how do you calculate parlay odds?

**pico** · 02-03-08, 02:36 AM

ok, i know how to calculate true parlay odds. for 2 teamer -110 each is +264. how does the book come up with +260 odds?

**Ganchrow** · 02-03-08, 03:09 AM

Originally posted by picoman

what is the formula to use when you want to calculate a 2-team parlay with -105 -110?

You take the product of the decimal odds.

Hence, true parlay odds on two bets at would be (1+100/110)*(1+10/110) ≈ .

True parlay odds on one bet at and another at would be (1+100/105)*(1+100/110) ≈ .

This means that when parlaying 2 teams at -110 for +260 you're actually getting each team at odds of about .

Similarly, when parlaying 3 teams at -110 for +600 you're actually getting each team at odds of about .

Originally posted by picoman

ok, i know how to calculate true parlay odds. for 2 teamer -110 each is +264. how does the book come up with +260 odds?

Books will frequently offer 2- and 3- team parlays ot odds of +260 (13:5) and +600 (6:1), respectively. This is a throwback to the old days when (apparently) calculators were hard to come by and weighted several tons each (most of that weight was of course due to the wise-crackin' Pterodactyl that provided the calculator its juice). It was easier for a book maker (or is his customers) to calculate payout amounts at 13:5 or 6:1 than at 2.6446:1 or 5.9579:1.

**pico** · 02-03-08, 04:17 AM

Originally posted by Ganchrow

Books will frequently offer 2- and 3- team parlays ot odds of +260 (13:5) and +600 (6:1), respectively. This is a throwback to the old days when (apparently) calculators were hard to come by and weighted several tons each (most of that weight was of course due to the wise-crackin' Pterodactyl that provided the calculator its juice). It was easier for a book maker (or is his customers) to calculate payout amounts at 13:5 or 6:1 than at 2.6446:1 or 5.9579:1.

noticed something odd on pinnacle. when i try to parlay 2 teamer with -110 odds on ncaa games, i am getting +260, but if i tried to parlay two games with slight off odds (-111 or -118), i am getting true parlay odds.

weird

**LT Profits** · 02-03-08, 08:51 AM

Originally posted by picoman

noticed something odd on pinnacle. when i try to parlay 2 teamer with -110 odds on ncaa games, i am getting +260, but if i tried to parlay two games with slight off odds (-111 or -118), i am getting true parlay odds.

weird

No, not weird, that is normal. When you are parlaying teams that are all at -110, refer to the book's chart. When parlaying teams with different odds, books give true parlay odds.

**pico** · 02-03-08, 02:07 PM

Originally posted by LT Profits

No, not weird, that is normal. When you are parlaying teams that are all at -110, refer to the book's chart. When parlaying teams with different odds, books give true parlay odds.

this is ****ing weird. you get little better odds by using one slightly off -110 team rather than parlay two -110 teams.

this goes for 4,5,6,7,8 teamers as well

good to know