Accumulators: how they work

An accumulator (or "acca") is a single bet made up of multiple selections. Every leg has to win for the bet to pay out. The returns from each leg roll over into the stake for the next, which is why accas can pay so much.

The maths

Multiply the decimal odds of every leg, then multiply by your stake. Four legs at 2.00, 3.00, 4.00, and 5.00 give combined odds of 120.00. A £10 stake returns £1,200.

The trade-off

Combined probability multiplies the same way. Four selections each with a 50% chance give the acca a 6.25% chance — one in sixteen. Most accas don't land. The appeal is asymmetric upside: small stake, large potential return.

Common variations

• Doubles, Trebles, 4-folds — the standard ladder
• Each-way accumulator — every leg has to place to settle the place line
• System bets like Yankees and Lucky 15s — full coverage of all sub-combinations, so you don't need every leg to win