Step 2: Multiply the Decimal Odds of Parlay Picks Together. Let’s assume you have chosen five games to parlay and you have converted the odds to decimal form. Take the decimal odds and multiply them together. For example: 2.20 x 1.50 x 1.75 x 2.50 x 3.25; The product of this equation totals 46.92. This is your parlay odds. Step 3: Calculate. If you are going to bet parlays, always check the payouts as the odds vary from site to site but generally, they payout about 2.6/1 for a two teamer and 6/1 for a 3-teamer using Standard -110 lines. Typically, a three team parlay will pay out at 6/1. If all three of these teams cover the point spread, then the bet would be won. For every $100 wagered on this parlay, a $600 profit is made. If one of the bets was to push though for example, you would be paid as if you made a 2 team parlay bet, which would be 3 to 1, or $300.
Using the Parlay Calculator for How Much Does a Number of Teams Pay
Our free parlay calculator above will help you figure out the payouts you should be receiving once you enter the odds on each one of your bets. Using the parlay calculator is extremely easy.
All you have to do is type in the money lines for each one of your wagers (most spread bets will be -110) and then enter the amount you want to bet on the parlay. Once you hit Calculate the payout field will populate with how much you are going to win if every leg of your parlay hits.
For example. Let’s say you want to be a $100 4-team parlay on the Packers -7 -110, Patriots -8 -110, Steelers +3 -120, and the Lions +3 -115. In Team #1 I enter -110, Team #2 -110, Team #3 -120 and Team #4 -115. Leave the rest at 0. Then in the wager amount enter 100.
Once you hit calculate the payout should display 1149.21. This means that your $100 4-team parlay on those teams should earn you $1,149.21 when it hits!
Parlay Payouts & House Edge Depending on Number of Games
| # of Teams | Actual Odds | Las Vegas Payout | Online Payout |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2 | 3/1 | 2.6/1 | 13/5 |
| 3 | 7/1 | 6/1 | 6/1 |
| 4 | 15/1 | 10/1 | 12.28/1 |
| 5 | 31/1 | 20/1 | 24.35/1 |
| 6 | 63/1 | 40/1 | 47.41/1 |
| 7 | 127/1 | 75/1 | 91.42/1 |
| 8 | 255/1 | 150/1 | 175.44/1 |
| 9 | 511/1 | 300/1 | 335.85/1 |
| 10 | 1027/1 | 700/1 | 642.08/1 |
What is a Parlay?
A parlay is a single bet that links together multiple events for a higher payout. The more teams that you tie together the higher your payout is going to be, but the risk also grows since if just one of your legs loses, the bet is a loser. It doesn’t matter what happens in the other games.
If one leg of your parlay ties, pushes, is cancelled due to postponement, cancellation, rescheduling, then the wager reverts to the next lowest number. For example a 3-team parlay with a push gets graded as a 2-team parlay with the other two legs.
You may have heard the term “parlay” in reference to someone combining one asset with another to achieve success. “I bought a new propane grill, and combined with my shopping skills I parlayed that into a great family cookout.”
At the casino or on a sports book, to parlay means something similar. Easily the most popular of all exotic wagers in sports betting, a parlay (or “combo”) is a collection of 2 or more sides or totals that you place a wager on and all of them must win in order for you to cash in.
How Much Does A 2 Team Parlay Payout
MLB, NFL and NBA Parlay Rules
Most bettors love the idea of having a chance at a big payoff from a small wager. But parlays are hard to win, and come with a strict set of rules. Let’s look at some of the ins and outs.
Bookies offer this category of wager to lure the gambler into a tough situation. For instance, on a 4-team parlay, going 3-1 is no different than going 0-4. You lose in either case. However, if you’d placed 4 individual bets and won 3 while losing 1, you would make a decent chunk of change. But you would have saved yourself a lot of money by betting the combo instead of placing 4 individual bets if you went 0-4.
“Correlated” outcomes are strictly against the rules, which means you cannot benefit from results that are related to one another. For instance, a finesse passing team might be pitted against a strong defensive unit in the Super Bowl. If you pick the latter squad, you cannot place a combo bet on the “under,” since that outcome is more likely to occur if the strong defense controls the contest.
Below is a table that lists the chances of hitting a combo if all wagers are “pick’em,” or evenly-matched “coin flip” scenarios – what sports books give you for each ratio, and the chance of a winner if you hit 55%. Obviously, if you’re a 55% handicapper, then there are good deals in the offing. This table shows the odds for 2-team combos all the way up to 11 teams.
| # of Teams | Your chances at 50% | Payout in Vegas | Your chances at 55% |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2 | 3/1 | 2.6/1 | 2.3/1 |
| 3 | 7/1 | 6/1 | 5.0/1 |
| 4 | 15/1 | 10/1 | 9.9/1 |
| 5 | 31/1 | 20/1 | 18.9/1 |
| 6 | 63/1 | 40/1 | 35.1/1 |
| 7 | 127/1 | 75/1 | 64.7/1 |
| 8 | 255/1 | 150/1 | 118.4/1 |
| 9 | 511/1 | 300/1 | 216.1/1 |
| 10 | 1,023/1 | 700/1 | 393.8/1 |
| 11 | 2,047/1 | 1,200/1 | 716.8/1 |
As you can see, for the normal bettor who only hits on 50% of their wagers, trying for a 4-0 (or 3-0, or 2-0) record on the same day is a bad idea. It gets worse the more wagers you add. A 2-teamer isn’t terrible because you expect to hit 1 out of each 3 you bet, and you get rewarded 2.6 to 1. A 3-teamer isn’t that bad either because your expected chances are 7-1, while you get paid 6-1.
Avoiding “Sucker” Bets On Sports Book Parlays
How Is Parlay Payout Calculated
Where you really see the biggest sucker bets are the 4-team combos. These wagers only work 1 out of every 15 times, yet you only get paid 10-1. Picking 8 winners and 0 losers only scores a hit once in every 255 times, but you only get paid 150-1 if successful. The 11-team parlay hits 1 out of every 2,047 times, and the payout is based on only just over 50% of that ratio.
2 Game Parlay Payout
Most of the general betting public doesn’t realize that 55% is an excellent winning percentage when it comes to sports betting. But the table also illustrates that if you pick 55% victorious teams/athletes, then every single combo listed is a profitable wager over the long term. The chances of hitting an 11-teamer drop from 2,047-1 to 716.8-1 when you pick 55%. Considering you get paid out 1,200-1, it actually isn’t a bad deal for the 55% handicappers.
The Lines Don’t Always Favor Betting Parlays
Parlay 2 Payout Calculator
In conclusion, I almost never recommend betting parlays for newer cash players. There are times when I’ll put out a 2-team combo on a football game if 2 favorites are being under-valued, but only a of couple times a year. Your best move is to stick to straight bets in football and basketball with the point spreads and totals.
Sometimes, conference vs conference match-ups are a good opportunity for a successful combo wager if 1 of the 2 conferences is under-valued. For instance, ACC football went 4-0 vs the SEC on a Saturday in 2014 – nobody expected that except a few savvy gamblers. Georgia Tech over Georgia was just one of the upsets that took place on that November day as bookies lost out to the ever-popular SEC hype train driving the lines. Another opportunity for this kind of combo bet occurs during early-season conference vs conference “challenge” tourneys in college basketball.
2 Bet Parlay Payout
I know it’s tempting to try and strike it rich on a big “trifecta,” but the chances are less in your favor as the number of picks goes up. So have fun, but proceed with caution!