4 Game Parlay Odds
You cannot include same game props in a parlay. You cannot combine point spreads and/or moneylines for the same team from the same game, even if the lines are from different segments of the game. You cannot combine 1H/2H and full game odds of the same line segment for the same event as those lines are correlated. Nevertheless, you can. To get the parlay odds for our three-leg wager we now need to multiply these odds together. 3.00 x 3.50 x 1.63 = 17.12. To discover what the American odds for this parlay would be we need to convert it back by multiplying by 100 and then subtracting 100.
You may have heard the term “parlay” in reference to someone combining one asset with another to achieve success. “I bought a new propane grill, and combined with my shopping skills I parlayed that into a great family cookout.”
At the casino or on a sports book, to parlay means something similar. Easily the most popular of all exotic wagers in sports betting, a parlay (or “combo”) is a collection of 2 or more sides or totals that you place a wager on and all of them must win in order for you to cash in.
MLB, NFL and NBA Parlay Rules
A 2 team parlay might pay 13/5, a three team parlay might pay 6/1, a four team parlay might pay 10/1, and so forth with the payouts getting higher with more teams or totals selected. For a single bet, 2 to 8 teams or totals can be selected. In order for the parlay bet to win, every one of.
Most bettors love the idea of having a chance at a big payoff from a small wager. But parlays are hard to win, and come with a strict set of rules. Let’s look at some of the ins and outs.
Bookies offer this category of wager to lure the gambler into a tough situation. For instance, on a 4-team parlay, going 3-1 is no different than going 0-4. You lose in either case. However, if you’d placed 4 individual bets and won 3 while losing 1, you would make a decent chunk of change. But you would have saved yourself a lot of money by betting the combo instead of placing 4 individual bets if you went 0-4.
“Correlated” outcomes are strictly against the rules, which means you cannot benefit from results that are related to one another. For instance, a finesse passing team might be pitted against a strong defensive unit in the Super Bowl. If you pick the latter squad, you cannot place a combo bet on the “under,” since that outcome is more likely to occur if the strong defense controls the contest.
Below is a table that lists the chances of hitting a combo if all wagers are “pick’em,” or evenly-matched “coin flip” scenarios – what sports books give you for each ratio, and the chance of a winner if you hit 55%. Obviously, if you’re a 55% handicapper, then there are good deals in the offing. This table shows the odds for 2-team combos all the way up to 11 teams.
# of Teams | Your chances at 50% | Payout in Vegas | Your chances at 55% |
---|---|---|---|
2 | 3/1 | 2.6/1 | 2.3/1 |
3 | 7/1 | 6/1 | 5.0/1 |
4 | 15/1 | 10/1 | 9.9/1 |
5 | 31/1 | 20/1 | 18.9/1 |
6 | 63/1 | 40/1 | 35.1/1 |
7 | 127/1 | 75/1 | 64.7/1 |
8 | 255/1 | 150/1 | 118.4/1 |
9 | 511/1 | 300/1 | 216.1/1 |
10 | 1,023/1 | 700/1 | 393.8/1 |
11 | 2,047/1 | 1,200/1 | 716.8/1 |
As you can see, for the normal bettor who only hits on 50% of their wagers, trying for a 4-0 (or 3-0, or 2-0) record on the same day is a bad idea. It gets worse the more wagers you add. A 2-teamer isn’t terrible because you expect to hit 1 out of each 3 you bet, and you get rewarded 2.6 to 1. A 3-teamer isn’t that bad either because your expected chances are 7-1, while you get paid 6-1.
Avoiding “Sucker” Bets On Sports Book Parlays
Where you really see the biggest sucker bets are the 4-team combos. These wagers only work 1 out of every 15 times, yet you only get paid 10-1. Picking 8 winners and 0 losers only scores a hit once in every 255 times, but you only get paid 150-1 if successful. The 11-team parlay hits 1 out of every 2,047 times, and the payout is based on only just over 50% of that ratio.
Most of the general betting public doesn’t realize that 55% is an excellent winning percentage when it comes to sports betting. But the table also illustrates that if you pick 55% victorious teams/athletes, then every single combo listed is a profitable wager over the long term. The chances of hitting an 11-teamer drop from 2,047-1 to 716.8-1 when you pick 55%. Considering you get paid out 1,200-1, it actually isn’t a bad deal for the 55% handicappers.
The Lines Don’t Always Favor Betting Parlays
In conclusion, I almost never recommend betting parlays for newer cash players. There are times when I’ll put out a 2-team combo on a football game if 2 favorites are being under-valued, but only a of couple times a year. Your best move is to stick to straight bets in football and basketball with the point spreads and totals.
Sometimes, conference vs conference match-ups are a good opportunity for a successful combo wager if 1 of the 2 conferences is under-valued. For instance, ACC football went 4-0 vs the SEC on a Saturday in 2014 – nobody expected that except a few savvy gamblers. Georgia Tech over Georgia was just one of the upsets that took place on that November day as bookies lost out to the ever-popular SEC hype train driving the lines. Another opportunity for this kind of combo bet occurs during early-season conference vs conference “challenge” tourneys in college basketball.
I know it’s tempting to try and strike it rich on a big “trifecta,” but the chances are less in your favor as the number of picks goes up. So have fun, but proceed with caution!
How does a Parlay work?
Select as few as two or as many as fifteen teams and combine them in one wager. All selections must win for your parlay to be successful. You can combine spreads, totals and moneylines.
What are the advantages?
5 Game Parlay Odds
The benefit of the parlay is that it gives a much higher payoff than if you were to place each bet individually since it’s harder to win all your selections.
Conditions:
- If there is a tie or no action, the parlay reverts to the next lowest number for pay-off, for example: if you select 4 teams and one of those ties, it becomes a 3 team parlay. A tie and win on a 2 team parlay pays out as a straight bet.
- You cannot combine ‘connected’, ‘dependent’ or ‘correlated’ events in the same parlay.
Payout Table:
The odds quoted in the pay-off table below only hold true if all selections in the parlay are at the standard price of -110 (football and basketball spreads and totals).
Variations in the prices will cause variations in the pay-offs.
Payout [all prices -110] | American Odds | |
2 Teams | 13 to 5 | +260 |
3 Teams | 6 to 1 | +640 |
4 Teams | 10 to 1 | +1000 |
5 Teams | 25 to 1 | +2500 |
6 Teams | 40 to 1 | +4000 |
7 Teams | 75 to 1 | +7500 |
8 Teams | 150 to 1 | +15000 |
9 Teams | 300 to 1 | +30000 |
10 Teams | 700 to 1 | +70000 |
11 Teams | 1,100 to 1 | +110000 |
12 Teams | 1,800 to 1 | +180000 |
13 Teams | 3,500 to 1 | +350000 |
14 Teams | 5,000 to 1 | +500000 |
15 Teams | 10,000 to 1 | +1000000 |
Calculating a Parlay:
If the odds in the parlay are not all -110 then the (true) parlay odds are calculated according to the different prices. This is done by multiplying the prices of the selections together, but remembering to include the stake amount. Let's assume you place a $10 parlay on 2 selections, with odds of -180 and +250. The calculation to work out your return is as follows:
First of all, convert the odds into decimal format (just use our decimal format option to view your odds):
With ‘favorite’ prices (denoted by a – (minus) sign):
100/180 = 0.556 and add 1 (to include the stake) = 1.556
With ‘underdog’ prices (denoted by a + (plus) sign):
250/100 = 2.5 and add 1 (to include the stake) = 3.5
Then, to find your total potential return, multiply these odds together and with the stake: 1.556 x 3.5 x $10 = $54.46
Progressive Parlays
A Progressive Parlay is very similar to a normal parlay but, in exchange for not getting as big a payout for picking a perfect combination, you are getting insurance for those occasions when one or more of the teams in your parlay loses.
These can be between 4 and 12 teams but you can onlychoose point spreads (no totals or moneylines). In these parlays you can lose games and still win the bet because the payouts are lower.
4 - 6 teams... you can afford ONE team to lose/push
7 - 9 teams... you can afford TWO teams to lose/push
10 - 12 teams... you can afford THREE teams to lose/push
The Progressive Parlay Payout Table
All selections win | 1 loss | 2 losses | 3 losses | |
4 Teams | 5/1 | 1/1 | -- | -- |
5 Teams | 11/1 | 2/1 | -- | -- |
6 Teams | 20/1 | 7/2 | -- | -- |
7 Teams | 40/1 | 4/1 | 1/2 | -- |
8 Teams | 75/1 | 10/1 | 2/1 | -- |
9 Teams | 150/1 | 20/1 | 5/2 | -- |
10 Teams | 250/1 | 25/1 | 3/1 | 1/1 |
11 Teams | 400/1 | 60/1 | 5/1 | 1/1 |
12 Teams | 900/1 | 80/1 | 10/1 | 3/1 |
Below the table in American Odds:
Progressive Parlay Size | All Win | 1 loss | 2 losses | 3 losses |
4 Teams | +500 | +100 | ||
5 Teams | +1100 | +200 | ||
6 Teams | +2000 | +350 | ||
7 Teams | +4000 | +400 | +50 | |
8 Teams | +7500 | +1000 | +200 | |
9 Teams | +15000 | +2000 | +250 | |
10 Teams | +25000 | +2500 | +300 | +100 |
11 Teams | +40000 | +6000 | +500 | +100 |
12 Teams | +90000 | +8000 | +1000 | +300 |
Please note that Progressive Parlays also differ from regular parlays in the following ways:
- Progressive parlays are not available for MLB, NHL or money-line wagers in football or basketball.
- In a Progressive Parlay, a push or a tie is considered a loss for that selection. However, if a selection has no-action (due to postponement or cancelation), the bet will revert to the next lowest progressive parlay for payoff, except in the case of a 4 team progressive parlay where it results in a no-action on the whole parlay.
Round Robin Parlays
How a Round Robin Parlay works:
Make between 3 and 6 selections and wager on some or all of the possible parlay combinations in one go. Each of the parlays comprising the Round Robin is a separate wager.
You can combine spreads, money lines, totals and different sports in Round Robin parlay bets.
Example:
A three-team Round Robin bet for $10 placed two-ways would consist of all the two-team parlays that can be made from the three teams selected. Taking the Colts, the Eagles and the Giants (all to cover the spread) two-ways, you would be creating three separate two-team parlays and the total cost of the bet would be $30:
Parlay | Teams | 2 team parlay odds | Bet amount | To win | Return |
# 1 | Colts and Eagles | 13 to 5 | $10 | $26 | $36 |
# 2 | Colts and Giants | 13 to 5 | $10 | $26 | $36 |
# 3 | Eagles and Giants | 13 to 5 | $10 | $26 | $36 |
With the above example in mind, you also have the option to place a three-way Round Robin side bet to increase your potential payout (a three-team parlay including all three teams). If you wish, you may risk a lower amount on this 3-way bet, as it may be harder to win:
Parlay | Teams | 3 team parlay odds | Bet amount | To win | Return |
# 4 | Colts and Eagles and Giants | 6 to 1 | $5 | $30 | $35 |
With the selection of 4, 5 or 6 teams, further combinations are possible:
Parlay combinations within Round Robin | ||||||
Size of Round Robin | 2-way | 3-way | 4-way | 5-way | 6-way | Total no. of combinations |
3 team | 3 | 1 | - | - | 4 | |
4 team | 6 | 4 | 1 | - | - | 11 |
5 team | 10 | 10 | 5 | 1 | - | 26 |
6 team | 15 | 20 | 15 | 6 | 1 | 57 |
To place a Round Robin Parlay please follow these steps:
- Log-in to your account
- Choose the sport type on which you wish to bet
- Add your selection(s) to your betting ticket by clicking/tapping on your selected odds/prices on the betting card
- As soon as you have made at least three selections Round Robin Parlay will appear on the Parlay tab visible at the top of the betting ticket.
- Choose the required parlay combinations (2, 3, 4, 5 and/or 6-way) and the amount you would like to wager on each group of combinations.
- Review your selection(s) again before clicking/tapping PLACE BET.
12 Team Parlay Odds
The table above illustrates the possible number of combinations for the different sizes of Round Robin. It is not obligatory to choose all combinations.
Furthermore, it is possible to vary the amount risked on each group of combinations. For example, if you are making a 4 team Round Robin with 2-way and 3-way combos, you may wish to bet a higher amount on the 2-way combos which are easier to hit and a lower amount on the 3-way combos in which it would be harder to be successful.
The total value wagered and total potential payout will be displayed on the summary on the lower right hand side of the window. Once you have submitted your wager, a range of Bet IDs will be provided. Please make a careful note of the range for wager tracking purposes. (Please note: Bet IDs within the range may not necessarily be sequential).
All Sport Parlay Wager
The All SportParlay Card (also known as a Cross Sport Parlay Card) offers the opportunity to place a parlay bet on a variety of different sport-types including US and non-US sports. Log in to your account and click on PARLAY CARDS > All Sport Parlay Card to display all the lines we're currently listing for use between sport types.
Alternatively, you may also be able to parlay events which do not appear together in the same parlay card. For example, bet soccer and baseball in the same parlay. Or parlay the 1st half lines of an NFL game with a boxing match.
To do this, simply add to the betting ticket the line of one of the events you would like to parlay, let's say a boxing fight, from the BOXING + MMA section of the site, then go to theNFL area and add to the betting ticket the first half line you want, if they can be parlayed the system will show the option to do so in the betting ticket.
Odds 4 Team Parlay
You will not be given the option to buy points on US football, basketball spreads or totals. The maximum bet allowed depends on the prices of the selections in the parlay. You can find out the maximum you can lay by clicking the max bet button. Events available on the All Sport Parlay Card may vary depending on the day and time.
Odds Parlay Calculator
Note: Management reserves the right to limit the maximum amount wagered prior to acceptance of any bet.
No parlay wagers can be accepted where individual wagers are 'connected', 'dependent' or 'correlated'. For further details, check 'correlated events'.