How To Calculate an Accumulator Bet: Beginner’s Guide

If you want to get started with the most popular type of bets in the UK betting houses, you came to the right place. Accumulators dominate the betting realm, but this betting method often intimidates many newcomers. So, before you start placing wagers, it’s essential to grasp the basics. For instance, it’s vital to know how to calculate an accumulator bet. By doing so, you’ll have a clearer picture of how much you can win with Acca bets.

8 Quick Facts About Accumulator Bets

• The colloquial term for accumulators is Acca bets.
• Multiple selections from various events combined on a bet slip make an accumulator bet.
• Accumulators can have between four and 20 selections, depending on the bookie’s rules.
• A multiple bet with two selections is called a double.
• A multiple bet with three selections is called a treble.
• Accumulator bets cannot contain selections from the same events.
• An acca bet loses if only one selection fails.
• Each-way accumulators require double the stake.

Before we explain how to calculate an accumulator bet, we should first go back to the basics. In other words, we should start by explaining the idea behind acca bets. Also, we’ll provide guidelines on how to place these wagers at the best UK betting sites in 2021.

After all, accumulator betting is the leading betting type, not only in the UK but worldwide. Millions of punters look at acca bets as their road to get rich quickly, but life-changing winnings with accumulator betting do not happen every day.

So, what makes it so appealing then? Why do bettors favour acca bets if the chances of lucrative rewards are slim? Here’s why.

What Is An Accumulator Bet?

An accumulator is a wager where bettors combine multiple selections from various events on a single bet slip.

Sounds complicated? Don’t worry, it’s not, and we’ll help you understand.

In essence, you only need to find at least four selections to create an acca bet. Yes, they all go together on the same bet slip. Depending on the bookmaker’s rules, up to 20 selections can be a part of an accumulator bet.

Most punters place an accumulator bet on football fixtures, but many other sports are at your disposal as well. From rugby and cricket to basketball and ice hockey, accumulator betting is everywhere. Of course, horse racing betting also relies heavily on acca bets.

Best of all, you can even mix different categories and create an acca with two or three football fixtures and a couple of selections from high-profile racing meetings.

How To Work Out an Accumulator Bet?

Speaking of selecting the lines for your acca, we should mention that bet slips with fewer than four lines have alternative names. In other words, we do not refer to them as accumulator bets. Instead, a bet slip with two selections is called a double, while a treble has only three lines. Yet, if the bundle comprises four or more wagers, we refer to it as an acca bet.

Betting houses, both online and land-based, offer several subtypes of multiples, including the Yankee, Canadian, or the Lucky 15. But for the sake of this article, we’ll group them and refer to any 4+ slip as an acca bet.

How To Calculate an Accumulator Bet?

Now we get to the actual reason you visited this page. That said, you’ll be glad to know that accumulator bets are as straightforward as wagers at UK betting sites get.

In a way, the simplicity of the mathematics involved with these bets is one of their crucial benefits. To be precise, you only need to multiply the odds with the stake and subtract your stake to know the potential returns.

Best of all, most betting sites will provide a bet accumulator calculator to speed up the process. Nonetheless, you can do it yourself by following these steps:

• Convert the odds from fractional to decimal for more straightforward mathematics. For instance, fractional odds of 1/4 is the same as 1.25 in the decimal system.
• Take the odds from every selection in your acca bet and multiply them one by one. For example, if you bet on four fixtures from the English Premier League, multiply the odds like 1.25 x 1.5 x 2 x 2.55.
• After that, multiply the cumulative odds (9.5 in this case) with your stake. If you wager £5, your potential returns on this accumulator could be £47.5.
• Finally, if you want to know the profits, subtract the stake from the total profits. (£47.5 – £5 = £42.5)

Therefore, this imaginary football bet accumulator could reward the lucky punter with a clean profit of £42.5 on a £5 investment. Of course, the more you invest, the higher the returns.

As you can see, the profitability of acca bets is up there with the best. Likewise, calculating the returns on accumulator bets does not require any complex mathematics. Multiply the odds and the stake and hope that none of your selections loses. If only one line fails, your entire bet slip will go down the drain.

How To Place Accumulator Bets?

Before anything else, it’s crucial to find a reputable betting site. We always urge bettors to stick with licensed and regulated bookmakers. By doing so, you’ll minimise the risks of losing your hard-earned money to frauds or scams.

Once you find a suitable website, look for selections to add to your accumulator bet slip. Remember, you cannot use multiple lines from the same event. Yet, you can combine sports and leagues, expanding the options almost endlessly.

When you find four or more betting opportunities, check the potential returns and enter the amount you wish to stake. Of course, bettors should keep an eye on the risk/reward ratio. If you select too many low-value odds and wager a small stake, the returns will be modest. On the other hand, too many high-value odds will severely reduce your winning chances.

Your bet accumulator calculator odds could be affected by non-runners in horse racing or greyhounds. In that case, the bookies will pay out the winnings as if the selection wasn’t on the bet slip in the first place. Of course, the removed line(s) will reduce the returns.

Pros and Cons of Accumulator Bets

From everything we mentioned so far, it’s clear that accumulator betting has its share of pros and cons. Nothing in life is perfect, and the same goes for your beloved acca bets.

The primary benefits of this wagering football betting strategy are the enhanced winnings that can sometimes reach staggering heights. Even the smallest of stakes might cause multi-million returns. Naturally, massive winnings lead to increased excitement. For instance, an accumulator bet in football is ideal for punters chasing the adrenaline rush and that last-minute goal to bring a smile to their faces.

Conversely, acca bets are notoriously difficult to win. There’s no margin for error with these wagers, making the winning chances slim. As we said, if only one selection fails, the entire bet is off. That’s why accumulator betting comes with an increased risk that’s not everyone’s cup of tea.

Conclusion

No matter if you chase lucrative returns or bet for fun, acca bets could be right up your alley. But before you start wagering, learn how to calculate an accumulator bet and grasp the basics of the system. By doing so, you’ll be ready to dive into the deep and place wagers on acca bets like a pro.