A round robin bet is a relatively niche betting market that automatically creates multiple smaller parlays from a larger list of selected bets.
How Does a Round Robin Work?
A round robin bet functions by taking your chosen selections and generating all possible parlay combinations of a specified size.
For example, if you select four teams and opt for 2-team parlays, the system will create six separate 2-team parlays, each featuring a different pair of your chosen teams.
Each of these combinations is treated as an individual bet, meaning your total stake is multiplied by the number of combinations created.
How to Read Round Robin Odds
Odds determine the amount of money that you will make on a bet. When using bet365 in the United States and Canada, odds are depicted using the plus (+) or minus (-) signs.
The minus sign indicates that your bet has more than a 50% chance to win (favorite) and offers a lower payout than the wager itself. A plus sign indicates a more unlikely outcome, and comes with higher payout.
For round robins, the odds within each individual parlay in the round robin is calculated separately. When you place a round robin bet, you are essentially placing multiple individual parlay bets simultaneously. Therefore, your total potential return is the sum of the payouts from all the winning parlays within the round robin.
Example of a Round Robin
For example, a common 2-team parlay with both legs priced at -110 odds typically pays around +260. If you have a 3-team round robin where you've chosen 2-team parlays, and each leg is at -110, you would have three separate 2-team parlays.
Each of these parlays would have its own potential payout, and your total return would depend on how many of these three parlays win. If all three teams win, all three parlays would cash, resulting in a higher overall payout than if only one or two parlays won.
Here's a table to illustrate a 3-team round robin, focusing on 2-team parlays:
Team | Bet Type | Odds |
Team A | Moneyline | +150 |
Team B | Moneyline | -120 |
Team C | Moneyline | +110 |
In this example, bet365 will automatically create three separate 2-team parlays:
Team A + Team B
Team A + Team C
Team B + Team C
Each of these parlays is an individual bet. If you decide to wager $10 on each parlay, your total stake for this round robin bet would be $30 ($10 x 3 parlays).
If all three teams win, all three parlays will cash, and you will receive the highest possible return. However, if only two teams win (ex: Team A and Team B win, but Team C loses), only the "Team A + Team B" parlay would win, and you would still receive a payout from that specific bet.
How to Place a Round Robin Bet on bet365
Add your selections (moneyline, spread, total, player prop, etc.) to a betslip (three minimum for a round robin).
Navigate to this "parlay" or "multiple" tab within your betslip and select the desired combination, such as "2's" or 3's," depending on how many different smaller parlays you want to place.
Enter your stake. If you enter $10 and the system shows 6 combinations, your total wager will be $60 ($10 x 6).
Review and place your bet.
When do you Know if Your Round Robin Bet Wins or Loses?
It depends on what time your round robin selections end. If you choose a 12:00 p.m. game, a 3:00 p.m. game and a 7:00 p.m. game to place a round robin on, it will settle following the conclusion of the 7:00 p.m. game.
Unlike a parlay, a round robin bet doesn't lose as soon as one of the "legs" loses. Round robins allow for partial wins and your overall return from the round robin bet is the sum of the payouts from all the winning parlays.
Pros and Cons of Round Robin Bets
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Round Robin Betting Strategy
Here are some tips to help bettors make informed decisions when using round robin bets:
Focus on Value with Underdogs
Round robins can be effective when targeting underdogs that you believe have a strong chance of winning. By combining several of these underdogs in 2-team or 3-team parlays, you can receive significant payouts if a few of them pull off upsets, without needing every single one to win.
Manage Your Stake Carefully
It's important to understand that your stated stake is typically per individual parlay combination, not the total bet.
For example, a 4-team round robin with 2-team parlays creates six combinations. If you stake $10 per parlay, your total wager is $60. Misunderstanding this can lead to overspending.
Consider Correlation Between Your Picks
While not always possible, look for selections that have some degree of correlation. For example, betting on a team to win and their star player to score a certain number of points might be correlated.
However, be cautious with over-correlation, as it can limit potential payouts.
Round Robin vs. Other Bet Types
Like a parlay, round robins combine plenty of other common bet types such as moneylines, point spreads, totals, player props, and more. However, unlike a parlay, round robins create multiple parlay combinations from a single set of selections, offering some insurance.
Terms Glossary for Round Robins
Parlay - A wager that links together two or more individual bets.
Combination Size ("By 2's", By 3's" - Number of selections included in each individual parlay within the round robin.
Leg - The individual bets within a parlay.
Total Stake - The aggregate amount of money wagered on the entire round robin bet. Calculated by multiplying the stake per parlay by the total number of parlays created.
Trixie, Patent, Yankee, Heinz, Super Heinz - Different terms to describe the amount of individual parlays within your round robin (ex. Trixie means three selections into four total bets).
Always Gamble Responsibly with Round Robins
For more on responsible gambling, bet365 has a dedicated resource page that can be found at https://responsiblegaming.nj.bet365.com/us.
GAMBLING PROBLEM? CALL OR TEXT 1-800-GAMBLER (AZ/CO/IL/IN/KS/KY/LA/MD/MI/NC/NJ/OH/PA/TN/VA) or 1-800-BETS OFF (IA). 21+ (18+ KY). Must be present in AZ/CO/IA/IL/IN/KS/KY/LA (select parishes)/MD/MI/NC/NJ/OH/PA/TN/VA.
Round Robin Betting FAQs
Here are some of the most common questions and answers about round robin betting.
1. How many selections are needed for a round robin?
You need a minimum of three selections to place a round robin bet.
2. What happens if one of my round robin selections lose?
The individual parlays within the round robin that include the losing selection will be lost, but any parlays consisting of only winning selections will still pay out.
3. What is the main difference between a parlay and a round robin?
A parlay requires all selections to win, but a round robin allows for winning bets if a some of your selections win.
4. What are the common round robin bet structures?
Common round robin structures include Trixies (3 selections, 4 bets), Patents (3 selections, 7 bets), and Yankees (4 selections, 11 bets).
5. Can I combine different bet types in a round robin?
Yes, bet365 allows you to mix various bet types like moneylines, spreads, totals, and more within a round robin.
Additional Betting Guides
To learn more about other bet types and sports, take a look at our guides below:
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