Round Robin Betting: A Safer Parlay Alternative

For sports bettors who enjoy the high-risk, high-reward nature of parlay betting but want a little more protection against a single loss, the round robin bet is an excellent alternative. A round robin is a way to place multiple parlays at once, and it can be a great way to manage your risk and increase your chances of a payout. This article will explain what round robin bets are, how they work, and how you can use them to your advantage.

What is a Round Robin Bet?

A round robin bet is a series of smaller parlays created from a larger list of selections. When you place a round robin, you are essentially betting on all possible parlay combinations of a certain size from your selected teams. The most common type of round robin is a two-team parlay round robin, but you can also create round robins with three-team parlays, four-team parlays, and so on.

For example, let’s say you want to bet on three teams: the New York Yankees, the Boston Red Sox, and the Los Angeles Dodgers. Instead of placing a single three-team parlay, you could place a round robin of two-team parlays. This would create three separate two-team parlays:

Parlay 1: Yankees + Red Sox
Parlay 2: Yankees + Dodgers
Parlay 3: Red Sox + Dodgers

If all three of your teams win, all three of your parlays will cash, and you will receive a handsome payout. However, if only two of your teams win, one of your parlays will still cash, and you will receive a smaller payout. This is the key advantage of a round robin over a traditional parlay. With a traditional three-team parlay, if one team loses, the entire bet is a loss. With a round robin, you can still win some money even if one of your selections is incorrect.

How to Place a Round Robin Bet

Placing a round robin bet is a simple process at most online sportsbooks. Here’s how it typically works:

Select your teams: Add the teams you want to bet on to your bet slip.
Go to the round robin section: On your bet slip, there will be a section for round robins or “multiples.”
Choose your parlay size: Select the size of the parlays you want to create (e.g., two-team parlays, three-team parlays).
Enter your wager amount: The wager amount you enter will be for each individual parlay. So, if you enter $10 for a three-team round robin of two-team parlays, your total wager will be $30 ($10 for each of the three parlays).

Round Robin Strategy

Round robins can be a fun and exciting way to bet, but they can also be a profitable one if you use them correctly. Here are a few tips for using round robins to your advantage:

Focus on underdogs: Round robins can be a great way to bet on underdogs. If you can hit on two out of three underdogs, you can still make a nice profit.
Don’t go crazy: It can be tempting to create a large round robin with a lot of teams, but this can be a quick way to lose a lot of money. Stick to smaller round robins with three or four teams.
Shop for the best lines: Just like with any other type of bet, it’s important to shop for the best lines when you are placing a round robin. The small differences in odds can have a big impact on your overall profitability.

Conclusion

Round robin bets are a great alternative to traditional parlays. They offer a similar level of excitement and potential for a large payout, but with the added safety net of knowing that you can still win some money even if one of your selections is incorrect. By understanding how round robins work and using them strategically, you can add a powerful tool to your sports betting arsenal.