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What is a Round Robin Bet? How to, Odds and Examples

If you surf around the available wager types offered by your sportsbook, you will probably come across the option to place a round robin bet. Most of time, we’re zoned in on moneylines, teasers and parlays, but round robins are a type of bet that is useful in certain situations. Here is an explanation of what they are and when it’s worth using them.

What Are Round Robin Bets?

Are you looking for a way to increase your chances of winning your sports bets? If so, a round-robin bet might be just the strategy you need.

This unique betting method allows you to place multiple parlay bets at once, spreading your money across various combinations of teams or events.

In this article, we'll explore the ins and outs of round-robin betting, how it works, and whether it's the right strategy for you. Get ready to learn about a powerful tool for sports betting success!

Advantages of Round-Robin Betting

A Variety of Bets in One Wager

One of the biggest advantages of round-robin betting is that it allows you to make multiple bets in a single wager.

This means that you can spread your money across several different combinations of teams or events, increasing your chances of winning while also minimizing your risk. With a round-robin bet, you don't have to rely on a single parlay to win in order to make a profit. Instead, as long as at least one of your parlays wins, you'll come out ahead.

This is especially helpful when you're not sure which teams or events to bet on or if you're dealing with a large number of options. By using a round-robin bet, you can cover all possible combinations without having to place individual bets on each one, which can be time-consuming and expensive.

Additionally, because you're making multiple bets in a single wager, you can often take advantage of better odds or betting lines than you would be able to with a single parlay bet.

Overall, the ability to make multiple bets in one wager is a significant advantage of round-robin betting, making it a powerful tool for sports bettors looking to maximize their chances of winning.

Higher Potential Payouts

Another advantage of round-robin betting is the potential for higher payouts.

By placing multiple parlays in a single wager, you can increase the overall odds of your bet and potentially win more money than you would with a single parlay bet. Since a round-robin bet covers all possible combinations of teams or events, you have a better chance of hitting at least one of your parlays and winning a payout.

Moreover, if all of your parlays hit, the payout can be significantly higher than if you had placed individual bets on each one. This is because the winnings from each parlay are combined and multiplied together to determine the overall payout. Therefore, the more parlays you include in your round-robin bet, the greater the potential payout can be.

However, it's important to remember that the risk is also higher when you're making multiple bets in one wager. If none of your parlays win, you'll lose your entire stake.

Nevertheless, the potential for higher payouts is an enticing advantage of round-robin betting, making it an attractive option for sports bettors who are willing to take on a bit more risk in exchange for the chance to win big.

More Control Over Your Parlay Bets

Finally, round-robin betting gives you more control over your wagers.

In a traditional parlay bet, you have to bet on all the teams or events included in the parlay and they all have to win in order for you to win the bet. This can be frustrating if you're confident in some of your picks but not others, as a single losing pick can cause the entire parlay to lose.

With a round-robin bet, however, you can control which combinations of teams or events are included in each parlay. This means that you can exclude certain teams or events that you're not confident in, or create multiple parlays with different combinations to hedge your bets.

For example, if you were betting on three teams (A, B, and C), you could create three two-team parlays (AB, AC, BC) and one three-team parlay (ABC). This gives you more flexibility and control over your bets, which can be especially helpful when you're dealing with a large number of options or uncertain outcomes.

By having more control over your parlay bets, you can make smarter, more strategic betting decisions that increase your chances of winning and minimize your risk.

Disadvantages of Round-Robin Betting

Lower Chances of Winning

One of the disadvantages of round-robin betting is that it often comes with a lower chance of winning compared to traditional single bets. This is because round-robin bets require multiple parlays to win, which can be more difficult to achieve than a single parlay.

Even if you have a good understanding of the teams or events you're betting on, there is always a degree of uncertainty in sports betting. The more parlays you include in your round-robin bet, the lower the chances are of all of them winning. Therefore, even if one or more of your parlays wins, it may not be enough to make up for the losses on the other parlays.

Additionally, because round-robin bets often cover more outcomes than a single parlay, the odds of each individual parlay winning are lower. This means that you may need to bet more money to achieve the same payout you would get from a single parlay bet.

Overall, the lower chance of winning is a disadvantage of round-robin betting, making it a less attractive option for sports bettors who prioritize maximizing their chances of winning over the potential for higher payouts.

Potentially High Risk for Minimal Reward

While round-robin bets offer the potential for higher payouts, the risk of losing your entire stake is also higher. This is because round-robin bets require multiple parlays to win, and if none of them hit, you'll lose your entire wager.

Even if one or more of your parlays win, the payout may not be enough to cover the losses on the other parlays. In fact, in some cases, you may end up winning less money than if you had placed individual bets on each of the teams or events included in your round-robin bet.

Additionally, because you're making multiple bets in a single wager, the amount you're risking can be higher than if you were placing individual bets. This means that even a small loss can be more significant and harder to recover from.

More Difficult to Track and Calculate Odds

Because round-robin bets involve multiple parlays, it can be challenging to keep track of all the different combinations and determine the overall odds of the bet. This can make it harder to determine the potential payout and make informed betting decisions.

In addition, because round-robin bets often cover more outcomes than a single parlay, the odds of each individual parlay winning are lower. This means that calculating the overall odds of the bet can be more complex and time-consuming.

Furthermore, because round-robin bets require multiple parlays to win, it can be difficult to determine the optimal bet size for each parlay. This can result in a suboptimal distribution of your wager, potentially leading to missed opportunities or unnecessary risk.

Types Of Round Robin Bets

Two-Team Round Robin

A two-team round-robin bet is a type of sports bet where you pick two teams and create multiple two-team parlays from them. To place a two-team round-robin bet, you first select two teams you want to bet on, and then choose the number of parlays you want to create. For example, if you choose teams A and B and create three parlays, your bet will consist of three two-team parlays: AB, BA, and AA/BB.

In a two-team round-robin bet, each of these parlays has an equal stake, meaning that you'll be betting the same amount on each of them. This type of bet is often used in sports betting to give bettors more flexibility and control over their bets. It can be particularly useful when you're not confident in all of your picks, as you can create multiple parlays to hedge your bets and increase your chances of winning.

Three-Team Round Robin

A three-team round-robin bet is a type of sports betting that allows you to bet on three teams in multiple parlays. Instead of placing a single bet on a three-team parlay, a round-robin bet allows you to create multiple two-team parlays from the three teams you've chosen.

To place a three-team round-robin bet, you first select three teams you want to bet on, and then choose the number of parlays you want to create. The more parlays you create, the higher the potential payout, but also the higher the risk involved. For example, if you choose teams A, B, and C and create four parlays, your bet will consist of four three-team parlays: ABC, ACB, BAC, and BCA.

One of the benefits of a round-robin bet is that it allows you to hedge your bets and increase your chances of winning. If you're not confident in all of your picks, you can create multiple parlays to cover more outcomes. However, this also means that the potential payout will be lower than if you had just placed a single three-team parlay.

Another potential drawback of a three-team round-robin bet is the difficulty in tracking and calculating the odds of each individual parlay. It can be time-consuming and complex to determine the overall odds of the bet, especially when you're dealing with multiple parlays. Additionally, because the bet covers more outcomes, the odds of each individual parlay winning are lower. This means that you'll need to place a larger bet in order to make a significant profit.

Four-Team Round Robin

A four-team round-robin bet is a popular type of sports betting where you select four teams and create multiple two-team parlays from them.

This type of bet allows you to cover more outcomes and increase your chances of winning. To place a four-team round-robin bet, you first choose four teams you want to bet on and then decide how many parlays you want to create. The more parlays you create, the higher the potential payout but also the higher the risk involved.

One of the main advantages of a round-robin bet is that it gives you more control over your parlay bets. By creating multiple parlays, you can hedge your bets and cover more outcomes. For example, if you choose teams A, B, C, and D, you can create six two-team parlays: AB, AC, AD, BC, BD, and CD. This means that you have more chances of winning, even if one of your picks doesn't come through.

How to Make a Round Robin Bet

Now that you’re equipped with the knowledge of how round-robin bets work, here’s a breakdown of how to make a round-robin wager: 

  1. Choose the number of teams you want to bet on. Round-robin bets typically require at least three teams, but can include more.
  2. Select the teams you want to bet on. Consider the team's past performance, the odds, and any relevant information that could impact the outcome of the game.
  3. Decide on the number of parlays you want to create. This will depend on the number of teams you have selected and how many outcomes you want to cover. Use a round robin calculator for this.
  4. Create your parlays. A round-robin bet involves creating multiple two-team parlays from your selected teams. For example, if you have selected teams A, B, and C, you can create three two-team parlays: AB, AC, and BC.
  5. Determine the amount of your wager. Round-robin bets can be expensive, so be sure to budget accordingly. You'll need to multiply the amount you want to bet by the number of parlays you're creating.
  6. Place your bet. Once you have created your parlays and determined the amount of your wager, you can place your bet through a sportsbook or online betting platform.
  7. Keep track of your bets. Round-robin bets can be complex, so it's important to keep track of all your parlays and their outcomes. This will help you determine your overall winnings and losses.

Remember to gamble responsibly and only bet what you can afford to lose. Good luck!

Combining Multiple Round Robins into a Series of Bets

Combining multiple round-robin bets into a series of bets is a strategic way to increase your potential winnings while minimizing your risk. This type of betting involves selecting a series of events and creating multiple round-robin bets based on those events.

To start, you'll need to choose a series of events that you want to bet on. These could be games from the same sport or from different sports. Once you have selected the events, you can begin to choose the teams that you want to bet on.

Next, you'll create multiple round-robin bets based on your selected teams. This involves selecting multiple groups of teams and creating round-robin bets for each group. For example, if you have selected three events and four teams for each event, you could create multiple round-robin bets with different combinations of teams for each event.

Calculating the odds for a series of bets can be complex, as it involves taking into account multiple round-robin bets with different combinations of teams. However, the potential payout for a series of bets can be significant if your round-robin bets are successful.

Calculating Payouts on Round Robin Bets

Calculating payouts on round-robin bets can be a bit more complicated than other types of bets, but it's important to understand how they work to make informed betting decisions. Here's a general outline of how payouts are calculated for round-robin bets:

  1. Determine the number of teams in your bet. Before you can calculate payouts, you need to know the number of teams in your bet.
  2. Calculate the number of parlays. With round-robin bets, you're essentially creating multiple two-team parlays from your selected teams. The number of parlays you'll create depends on the number of teams you've chosen. For example, if you've chosen four teams, you'll create six parlays: AB, AC, AD, BC, BD, and CD.
  3. Calculate the size of your bet. To calculate your potential payout, you need to know the size of your bet. This is the amount of money you're wagering on each parlay.
  4. Calculate the odds for each parlay. Once you've determined the size of your bet and the number of parlays you're creating, you need to calculate the odds for each parlay. This involves multiplying the odds for each team by the odds for the other team in the parlay. For example, if Team A has odds of +150 and Team B has odds of -200, the odds for the AB parlay would be +300.
  5. Calculate the payout for each parlay. Once you've determined the odds for each parlay, you can calculate the potential payout for each parlay. This involves multiplying the odds for each parlay by the size of your bet. For example, if the size of your bet is $10 and the odds for the AB parlay are +300, your potential payout for that parlay would be $30.
  6. Calculate the total payout. To calculate your total payout, you'll need to add up the potential payouts for each parlay. For example, if you have six parlays with potential payouts of $30 each, your total payout would be $180.

Strategies for Placing Successful Round Robin Bets

Placing successful round-robin bets can be challenging, but there are strategies you can use to increase your chances of success. Here are some tips to consider:

  • Choose your teams wisely: One of the most important factors in placing successful round-robin bets is choosing the right teams. Take the time to research each team's performance and statistics to make informed decisions about which teams to include in your bet.
  • Mix favorites and underdogs: To increase your potential payout, consider mixing favorites and underdogs in your round-robin bet. This will give you a better chance of winning some of your parlays, while also increasing your potential payout if one or more underdogs win.
  • Consider using a betting strategy: Betting strategies, such as the Kelly Criterion or the Martingale system, can help you make more strategic bets and manage your bankroll effectively. However, it's important to understand the risks involved with any betting strategy and to use them responsibly.
  • Limit the number of teams: While round-robin bets allow you to include multiple teams, it's important not to overdo it. Including too many teams can decrease your chances of winning, and can also make it more difficult to calculate your potential payouts.
  • Manage your bankroll: Like with any type of betting, it's important to manage your bankroll effectively when placing round-robin bets. Set a budget for your bets and stick to it, and avoid chasing losses by placing larger bets than you can afford.
  • Shop for the best odds: To maximize your potential payouts, it's important to shop for the best odds. Compare odds at different sportsbooks to find the best value for your bets.
  • Be aware of the risks: Finally, it's important to be aware of the risks involved with round-robin betting. While the potential payouts can be high, there is also a higher risk of losing. Only bet what you can afford to lose, and always gamble responsibly.