What Is An Accumulator Bet & Are They Worth It?

An accumulator bet, also known as an acca, is a popular type of wager in sports betting. It involves combining multiple individual bets into one single bet. For the bet to come in, all selections must win. 

This type of bet can offer high potential returns because the odds of each individual bet are multiplied together. However, it also comes with increased risk. If even one part of the accumulator loses, the entire bet is lost. 

Many people are drawn to accumulators because of the chance for a bigger payout from a small stake. But it’s important to understand both the risks and rewards before placing an acca bet. This blog post will help you decide if accumulator bets are worth it for you. 

What Is An Accumulator Bet?

An accumulator bet, often called an acca, involves combining several individual bets into a single wager. Instead of placing separate bets on multiple events, you group them together. 

To create an accumulator, you select multiple outcomes. For instance, you might pick the winner of different football matches. Each of these individual bets is known as a leg. 

The key feature of an accumulator bet is that all selected outcomes must win for you to get a return. If just one leg loses, the entire bet loses. 

The appeal of an accumulator lies in the potential for higher returns. The odds of each leg are multiplied together, which means even a small stake can lead to a big win if all your picks are correct. 

However, the added risk is clear: more bets mean more chances for something to go wrong. This makes accumulators trickier, especially for beginners. Understanding this balance between risk and reward is essential before placing an acca bet. 

Accumulator Bet Example

Let’s look at a simple example of an accumulator bet to make things clearer. 

Imagine you’re betting on four different football matches. Your selections might look like this: 

• Team A to beat Team B with odds of 2/1
• Team C to beat Team D with odds of 3/1
• Team E to beat Team F with odds of 4/1
• Team G to beat Team H with odds of 5/1

If you place these bets separately, you would need each outcome to win individually to get a return. 

However, if you combine them into an accumulator, the odds are multiplied together, creating a much higher potential return. In this case, the combined odds would be calculated as 2/1 x 3/1 x 4/1 x 5/1. 

Say you stake £10 on this accumulator. If all four teams win, your £10 bet gets multiplied through the combined odds, resulting in a larger payout. If just one team loses, the entire bet is lost. 

Remember, while the potential return is higher, the risk is also greater. All legs must win for the accumulator to pay out. This highlights the importance of sticking to a budget and gambling responsibly. 

Accumulator Bet Types

Double

A Double combines two individual bets into one. Both must win for the bet to be successful. 

Treble

A Treble groups three individual bets together. All three selections need to win for a payout. 

Four Fold Bet

A Four-Fold Bet includes four different selections. Each one needs to be correct for the bet to pay out. 

Lucky 15

A Lucky 15 consists of 15 bets made up of four selections. This includes singles, doubles, trebles, and a four-fold accumulator. You get a return even if only one selection wins, but all the bets within the selection must win. 

Lucky 31

A Lucky 31 has 31 bets built around five selections. It covers singles, doubles, trebles, four-folds, and a five-fold accumulator. As with Lucky 15, you can get a return even with some losses. 

Lucky 63

A Lucky 63 features 63 bets involving six selections. This includes singles, doubles, trebles, four-folds, five-folds, and a six-fold accumulator. A return is possible even if not all selections win. 

Yankee

A Yankee has 11 bets from four selections. This includes doubles, trebles, and a four-fold accumulator, but no singles. Again, the individual selections are accumulators, so every bet within a selection needs to win for that selection to pay out. 

Trixie

A Trixie consists of four bets involving three selections. It includes three doubles and one treble but no singles. 

Patent

A Patent is seven bets made from three selections, including singles, doubles, and a treble. You get some return even if only one selection wins, but all bets within the selection must win. 

Canadian

A Canadian, also known as a Super Yankee, is 26 bets around five selections. It includes doubles, trebles, four-folds, and a five-fold accumulator but no singles. 

Super Heinz

A Super Heinz packs 120 bets from seven selections. This includes doubles, trebles, four-folds, five-folds, six-folds, and a seven-fold accumulator. 

Goliath

A Goliath is a massive bet involving 247 bets from eight selections. It covers doubles, trebles, four-folds, five-folds, six-folds, seven-folds, and an eight-fold accumulator. 

Do All Bets Have To Win In An Accumulator?

Yes, in a standard accumulator bet, all selected bets must win for you to receive a payout. 

An accumulator is made up of several individual bets, known as legs. Each leg can be a bet on a different event or outcome. For example, you might bet on several football matches or different horse races. 

If any one of these legs loses, the entire accumulator bet is lost. This is what makes accumulators riskier compared to placing individual bets. 

The potential for a higher return comes from the fact that the odds of each leg are multiplied together. While this can lead to bigger payouts, it also means you need a perfect outcome – i.e. every single leg must win. 

Some bookmakers might offer insurance or special offers that can give a return if one leg loses, but these are specific to certain promotions and not a general rule. Always check the terms and conditions if you come across such offers. 

What Happens If a Bet Is Void In An Accumulator?

A void bet in an accumulator happens when one of your selected events is cancelled or deemed invalid for some reason. This can occur due to weather disruptions, match cancellations, or other unforeseen factors. 

When a bet is void, it doesn’t mean your entire accumulator loses. Instead, the voided leg is simply removed from the accumulator. 

For example, if you have a four-fold accumulator and one bet is void, it will turn into a treble with the remaining three bets. 

The odds are then recalculated without the voided leg. This means your potential payout will be lower than originally expected, but you still stand a chance to win if all the remaining bets succeed. 

Always check the terms and conditions with your bookmaker, as practices might vary slightly. Understanding how void bets are handled helps you manage your expectations and betting strategy better. 

Are Accumulator Bets Worth It?

Whether accumulator bets are worth it depends on your personal preferences and budget. 

The main appeal of accumulators is the potential for high returns. Even a modest stake can lead to a significant payout if all selections win. This is because the odds of each leg are multiplied together. 

However, the risk is also much higher. The more selections you include, the greater the chance that one will lose. If even one leg fails, you lose the entire bet. 

For some, this high-risk, high-reward nature is part of the fun. It can make watching multiple sports events more exciting. 

But if your aim is to place bets that have better chances of returning, then accumulators might not be the best choice. Single bets require only one outcome to go your way for you to win your bet instead of trying to successfully predict numerous different outcomes. 

Remember, responsible gambling is key. Only bet money you can afford to lose and understand the increased risk involved with accumulators. Whether they are worth it or not will ultimately depend on your personal preferences and your budget. 

How To Place An Accumulator Bet

Placing an accumulator bet is straightforward, even for beginners. Here’s a simple guide to get you started:

Choose Your Selections

First, decide on the events you want to bet on. These could be different football matches, horse races, or any other sports events. 

Add Selections to Your Bet Slip

On your chosen betting site or app, click on your selections to add them to your bet slip. Each selection is known as a leg in the accumulator. 

Select ‘Accumulator’

Once you’ve added all your selections, look at your bet slip. You should see an option to combine these bets into an accumulator. Select this option. 

Enter Your Stake

Decide how much money you want to stake on your accumulator bet. Enter this amount in the appropriate box on your bet slip. 

Place Your Bet

Review your selections and stake to ensure everything is correct. Then, confirm and place your bet. 

Wait for the Results

Now, all that’s left is to wait for the results of your chosen events. Remember, all selections must win for your accumulator to pay out. If even one loses, the entire bet is lost. 

By following these simple steps, you can place an accumulator bet confidently. Remember, the most important thing is to gamble responsibly and only bet money you are comfortable losing.