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All posts by Nick RaffoulSame-game parlay betting is a great way to place sports bets with increased odds. Combine different markets from a single match into one wager. If all of them come off, you will get a more significant return than if you’d bet on the same selections individually.
Learn more about SGP betting across different sports as we look more deeply at this betting practice. You’ll find out precisely what the term means, and how to place same game parlays, and you’ll get some single-game parlay betting tips. Find out about the complexities of calculating the odds of same-game parlays too.
What is a Same Game Parlay?
A Same Game Parlay is a single bet that combines numerous sections from a single game. All of the selections need to come off for you to win the total bet. The jeopardy of needing all of the selections to win usually means the combined odds are higher than if you bet on those same selections individually.
You might combine a money line bet, a player prop on who scores, and the number of attempts a team makes.
A regular parlay combines selections from multiple different games into one bet. These will always lead to larger combined odds. Sportsbooks limit the markets you can combine into a single-game parlay, whereas this is not a practice for standard parlays.
Betting sites will often provide a bet builder section under a single match. These are great for building same-game parlays as they will only show the markets available for combining.
Same Game Parlay Examples
Find out more details about same-game parlays in different sports. We look at some examples of same game parlays you can place across some of America’s most popular sports leagues.
NBA Same Game Parlay
NBA same-game parlays are perfect for illustrating how restrictive sportsbooks can be with the available selections for same-game parlays. One of moneyline, total, team total, spread, and player prop over/under bets do not combine in the same selection as any one of the others.
For example, you cannot combine moneyline and player points, or moneyline and total points, or even team total and player points. Same-game parlay options are mostly limited to different player props. Even then, you cannot combine total player point bets, assists, or rebounds into the same bet.
Here is an example of an NBA same game parlay using the bet builder at Mega Dice.
It concerns a match between Denver Nuggets and Portland Trail Blazers featuring six-time All-Star Nikola Jokić. There are three different selections, all regarding Jokić.
The bet predicts that Jokić will score over 37 points, complete more than three blocks, and steal the ball more than twice. The individual odds were +462, +115, and +500 which combined for total odds of +7150. If you bet $10 you will get a return of 724.98 for a profit of $714.98.
NFL Same Game Parlay
Football is one of the most popular sports for betting. There are so many players that make up an NFL team, many different statistics, and different ways to collect points. It is a sport that is rich with opportunities for same-game parlays.
You could place a moneyline bets along with some player props, such as predicting how many passing yards a player will make, how many rushing yards another player might make, or both. You could combine these with team props, such as betting on the number of fumble recoveries or fouls a team commits.
This year over $175 million was spent making wagers on the Super Bowl at Nevada sportsbooks. The example below uses options for the 2024 Super Bowl.
We have combined the total score with a handicap win for the Chiefs and over 7 player receptions for Travis Kelce for odds of +462. If you bet $10 you would get back $58.20 for a $48.20 profit.
NHL Same Game Parlay
You can also build same game parlays on ice hockey matches too. The puck line, money line, and total bets are the three main markets when betting on the NHL. You can also explore player props to help build out your hockey same-game parlays.
Player prop bets you could consider are specific player points scored, and goalkeepers saves. There are team props and bets pertaining to specific halves of the game as well.
In this example involving a match between the Colorado Avalanche and the Vancouver Canucks, we have combined a money line bet with other selections. We bet that Colorado would win, the first period points score is above 1.5, the overall match score total will be below 6.5, the first period will end in a draw, and Nathan MacKinnon will score at least one point for Colorado.
The odds came out at -334, so if you bet $10, and you will get back $12.99 for a $2.99 profit.
MLB Same Game Parlay
Baseball is another sport that provides fertile ground for placing same-game parlays. There are different players responsible for various aspects during an MLB match. Players are pitching, fielding, and batting. You can combine these into a same-game parlay.
Examples of a baseball same-game parlay you could place include combining a money line selection with a run line and totals selection. You could add player props by betting on the number of home runs a player makes, how many strikes a pitcher causes, or even how many catches a fielder makes. Other popular prop bets you could include in your baseball same-game parlays are total hits or total strikeouts.
For example, in a match between the Chicago White Sox and the New York Yankees. You could place a same game parlay like:
- Chicago White Sox (+3.5)
- Tanner Banks – Total Strikeouts – Over 5.5
- Andrew Vaughn – Total Home Runs – Over 1.5
Does Same Game Parlay Betting Provide Good Value?
The Center for Gaming Research at the University of Las Vegas released a report on win, drop, and win percentages. The data used came from all gambling locations in the state of Nevada from 1984 to 2022. We can garner some indication of the success of parlays from this report.
First of all the raw data shows that of the $1.9 billion placed on parlay bets in Nevada since 1992, $588.9 million of them were successful. That is a win rate of 30.92% across all Parlay bets since 1992 in Nevada. The overall win percentage across all sports betting in Nevada since 1984 is 5.56%. The win percentage on all football bets in Nevada since 1992 is similar to this at 5.22%. For basketball bets, the percentage is 5.13%. This data suggests parlay bets are much better value than other straight sports bets.
What you must remember is that this data is concerned with all parlay bets placed in that location and time period. It does not give us specific data on same-game parlays. These parlays could have covered events in different games or even matches in different sports.
The more legs you add to a same game parlay the more value it will have. This is not a completely watertight fact because of correlated outcomes but as a general rule it applies. You must also remember that the more legs you add, the less likely it is that the bet is successful.
How are Same Game Parlay Odds Calculated
Same game parlays are calculated differently to standard parlays. In a typical parlay, the sportsbook will simply multiply the decimal odds to give you a combined odds value. All of the legs in a standard parlay are independent of each other, whereas that is not always true in same-game parlays.
Sportsbooks work with data collectors and analysts to determine the odds for same game parlays. Same-game parlays with unrelated selections are likelier to have higher odds than those with correlated outcomes. You will often find that individual picks in your betting slip are not displayed with their individual prices. Sportsbooks use maths models to combat same game parlays that try to use correlated markets.
For example, if you place the following bet:
- Denver Nuggets -11.5 vs. Utah Jazz(-110)
- Nikola Jokic – over 29.5 points (-105)
- Reggie Jackson – over 5.5 assists (+100)
The selections are all related because the Denver Nuggets are far more likely to beat the spread if Jokic scores over 29.5 points and he is more likely to score those points if Reggie Jackson assists over 5.5 points.
If this were a standard parlay, the expected combined odds total would be +1323 because -105 American odds equals 1.95 in decimal odds, +100 is 2,0, and -110 equals 1.91. So:
1.91 x. 1.95 x 2.0 = 14.23
14.23 decimal odds equal +1323 in American odds. Due to the related legs of the bet, the odds are likely to be lower at around +1000.
Same Game Parlay Betting Tips
Same-game parlays can be a great way to increase the odds on your sports wagers. The more selections you add the more that need to come off for you to win the bet. The aim is to create a nice balance between great odds and the number of selections.
Limit Your Legs
The more legs you add the higher the house edge because the more selections you have, the more of them in the wager are possible losers. If one selection is unsuccessful, then the entire bet is unsuccessful.
Three to five carefully selected legs can be far more rewarding than constructing a bet made of six to ten. You might find it to be incredibly personally rewarding that you managed to select the right amount of legs for a valuable winning bet. This would be far more preferable than the disappointment you might feel when one or two selections let down your 10-leg same-game parlay.
You can apply some basic probability and maths to the situation. If we assume that the total odds are -110 for illustrative purposes, a two-leg parlay has a 27.5% chance of winning. If it is a three-leg parlay with those odds, the probability shrinks to 14.4%, 7.5% for four-leg parlays, and 4% for a five-leg same-game parlay wager.
Take a look at this real world example to help:
It is a same game parlay bet on a match between the New York Knicks and the Detroit Pistons. It predicts that the Pistons will win, the total points will be over 223.5, Ausar Thompson will score at least 10 points, and Cade Cunningham will provide at least seven assists and score over 1.5 three-point field goals. This is a five-leg parlay with +3,400 odds so it will return so you would get back $350 from a $10 bet for $340 profit.
Now you could add more legs to the bet to increase the odds. However, doing this will also increase the probability that one leg will let you down.
In this case, we have added a first points scorer bet and that Cade Cunningham will achieve over 37 points from baskets, rebounds, and assists. This has increased the odds to 27,950 so the odds have increased by more than 720%. However, you are relying heavily on a good performance from Cade Cunningham so if he has a bad game then your parlay is screwed. If you limit the selection related to Cade Cunningham you will have lower odds but you are more covered.
Use Stats And Tools To Get An Edge
Use the wealth of data and statistics that are available to help you build successful same-game parlays. The MLB, NFL, NHL, NBA, and EPL all have dedicated stats sections on their website. You can browse stats by seasons, by teams, and by players.
These options make it incredibly easy to find up-to-date information that you could use to make your bet choices.
What is most important about this advice is how you apply it. If you are wagering on a match that includes two teams that are well-known for their attacking prowess, then you should add selections that predict a high-scoring game.
This year’s Super Bowl will see the Kansas City Chiefs play the San Francisco 49’ers. The Super Bowl is generally perceived as a low-scoring match so you might get errant advice that tells you to low-ball over/under bets. If you were to use the statistics and tools available to you to research this “fact”, then you would find it is a false claim. The average number of points scored in the Super Bowl is almost exactly equal to the number of points scored in an average league game. This suggests you shouldn’t adjust your selections to account for a low-scoring game.
However, in 2024, the Super Bowl featured two teams that were commended for their defensive capabilities and performances. If you consider this when building a same-game parlay for the 2024 Super Bowl, you should probably aim for selections geared toward a low score.
When following this advice, you must remember that stats aren’t everything and things can change on a button. You never know what has gone on behind the scenes that could affect a single match or the ongoing stats of a player or team.
Predict The Correct Game Script
Obviously, this is nowhere near as easy to do as it is to say, because if you could predict any game result you would be a multi-billionaire. What we are trying to highlight here is that your parlay should reflect how you think the game is going to play out. Don’t just throw together a bunch of different selections that add up to high odds. Try to find selections that reflect how you think a game is going to play out.
You do not need to be a savant to find success here. You can use the detailed statistics and detailed news items that are widely available. You can combine lots of pieces of information to help you build an idea of how the match will play out.
For example, if you know Charvarius Ward, one of the best interceptors in the league, is injured, then take this into account. Maybe the 49ers’ defense will not be as strong without one of the best players, and therefore, they might not have the ball as often as they would in other games. This will inform the game strategy.
Another example might pertain to how certain teams play. For example, Manchester City are known as a team that likes to keep the ball and make quick passes to find space towards the goal. Liverpool, another top side in England, is known for allowing other teams to play and looking to find a chance to hit them on the break. You can use this knowledge to inform a same game parlay bet when these two teams play each other. You can build a same-game parlay that includes higher possession for Man City with more passes for them, whereas the Liverpool side of your same-game parlay might include more tackles or interceptions.
Exploit Bookmaker Errors
Sometimes online sportsbooks make mistakes with their odds or the technology fails them and you can benefit from this.
For example, on October 24, 2023, the Los Angeles Lakers played at home to the Denver Nuggets in a standard league game. The business-to-business sports betting experience provider, SportCast who also invented the idea of a BetBuilder, listed LeBron James’ first quarter over/under markets as full-time over/under bets. So you could bet that LeBron James would get over 2.5 rebounds in the entire match or score over 8.5 points in the entire match. He ended the match with 21 points and five rebounds.
The mistaken odds were listed for 13 minutes by DraftKings before the game tipped off. This was long enough for 138 customers to place over $4,000 worth of bets with a $575,436 liability for DraftKings. The sportsbook appealed to various gambling commissions to void the tickets placed on the wrong odds. They were successful in Massachusetts but the Massachusetts Gaming Commission told DraftKings to pay out cash or bonus bet compensation. Whereas Connecticut and New Jersey gaming commissions ordered the online betting site to honor those customers’ bets.
SportCast was eventually dropped by DraftKings but they are still used by massive brands such as SkyBet, 888.com, and BetMGM.
Mistakes like these are often shared in small betting circles although the information is kept quiet because no one wants the sportsbooks to notice.
Sometimes, sportsbooks make mistakes in accounting for correlated offers. For example, in December 2021, you were able to place a same game parlay on the Chicago Defensive or Special team scoring a touchdown and Jakeem Grant scoring a touchdown for +23,921. This is absurd because Jakeem Grant was the return punter, a position in an NFL special team, therefore, these selections are heavily associated.
Mix Your Markets
It is always a good idea to mix up your markets, this will be particularly useful if the flow of the match does not go as you expected. For instance, you could go all in on points scored by a team and a player in your same game parlay. If the match turns out to be a low-scoring affair, then your bet will be significantly affected. Whereas if you have mixed up points scored markets with other markets, you might still come out with a successful bet in a low-scoring scenario.
Using the same example as above, if you bet on Aston Villa to win with Watkins to score and Luiz to assist it has odds of +1,050 you are relying on the two players having a good game. If Watkins scores but Luiz struggles to string a pass together, you will be disappointed. Let’s drop the Luiz to assist and add something unrelated to goals to see how that affects the bet.
Adding this selection has significantly lowered the odds to +334. Now, as long as there are a few corners, your same game parlay is more covered if Douglas Luiz has a bad game.
This game is likely to have more corners because both teams have fast and skillful wingers that often take the ball to the byline. At the byline their next move will often result in a corner, whether they cross it into the box or hit it off a defender. If you do good research or know the game you can also use this extra knowledge and research to help you build better same game parlays.
How to Place Same Game Parlay Bets
There are several ways to build same game parlays. The process can change from one sportsbook to the next. As a general rule, you will need to use some sort of bet builder the betting site provides. This will help you avoid adding selections you cannot combine into a same-game parlay.
This guidance will help you place a same game parlay using a bet builder at BetOnline. All you need to do is:
- Navigate to the website.
- Click sports.
- Click Props Builder from the sidebar.
- Choose a sport from the toolbar at the top of the props builder.
- Choose a match from the dropdown menu.
- Click the selections to add them to your betting slip.
Alternatively. you can navigate to a match you want to bet on and add selections you hope to combine into one bet. The betting slip will automatically combine any possible parlays that are available.
Where Can You Bet Same Game Parlays?
You can place same-game parlays at any online betting site that is worth visiting. Some offshore sportsbooks offer a tool specifically for building same-game parlays.
BetOnline, Lucky Block, MegaDice, and WSM Casino have props builders that allow you to see the individual prices of the selections you add. There is also no limit on the number of legs you can add.
BetUS, Jazzsports, Sportsbetting.ag, and Xbet offer their own preselected same game parlays. You just need to add them to your slip and enter a stake.
Conclusion
Same-game parlays are a type of sports bet that involve multiple selections from a single match in a sport. They are a great way to get better odds on your sports wagers so you can enjoy larger returns from the same stake. You can place same-game parlays across a wide range of sports. While doing so you must be aware of correlated selections as they will reduce the odds. Remember to do your research and use the available stats to increase your chances of success. Look out for parlay insurance offers that protect you when one selection fails your same game parlay.
Same Game Parlay Betting FAQs
What are the real odds of a same game parlay?
Can you cash out on a same game parlay?
Which sports can you bet a same game parlay?
What is different between a parlay and same game parlay?
Why are some parlays not permitted?
What is a 3+ leg same game parlay?
