Sports betting has become increasingly popular worldwide, and one of the most exciting ways to bet is through a parlay bet – or same game parlay betting – an option that allows you to combine multiple wagers into one.
So, if you are looking to learn more about same game parlay betting, this article discusses how to place this type of bet, the pros, and cons of this wager type, its legality, and more.
What is Same Game Parlay Betting?
One of the newest forms of parlay betting is Same Game Parlay betting, which is gaining popularity in the United States and around the world. In fact, according to ESPN, in the Super Bowl LVI, same game parlay bets accounted for 31% of bets staked at BetRivers, Barstool, and other US sportsbooks, prior to the start of the game.
First, let’s discuss parlay betting. It is a type of wager where you combine two or more bets on the same ticket with the aim of increasing your potential payout.
For instance, you could bet on multiple basketball games and combine the point spread, the total points scored, and the moneyline from each game into one bet. If all of your individual bets are correct, you win the parlay bet, which will pay out at higher odds than if you had placed each bet individually.
Now, Same Game Parlay betting is similar, but the difference is that you’re placing multiple bets on different aspects of the same game. For example, you could bet on the point spread, the total points scored, and the first scorer in a football game on a single ticket, and if all your picks are correct, you could win a substantial amount.
For context, here is an example of a successful Same Game Parlay bet:
- This Twitter post shows a bettor winning a Same Game Parlay bet on a basketball game between the Los Angeles Lakers and Memphis Grizzlies by playing a series of player props options and earning a payout of $100.
How Does Same Game Parlay Betting Work?
When placing a Same Game Parlay bet, the bettor chooses two or more different outcomes from the same game and combines them into one bet. For example, in a basketball game, the bettor could bet on the point spread, the total points scored, and the first scorer. In a football game, the bettor could bet on the point spread, the total points scored, and the first touchdown scorer.
To calculate the potential payout for a Same Game Parlay bet, the bettor needs to determine the odds for each individual bet and then multiply them together. For example, let’s say you bet $10 on an NBA parlay for a game between the Los Angeles Lakers and Golden State Warriors with the following two bets:
- Spread: Los Angeles Lakers +6 (-110)
- Total points: U227.5 (-112)
To calculate the potential payout for the outlined Same Game Parlay manually, we need to combine the odds for the respective picks. And the process for combining the odds is outlined as follows:
- Convert the odds of each selection to their decimal equivalent using the following equations:
For negative American odds: Decimal odds = (100 / moneyline odds) + 1
For positive American odds: Decimal odds = (moneyline odds / 100) + 1 - The odds for the ‘Spread’ option is -110, and that of the ‘Total Points’ option is -112; thus their decimal equivalent is calculated as follows:
Spread: (100 / 110) + 1 = 1.91
Total points: (100 / 112) + 1 = 1.89 - To calculate the combined odds for the parlay, you would need to multiply these decimal odds together:
1.91 x 1.89 = 3.61 - Then, proceed to multiply the combined odds by your bet amount, which, in this case, would be:
10 x 3.61 = $36.1 - Subtract your original stake to get the parlay odds and winnings
$36.1 – $10 = $26.1
This means that a $10 Same Game Parlay bet would potentially pay out $26.1 if both outcomes are correct.