Accumulator bets combine several selections. They allow players to raise a large potential outcome from a small stake.
The EPL is starting up, and a whole host of fixtures are playing at once. You really want to place a bet, but have a few teams you think may win, and see great odds. Instead of placing individual bets, you remember that it is possible to put one wager down on several outcomes, with odds that carry over. This is the accumulator, and it’s a great way to make large wins from small deposits.
What Is an Accumulator?
An accumulator is a type of bet in which one stake is placed on several selections. Also known as an ‘acca’, it often involves bets from one sport or tournament, though it can combine bets from multiple markets. So, accumulators may involve a series of football bets on matches taking place at one time, though they may just as well include a tennis bet, a basketball bet, and two cricket bets.
Bets of this type have become popular across the globe, especially as sports like the EPL and NBA have become accessible to more people. For example, you could place an acca bet if you were in Asia or Africa on sports leagues in Europe. Major operators may even provide their own vouchers to make payment easier, such as a Betway Voucher. This means you don’t even need bank accounts or electronic payment methods to top up an account and make an acca.
These bets must consist of four or more selections. When one of them wins, the odds and stake roll onto the next bet. This increases the potential of winning in a big way, and the more bets are added, the larger this becomes. It also increases the risk, though, because if one selection should fail, then the whole accumulator is forfeit.
How Do Accumulator Odds Work?
Imagine you have an accumulator with four selections. These are listed below.
Fulham vs Burnley – Odds 1.5
Man City vs Crystal Palace – Odds 1.4
Chelsea vs Everton – Odds 3
Newcastle vs Sunderland – Odds 5
All you need to do is multiply one set of odds by the next. So for this, the total would come to 31.5. You then multiply this by your stake to see what the return would be. In this case, if you placed £5, then you would come out with £157.50. However, this is only if all the draws and wins you predicted come to fruition.
Many operators will offer some sort of insurance for people who put on accumulators, often as a bonus offer. This could be a free bet if your accumulator loses, or even a portion of your stake back. These are usually reserved for major events and tournaments to get people placing bets.
Types of Accumulators
Accumulators can be broken down into different formats and combined with other types of bets. Generally, the number of events you have in the accumulator is known as the fold. So four bets are a four-fold, five bets are a five-fold, and so on. Any less than four and bets are known as a single, double, or treble, depending on the amount you place.
Once you begin to combine the latter with different folds, you can get a whole range of bets. At the bottom level is a Trixie, which involves three doubles and one treble. To win, two of the three selections must place.
The first that involves an actual four-fold acca is a Yankee. In total, it combines four whole bets. They include doubles, trebles, and a fourfold acca. Only two of these need to place from the four to get some sort of payout, making them a very attractive proposition.
Higher up the scale, you can get bets such as a Heinz. This takes its name from the 57 varieties of the famous food brand, and it is a combination of 57 selections from just 6 bets. It has doubles, trebles, four, five, and six-fold accumulators included within it. The bet only requires two places for a payout, but to have any chance of a profit, you will need to bag at least four out of six.
Are Accumulator Bets Worth It?
Accumulator bets have some distinct advantages, but they are unique and not for everyone or every situation. Most people tend to use them when big events are taking place, and they want to try a low-paying stake but have a possible high payout. It could be the World Cup, EPL games at the weekend, or at a specific horse racing meeting.
It also depends on your risk tolerance. When you add more bets, the chances of losing it all become much greater. For many people, four is more than enough. Of course, there are elements when you get into combined accumulators which make them safer, as some offer a payout even if not all results come up.
If you have a straightforward outcome in mind, then accumulators are best avoided. Don’t add them to a bet just to increase the odds. All this does increase the risk of a loss.
Thus, an accumulator is a great way to add an extra layer of excitement to an event. You don’t have to stake a lot of money to try them, and you don’t have to add lots of different folds. Start with a few bets you can see coming through, place a reasonable sum, and keep your fingers crossed.