If you have enjoyed online sports betting before, you have probably noticed that most bookies allow you to put more than one bet on a single betting slip. You may have also noted that some sportsbooks call these multiple wagers accumulator bets, while others refer to them as parlay bets.
We are here to tell you that you shouldn’t get confused by these two separate terms, as they denote the exact same thing. However, the term “accumulator bet” (or “Acca,” for short) is preferred in the UK, whereas “parlay bet” is a common term used among North American bettors.
You may have also heard people mention double or treble to refer to betting slips that consist of two or three bets, but these can also be called accumulators. In fact, any betting slip that has more than one selection on it can be labelled as an accumulator or parlay, and you are allowed to place as many selections as the betting operator allows, which is usually up to 20. Some might also call this type of bet a combination bet.
So, now that we’ve gotten semantics out of the way, we can focus on explaining how accumulator or parlay bets work. Below, you will see some of the most common types of accumulator bets, after which we will list the best betting sites that allow this kind of betting.
Common Accumulator Bets
Accumulator bets can be placed on a wide variety of sporting events and betting markets. Many punters like placing accumulator bets on horse racing, as they can combine selections on multiple races. One of the most popular bets here is the each-way accumulator bet, where the horses need to either win or place for the bet to be successful. The winnings are then calculated by applying the each-way fraction on every selection.
1×2 football betting is another popular market for accumulators. Here, you simply need to predict the outcomes of several football games and put them on the same betting slip. Here is an example:
- Liverpool vs Aston Villa (1 on odds of 1.30)
- Manchester City vs Leicester (1 on odds of 1.45)
- Crystal Palace vs Arsenal (2 on odds of 1.50)
- Chelsea vs Manchester United (X on odds of 2.90)
If all matches finish as predicted, you will win at the odds of 8.20 (1.30 x 1.45 x 1.50 x 2.90), meaning that if you bet £10, you will end up winning £82.
In order for an Acca bet to be a winning one, each of your individual bets must be successful. Even if one selection is wrong, you will lose the entire bet. However, some bookies offer an early payout option before the last game finishes, whereas others compensate for your losses by giving you a percentage of potential winnings if you only miss by one leg.
You can place an accumulator bet on various sports, including cricket, rugby, snooker, tennis, basketball, and more. You can also mix multiple selections from different sports on the same betting slip. For example, you can put two tennis matches alongside three football games and a single horse race. As mentioned, the accumulator bet can have anywhere from 2 to 20 selections or more.
Best Acca Sites
Almost every sports betting site accepts accumulator bets. If you want to find the best odds, a wide variety of betting markets, and fantastic sports betting bonuses, here are some of the bookies that you should consider.
Smarkets
Smarkets is not a traditional sportsbook — in fact, it’s more of a betting exchange. Nevertheless, this does not change the fact that you can place accumulator bets here. The available sports on Smarkets include football, cricket, cycling, boxing, motorsports, rugby, snooker, tennis, darts, basketball, and many more.
Smarkets is one of the best betting exchanges around, as it offers competitive odds and low commissions.
Betway
Betway is a reputable sportsbook and casino website licensed by both the UK Gambling Commission and Malta Gaming Authority. It is the official partner of West Ham United, Cheltenham Racecourse, World Snooker, and many other professional sports organisations.
Betway allows you to place accumulator bets on dozens of different sports, including horse racing, football, cricket, and more. As a new customer on this platform, you will become eligible for the welcoming free bet. But, there are many other promotions too that you can take advantage of as a regular.
20Bet
20Bet is another highly popular online sportsbook where you can enjoy placing Acca bets on various sports, events, and markets. You will receive a handsome reward for creating an account and placing your first deposit. Still, there are many other betting promotions that you’ll have a chance to enjoy later on. The odds on 20Bet are above average, allowing you to create massive combos on your accumulator betting slips.
