Quick answer
An accumulator (also called a multibet or acca) combines two or more selections on one bet slip. The odds are multiplied together, so the possible payout is large, but every selection must win. If one selection loses, the whole bet loses.
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What an accumulator is
An accumulator puts several predictions (called selections or legs) on one bet slip. In Zimbabwe it is often called a multibet, and many punters simply call it an "acca".
- The combined odds are all the individual odds multiplied together.
- Every selection must win. One loss means the whole accumulator loses.
Worked example
You build a $1 multibet:
| Leg | Selection | Odds |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Dynamos to beat Bulawayo Chiefs | 1.70 |
| 2 | Arsenal to beat Brentford | 1.45 |
| 3 | GG in Highlanders vs CAPS United | 2.00 |
| 4 | Over 1.5 goals in Liverpool vs Everton | 1.30 |
Combined odds: 1.70 × 1.45 × 2.00 × 1.30 = 6.409
- If all four win: payout $1 × 6.409 = $6.41, profit $5.41.
- If any one loses (say Arsenal draw): payout $0.
Use the accumulator calculator to add or remove legs and see the result instantly.
How the chance of winning shrinks
Odds also give the bookmaker's view of probability (100 ÷ odds). Multiply the probabilities and you see how hard accumulators are:
| Number of legs | Each leg priced at 1.50 (≈66.7%) | Combined odds | Implied chance all win |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 1.50 | 1.50 | 66.7% |
| 3 | 1.50 | 3.38 | 29.6% |
| 5 | 1.50 | 7.59 | 13.2% |
| 10 | 1.50 | 57.67 | 1.7% |
And these implied chances include the bookmaker's margin, so the real chances are a little lower still. Each extra leg also multiplies that margin. See how bookmakers make money.
Voids, postponements and draw no bet
If a match in your accumulator is postponed or abandoned and voided, that leg is treated as odds of 1.00 and the rest of the bet carries on. The same applies to a draw no bet leg that ends in a draw. Your possible payout gets smaller, but the slip is not lost.
Acca bonuses and boosts
Bookmakers often add a percentage bonus to winnings on accumulators with many legs, sometimes advertised as "up to 500%". Read the terms: there is usually a minimum number of legs, minimum odds per leg, a maximum bonus and sometimes exclusions. A bonus on winnings does not change the fact that the more legs you add, the less likely the slip is to win.
Booking codes
Many Zimbabwean bookmakers let you save a slip as a booking code to share with friends. Be careful with codes posted by strangers or "tipsters" on social media: sharing a code does not make the selections more likely to win. See booking code.
Cash out
Some bookmakers offer to cash out an accumulator before all the matches finish. The amount offered is set by the bookmaker and is usually less than the bet's fair value.
Common mistakes
- Adding odds instead of multiplying. 1.70 + 1.45 + 2.00 + 1.30 = 6.45 is wrong; the product 6.409 is right.
- Adding "safe" legs to boost the odds. Odds of 1.10 imply about a 91% chance, so even by the bookmaker's own estimate that leg fails roughly one time in eleven, and when it does it sinks the whole slip.
- Long slips with small stakes every day. They add up to a large total spend with a very low chance of a win.
Summary
- Combined odds = all leg odds multiplied.
- One losing leg = the whole accumulator loses.
- A void leg counts as 1.00.
- The more legs, the lower the chance of winning and the bigger the bookmaker's margin.