Accumulators explained
How accumulators pay, why the margin compounds with every leg, and how to compare a whole acca across bookmakers.
An accumulator links several selections into one bet. Every leg has to win, and the prices multiply. That creates big potential returns, along with a bigger built-in cost than most people realise.
How the payout works
Multiply the decimal prices together, then multiply by your stake. Three legs at 1.80, 2.00 and 1.90 give 1.80 × 2.00 × 1.90 = 6.84, so £10 returns £68.40 if all three win. If any leg loses, the whole bet loses.
The margin compounds
Each leg carries its own margin, and those multiply as well. With every leg priced at a payout of 95.5%, a typical two-way figure, here is what the whole bet is really paying:
| Legs | Payout on the whole bet |
|---|---|
| 1 | 95.5% |
| 2 | 91.2% |
| 4 | 83.2% |
| 6 | 75.9% |
| 8 | 69.2% |
More legs mean a much larger share of your stake goes to the bookmaker on average, which is one reason accumulators are promoted so heavily.
Why the best price matters more here
Price differences compound in your favour too. Four legs that are each 5% better return 21.6% more. Because the best bookmaker often differs from leg to leg, it is worth comparing the whole bet, not one leg at a time.
Add selections to the coupon on this site and it shows what each bookmaker would pay for the full accumulator, using only bookmakers that price every leg.
Accumulator insurance and boosts
Many bookmakers offer money back if one leg lets you down, or a percentage boost on winnings. Read the terms: refunds are often paid as a bonus rather than cash, and minimum leg and price rules usually apply.
Bet builders combine selections from one match. Each bookmaker prices these with its own model, because the legs are connected, so they cannot be compared by multiplying prices. We do not compare them yet.
Accumulators are fun, but they are a high-margin product. Only stake what you are happy to lose.
Guides are for information only and are not betting advice. Only bet what you can afford to lose. See our responsible gambling page for support.
