Our final Full Cover Bet in this series exploring popular bets available at bet365 Sport is the enormous Goliath bet. The name is fitting because this wager is one of the largest betting systems available to sports bettors.
A Goliath bet consists of eight selections on the same bet slip, creating a massive web of different combinations across those picks. Instead of relying on one single accumulator, the bet spreads your selections across hundreds of possible multiples.
Because of this structure, the Goliath bet is one of the most complex and expensive betting systems available to punters. However, it can also generate extremely large returns if several selections win.
In this updated guide for BonusReferrerCode.com, we explore what a Goliath bet is, how it works, how returns are calculated, and which sports it is most commonly used in.
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The name Goliath comes from the famous Biblical story of David and Goliath. In that story, Goliath was a giant warrior defeated by David using a sling and a stone.
Over time, the word Goliath has become synonymous with something very large. That makes it a fitting description for this enormous betting system.
A Goliath bet is an eight-selection full cover bet. Because eight selections are involved, the number of combinations increases dramatically.
In total, a Goliath bet contains 247 separate bets.
Those combinations are broken down as follows:
| Bet Type | Number of Bets |
|---|---|
| Doubles | 28 |
| Trebles | 56 |
| Fourfolds | 70 |
| Fivefolds | 56 |
| Sixfolds | 28 |
| Sevenfolds | 8 |
| Eightfold Accumulator | 1 |
| Total Bets | 247 |
Unlike some other full cover bets, a Goliath does not include single bets.
That means you need at least two winning selections before the bet returns anything.
For readers interested in understanding similar betting systems, you can explore our guide to Full Cover With Singles Bets, which explains how adding singles changes the structure of system wagers.
Because a Goliath contains 247 individual bets, the cost of the bet depends on your chosen unit stake.
Your stake is multiplied by 247.
For example:
| Unit Stake | Total Cost |
|---|---|
| £1 | £247 |
| £0.10 | £24.70 |
| £0.01 | £2.47 |
This means a £1 Goliath bet may sound inexpensive but actually costs £247 in total stakes.
If the bet is placed each way, the cost doubles because every combination includes a win and place line.
For example:
Because of the large number of combinations, bettors typically place very small unit stakes when playing this bet type.
Working out potential returns from a Goliath bet can be extremely complicated due to the large number of combinations involved.
To simplify things, let’s look at an example.
Our bettor Lee places a £0.10 Goliath bet on the following eight selections:
| Selection | Odds |
|---|---|
| West End Girl | Evens |
| Paninaro | 2/1 |
| Opportunities | 3/1 |
| Go West | 4/1 |
| Being Boring | 5/1 |
| Neil’s Tenant | 6/1 |
| Itsasin | 7/1 |
| Insuburbia | 8/1 |
Total cost of bet: £24.70
If only one of Lee’s selections wins, he receives no return.
Because the Goliath bet does not include singles, two winners are required before any bet line wins.
Loss: £24.70
Once two selections win, Lee will land one winning double.
However the return depends heavily on the odds of those selections.
Worst case scenario (Evens + 2/1):
Return: £0.60
Net loss: £24.10
Best case scenario (7/1 + 8/1):
Return: £7.20
Net loss: £17.50
Clearly, two winners alone rarely produce a profit.
With three winning selections, multiple doubles and one treble now land.
Worst case scenario (Evens, 2/1, 3/1):
Return: £5
Loss: £19.70
Best case scenario (6/1, 7/1, 8/1):
Return: £69.50
Profit: £44.80
At this stage, higher odds selections dramatically increase potential profit.
Once four selections win, Lee is guaranteed to make a profit.
Worst case scenario:
Return: £34.50
Profit: £9.80
Best case scenario:
Return: £500.90
Profit: £476.20
At this point the returns increase significantly.
Worst case return: £249.90
Profit: £225.20
Best case return: £3,020.40
Profit: £2,995.70
Worst case return: £2,013.20
Profit: £1,988.50
Best case return: £60,475.70
Profit: £60,451
Now the returns become extremely large.
If all horses except the 8/1 selection win:
Return: £18,140
If all horses except the even money selection win:
Return: £60,475.70
In the perfect scenario, every selection wins.
Total return: £181,435.50
From a £24.70 stake, this illustrates the enormous upside possible with full cover system bets.
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Because calculating returns manually is extremely difficult, most bettors rely on bet calculators to estimate their winnings.
These tools allow you to:
You can use the sports betting calculators available on BonusCodePoker to quickly estimate the returns on complex system bets such as Goliaths.
Bet calculators are especially useful when working with full cover bets where hundreds of combinations are involved.
While technically a Goliath bet can be placed across many different sports, it is most commonly used in sports where multiple independent selections are available.
Horse racing is the most popular sport for Goliath bets.
Punters may select:
This allows bettors to cover an entire race meeting using one bet slip.
You can read more horse racing betting guides and promotions in our racing coverage across the site.
Football bettors often place Goliath bets on:
Because there are many matches across a weekend schedule, football is a natural fit for large system bets.
Golf tournaments are another sport where Goliath bets appear regularly.
Punters may back:
Goliath bets are also used in:
Essentially any sport with multiple independent selections can support system bets.
Yes. The Goliath is part of a larger family of system betting structures.
Other popular system bets include:
| Bet | Selections | Bets |
|---|---|---|
| Yankee | 4 | 11 |
| Canadian (Super Yankee) | 5 | 26 |
| Heinz | 6 | 57 |
| Super Heinz | 7 | 120 |
| Goliath | 8 | 247 |
Each system increases the number of selections and combinations.
Some bettors also add single bets to system wagers, which creates what is known as a Full Cover With Singles Bet.
This variation increases the cost but guarantees a return if even one selection wins.
With bet365 Sport, bettors can also place a Goliath bet each way.
Selecting the Each Way option creates two bets for every combination:
This means:
However, the cost of the bet doubles instantly.
Example:
| Bet Type | Cost |
|---|---|
| £0.10 Win Goliath | £24.70 |
| £0.10 Each Way Goliath | £49.40 |
The trade-off is that place finishes return smaller odds, usually around one quarter or one fifth of the win price.
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A Goliath bet is an eight-selection full cover system bet that includes 247 separate combinations made up of doubles through to an eightfold accumulator.
There are 247 individual bets in a Goliath system.
No. Singles are not included in a standard Goliath bet.
At least two selections must win to generate any return.
They are most commonly used in:
Horse racing is particularly popular because bettors can choose selections across multiple races.
Yes. Many bookmakers allow each way Goliath bets, which double the stake but allow place finishes to generate returns.
They can be. Even a small stake becomes expensive due to the number of combinations.
For example:
Because the bet includes 247 combinations, calculating returns manually is difficult.
Many bettors use online bet calculators to estimate their potential winnings.
Understanding complex system bets like the Goliath bet is an important part of sports betting knowledge. While these bets require larger stakes than simple accumulators, they also offer the possibility of significant returns if multiple selections win.
For bettors who enjoy covering multiple outcomes across a racecard or match schedule, the Goliath remains one of the most fascinating full cover bets available.
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