One slip, several results to get right
An accumulator combines selections into one bet. In a straightforward win-only accumulator, every active leg must win for the bet to pay out.
The larger return comes with another condition each time you add a selection. A short-priced favourite still gives the slip another way to lose.
Work out the return
Multiply the decimal odds together, then multiply the result by the stake. The total return includes the original stake.
| Selection | Decimal odds |
|---|---|
| Leg one | 1.80 |
| Leg two | 2.00 |
| Leg three | 1.50 |
The combined odds are 5.40. A winning R20 stake returns R108, with R88 profit; if any active leg loses, the R20 stake is lost.
Use the accumulator calculator to check the arithmetic before placing a bet. Its result is a conditional payout, not a forecast.
Why another leg changes the chance
If three independent selections each had a true 50% chance of winning, the chance of all three winning would be 12.5%. That example uses assumed probabilities, not bookmaker prices.
Selections from the same match may be related. A team winning and its striker scoring cannot automatically be treated as independent events, and a bet builder may price the combination differently.
Read the settlement rules first
- Check whether each market covers normal time, extra time or qualification.
- Check how a void selection changes the remaining bet.
- For racing, check non-runner, dead-heat and deduction rules.
- For postponed events, check how long the operator waits before settlement.
A calculator cannot know which of those rules will apply to a particular slip. The accepted bet and operator's rules control settlement.
Singles or an accumulator?
Separate singles settle separately: one losing selection doesn't erase the return from another winning selection. An accumulator links their results and changes the payout structure.
Neither format changes your total spending limit. Decide the amount you can afford to lose before deciding how many selections belong on the slip.
Leave out the extra selection
If a leg is there only to make the return look bigger, remove it. The useful question is whether you would back that selection on its own, at that price.