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Accumulator Betting Explained

Written by Shihaam Isaacs | Published on Dec 21, 2018 | Updated on Dec 03, 2024

Accumulator betting, often called "acca," is a type of bet where you choose four or more different outcomes or selections, and all of them must win for you to receive a payout. This type of betting is especially popular in football, but you can use it in other sports as well.

How Accumulator Bets Work

When you place an accumulator bet, your winnings combine as you go. For example, let’s say you are betting on football games in the Premier League:

  • 1) Manchester United to beat Chelsea at odds of 3/1 (bet $10)

  • 2) Liverpool to beat Arsenal at odds of 4/1

  • 3) Tottenham to beat City at odds of 2/1

  • 4) West Ham to beat Aston Villa at odds of 5/1

Here’s how it works if you place a $1,000 bet:

  1. If Manchester United wins, you get back $3,000 (your $1,000 stake plus $2,000 winnings).

  2. You then use that $3,000 to bet on Liverpool. If Liverpool wins, it pays out $12,000 (your $3,000 stake plus $9,000 winnings).

  3. With $12,000 on Tottenham, if they win, you get $24,000 (your $12,000 stake plus $12,000 winnings).

  4. Finally, if West Ham wins, your total payout would be $72,000 ($24,000 stake plus $48,000 winnings).

So, with a $1,000 stake, if all four selections win, you could potentially turn it into $72,000!

Flexibility

One of the great things about accumulator betting is that you can mix different sports. For example, you can bet on a football match, a tennis match, and a horse race all in one accumulator bet.

What If a Game Is Canceled?

If one of your selected games doesn't happen (like a cancelled football match), it gets removed from your accumulator. The odds for the remaining selections are adjusted accordingly, so you still have a chance to win.

Each-Way Accumulators

In horse racing, you can place what's called an "each-way accumulator." This means if your horse wins, you get a payout, and if it places (comes in a specific position, like second or third), you get a smaller payout as well.

Potential Winnings

The excitement of accumulator betting lies in the potential for big payouts. For example, in 2008, a man won $1,300,000 by betting just 50 cents on an accumulator with eight long-odds horses. Another story involves a fan who turned a 30-cent bet into $500,000 by successfully predicting the winners of many football leagues and tournaments.

In summary, accumulator betting allows you to potentially win big with a relatively small stake by combining different bets across various events. It’s popular among football fans and adds excitement to watching games, as multiple matches can affect your potential winnings.

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