ₦1,000 per bet costs ₦31,000 in total.
- An each-way Lucky 31 runs to 62 bets, since every combination is covered twice.
What Is a Lucky 31 Bet?
In fact, a Lucky 31 is a full-cover bet, which means it covers every combination of the five selections. In other words, no possible winning combination is left out. In particular, the name comes from two facts: bookmakers often add bonuses to these bets, and the total number of bets is 31.
Similarly, the bet belongs to the same family as the Yankee and the Lucky 15. For instance, the Yankee covers four selections without singles, while the Lucky 15 adds four singles to the Yankee. Furthermore, the Lucky 31 takes the same idea one step further with five selections. Learn how the four-selection version works in our guide to what is a Yankee bet.
A Canadian on the same five selections needs two winners before it pays anything. By contrast, a Lucky 31 pays from the first winner, because that winner’s single pays out on its own. Consequently, it suits punters who want cover across five picks and a return when only one or two win.
In fact, horse racing made the bet famous. Nevertheless, most online bookmakers offer it on football and other sports too. In each case, the five selections must come from different events.
What Is a Lucky 31 Bet Made Of?
To begin with, the 31 bets break down into five groups. Firstly, five singles cover each selection on its own. Secondly, ten doubles cover every pair of selections. Thirdly, ten trebles cover every group of three. After that, five four-folds cover every group of four. Finally, one five-fold accumulator covers all five selections together.
| Bet type | Number of bets | What it needs to pay |
|---|---|---|
| Singles | 5 | 1 winner |
| Doubles | 10 | 2 winners |
| Trebles | 10 | 3 winners |
| Four-folds | 5 | 4 winners |
| Five-fold | 1 | 5 winners |
| Total | 31 | — |
In fact, there are ten possible pairs, ten possible trios and five possible groups of four. Therefore, the total is fixed at 31, whatever the sport or the odds.
What Is a Lucky 31 Bet Worth? How Much It Costs
In short, the total cost is simple: multiply the unit stake by 31. For example, a unit stake of ₦1,000 gives a total stake of ₦31,000. In the same way, a unit stake of ₦100 gives a total of ₦3,100.
| Unit stake | Total stake |
|---|---|
| ₦100 | ₦3,100 |
| ₦500 | ₦15,500 |
| ₦1,000 | ₦31,000 |
| ₦2,000 | ₦62,000 |
Above all, keep the unit stake small. After all, the 31 bets multiply the stake fast, so a modest unit stake still creates a sizeable total. For instance, a ₦500 unit stake already costs ₦15,500. Therefore, set the unit stake first and check the total before you confirm the bet.
In addition, each-way betting doubles the cost: an each-way Lucky 31 at ₦1,000 per bet costs ₦62,000.
What Is a Lucky 31 Bet in Worked Examples?
These examples use a unit stake of ₦1,000, so the total stake is ₦31,000 in each case. In addition, all returns shown include the stake. For clarity, each winning bet pays its combined odds multiplied by ₦1,000.
Example 1: all five win at 2.00
| Winning bets | Return |
|---|---|
| 5 singles at 2.00 | ₦10,000 |
| 10 doubles at 4.00 | ₦40,000 |
| 10 trebles at 8.00 | ₦80,000 |
| 5 four-folds at 16.00 | ₦80,000 |
| 1 five-fold at 32.00 | ₦32,000 |
| Total return | ₦242,000 |
As a result, the profit is ₦211,000 after the ₦31,000 stake.
Example 2: all five win at 3.00
| Winning bets | Return |
|---|---|
| 5 singles at 3.00 | ₦15,000 |
| 10 doubles at 9.00 | ₦90,000 |
| 10 trebles at 27.00 | ₦270,000 |
| 5 four-folds at 81.00 | ₦405,000 |
| 1 five-fold at 243.00 | ₦243,000 |
| Total return | ₦1,023,000 |
Consequently, the profit is ₦992,000 after the ₦31,000 stake.
Example 3: only one winner at 2.50
Only the single on the winner pays. Therefore, the return is ₦2,500, which leaves a loss of ₦28,500. Nevertheless, a Canadian on the same picks would return nothing at all.
Example 4: two winners at 2.00
Two singles pay ₦4,000, and the double between the two winners pays ₦4,000. As a result, the total return is ₦8,000, which leaves a loss of ₦23,000.
Example 5: four winners at 2.00
Four singles pay ₦8,000, six doubles pay ₦24,000, four trebles pay ₦32,000 and one four-fold pays ₦16,000. Therefore, the total return is ₦80,000, which gives a profit of ₦49,000.
What Is a Lucky 31 Bet Compared with a Canadian and a Lucky 15?
In general, the three bets share the full-cover idea, but they differ in selections, singles and cost.
| Bet | Selections | Bets | Singles | Minimum winners | Cost at ₦1,000 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Lucky 15 | 4 | 15 | 4 | 1 | ₦15,000 |
| Canadian | 5 | 26 | 0 | 2 | ₦26,000 |
| Lucky 31 | 5 | 31 | 5 | 1 | ₦31,000 |
In contrast, the Canadian covers the same doubles, trebles, four-folds and five-fold as the Lucky 31, but it drops the five singles. As a result, it costs ₦26,000 at a ₦1,000 unit stake instead of ₦31,000. However, it needs two winners before it pays anything.
In addition, the Lucky 15 is the smaller cousin. It covers four selections in 15 bets, and our guide to what is a Lucky 15 bet explains it in full. By contrast, the Lucky 31 adds a fifth selection and 16 more bets.
Similarly, the same full-cover idea works with fewer selections too. For instance, the Patent applies it to three selections in seven bets — see our guide to what is a Patent bet.
In short, what is a lucky 31 bet if not a Canadian with five singles added? That single difference explains the higher cost and the earlier return.
Each-Way Lucky 31 Bets and Void Selections
In addition, an each-way Lucky 31 doubles the bet to 62 combinations. In horse racing, each combination runs twice: once to win and once to place. The place part pays at a fraction of the win odds, often one quarter or one fifth. As a result, an each-way Lucky 31 at ₦1,000 per bet costs ₦62,000.
So what is a lucky 31 bet after a void selection? In general, it becomes a Lucky 15 on the four remaining selections. As a result, the bets that involved the void selection are voided and refunded, while the rest continue at reduced size. Nevertheless, exact refund rules vary by bookmaker, so check the operator’s rules before you place the bet.
When a Lucky 31 Makes Sense
In general, a Lucky 31 makes sense when five picks all look strong, yet no single pick feels certain. In that case, the singles protect the stake, while the multiples chase the bigger return. On the other hand, the multiplied stake drains a bankroll fast as an everyday bet.
Firstly, keep the unit stake small enough that the total still feels comfortable. Secondly, pick selections from different events, since the bet needs five separate results. Thirdly, compare the total cost with a plain five-fold accumulator before you commit: the Lucky 31 costs 31 times the unit stake, while the accumulator costs the unit stake alone.
In Nigeria, betting regulation is state-led. The Supreme Court nullified the National Lottery Act 2005 on 22 November 2024, and the National Lottery Regulatory Commission framework applies only in the Federal Capital Territory. Therefore, check the rules of the state where you live. In addition, betting is for adults only: 18+ only. Licensed operators check identity with a BVN or an 11-digit NIN before they pay out.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is a lucky 31 bet in horse racing?
In fact, it is the same 31-bet structure applied to five horses in different races. Bookmakers often add bonuses, such as double odds for one winner or a bonus when all five win.
How much does a Lucky 31 cost?
The cost is the unit stake multiplied by 31. For instance, ₦1,000 per bet costs ₦31,000, while ₦500 per bet costs ₦15,500. An each-way version doubles the cost to 62 bets.
How many winners do I need for a return?
One winner is enough, because that winner’s single pays out. Two winners pay two singles plus a double.
What happens if one selection is void?
In general, the bet drops to a Lucky 15 on the four remaining selections. Bets on the void selection are refunded, and the rest continue at reduced size.
Is a Lucky 31 better than a Canadian?
It depends on the goal. The Lucky 31 costs more, but it pays from the first winner. The Canadian costs less, yet it needs two winners before it returns anything.
Can I place a Lucky 31 on football?
Yes. In general, most online bookmakers offer it on football and other sports. The five selections must come from different matches or events.
Bet Responsibly: Betting is entertainment, not a source of income. Only stake money you can afford to lose, and stop when it stops being fun. If betting starts to affect your life, seek help. Read our Responsible Gambling page. 18+ only.
