Football Accumulators Explained
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Accumulator bets, also known as parlays, are among the most popular ways to wager on football. Bettors should understand the ins and outs of this type of wager, particularly because of the potential payouts it can deliver.
Still, football fans should keep in mind that placing these bets successfully can be quite challenging. However, this does not mean that bettors should avoid them simply because they require more expertise and luck.
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If you want to add extra excitement to your betting session, accumulator bets might be a suitable option. To learn more about this type of soccer multi-bet, keep reading below.
What Are Football Accumulators
Accumulator bets are popular because of the potential value they offer and the relatively simple way they work. One of the first things football bettors should remember is that accumulator and parlay are terms that refer to the same type of football wager. The term “accumulator” is used by bettors in most parts of the world, while “parlay” is preferred in the United States.
With that clarified, let’s look at what an accumulator bet is. Although these bets might seem intimidating at first, they simply combine two or more selections into a single wager. In other words, football bettors make several predictions as part of one bet. Because multiple selections are combined, their odds are multiplied, creating the potential for substantial returns.
However, you win only if every selection in the accumulator is correct. This is why such bets are considered risky in football wagering. Although you can include almost any bet type in an accumulator, punters often focus on the final results of several soccer matches.
As noted above, the biggest challenge with accumulator bets is getting every pick right. Even if you include only two selections, your chance of predicting both correctly is lower than it would be for either selection individually. Thus, your chances of making all the correct picks diminish with every additional selection you include.
You may wonder why bettors still place these challenging wagers. The answer is straightforward: accumulator or parlay bets can yield much larger payouts than most other betting options.
Creating a Football Accumulator Bet
Now that you know what an accumulator is, you might be eager to learn how to create one. The good news is that creating a football accumulator is relatively simple.
After opening an account with an online bookmaker that meets your needs, log in and navigate to the soccer section. There, you will see all the events available for your accumulator. Remember, you do not have to stick to one tournament or league; you can spread your predictions across several competitions. The matches in your accumulator also do not have to be played on the same day.
Let’s assume you wager on a match between Liverpool and Crystal Palace, with Liverpool priced at odds of 1.85 to win. Next, you select Manchester United vs. Arsenal, with Manchester United priced at odds of 2.10 to win. Finally, you pick Stoke City vs. Manchester City, with Stoke City priced at odds of 2.30 to win.
Besides the traditional win-draw-loss market, you can also include selections such as the first or last goalscorer and the total number of goals, among many others. When you view your bet slip, the selections will initially appear as singles. You then need to choose the accumulator option and enter the amount you want to stake.
Estimating Your Potential Returns
Let’s examine the example above in more detail. Your accumulator will win only if Liverpool, Manchester United, and Stoke City all win their matches. If even one match ends in a draw, your accumulator loses. Therefore, your chance of getting all three selections right is much lower than it would be for any individual selection.
Why take the risk when you could play it safe with three singles? Although an accumulator might appear unwise at first, the way the odds are calculated in each case has a significant effect on your potential profit.
If you play it safe and place three $10 single bets, a winning bet on Liverpool returns $18.50, giving you a profit of $8.50. A winning $10 bet on Manchester United returns $21, so your profit is $11. If Stoke City wins, your $10 bet returns $23, resulting in a profit of $13. Overall, you risk $30 for a potential profit of $32.50.
Now assume you take the other approach and place a $30 accumulator. This time, you multiply the odds for all three individual soccer matchups. In other words, the equation is 2.30 x 2.10 x 1.85 = 8.9355. Next, multiply this figure by your $30 stake. Your potential return will be $268.07, meaning that a winning accumulator bet will bring you a profit of $238.07.
As you can see, the potential returns differ greatly, which is precisely why so many football fans choose accumulator bets. However, some punters feel these bets are not worthwhile because getting every prediction right is difficult. Still, the risk can be worth taking when the potential return is high.
That being said, bettors should strive to strike a balance because it can be tempting to keep adding selections in pursuit of a larger profit. As this example shows, that approach can easily backfire.