What is an Accumulator Bet? Acca Bets Explained | BoyleSports

Accumulator Bet

What is an Accumulator Bet?

An Accumulator Bet is a combination wager that’s usually considered to include at least four selections. Here we detail the advantages and how they work.

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Commonly referred to as Acca Bets, accumulator betting can involve many more than four legs, while doubles and trebles are sometimes called Accumulator Bets too.

Acca betting is extremely popular in a number of sports, especially football and horse racing. It allows bettors to use their knowledge to combine picks and gain access to much better odds than on single bets.

From Premier League fixtures to the biggest horse racing meets in the calendar, many punters include an Acca as part of their weekly betting picks. It’s an exciting way to bet online, not least because of the potential for a massive payout, but also for the thrill of needing a last-minute goal to come in, or a horse to come from behind to pip it at the post.

If you’re still wondering ‘what is an Accumulator Bet?’, scroll down now for more information about this kind of wager.

How do you make An Accumulator Bet?

Whether you’re interested in betting on all eight Champions League round-of-16 ties or the biggest races at Royal Ascot, asking ‘what is an Acca bet’ is often followed by questioning how to make one.

In both cases, the answer is pretty simple. To make an accumulator bet, you just need to add your selections to your online betting slip. They could be on outright football results or more specific markets such as correct scores, but each event must be independent of each other in order to qualify as a leg for your Acca.

The same goes with horse racing. You need to pick winners from different races to make up your Accumulator Bet – choosing two runners from the same race won’t qualify for an Acca. After making your selections – which can reach double figures and go well beyond if you wish – all you have to do is enter your stake into the ‘Accumulator’ section on your betslip.

This is an individual bet, as opposed to a Yankee Bet or a Lucky 15 Bet, which is made up of numerous legs. That means if one leg of your Acca Bet loses, then the entire bet loses. Every selection must come in for your bet to pay out.

How do you calculate An Accumulator Bet?

Perhaps it’s best to look at an example of how to calculate an Accumulator Bet. The equation looks like this:

Leg 1 odds x Leg 2 odds x Leg 3 x Leg 4 odds

A good way to think of an Acca Bet is that the winnings from each successful leg carry over as the stake for the next leg. Let’s look at a fourfold football bet by way of example, and imagine you’re placing a £10 Accumulator Bet on the four following Premier League fixtures:

1 – Manchester United to beat Liverpool at 3/1

2 – Manchester City to beat Chelsea at 2/1

3 – Tottenham to beat Arsenal at 4/1

4 – Leicester City to beat West Ham at 3/1

In this instance, the calculation looks like this:

£10 x (3/1 +1) x (2/1 + 1) x (4/1 + 1) x (3/1 + 1) = Total return £2,400 / Total profit £2,390

The first leg coming in is worth a total return of £40, with a profit of £30. Your £40 total payout is then used as your stake on the second leg, giving you a return of £120. The third leg increases the return to £600, while the fourth raises it to £2,400. That’s a profit of £2,390 minus your £10 stake.

To work out the odds for Accumulator Bets with more legs, you simply add each selection into the equation. As you can see, things quickly become time-consuming, so you can use an Acca Bet calculator to work out the odds instantly. You also get the odds and returns instantly when you add your selections to your online betslip.

Frequently Asked Questions

What are the advantages of an Accumulator Bet?

Accumulator Bets are popular as they offer the potential for huge returns compared to your stake. They are also single bets, so if you lose then you only lose on one bet, rather than multiple bets as with other combination wagers such as Yankee Bets and Lucky 15 Bets.

What are the disadvantages of an Accumulator Bet?

The main disadvantage of an Accumulator Bet is that it only takes one leg of your bet to lose in order for the entire bet to lose. However, the high-risk nature of Acca Bets is what gives you such attractive odds, and the potential for a big payout on a relatively small stake.

In what sports can you make an Accumulator Bet?

Accumulator Bets are popular in a wide range of sports, including cricket, rugby, and tennis, as well as North American sports such as baseball, basketball and American football. They are perhaps most popular in horse racing and football, with bettors able to turn small stakes into potentially huge profits.

How many bets are there in an Accumulator Bet?

Accumulator Bets are usually thought of as bets with four or more selections. However, doubles and trebles are sometimes considered to be Acca Bets. Accumulators can include as many legs as you want, stretching into double figures and often well beyond that. Naturally, the more selections you include, the more risk is attached to your Acca.

Can you make an Each-Way Accumulator bet?

Yes, you can make an Each-Way Accumulator Bet if you want to. This means you now have two bets rather than one, with the first of your selections winning and the second of your selections placing. Each-Way Accumulator Bets are popular among bettors wishing to cover their selections in the event of one or more legs losing, which is also known as hedging your bets.