Goliath Calculator
Total outlay = stake per bet x 247
How To Use This Calculator
The Goliath calculator computes returns for all 247 bets that come out of 8 selections: 28 doubles, 56 trebles, 70 four-folds, 56 five-folds, 28 six-folds, 8 seven-folds, and 1 eight-fold. No singles, and the total outlay is the largest of any mainstream UK system bet.
Your unit stake is multiplied by 247 to give the total outlay. A GBP 1 per bet Goliath costs GBP 247 in total.
Enter the odds for each pick and toggle won or lost.
See returns split by doubles, trebles, four-folds, five-folds, six-folds, seven-folds, and the eight-fold accumulator.
What Is a Goliath?
A Goliath is the biggest mainstream UK system bet: 247 wagers from 8 selections, covering every double, treble, four-fold, five-fold, six-fold, seven-fold, and the single eight-fold accumulator. There are no singles, so a lone winner returns nothing.
Goliath bets are offered at major UK and Irish bookmakers including Bet365, William Hill, and Paddy Power. They are typically reserved for full racing cards or special football accumulator weekends where the bettor has very high conviction across eight events. Bookmakers occasionally run all-winners promotions on Goliath bets during major festivals, but these are not standard.
- 28 doubles
- 56 trebles
- 70 four-folds
- 56 five-folds
- 28 six-folds
- 8 seven-folds
- 1 eight-fold accumulator
- 247 total bets per Goliath
How a Goliath Pays Out
Each of the 247 component bets settles independently. Winning combinations pay; losing combinations contribute zero. Without singles, you need at least 2 winners for any return, and most of the meaningful upside requires 6+ winners.
Stake: 1 unit per bet. 8 selections, all winners at decimal odds 2.00.
Doubles: 28 x 4 = 112 units
Trebles: 56 x 8 = 448 units
Four-folds: 70 x 16 = 1120 units
Five-folds: 56 x 32 = 1792 units
Six-folds: 28 x 64 = 1792 units
Seven-folds: 8 x 128 = 1024 units
Eight-fold: 1 x 256 = 256 units
Total return: 6544 units (stake 247)
Profit: 6297 units (about 26.5x the total outlay)
Goliath returns are concentrated in the 5-fold through 8-fold strata. Missing a single winner deletes the eight-fold and seven of the seven-folds outright, which is why Goliaths swing hard between near-zero returns and outsized payouts depending on how many legs land.
Sample Goliath Returns
All scenarios below assume 1 unit stake per bet (247 unit total outlay) with all selections at the same decimal odds.
| Winners | Odds Each | Return | Profit |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 of 8 | 2.00 | 0 units | -247 units |
| 2 of 8 | 2.00 | 4 units | -243 units |
| 3 of 8 | 2.00 | 20 units | -227 units |
| 4 of 8 | 2.00 | 80 units | -167 units |
| 5 of 8 | 2.00 | 272 units | +25 units |
| 6 of 8 | 2.00 | 844 units | +597 units |
| 7 of 8 | 2.00 | 2416 units | +2169 units |
| 8 of 8 | 2.00 | 6544 units | +6297 units |
Returns are calculated from the combinatorial structure only and exclude any bookmaker bonus, which is rare on Goliath bets outside of bookmaker-specific festival promotions.
Common Mistakes to Avoid
A GBP 1 per bet Goliath costs GBP 247 total. A GBP 5 unit stake costs GBP 1235. Always confirm the total stake on the bet slip before submitting; the 247x multiplier surprises most first-time Goliath bettors.
A Goliath has no singles. One winner pays zero. Even four winners at 2.00 are still well below break-even because most of the bet's value lives in 5-fold and higher combinations.
Over 247 component bets, every penny of edge per leg matters. Always compare odds across multiple UK bookmakers before placing; soft-price selections compound the bookmaker's margin instead of yours.
Forcing a weak 8th selection into the slip to convert a Super Heinz into a Goliath multiplies the bet count by more than 2x and inflates the margin you pay. Stick to the bet size that matches your real edge.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is a Goliath bet?
A Goliath is a UK system bet of 247 wagers across 8 selections: 28 doubles, 56 trebles, 70 four-folds, 56 five-folds, 28 six-folds, 8 seven-folds, and 1 eight-fold accumulator. No singles.
How many bets are in a Goliath?
Exactly 247. Your unit stake is multiplied by 247 to reach the total outlay, making the Goliath the biggest mainstream UK system bet by stake.
How many winners do I need on a Goliath for any return?
At least 2. A single winner returns zero because there are no singles. Even two or three winners typically leave you a long way below break-even given the 247 unit outlay.
What does a Goliath pay if all eight selections win at 2.00?
With a 1 unit stake per bet the return is 6544 units against a 247 unit outlay, roughly 26.5x. Returns scale dramatically as the average price per leg rises because the eight-fold multiplies all 8 prices together.
What is the difference between a Goliath and a Super Heinz?
A Super Heinz is 120 bets from 7 selections; a Goliath is 247 bets from 8. Adding the 8th selection more than doubles the bet count because every existing combination must extend to include the new leg.
Is a Goliath the biggest UK system bet?
Among mainstream UK system bets, yes. Some books offer larger custom multiples, but the Goliath is the standard top of the Heinz family at most UK and Irish bookmakers.
Why is it called a Goliath?
Bookmakers picked the biblical name to signal the bet's size: it is the giant of the Heinz family at 247 wagers. The naming follows the same convention that gives us the Heinz (57 bets) and Super Heinz (120 bets).
Are bookmaker bonuses common on a Goliath?
Generally no. Some UK books run all-winners percentage bonuses on Goliath bets during major race festivals (Cheltenham, Royal Ascot, the Grand National), but these are time-limited promotions, not standing offers. Always confirm in the bookmaker's terms.
Can I bet a Goliath each-way?
Yes. An each-way Goliath doubles the bet count to 494 (247 win + 247 place), so a 1 unit each-way Goliath costs 494 units. The place leg pays at the win odds reduced by the bookmaker's place fraction, typically 1/4 or 1/5.
Is a Goliath only for horse racing?
No. Goliaths work on any sport with discrete outcomes. They are most associated with full UK and Irish horse-racing cards because the each-way structure pairs well with the 8-selection format, but football accumulator weekends and golf head-to-head slates fit too.
Are Goliath bets profitable long term?
Only when every one of the 8 selections has positive expected value. The 247-bet structure compounds an edge fast if your picks are sharp; it compounds the bookmaker's margin even faster if they are not. Treat each leg with the same rigor you would a standalone +EV bet.
What unit stake should I use on a Goliath?
Pick a unit you would comfortably stake 247 times. Most disciplined bettors size a Goliath at no more than 1 to 2 percent of bankroll for the full outlay, which often means a unit stake well below 0.01 percent of bankroll.
Pro Tip: Treat Each Leg as a Standalone +EV Bet
A Goliath only outperforms straight betting when all 8 selections are value bets on their own. With 247 component bets, even one negative-EV leg poisons many combinations. Use our EV Calculator to confirm every pick has positive expected value before committing to the 247x outlay.