What Is a Lucky 31 Bet?
A Lucky 31 is a full-cover bet consisting of 31 bets on 5 selections:
- 5 singles
- 10 doubles
- 10 trebles
- 5 four-fold accumulators
- 1 five-fold accumulator
Like the Lucky 15, the “Lucky” name comes from special bonuses: double odds if only one wins, and a 10-20% bonus if all five win.
Lucky 31 structure (5 selections: A, B, C, D, E):
| Bet Type | Count | Formula |
|---|---|---|
| Singles | 5 | C(5,1) |
| Doubles | 10 | C(5,2) |
| Trebles | 10 | C(5,3) |
| Four-folds | 5 | C(5,4) |
| Five-fold | 1 | C(5,5) |
| Total | 31 | 2⁵ - 1 |
Key feature: Only 1 winner needed for a return.
Lucky 31 vs Lucky 15 vs Lucky 63
| Feature | Lucky 15 | Lucky 31 | Lucky 63 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Selections | 4 | 5 | 6 |
| Total bets | 15 | 31 | 63 |
| Singles | 4 | 5 | 6 |
| Doubles | 6 | 10 | 15 |
| Trebles | 4 | 10 | 20 |
| Four-folds | 1 | 5 | 15 |
| Five-folds | 0 | 1 | 6 |
| Six-fold | 0 | 0 | 1 |
| Stake ($2 unit) | $30 | $62 | $126 |
Lucky 31 Bonuses Explained
1 Winner Bonus: Double Odds
If only one selection wins, bookmakers typically double the winning odds.
Example: Selection A wins at 5.00, others lose
- Normal: $2 × 5.00 = $10
- With bonus: $2 × 10.00 = $20
All 5 Winners Bonus: 10-20%
If all five win, expect a 10-20% bonus on total winnings.
Example: Total return $1,000
- With 15% bonus: $1,000 + $150 = $1,150
Lucky 31 Example: Complete Breakdown
Your Selections
| Selection | Event | Decimal Odds |
|---|---|---|
| A | Horse 1 | 4.00 (3/1) |
| B | Horse 2 | 5.00 (4/1) |
| C | Horse 3 | 6.00 (5/1) |
| D | Horse 4 | 4.00 (3/1) |
| E | Horse 5 | 5.00 (4/1) |
Unit stake: $1 Total stake: $1 × 31 = $31
All 31 Bets Summary
| Bet Type | Count | If All Win (total) |
|---|---|---|
| Singles | 5 | $4 + $5 + $6 + $4 + $5 = $24 |
| Doubles | 10 | $20+$24+$16+$30+$20+$24+$25+$20+$30+$24 = $233 |
| Trebles | 10 | (various) = $1,160 |
| Four-folds | 5 | (various) = $2,720 |
| Five-fold | 1 | $2,400 |
| Total | 31 | $6,537 |
Lucky 31 Outcomes: What You Win
All 5 Win ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓
Using the example odds above:
| Component | Return |
|---|---|
| 5 Singles | $24 |
| 10 Doubles | $233 |
| 10 Trebles | $1,160 |
| 5 Four-folds | $2,720 |
| 1 Five-fold | $2,400 |
| Total | $6,537 |
| + 15% Bonus | $7,517.55 |
Profit: $7,486.55 (from $31 stake)
4 Win, 1 Loses ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✗
A, B, C, D win; E loses:
| Bet Type | Winning Bets | Losing Bets |
|---|---|---|
| Singles | 4 of 5 | 1 |
| Doubles | 6 of 10 | 4 |
| Trebles | 4 of 10 | 6 |
| Four-folds | 1 of 5 | 4 |
| Five-fold | 0 of 1 | 1 |
Winning bets: 15 of 31 Approximate return: $750-1,500 depending on odds
3 Win, 2 Lose ✓ ✓ ✓ ✗ ✗
| Bet Type | Winning Bets |
|---|---|
| Singles | 3 |
| Doubles | 3 |
| Trebles | 1 |
| Four-folds | 0 |
| Five-fold | 0 |
Winning bets: 7 of 31 Approximate return: $100-300
2 Win, 3 Lose ✓ ✓ ✗ ✗ ✗
| Bet Type | Winning Bets |
|---|---|
| Singles | 2 |
| Doubles | 1 |
| Everything else | 0 |
Winning bets: 3 of 31 Approximate return: $30-80
Only 1 Wins ✓ ✗ ✗ ✗ ✗
Only the winning single pays out.
- Normal: $4 (if odds were 4.00)
- With double odds bonus: $8
Loss: -$23 to -$27 depending on odds
When to Use Lucky 31 Bets
Ideal Situations
- 5 strong racing selections across different meetings
- Medium-to-long odds (3/1 to 8/1 range)
- Taking advantage of bonuses - 5-selection bonus is valuable
- Confident but want coverage - Can’t choose between 5 picks
When to Avoid
- Short odds favorites - Use Canadian/Super Yankee instead (26 bets, no singles)
- Budget constraints - 31× stake is significant
- Uncertain picks - Consider smaller Lucky 15 with 4 selections
Lucky 31 vs Canadian (Super Yankee)
| Feature | Lucky 31 | Canadian |
|---|---|---|
| Selections | 5 | 5 |
| Total bets | 31 | 26 |
| Includes singles | Yes (5) | No |
| Stake ($2 unit) | $62 | $52 |
| Minimum winners | 1 | 2 |
| Bonuses | Yes | Rare |
| Best for | Longer odds | Medium odds |
Quick Lucky 31 Returns Table
Unit stake: $1 (Total: $31)
| Odds (all same) | All 5 Win | 4 Win | 3 Win | 2 Win | 1 Wins |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.00 | $1,023 | $170 | $40 | $12 | $3 |
| 4.00 | $3,124 | $405 | $76 | $20 | $4 |
| 5.00 | $7,775 | $830 | $130 | $30 | $5 |
| 6.00 | $16,806 | $1,531 | $210 | $42 | $6 |
Returns exclude bonuses
Probability of Winning
| Individual Win Rate | 5 Win | 4 Win | 3 Win | 2 Win | 1 Win | 0 Win |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 40% | 1.0% | 7.7% | 23.0% | 34.6% | 25.9% | 7.8% |
| 50% | 3.1% | 15.6% | 31.3% | 31.3% | 15.6% | 3.1% |
| 60% | 7.8% | 25.9% | 34.6% | 23.0% | 7.7% | 1.0% |
With 50% accuracy: ~97% chance of at least 1 winner, ~50% chance of 3+ winners.
Strategy Tips
1. Focus on Value Odds
Lucky 31 works best with odds of 3.00-8.00:
- Short odds: Singles don’t cover enough stake
- Long odds: Good returns but lower probability
2. Spread Across Events
Don’t put all 5 in the same meeting:
- 2-3 from one race meeting
- 2-3 from another sport/meeting
- Reduces correlation risk
3. Each Way Lucky 31
62 bets (31 win + 31 place) for horse racing:
- More coverage
- Double the stake ($62 per unit)
- Great for competitive handicaps
Rule 4 in Lucky 31 Bets
Each selection affects multiple bets:
| Selection | # Bets Affected |
|---|---|
| Any single selection | 16 of 31 |
| All selections | All 31 |
Rule 4 on one selection affects over half your bet.
Frequently Asked Questions
How many winners do I need for a Lucky 31 to pay?
Just 1 winner (the single) guarantees a return.
What’s the difference between Lucky 31 and Canadian?
Lucky 31 includes 5 singles (31 bets); Canadian has no singles (26 bets). Lucky 31 pays on 1 winner; Canadian needs 2.
Is Lucky 31 good for short odds?
No. Short odds singles don’t return enough. Use Canadian or 5-fold accumulators instead.
Can I do each way Lucky 31?
Yes. 62 bets total, double the stake.
What bonus do bookmakers offer?
Typically double odds for 1 winner, 10-20% bonus for all 5 winners. Check terms.
Start Calculating Your Lucky 31 Bets
Use our free Lucky 31 calculator above to:
- Enter odds for all five selections
- Input your unit stake (total = unit × 31)
- Apply Rule 4 deductions if needed
- See returns for every possible outcome
- Compare with Canadian to choose the best option
The calculator shows potential returns for 1, 2, 3, 4, or 5 winners, helping you understand the full range of possible outcomes.