Your Guide to Round Robins in Sports Betting

Round robin bets provide a dynamic approach to sports betting by combining multiple parlays into a single wager. Sounds interesting to you? Keep reading to learn more!

🔑 Key Takeaways

• Explore the concept of round robin in sports betting.
• See examples of how round robin bets work in practice.
• Gain insights on tips and strategies to master your round robin betting strategy.

What Is a Round Robin Bet?

A round robin bet is a sports betting strategy that allows you to combine multiple parlays into one wager. It involves creating a series of smaller bets from your selections, covering all possible combinations.

The key advantage of a round robin is reduced risk compared to traditional parlays, where a single loss can void the entire bet. With round robins, you can still earn money from winning parlays even if some picks don’t hit. This approach provides a balanced way to bet confidently while protecting your bankroll from a complete loss on one incorrect pick.

Why Choose Round Robin Bets?

Round robin bets have gained popularity for good reasons; they offer some nice advantages that appeal to bettors at all levels. Here are a few key benefits that make them worth considering: 

• Better winning chances: Instead of having to hit every single leg of a massive parlay, round robins spread your risk around. You can miss on a pick or two and still have a chance to cash some of those smaller parlays. It keeps you in the game.
• Flexibility: You get to choose how many teams to include and how many parlay combos you want. That flexibility lets you choose the level of risk and potential payouts to fit your style and sports betting bankroll.
• Higher potential payouts: While not as massive as a huge traditional parlay, round robins can still pay out very nicely if you hit several of those parlay legs. The payouts scale up quickly as you add more teams. 

How Does a Round Robin Bet Work in Practice?

In a round-robin bet, when you pick multiple games to bet on, your sports betting site will let you make numerous smaller bets on your picked games. The more games you pick, the more small parlay bets you can make—thousands if you pick enough teams.

Here’s a step-by-step of how it works:

Step 1: Pick Your Teams — Choose the teams or outcomes you want to include in your group of bets.

Step 2: Decide Your Bet Amount — Decide how much money you want to bet on each small bet in the group. This will determine the total amount you will risk.

Step 3: Pick Bet Size — Determine how many teams you want in each small bet (e.g., two-team bets, three-team bets).

Step 4: Enter Your Bet — Type in the amount you wish to bet on each small bet combination.

Step 5: Review Combinations — The betting site will show you all the possible small bet combinations based on your picks.

Step 6: Confirm and Bet — Once you’re happy with the picks and combinations, confirm your bet.

Round Robin Bet Example

Now, to help you understand the round robin bet meaning, let’s check out a real-life example.

Let’s consider an actual 4-team NFL round robin bet. This involves selecting four NFL teams to base the round-robin around, and the bet breaks down into 11 possible parlay combinations:

• 6 two-team parlays 
• 4 three-team parlays
• 1 four-team parlay

Sportsbooks typically let you bet on just one grouping of these parlays if you want, like the 4 three-teamers. Or you can wager on every single combination in the round robin. Since betting on all 11 potential outcomes would get pretty pricey, let’s focus on the two-team parlays only. 

We staked $10 on each of those six two-teamers for a total of $60 in risk. Here’s a chart showing the projected payouts based on how many of those two-team parlays ended up hitting:

If none of the parlays hit	$60 loss
Just 1 parlay hit	$23.76 loss
2 parlays hit	$12.48 profit
3 parlays hit	$48.72 profit
4 parlays hit	$84.96 profit
5 parlays hit	$121.20 profit
Hitting all 6 parlays	$157.44 profit

If you want to calculate your potential payout more easily you can also use a round robin betting calculator.

Tips for Making the Most Out of Your Round Robin Bets

Round robin bets can be a great way to add some excitement and potential upside to your sports betting. You’ve got to bring your A-game in terms of research, strategy, and bankroll management.

Here are a few tips to help you make the most of your round robins!

Pick Your Spots Wisely

Don’t just pick any game. Put in the work to identify games or events where you’ve got a genuine edge or feel strongly about the matchups. Having a thoughtful process for your selections is key.

Understand the Numbers

Pay close attention to the sports betting odds and potential payouts for each parlay combination in your round robin. Make sure you’re getting fair odds and leverage the best lines available.

Bankroll Discipline 

It’s easy to get carried away when combining all those parlays. But round robins can eat up your bankroll in a hurry if you’re not careful. Have a staking plan that matches your goals and risk tolerance. Decide ahead of time how much you’re willing to risk per round.

Know When to Take Breaks

If you’ve already gained some solid winnings from your round robin, give some thought to calling it a day and walking away with those profits. There is no need to risk giving it all back.

So, Will You Place a Round Robin Bet Tonight?

As you’ve seen, round robin bets offer a strategic advantage by spreading risk and boosting potential returns. To reach its maximum potential, incorporate them into games where you feel confident about the outcomes. Additionally, consider further enriching your sports betting knowledge by learning more key terms and concepts like round robins.

Frequently Asked Questions