An accumulator bet (or ‘acca’) is a very popular type of multiple bet that combines several selections or ‘legs’ into one bet. You can have as many selections as you wish but they all must win for the acca bet to win.
On this page we will delve deeper into all aspects of accumulator betting, how they work, how to place them and how to calculate your winnings.
How do accumulators work?
The big attraction with accumulators and the reason they are so popular is the chance to win large returns for a relatively small stake. This is because all selections must win and any winnings (plus stake) from the first selection all go onto the next selection and so on which means your returns can quickly build up.
The more selections the bigger the potential returns. The downside is that it only takes one leg to fail for the whole bet to lose.
You can place accumulators on any sports or events but they are most commonly used in football and horse racing but all selections must be from different matches or races. For example, you could not include Liverpool to win and a Liverpool player to score first as they would be classed as related contingencies.
Types of accumulator bets
An accumulator with just two selections is known as a ‘Double’, three selections is a ‘Treble’ and four selections a ‘Fourfold’ etc. Most online bookies will allow an accumulator to contain up to 20 picks.
| Number of Selections | Type of Accumulator |
|---|---|
| 2 | Double |
| 3 | Treble |
| 4 | Four fold |
| 5 | Five fold |
| 6 | Six fold |
| 7 | Seven fold |
| 8 | Eight fold |
Is the accumulator a good bet?
An accumulator bet’s suitability is determined by a player’s betting strategy, risk tolerance, and personal preferences. The big draw of the acca bet is that it gives you a chance to win big but the risks are of course higher as all the selections need to be successful in order for the bet to win.
Accumulators are also a good way to combine several short priced selections together into one bet to make the betting odds more attractive.
Acca bets should be approached thoughtfully and not just as a way to chase big returns without taking the risks into account. They can also give extra entertainment value with potential interest in several races or matches.
How do I place an accumulator bet?
Placing an accumulator bet is very easy on modern betting sites. Head to your chosen bookmaker and add your selections to your betting slip in the usual way by clicking on the odds of your chosen selections.
Once you have added all your selections look for the multiple bet options on your betting slips. For example, if you add four selections you should see an option for a ‘Fourfold’ accumulator. Enter your stake next to this option and click the ‘Confirm’ button.
When you enter your stake some online betting sites will also display your potential winnings. If you are placing a very big accumulator with lots of selections make sure that your potential payout does not exceed the bookmaker’s maximum payout limits.
What is acca insurance?
Acca insurance is a promotional concession provided by many bookies that offers some level of cover should one leg let you down. If this happens and you have taken the acca insurance option or your bookie offers it as standard then your stake will be refunded, usually in the form of a free bet. It’s well worth considering using the acca insurance promo as you’d be amazed just how often one selection lets your bet down.
How do I work out my accumulator bet winnings?
You can usually see your potential returns when you place your bets. However this can change due to price changes, Rule 4 deductions or non-runners so you can also use free online bet calculator tools that will work out your potential winnings.
Simply enter your bet selections odds and stake and press the calculate button. Any non-runners are deemed as void with the stake rolling over onto the next leg so a six fold would become a fivefold etc.
You can also calculate your returns manually. To do this you need to multiply the decimal odds of all your individual selections together and then multiply by your stake. For example, four winning selections at 2/1 (3.00 in decimal) in a £2 fourfold would be 3 x 3 x 3 x 3 x 2 = £162.
