Parlay Betting Explained

Learn how to place parlay bets, and which bookies offer the best odds and bonuses for parlay betting.

Parlay Bets

A parlay bet or accumulator is a single bet that contains two or more individual wagers which require all of the selections winning to get a return. Typically, parlay bets will pay out more than placing the bets separately, but, if one or more selection loses, the entire bet loses.

The returns of a parlay bet can be calculated by multiplying the stake by the odds of the first selection, then the second, third, fourth and so on depending on how many selections you pick. On some betting sites, you can place 20+ selection parlay bets, but the chancing of the bet landing decrease with every selection.

If you want to regularly place parlay bets, we recommend using betting sites with parlay insurances, boosts, or other bonuses for parlay betting. For example, bet365 offers parlay boosts of up to 70% extra, an early payout bonus for several sports including NHL, NBA, MLB & Soccer. The early payout bonus marks your selection as a winner if your team is winning by a certain amount at any point in the game, and stays a winner even if the bet goes on to lose.

Betting Sites with Parlay Insurance

Some betting sites also offer parlay insurance which usually refunds your stake if your bet loses by one selection. These parlay insurances typically cover bets with four or more selections, and mostly refund the stake as a free bet or cash. But, Parlay insurance often only applies to certain sports and betting markets. Be sure to check out the promotions page on the bookmaker of your choice to see if they offer parlay insurance.