How to Place an Accumulator Bet

An accumulator is a bet with at least two different, unrelated selections, although some suggest three, or even four selections are required. Accumulators – or accas – are very popular in the UK because they can lead to big wins from small stakes. As a result, they can be a fun and very rewarding bet.

What Is an Accumulator Bet?

If you want to know how to place an accumulator bet, you need to know what this type of wager is. Some people say that a bet with two selections is a double, three a treble, and only four selections or above is an acca. However, a more modern take is that a double is the simplest form of accumulator bet. That is, anything containing two or more selections can be called an acca.

The selections must be unrelated (generally on different matches, games or races). Moreover, all picks must win or your bet loses. The initial stake and winnings roll over from one selection to the next. This multiplying effect can lead to huge wins from only modest stakes.

What Is an Accumulator Bet?

You do not really need to know how to work out an accumulator bet or how to work out accumulator odds. This is because the process is fully automated at all the best acca betting sites. Moreover, you will see the combined odds and potential return from the stake when you place your bet. However, you should note that:

• All legs must win
• If just one loses, you lose your whole stake
• Stake and winnings roll over from leg to leg

Imagine you bet £10 on three horses at even money. If the first one wins, your £10 stake is boosted by £10 winnings. Therefore, £20 goes on the second leg. If that wins, the £20 is doubled to £40, which is effectively staked on the third pick. Assuming that wins, you win a further £40, added to the stake. Consequently, you get £80 back from the bookie. Thus, such an acca pays at 7/1.

That is 8.0 in decimal odds. If you want to know how to calculate accumulator odds, you simply multiply the decimal odds of each pick. For example, with our three horses, 2 × 2 × 2 = 8.

Pros & Cons of Accumulator Bets

Step-by-Step: How to Place an Accumulator Bet

• Research the games, races and markets you want to bet on.
• Navigate to the first market and click on the odds to add to the betting slip.
• Next, head to the next selection you want to bet on.
• Repeat these steps until you have added all your picks.
• Note that many bookies cap accas at 20 or 25 selections.
• However, we recommend using fewer, otherwise your chances of success are too small.
• Navigate to your betting slip.
• Select the acca, listed as “accumulator” or five-fold (if five selections). This will be listed as “x1 bet”.
• Add your stake and confirm the bet.

Beginner Tips for Accumulator Betting

• Limit number of legs – generally, we favour two to five selections. This offers a good balance of risk and reward.
• Avoid huge longshots – longshots are risky as singles. However, add them to accas and your chance of winning is tiny.
• Don’t overuse accas – accumulators favour the bookie. Therefore, use them sparingly either for fun or when you have extreme confidence in several picks.

Common Mistakes to Avoid

• Adding an extra leg – there is often a temptation to add just one more leg to boost the odds. However, that leg is often the one that costs you the bet.
• Ignoring odds value – value is crucial to long-term success in betting in general and this applies all the more with accas.
• Betting emotionally – backing a team you support, or backing against one you dislike, is not always wise. Moreover, betting when you are stressed, tired or drunk is also a bad idea.
• Overstaking – stake control is crucial with accas. Do not be tempted to place a large bet just because all your picks are odds-on. The overall risk is still high with multiple favourites.

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