Multibets Explained: How to Build a Winning Multibet

What Is a Multibet? 

Rather than betting on several matches across different bet slips, you can combine your selections into one bet slip for a higher potential payout. A multibet combines two or more selections on a single betting slip. You may also see bookmakers refer to it as an accumulator or ACCA; they all mean the same thing. 

With multibets, instead of betting on each selection separately, you can link them together. However, adding multiple wagers is just one part. The other part is the condition for your bet slip to win. You win a multibet only if each selection on the bet slip wins. 

For example, you could select a home win from one football match, an over 2.5 goals market from another, an away win from a third match, and both teams to score in the fourth match. These four selections together form one multibet. For the bet to win, you must predict all four selections correctly.  

Please note that most Nigerian bookmakers allow you to add as many as 50 selections to a single bet slip. The only trade-off is that all the selections must win before you can get a return. If even one selection loses, your entire bet slip loses. 

If you prefer betting at a shop, you may also be able to build your multibet online, generate a booking code, and take it to the counter. This depends on your bookmaker and whether it has a physical shop in your area.

How Multibet Odds Are Calculated

With a single bet, it’s easy to know your potential payout from seeing the odds. For instance, odds of 2.50 mean you’ll be paid out ₦2,500 with a stake of ₦1,000. However, multibets work slightly differently. Since you’re adding more than one wager, bookmakers usually combine the odds from your selections to create one overall price for the bet.

Getting the overall price of your bet is simple: you just need to multiply the odds for each selection together. Check the example below using decimal odds, which is the odds format more prominent in Nigeria:

• First pick: Home win at 1.50 odds

• Second pick: Over 2.5 goals at 1.80 odds

• Third pick: Away win at 2.00 odds 

• Fourth pick: Both teams to score at 1.20 odds

The combined odds for these four picks would be: 

• (1.50) × (1.80) × (2.00) × (1.20) = 6.48 odds. 

The bookmaker then uses the combined odds to calculate your potential return. For example, if you stake ₦1,000, your potential return would be: 

• ₦1,000 × 6.48 = ₦6,480

This includes your original stake of ₦1,000 and winnings of ₦5,480, totalling ₦6,480 in potential return. This shows why multibet odds can increase quickly. However, higher odds come with higher risk.

Let’s assume you place each selection as a single bet using ₦250 each to make a total of ₦1,000 wager. You’ll get the following.

• First pick = 1.50 × ₦250 = ₦375

• Second pick = 1.80 × ₦250 = ₦450

• Third pick = 2.00 × ₦250 = ₦500

• Fourth pick = 1.20 × ₦250 = ₦300

You’ll get a total payout of ₦375 + ₦450 + ₦500 + ₦300 = ₦1,625. This is way lower than playing multibet, where you get a total payout of ₦6,480.

Balancing Risk and Reward: How Many Selections

Since the biggest downside of multibet is that each selection must win to get a payout, you need to mitigate the risk as much as possible. One of the ways to do so is to ensure you only select a handful of picks rather than pack many picks into one bet slip. 

While adding more selections can increase the potential return, it also gives the multibet more ways to lose. That’s because you now have an additional prediction that must be right for your multibet to win. 

For example, a smaller multibet with 2 or 3 selections means you have fewer results to get right. The combined odds may not look as enticing as a long slip, but fewer legs increases your chances of getting a payout. A multibet with six or more selections works differently. While the potential return can rise quickly, you now need every selection to win for your multibet to win. 

There’s no correct multibet size that works for everyone. It comes down to how much risk you’re comfortable taking with your betting budget. 

Strategies for Stronger Multibet Selections

While no strategy can guarantee a multibet will win, you can take a safer approach to improve your chances of getting it right. Here are a few tips to help. 

Checking Recent Form and Team News

Try not to choose a selection simply because a team has a big name or because you have a good feeling about the match. Instead, look at recent form. 

Check how the team has been performing or whether important players are available. You should also check the team’s home and away record and whether any injuries or suspensions could affect the match. While this information won’t tell you exactly what will happen, it helps you make more informed decisions. 

Building Around Stronger Picks

Whether you’re a new or an expert bettor, the safest multibet option is to select 2 or 3 games with strong favourites. These could be teams in decent form with superior players. However, that doesn’t mean all selections will win, because even a strong favourite can lose. Nevertheless, the chances of winning are higher than backing teams you don’t know at random just because you want higher combined odds. 

Avoiding Selections that Overlap Too Much

When making your multibet picks, think about how your selections relate to one another. If you have two selections from the same match, your multibet may not be as diversified as you think.  Consider selecting only one pick per match, or diversifying across different sports, to mitigate risk.

Common Multibet Mistakes to Avoid

Multibets can become much riskier when you start making decisions mainly on potential payout. Here are some common mistakes to avoid when building your multibet.

• Adding too Many Selections: It can be tempting to keep adding another pick whenever your multibet looks short of the potential return you want. However, keep in mind that every new leg must win to get a payout. Include only a selection you are sure of. 

• Increasing your Stake because you’re Unsure: A larger stake doesn’t make a weak selection stronger. If you’re not comfortable with one of the legs you’ve chosen, reconsider the selection itself instead of increasing your stake.  

• Forgetting that One Leg can Lose the Bet: The biggest risk with a standard multibet remains the fact that one losing selection can spoil the entire bet, even if other picks win. Always confirm that you’re comfortable with the level of risk rather than focusing on combined odds and potential returns. 

Responsible Gambling 

While multibets offer higher potential returns, each additional selection increases the risk. So, try to balance risk and reward in every multibet slip you build. Don’t be blinded by the higher combined odds to the extent of wagering more than you can afford to lose. It’s best to set a personal budget and not increase your stake just because a multibet offers a higher potential return. 

Please note that you must be 18 or older to place bets in Nigeria. Also, use only operators licensed by the National Lottery Regulatory Commission and the relevant state gaming authority in your area.