What is an Accumulator Bet?
In this guide we look at what an accumulator bet is, and how they are calculated.
Contents
What is an Acca Bet?
- Popular in football and horse racing.
- A single bet on multiple events.
- The odds of all selections are multiplied together to create your odds.
- Minimum of 2 selections with no upper limit unless imposed by bookies.
- You can only make one selection per sporting event.
Calculating Probability
If you tossed a coin, there’s a 50% chance it would land on heads. If you toss it again, there’s still a 50% chance it would land on heads. However, the chance that it would land on heads twice in a row isn’t 50%.
To calculate the chance, also known as probability, multiply the probability of each event.
Probability Calculation:
1/2 x 1/2 = 1/4
or
0.5 x 0.5 = 0.25
Accumulator Bet Example
| Details | Figures |
|---|---|
| Stake: | £1.00 |
| Selection 1: | 3/1 |
| Selection 2: | 4/1 |
| Selection 3: | 2/1 |
| Selection 4: | 5/1 |
| Combined Odds: | 360/1 |
| Potential Returns: | £360.00 |
How Do Bookies Make Money from Accas?
The way bookies make their money is in the odds they offer. It doesn’t matter to them whether you place just a single bet or make it a 10-fold, as the probability of winning becomes less likely the more selections you make.
Whilst you sometimes hear of punters scooping huge wins from accumulators, the bookmakers make up for that on the thousands of other bets that don’t win because the odds of failure are so high.
You might not know this but bookies actually want people to bet on both outcomes of a selection. For example, bookies will offer odds on a boxing match that will be attractive for both outcomes. By having enough bets on both outcomes, it doesn’t matter what the result is as they will make money either way.
What Happens if a Bet is Void in an Accumulator?
This is a great question. What will normally happen is that the accumulator will still be valid on all of the remaining selections. So if you made a 7-fold bet and a bet was voided, it would become a 6-fold and would pay out on the odds of those 6 selections. If you’re still not sure, check with your bookie as they reserve the right to change the way they operate acca bets.
What Does Draw No Bet Mean for Accas?
‘Draw no bet’ is a type of football accumulator bet that offers you some level of protection in the event of a draw. Say you’ve backed a team and the result is a draw, it will void the bet and the rest of the selections will still be valid. So although you forfeit better odds, you won’t lose out on your entire accumulator bet. You must select ‘Draw No Bet’ on a selection if you want the protection.
Conclusion
Accas can be a fun way to enhance your sports betting experience, with lower stakes and (whilst unlikely) higher potential returns. As always, we will only recommend gambling for fun and enjoyment.
