The term ‘accumulator’ in betting refers to a single wager that includes four or more selections, though it can involve many more. What sets an accumulator bet apart from other bet types is that all selections must be correct for the bet to pay out. This makes it both challenging and rewarding, as the potential winnings increase exponentially with each correct pick.
Accumulator betting has gained massive popularity in the UK and around the world, especially in sports like football over the past two decades. In the UK, terms like “acca” have become a staple among football enthusiasts, with fans discussing their weekend accumulators in pubs and betting shops. For many, placing an accumulator has become a weekly ritual during football season.
Why Accumulator Bets Are Attractive
There are two primary reasons why accumulator bets are so appealing.
Higher Odds and Larger Payouts: The combination of four or more selections means the individual odds multiply together, resulting in a potential payout far higher than traditional match betting. Accumulators give bettors a chance to win large sums from relatively small stakes.
Excitement Across Multiple Matches: With accumulator bets, bettors have a stake in several games happening simultaneously. This is particularly thrilling on weekends when dozens of football matches kick off at the same time. Suddenly, lower-league or less notable matches become critical to the outcome of the bet, adding to the excitement.
For example, having a last-minute goal decide the fate of your accumulator can be a heart-pounding experience, and this adrenaline rush is a big part of why accumulator betting is so popular, especially in football.
How Accumulator Bets Work
Although some bookmakers may include doubles (two selections) or trebles (three selections) under the umbrella of accumulator bets, the real appeal lies in bets that feature four or more selections. The odds for an accumulator bet are calculated by multiplying the odds of each individual selection. The winnings from the first bet are placed on the next, and so on.
Example of an Accumulator Bet:
Let’s say you place a £10 accumulator bet on four football matches in the Premier League:
Everton to beat Aston Villa at 3/1
Tottenham to beat Chelsea at 4/1
Manchester United to beat Manchester City at 3/1
West Ham to beat Arsenal at 7/2
For the accumulator to win, all selections must be correct. If they are, your winnings would be calculated as follows:
£10 bet on Everton pays out £40 (including your £10 stake).
The £40 goes on Tottenham, paying out £200.
The £200 is then placed on Manchester United, turning into £800.
Finally, West Ham’s win results in a total payout of £3,600 from your initial £10 bet!
Accumulators Across Different Sports
While football is the most common sport for accumulator betting, it’s by no means the only one. Accumulators are popular in sports like tennis, cricket, rugby, American football, horse racing, and basketball. Some bettors even combine different sports in a single accumulator, creating opportunities for larger payouts by wagering on multiple sporting events across various leagues and competitions.
This cross-sport betting can be a great way to increase your enjoyment of new sports while unlocking great odds.
Each-Way Accumulators and Non-Runners
In an accumulator, if one of the selections is a non-runner (e.g., a horse doesn’t race or a football match is cancelled), that selection is simply removed from the accumulator, and the odds are adjusted accordingly. Your bet still stands, just with revised odds.
For each-way accumulators, you’re essentially placing two bets: one for the selection to win and one for the selection to place. If your selections only place, you’ll still win but with lower odds. Each-way accumulators are a great way to increase the chances of a payout but reduce the total potential winnings.
Potential Winnings from Accumulator Bets
The appeal of accumulator bets lies in the limitless potential winnings. Since each correct selection increases the payout exponentially, it’s possible to win life-changing sums from very small stakes.
For example, in 2008, a Yorkshireman named Fred Craggs placed a 50p accumulator bet on eight horse races. Despite long odds, all eight horses won, turning his 50p bet into £1,000,000, a stunning 2,000,000/1 shot.
In another famous case, a Manchester United fan placed a 30p accumulator bet predicting the outcomes of 15 different football matches, with odds reaching an incredible 1,666,666/1. When his final selection — Bayern Munich beating Borussia Dortmund in the Champions League — came true with a last-minute goal, he walked away with a £500,000 payout.
Accumulator Bets Explained
An accumulator bet involves combining multiple selections into a single wager, where the odds of each selection multiply with the next, creating the potential for significantly higher returns. However, this also increases the risk, as every selection must win for the accumulator to pay out. While accumulator bets are exciting and offer the potential for large payouts, they can be challenging due to the “all or nothing” nature of the bet.
For example, imagine creating a 10-team accumulator, where 9 teams win, but one team lets you down — this results in the loss of the entire bet. This fine line between success and failure adds to the excitement of accumulator betting, making it a popular choice for many bettors.
Example Accumulator Bet
Let’s say you create an accumulator bet with the following football selections:
Selection
Odds
Tottenham
1.3
Manchester United
1.7
Arsenal
2.5
Chelsea
1.8
Manchester City
1.6
In this case, the total odds for your accumulator bet would be 15.91. If you place a £10 bet, you stand to win £159.12 if all of the selections are correct. However, if even one team (e.g., Arsenal) fails to win, you lose your £10 stake.
How to Calculate Accumulator Odds
Calculating accumulator odds is straightforward. You simply multiply the odds of each selection. For the example above, the calculation would look like this:
1.3 x 1.7 x 2.5 x 1.8 x 1.6 = 15.91
You then multiply these combined odds by your stake to calculate your potential return:
15.91 x £10 = £159.10
If you’re unsure, many betting sites and tools, like an Accumulator Betting Calculator, can handle these calculations for you.
How to Place an Accumulator Bet
Placing an accumulator bet is simple:
Choose Your Teams: Select the teams or markets you want to bet on. Many people choose “team to win” accumulators, but you can mix different types of bets across various events.
Check Your Bet Slip: Once you’ve selected your teams, review your bet slip to ensure all selections are correct, with their respective odds.
Add Your Stake: Scroll to the bottom of the bet slip to find the accumulator betting option (e.g., a “5-fold” if you’ve selected five teams). Enter your stake in the corresponding box.
Place Your Bet: Finally, click the “Place Bet” button. Some bookmakers may ask for confirmation before placing your bet.
How to Win an Accumulator Bet
Winning an accumulator bet is tough but rewarding. Some bookmakers offer promotions, such as a free bet if just one leg of a five-team accumulator lets you down. This incentive encourages more players to place accumulator bets, increasing the excitement and chances of a profit.
Using Tools like OddsMonkey for Accumulators
If you want to improve your chances of success with accumulator bets, tools like OddsMonkey offer various strategies and resources. OddsMonkey’s Acca Finder tool helps users find suitable accumulators with low odds that fit certain bookmaker offers.
Here’s a simple strategy to increase your odds of winning:
Use the Acca Finder Tool: This tool helps you find accumulators that don’t overlap and have good lay odds, tailored to specific bookmaker offers.
Place the Qualifying Bet: Once you’ve chosen an accumulator, head to the bookmaker’s website, add your selections, and place your bet.
Lay Each Leg: You can lay each selection one by one until one loses, ensuring you still qualify for a free bet.
Collect Your Free Bet: Once you trigger your free bet, you can use matched betting techniques to turn the free bet into real money, often cashing out around 80% of its value.
Conclusion
Accumulator betting can be both thrilling and frustrating, with the potential for high payouts if all selections win. Whether you’re a fan of the excitement or looking to increase your chances of profit using tools like OddsMonkey, understanding how to place and calculate accumulator bets is key. With patience and the right strategy, you can maximize the potential of accumulator bets while minimizing the risks.
