There are a number of multi-bet structures available when wagering on football. However, perhaps the most popular and best-known iteration is an accumulator. An accumulator or ‘acca’ bet will combine several different selections into a single wager, while the odds of each outcome is multiplied to create a single, extended price.
When executed well, accumulator betting can unlock significant returns in relation to your stake amount. But how exactly do accas work, and which sites offer the best value when placing this type of wager? Let’s find out this and more in this betting guide!
Please note this guide is for educational purposes only. Accumulator betting does not guarantee any type of financial return, and you should only engage in this practice if you fully understand the process and associated risks.
What is Accumulator Betting?
Multi-bets featuring two or three selections are known as ‘Doubles’ and ‘Trebles’ respectively. However, any multi-bet with four or more selections is technically considered to be an accumulator.
Typically, the maximum number of picks permitted in an acca is 20, but some sportsbooks may allow you to incorporate additional selections. Don’t worry though, we’ll touch more on the various types of acca bet later in the guide.
Acca returns are calculated by multiplying the odds of each individual selection together. You’ll then take this sum and multiply it by the value of your total stake. Just note that for your acca to payout, each of your individual selections must win.
The most popular football accumulators include win market or ‘1X2’ bets. However, you can also construct accumulators based on more diverse football betting markets, including Both Teams to Score (BTTS), handicaps and the over/under on how many goals will be scored in a match.
An Accumulator Example
Let’s say that you wanted to bet on five Championship matches ahead of the upcoming weekend. You subsequently pick five likely match winners, based on your form analysis, the published odds and their implied probability values. Here’s a summary of your selections:
| Selection | Odds | Implied Probability |
|---|---|---|
| Watford to beat QPR | 1.95 | 51.3% |
| Middlesbrough to beat Hull | 1.53 | 65.2% |
| Norwich to beat Luton | 2.20 | 45.5% |
| Leeds to beat Blackburn | 1.85 | 54.1% |
| Burnley to beat Stoke | 2.38 | 42.1% |
You also decide to commit a total stake of £10. When you subsequently determine your potential winnings, the calculation will read as follows:
1.95 * 1.53 * 2.20 * 1.85 * 2.38 * £10 = £288.99
This return is calculated inclusive of your original stake. So, a winning acca of this type would deliver a profit of £278.99. This is a sizable return on a relatively small stake, but there’s also significant risk given that each of your picks will have to win to trigger a payout. Of course, you can mitigate this risk in part by prioritising the selection of betting favourites.
How to Place an Accumulator Bet
We’re going to analyse the best acca betting sites in the next stage of this guide. Regardless of which sportsbook you choose, however, the process of registering for an account and wagering is largely the same at each one. Here’s a step-by-step guide, using Betway as an example!
- Register for an Account: To begin with, visit the Betway page using your desktop or mobile browser (or open the app). Then, click through the ‘Register’ button in the top right-hand corner of the screen.
- Enter Your Personal Details: You’ll then be transferred to a separate screen, and asked whether you want to opt-in and receive the site’s welcome offer. Then, provide a verifiable email, username and password to secure your account. Also, enter your legal name, DOB and physical address before hitting ‘Register’.
- Make Your First Deposit: You’ll then be asked to credit your account through the ‘Banking’ pop-up. Here, you can select your preferred payment method and deposit amount, while also setting personalised deposit limits if required. The minimum deposit at Betway is £10.
- Browse the Available Markets and Selections: Once your deposit and bonus funds have landed (if applicable), you can browse the available sports and markets at Betway. If you want to place a football acca, you can click through the ‘Football’ tab on the left-hand side of the screen or visit ‘Daily Football Matches’.
- Place Your Bets! Once you’ve identified the games and events that you’d like to wager on, you can make your selections. These will automatically populate your bet slip in the bottom right-hand corner. Once complete, scroll down and enter your stake amount in the ‘Accumulator’ box. You can then hit ‘Place Bets’ to confirm and wait for the results to roll in!
Best Accumulator Betting Sites
While the process of registering for a sportsbook account may be similar from one site to another, not all operators have been created equal when it comes to the accumulator betting experience on offer. So, here’s our pick of the best three acca betting sites and the key features that set them apart!
Best Bookie for Football Accumulators: Cosmobet
If you’re solely interested in building football accumulators, Cosmobet comes highly recommended. After all, this site offers exceptional coverage of footies and the English Football League, with more than 230 betting markets available on selected Championship matches.
As a Cosmobet customer, you can also access an array of promotions. You can certainly unlock bespoke bonuses as a crypto bettor, including 20% cashback on all deposits and a dedicated welcome offer.
The primary sports welcome offer comprises a generous 150% first deposit match up to the value of £1,000. Deposit at least £20 to qualify for the bonus, which is subject to wagering requirements of 15x its total value.
Best Accumulator Betting Seven-Fold Offer: Bet442
If you want to build accumulators featuring selections from different sports, Bet442 could well be the site for you. This sportsbook operates a revolutionary ‘Bet Builder’ tool, which lets you build accas using an array of different markets and disciplines.
Targeting pre-match events, you can include football, NFL, tennis and basketball betting lines in your Bet Builder wager. This may feature a maximum of 30 markets overall, although the wager in question won’t be eligible for the purposes of cashing out.
There’s also a welcome offer at Bet442, which comprises a £10 free bet when you deposit and wager £20 at minimum odds of 2.00. The free bet must be staked at odds of 1.80 or greater.
Best Accumulator Betting Single Offer: Highbet
Highbet is best renowned for its exceptional welcome offer, which comprises a £15 free bet when you deposit and wager £10. Your qualifying bet must be staked at odds of 2.00 or higher, while singles and straight accumulators are eligible to trigger the bonus.
You can also leverage your free bet to build an accumulator. When betting on Championship and English League One matches, you can also access more than 150 pre-game markets. These include moneylines, BTTS and over/under betting, each of which can unlock acca opportunities.
What’s more, Highbet’s own Bet Builder tool is also highly recommended. This lets you include two or more markets from one event into a combination wager and is available across eight different sports.
Types of Accumulator Bets
Technically speaking, an accumulator should include between four and 20 betting selections. However, there are alternative types of acca and multi-bet structures, depending on your preferred sport and appetite for risk. Here are some examples!
Patent
A patent bet is a multi-bet that comprises three selections. These are combined to create three single bets, three doubles and a treble. Interestingly, patents offer a little more security and less exposure to risk than accas, as you can still recoup some of your stake even if one or two of your picks lose.
Double
A ‘Double’ functions in the exact same way as a single bet. However, you must predict the outcome of two matches or sporting events to qualify for a payout. If one of your selections fails to win, you’ll lose the entirety of your stake.
Treble
As the name suggests, a ‘Treble’ requires you to pick three different outcomes (such as the winners of three separate Championship matches). However, you can also include picks from different sports and markets, such as picking a single match winner, the first goalscorer in a second game and backing BTTS in the third!
Lucky 15
This is an extension of the aforementioned patent bet. More specifically, it includes four selections and 15 different bets, including four singles, six doubles, four trebles and one four-fold acca. Once again, you just need one of your selections to win to generate some kind of return.
Yankee
Another popular multi-bet type, a ‘Yankee’ consists of 11 wagers that are built from four selections. The precise combinations include six doubles, four trebles and a single four-fold acca (also known as a quadruple bet). This can enable you to back relative betting favourites at enhanced odds.
Heinz
This mammoth multi-bet structure comprises just six selections but a staggering 57 different wagers. The precise composition includes 15 doubles, 20 trebles, 15 four-fold accas, 6 five-fold accumulators and 1 six-fold wager. This bet type is so-called because of the famous ‘Heinz’ sauce brand, which once claimed to have 57 different varieties!
Trixie
Like a patent bet, a ‘Trixie’ requires you to make three betting selections. However, these are then combined differently and more selectively into just four bets, including three doubles and a treble. This also unlocks an enhanced chance of winning, as just two of your three picks have to win to secure a payout!
Goliath
The name ‘Goliath’ is somewhat fitting here, as this wager features eight selections and an incredible 247 different bets. These include 28 doubles, 56 trebles, 70 four-folds, 56 five-fold accas, 28 six-fold accumulators, 8 seven-folds and a single 8-fold wager. Two of your selections must win if you’re to recoup at least some of your stake.
Lucky 31
The so-called “Lucky 31” structure features five selections and a total of 31 different bets. These include 5 singles, 10 doubles, 10 trebles, 5 four-folds and 1 five-fold accumulator. This type of wager is deployed relatively rarely, so some sportsbooks may offer bespoke promotions and consolations when you place this bet.
Lucky 63
This is a more extensive iteration of the Lucky 31 wager. In this case, you’ll make six betting selections and place 63 wagers: namely 6 singles, 15 doubles, 20 trebles, 15 four-folds, 6 five-fold accas and a six-fold accumulator. This is a particularly complex structure, and you’ll need to use a bet calculator to determine your potential returns and risk.
Canadian
A ‘Canadian’ bet is sometimes referred to as a ‘Super Yankee’, and is an extension of this aforementioned wager. Here, you’ll construct 26 bets from just five selections in total, including 10 doubles, 10 trebles, 5 four-fold accumulators and a single five-fold acca. Once again, this can unlock generous returns on a relatively small stake amount.
Eight-fold Accumulator
With an eight-fold accumulator, you’ll incorporate eight different picks in a single wager. This can include a variety of markets, such as race or match winners, BTTS and the over/under on how many goals will be scored in a specific Championship game. You can also place each-way eight-fold accas, if you’re willing to double your stake amount.
Seven-fold accumulator
This type of bet functions in the exact same way as an eight-fold accumulator. However, you’ll need to include seven different selections and picks. Once again, you can combine picks from various sports and qualifying markets when constructing 7-fold accas.
Six-Fold Accumulator
This type of acca bet features six fold or selections. This is one of the most popular accumulator structures, as it helps bettors to strike an optimal balance between risk and reward.
Four-fold accumulator
Technically speaking, a four-fold acca is the smallest type of accumulator bet that you can build. Sure, you can build wagers with two and three picks, but these are commonly referred to as doubles and trebles. This requires you to pick just four selections, reducing your potential payout when compared to larger accas.
Accumulator Betting Tips
Regardless of how many picks you include in your accumulators, there are several strategies that you can deploy to maximise your chances of winning (and prospective returns). These include:
Research and Analysis
Broadly speaking, one of the best acca betting strategies is to prioritize the selection of favorites. Such picks usually unlock high implied probability values and increase your chances of winning, while short odds can be multiplied together to create a superior payout.
Of course, you can also boost your potential returns by also including the occasional betting underdog. Regardless, your picks need to be well informed and researched, by paying attention to recent form, home and away performances and up-to-date team news (depending on the sport and markets that you target).
Diversifying Selections
You should also consider diversifying your selections. You can do this across different sports, of course, but even when placing a straight football acca, you should draw your picks from as broad a range of leagues and markets as possible.
For example, consider building a or six-fold acca focusing on matches from the entirety of the English football league. Another tactic is to construct accumulators using matches from all of Europe’s ‘big five’ leagues.
Bankroll Management
Arguably, acca bets lend themselves to careful bankroll management. After all, they enable you to unlock potentially sizable returns with relatively small stake commitments, while you can minimize your risk of loss by targeting heavy betting favourites.
Regardless, you should only ever wager an amount that you can comfortably afford to lose when betting on sports. We’d also recommend setting customisable deposit limits to suit your betting frequency and how much you can afford to wager within a specific timeframe.
Hedging Your Accumulator Bets
If the first five legs of a six-fold accumulator come good, you may be left sweating on the final result (especially if you don’t have acca insurance). However, you may be able to negate the risk of loss by hedging on the opposition in a bid to guarantee a profit.
Of course, much will depend on the size of your original stake and your P/L projections. You’ll subsequently have to set a stake that can at least secure a nominal return regardless of the result in your final acca game, but this can prove effective if you’re unsure that your sixth pick will prevail!
Popular Sports for Accumulator Betting
As we’ve touched on, you can incorporate a diverse selection of sports and betting markets into your accumulator. But which disciplines are the most popular among bettors?
Football Accumulators
Undoubtedly, accumulator betting remains synonymous with football. There’s good reason for this too: as the high volume of league and cup matches scheduled each week increases your chances of picking winning teams and outcomes. But how can you make the most informed football acca selections?
- Analyse the Form: Before picking match winners, consider analysing each team’s form over the course of the previous six matches. Make a clear distinction between home and away performances too. When placing BTTS or over/under bets, analyse relevant scoring stats and each side’s goals-per-game (GGP) average.
- Follow the Latest Team News: This is another key consideration, as injuries, suspensions and player rotations can severely weaken betting favourites. By following the latest team news, you make the best acca picks and potentially identify value bets.
- Wager at the Best Odds: Not all of the UK’s leading sportsbooks have been created equal, especially when it comes to their odds. When building match betting accas that prioritise favourites, identifying the most competitive odds and eligible price boosts could be worth its weight in gold.
Other Sports to Consider for Accumulator Bets
Aside from football, you can also build accas that are focused on horse racing, tennis and basketball. Here are some tips for constructing accumulators of this type!
- Horse Racing Accumulators: When you build horse racing accas, you may look to pick winners from high profile races at the same festival (such as Cheltenham). Horse racing accas can unlock particularly competitive odds, while it’s not uncommon to create each-way accumulators that simultaneously pick runners to win and place.
- Tennis Accumulators: Unlike football, tennis matches cannot end in a draw and always produce decisive results. So, you can arguably build tennis accumulators based on moneylines that have a slightly better chance of winning. This may encourage you to include a higher number of picks or hike your stake amount slightly.
- Basketball or NBA Accumulators: The NBA is the most popular basketball league in the world, and one that hosts 1,230 games in total during the regular season. This creates ample opportunity to build effective accumulators, using markets such as moneylines and point spreads.
Acca Betting Tools
One of the main challenges associated with accumulator betting is that you need all of your picks to triumph if you’re to secure a payout. So, you need to use every tool and resource at your disposal if you’re to maximise your chances of winning!
Accumulator Betting Calculator
While you can easily calculate your acca odds and potential returns manually, you can also automate this task using a dedicated calculator online. The Free Bet Calculator resource is one of the best available at the time of writing.
Simply enter your desired unit stake and number of selections, before updating the ‘win odds’ section. Select ‘Each Way’ and add the place odds if necessary.
Once you hit ‘Calculate Bet’, your projected returns and profit will appear below. You can also use this resource to experiment with different stake amounts and wager at the optimal level. You can check out the example below for further context:
Frequently Asked Questions on Acca Betting
What is an accumulator in betting?
An accumulator is a multi-bet structure that combines a number of betting lines into a single wager. The odds of each pick are then multiplied to create a single, enhanced price, enabling you to pursue potentially large returns with a small or modest stake amount.
Are accumulator bets worth it?
Because accumulators enable you to bank sizable returns in relation to your bet unit, they’re incredibly popular among seasoned bettors. However, execution is key here, particularly as each pick will need to win if you’re to succeed. Ultimately, accas are best suited for experienced sports bettors with a healthy appetite for risk.
What’s the difference between an accumulator and a bet builder?
Both accas and Bet Builder wagers combine multiple bets into one single bet. However, whereas accumulators can incorporate picks from a number of different events, Bet Builders often require you to make multiple selections from the same game or race.
How to win an accumulator bet?
Unfortunately, there’s no surefire way of winning when placing an accumulator bet. However, you can increase your chances by prioritising short price favourites where possible and capping your number of selections at between six and eight. Also, make use of acca insurance and consider hedging the final leg of your accumulator where appropriate.
What is a 7 fold ACCA?
Put simply, a seven-fold acca is an accumulator that includes seven different selections. This is a well-balanced bet that will typically unlock generous returns while enabling you to minimise your exposure to risk!