Betting on Multiple Selections

Updated: September 27, 2026

The world of sports betting offers much more than simple side and total bets. Betting markets and bet types expanded rapidly after sports betting was legalized in Nevada decades ago, but have increased tenfold since the proliferation of online sportsbooks at the turn of the century.

In this article, we'll go over the most popular types of bets that players can make using multiple selections. Multiple bets are a double-edged sword. It allows bettors to increase their potential winnings, but comes with a much lower winning percentage compared to straight bets.

Parlays

A parlay is a wager type that requires two single bets combined into a win or lose proposition.

Bets can range anywhere between:

Side note: In European betting markets, they are known as accumulators.

The only caveat here is that if one of the selections pushes, the parlay is simply reduced to a smaller number of selections. For example, a four-team parlay with a push will be reduced to a three-team parlay, and the payout will be recalculated based on the reduced number of selections. The same is true for a No Action bet.

Standard odds for two-team parlays are +264 at most sportsbooks. This jumps to +600 for three-team parlays. The sportsbooks have an edge on all parlay wagers, but their edge is much smaller on two- and three-team parlays than on parlays with a higher number of teams.

Because the payouts can be so large on parlays with a large number of selections, the oddsmakers offset their risk by increasing their edge. For this reason, it's recommended that bettors stick to parlays of no more than three teams.

Teasers

Teaser bets are a close cousin of parlays and are also very popular in US betting markets. However, for new players, teasers are not as easy to understand as parlays. They are similar to accumulators and parlays except that bettors add points to their side of the bet.

Teasers can only be bet on sports that use a traditional point spread. This means that these markets are not available:

The most popular sports to bet teasers on are:

Like parlays, teasers must have a minimum of two selections, but can have up to 15 at some sportsbooks. Also like parlays, all selections must win for the bet to be considered a winner.

Here’s an example of a two-team 6-point NFL parlay:

Dallas Cowboys

+3.5

Pittsburgh Steelers

-7

These are the odds before the teaser is applied. Here they are after we add six points to each side we've chosen.

Dallas Cowboys

-2.5

Pittsburgh Steelers

-1

A two-team teaser has lower odds than a two-team parlay, but also has a higher expected return than the former. Most sportsbooks offer two-team 6-point NFL teasers at -120, but -110 is available at some shops.

Teaser odds vary depending on the number of points added to your side or total. Some bookmakers offer teasers up to 19 points. Basically, it's up to the bookmaker how many points they want to offer.

Again borrowing from parlays, teasers will revert to a reduced number of teams if one of the selections pushes. For example, if one of the selections in your five-team teaser pushes, the odds will be recalculated as a four-team teaser. It's important to make sure that your sportsbook allows pushes in teasers, as some will count the selection as a loss, making the entire bet a loser.

Depending on the odds a bettor receives and the lines for the week, teasers offer more potential profitability than parlays. Again, we suggest sticking to two or three team teasers, but the number of points depends on the odds available. Typically, bettors like to bet between 6-7 points on football.

Basic Strategy Teasers, also known as "Wong Teasers", are one of the most popular advanced strategy teasers for NFL bettors. Since NFL games tend to end by 3 or 7 points, bettors can make money by targeting favorites between -7.5 and -8.5 and underdogs between +1.5 and +2.5 while using a six-point teaser. These bets used to be more profitable than they are today. Many sportsbooks have increased their teaser odds and adjusted them to stay away from these key numbers due to the success of Wong Teasers.

Pleasers

Pleasers are a product of the Internet sports betting revolution. They're not available at all sportsbooks, but most offer them for both football and basketball. If I were to bet on a two-team, 6-point Pleaser:

Pleaser Bets work the same as Teaser Bets, but in reverse. They are mostly interchangeable with Teasers, except that instead of adding points to a side or total, they subtract them.

Pittsburgh Steelers

-7

Seattle Seahawks

+6

My odds for the pleaser would be Pittsburgh -13 and Seattle pk.

Because this type of bet is much harder to win than a traditional teaser, the payouts are much larger. The odds on a two-team teaser are around +600 at most sportsbooks. For three teams, most sites have odds around +1750. As with teasers, it's important to check the push policy when it comes to pleasers.

Pleasers are not profitable bets unless you get excellent odds. Similar to parlays and teasers, we recommend that bettors stick to two- or three-team pleasers, as the bookmaker's edge increases as the number of teams increases.

If-Bets and Reverses

An If bet is similar to other multiples, but has a few key differences. If bets consist of at least two straight bets, but have a clause stating that if the first bet wins, then the second bet wins, and so on.

An if bet will only proceed to the second bet if the first bet wins. This bet allows bettors to place multiple bets while limiting their risk. It also allows them to place a bet on multiple selections if they don't have enough money in their account to bet on both games.

Generally, sportsbooks offer two types of if-bets.

• "Win Only bets
• Action bets;

Win Only bets

Win Only If bets rely on the first bet to win in order for the second bet to be placed. If the first bet is a push, then the entire bet counts as a push and is treated as no action. The outcome of the second bet doesn't matter.

Action bets

Action if bets will place the second bet if the first bet wins, pushes or is classified as no action. These bets are also known as reverse bets. Reverse bets are simply two or more if bets.

If Bets and Reverse Bets are not used much by players who have a decent bankroll for the stakes they are interested in betting. Betting selections as straight bets would be the wiser choice, assuming a player has adequate funds. Unless your account is underfunded, which it shouldn't be, you should avoid if bets.

Round Robin

A round robin bet is a way to bet multiple parlays at once. It makes betting multiple parlays easier and allows bettors to create them quickly and easily. To place a round robin bet, players must place at least three bets on teams or totals.

For example, if a player likes three different NFL picks, the player could decide to make a round robin parlay with each of those teams. The round robin bet would create three different two-team parlay bets with the amount wagered. Each parlay will have the same amount wagered.

Round Robins are useful options for bettors who want a quick way to place parlays. If you are worried about the odds moving, this is an excellent way to get money down quickly on multiple lines that you like. The odds for parlays when betting on a round robin don't change and are the same as the odds listed for parlays at the sports book.

General Multiple Betting Strategy

In most cases, multiple bets are not an ideal strategy for sports bettors. The bookmaker's edge on these bets will be higher than the standard 10% vig charged on straight bets, and the odds offered by sportsbooks in most cases don't give the bettor an edge.

Of course, there are situations where value betting parlays and teasers may be available. Correlated parlays are not accepted anywhere online, but some may find them available at local bookmakers. Basic strategy teasers offer value when it comes to betting the NFL, but as mentioned above, most books have adjusted their lines to prevent these from occurring. Parlays can also provide some value when clearing free play bonuses from sportsbooks.

Bettors should not be betting on parlays, teasers, or other multiples of more than two or three teams if they truly care about positive expectations and long-term win rates. That said, for some people, sports betting is about fun. Betting a 6-team parlay isn't a crime. It's just not +EV.