Round robins are a form of parlay (combined) bet in which you create multiple parlay combinations with your selections. You usually need at least three selections to be able to create a round robin bet.
The idea behind this bet type may initially confuse beginners. As one of BettingTools betting experts, I have prepared this quick guide to explain in simple terms how round robin betting works.
What is the Round Robin Bet?
In some ways, round robin bets are a form of hedging – a betting strategy that lowers the risk of losing and guarantees some sort of win by betting on the opposite outcome of the original bet.
The goal of this separation of bets i.e. creating multiple parlays on the same ticket, is to eliminate the risk of losing your entire ticket on the basis of one lost leg. With RR bets, you can ensure that you can net a profit even if one or more legs (depending on the number of selections) lose.
How Do Round Robin Bets Work?
First, you start by making a selection of events/teams you want to bet on. Choose your bet for each leg. You should see the Round Robin function on the bet slip.
The mechanics of a round-robin bet are that it matches all legs i.e. bets, with one another to create separate parlays. The number of combinations depends on the number of legs (bets). Naturally, more selections will create more possible combinations.
For the RR to win, you need to win only one of the series of combined bets. Note that if one team/bet loses, every individual parlay that includes this bet will also lose.
Remember, when placing your bet, it applies to each individual parlay. So, if you place a $10 bet on a three-combo RR, you bet $10 on each parlay, for a total of $30.
Round Robin Bets vs Traditional Parlays vs System Bets
A traditional parlay is a basic combined bet in which you pick two or more selections and combine them into a single bet. The odds of each selection are also combined, increasing the overall possible payout. For the parlay to win, every selection that makes up the parlay must win. If one loses, the ticket is a bust.
Conversely, a round robin is not conditioned on all legs winning. As long as there is a winning combination from the series of parlays on your ticket, you will win. In fact, a round robin is more comparable to system betting, which is a form of parlay where one or more legs in the parlay can lose and still net you a small payout. The difference is that system bets are still a single parlay, whereas round robins are multiple combined bets.
Example of Round Robin Betting
Let’s look at how an RR bet works through an example with a simple three-leg selection. For instance, the first selection can be a moneyline bet, the second to cover the spread, and the third a total (over/under).
Each leg represents a separate bet. If we take this simple three-selection example, based on the number of selections, you create three possible combinations: Team A and Team B, Team B and Team C, and Team A and Team C. Some sportsbooks allow a fourth combination: Team A+Team B+Team C.
If, for instance, the Team A + Team B and Team A + Team C combos lose, but Team B + Team C wins, you will be paid based on that single parlay.
Benefits and Drawbacks
Round robins have a few advantages over other bet types but also some downsides.
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| You can lose one or more parlay on your ticket and still win. | Each parlay is a separate wager, so you must bet a larger amount of money. |
| Reduced risk of losing. | If one bet loses, all parlays that have that bet will also lose. |
| High payouts if all or multiple combined parlays win. | |
| You can mix bets from different sports. |
Sports Eligible for Round Robins
Round robin, as a betting strategy, can be applied to almost any sport. Horse racing is a particularly popular sport for placing RRs. You can make round robins in soccer, football, golf, basketball, tennis, and hockey, to name a few sports.
A big advantage of RR betting is you can make mixed combinations i.e. include bets from multiple different sports. For example, you can create RR combinations from three legs in basketball, soccer, and hockey.
Round Robin Betting Tips and Strategies
If you’re a low-roller, you want to lower your risk of losing as much as possible. To achieve this, go for two- or three-leg RRs. The fewer legs, the lower the total stake, and the bigger your chances of winning one or all parlay bets. In my opinion, the round robin feature at FanDuel is one of the best if you are going to use this bet type.
Avoid early-season RRs. In my experience, teams in any sport take a while to start performing up to the expected standard. Early-season upsets are not uncommon, and even the sportsbook favorites can stumble in the early phases of the season.
RRs seem appealing due to their high win potential and sizable payouts. But bigger payouts require bigger risks. RRs with 5 or more selections are ill-advised if you’re going for security and reduced risk.
Favorites on the moneyline are my preferred RR bet when I want to extend my chances of netting a profit. I usually go for smaller bets ($10 or $20 per bet). While often effective, this Round Robbin betting strategy does not always guarantee a win.
