What is an accumulator or acca bet?

What is an acca?

An ‘acca’ is a short term for the word ‘accumulator’, which is hard to spell and takes up a lot of space to write.

The acca is a bet consisting of a number of different selections which form one bet.

Four or more selections make up an acca, and some bookmakers may even offer as many as 20 selections in total.

The more selections you add to the acca the more your chances of success decrease, but the odds will get bigger.

To win an acca, you need each of your selections to be successful. For example all five horses picked for a five-fold acca would need to win for you to claim your winnings, unless you have made your bet each-way.

What is an each-way acca?

Each-way accas are mostly used in horse racing

An each-way accumulator is two separate bets, one bet for your selections to win, the other to finish in the places.

For example, if you placed a £5 each-way acca your stake would be £10.

The bet is lost if one of your selections fails to win or place.

 

What are the different types of accumulator bets?

There are actually 13 types of accumulator bets, all with different names which can boggle the mind if you get yourself in a muddle.

Let's quickly tackle what they all are here:

Acca - the main one we've described in detail during this article. 4 to 30 selections in one bet, with all needing to win.

Double - Two selections, both need to win

Treble - Three selections, all three need to win. This is easy isn't it...just hang on

Trixie - Three selections combined into four bets. Three doubles (two selections combined) and one treble (all three selections combined). Only two of the three selections need to win for a return.

Patent - Three selections placed on seven bets. Three singles, three doubles and a treble. Returns can occur if just one selection lands. Individual stake is multiplied across the seven bets to make the total stake.

Yankee -  Four selections, placed as 11 separate bets that cover six doubles, four trebles and a four-fold acca. Only two from four must win to get a return. Individual stake is multiplied across the 11 bets to make the total stake.

Lucky 15 - Four selections placed on 15 bets; four singles, six doubles, four trebles, one four-fold acca. One win will gather a return. Individual stake is multiplied across the 15 bets to make the total stake.

Canadian - Five selections placed on 26 bets; 10 doubles, 10 trebles, five four-fold accas, one five-fold acca. Payout on one winning bet. Individual stake is multiplied across the 26 bets to make the total stake.

Lucky 31 - Five selections placed on 31 bets; five singles, ten doubles, ten trebles, five quadruples, one five-fold acca. Payout on one winning bet. Individual stake is multiplied across the 31 bets to make the total stake.

Heinz - Six selections placed on 57 bets (hence the Heinz name); 15 doubles, 20 trebles, 15 quadruples, six five folds and one six fold. Individual stake is multiplied across the 57 bets to make the total stake.

Super Heinz - As above but even bigger - seven selections into 120 bets; 21 doubles, 35 trebles, 35 four-fold accas, 21 five-fold accas, seven six-fold accas, one seven-fold acca. Individual stake is multiplied across the 120 bets to make the total stake.

Lucky 63 - Six selections made up of 63 bets; six singles, 15 doubles, 20 trebles, 15 quadruples, six five-folds and one-six fold acca. If just one of the six selections wins, the bettor would only receive a return from the single winning bet. Individual stake is multiplied across the 63 bets to make the total stake.

Goliath - Eight selections made up of 247 bets; 28 doubles, 56 trebles, 70 four-folds, 56 five-folds, 28 six-folds, eight seven-folds and one eight-fold acca. Individual stake is multiplied across the 247 bets to make the total stake, so can get quite pricey even at the lowest stake.

 

Why bet with an acca?

You can group multiple bets, of varying prices, together to enhance your odds. A small stake could earn a large profit.

 

What is a fold in an acca?

Fold refers to a leg of your acca, for example a six-fold acca is six separate selections to form one acca bet. 

What is acca insurance?

If your bookmaker offers acca insurance, your stake could be returned to you as a free bet if one leg of acca fails.

What are the benefits of an acca?

 

Larger odds:

Bookies multiply the odds of each selection you add to your slip. So even if you place just a pound on a multiple legged acca you could get a very generous price.

 

Variety:

You can select several favourites in your acca, or mix long shots with favourites. The choice is yours.

 

Multiple sports:

You can pick selections across a number of different sports or just one event like a football match or one horse racing meeting.

Small stakes can yield big profits.

 

Acca insurance:

Your stake could be returned to you as a free bet if one leg of acca fails.

 

Cash out:

Some bookies will offer the chance to cash out during the event

What are the negatives of an acca?

- The bigger the odds of your acca your chances of success reduce

- One failed leg can ruin an acca

- Cash out isn't always available. You are at the mercy of the bookie with a cash out, they could block the cash out option during the event

How to calculate your winnings in an acca?

Multiply the odds of your selections to find out your acca odds.

It’s a very simple formula but probably easier to work out if you change your odds into decimals.

Example for a four-legged acca: 2.10 x 3.00 x 1.57 x 2.66 = 26.31 

A £10 stake would return £263.10p

Can I place an acca on any sport?

Yes, horse racing and football are the most common. But tennis, cricket and darts accas are gaining in popularity.

For example on one single Saturday you could add a football match, a horse race, a grand prix and a tennis final to your acca.