An accumulator bet is a popular type of sports betting wager. Punters with a small bankroll often look to bet on all their favourite selections for the chance to win big. Bettors often refer to accumulators as “ACCA bets”. A midweek or weekend ACCA brings excitement and interest to the sports fixtures.
Now, let’s explain accumulator bets, including how they work, different types of ACCA, their pros and cons, and top tips to use ACCAs.
What Does ACCA Bet Mean?
An accumulator bet includes 4+ selections to win in one wager. Rather than separate single bets on each selection, it combines all your selections. An ACCA is different to a basic single bet – because to see a return, all your selections must win.
ACCAs offer bettors the chance to place a small wager with the chance to hit a big win. Each leg of the accumulator multiplies to create bigger odds than a single selection. For instance, if your ACCA bet includes five football teams to win. If all five teams do win, you would win your bet stake amount times the total odds of all legs.
But ACCAs come with added risk. If one of your selections loses, your whole bet loses.
How Do ACCA Bets Work?
Let’s walk through step by step how ACCA bets work.
First, pick multiple selections, such as several football teams to win. Then, decide how much to bet. The odds of each selection multiply to give your total returns (including stake). Any winnings rollover from one leg onto the next leg.
Here’s a quick breakdown of a typical 5-leg ACCA:
- Salford to win vs Cheltenham 1.70
- AC Milan to win vs Lecce 1.61
- Chelsea to win vs Fulham 1.60
- Man Utd to win vs Burnley 1.36
- Bayern Munich to win vs Augsburg 1.25
If you multiply the odds of each leg: 1.70 x 1.61 x 1.60 x 1.36 x 1.25 = 7.44 total odds.
So, for every £1 bet, you could win £7.44 if all five legs win. Likewise, if any of those teams fail to win, your bet would lose.
Types of ACCA Bets
What is an accumulator bet in gambling? Sports betting features various styles of accumulator bets. A standard accumulator means a bet that has 4 or more selections. Other types of multiples include a double, which has 2 selections. Or a treble bet of 3 selections.
ACCAs can include 4-folds where four selections need to win, up to 5-folds of 5 legs, and more. No matter how many selections an ACCA contains, all must win to return a winning wager.
System bets are related to ACCAs. The difference is they often combine singles with doubles and other multiples. In these bets, some of your selections can lose and the bet is still active.
A trixie is 3 selections with four bets: three doubles and a treble. A yankee has 4 selections in 11 bets: six doubles, four trebles and a one four-fold ACCA.
Pros and Cons of ACCA Bets
- Pros:
- Potential big wins from a small bet stake
- ACCAs are fun: Watch the sports results to see if your selections have won.
- Cons:
- With a standard ACCA, one losing leg will knock out your whole bet.
- If you take poor odds in an ACCA, they can be worse value than a single bet, as the odds compound.
Tips for Using ACCA Bets Wisely
Don’t overload with too many legs. You may get tempted to add extra selections to increase your potential win. Yet, it’s often better to limit your ACCA to a set number of legs. So, you have a more realistic chance of winning.
Focus on value rather than just big odds. Compare the odds of each selection to get good value odds. Look out for bookmakers offers like ACCA free bets to maximise the value.
Manage bankroll responsibly. Decide upfront how much you will spend on accumulators. Then split your total bankroll into separate bets. Don’t get tempted to bet your whole bankroll in one or a few bets.
Conclusion
I discussed an accumulator bet, meaning a combination of several different selections into one bet. These bets bring you a fun chance to experience the thrill of big potential wins.
However, it’s also important to consider the risk of ACCA. One losing selection ends your bet. So, balance how much you want to win against the risk of losing.