How Does a Round Robin Bet Work?
Tired of losing your entire parlay because of one bad leg? A round robin is your solution. This guide will show you how to turn your picks into multiple smaller parlays, reducing risk while keeping serious payout potential. Use our Round Robin Calculator to see exactly how it works with your bets.
Round Robin Calculators & Tools
In This Guide
What is a Round Robin Bet?
A round robin bet takes your selections and automatically creates every possible parlay combination of a specified size. Think of it as "parlay insurance" — instead of betting one big parlay where everything must hit, you're betting multiple smaller parlays where you can still profit even if some picks lose.
The Simple Explanation
Imagine you like 3 picks for Sunday's games. With a straight 3-leg parlay, all 3 must win or you lose everything. With a round robin (2-leg parlays), you get 3 separate 2-leg parlays. If 2 of your 3 picks win, you still cash 1 parlay and potentially profit.
3-Pick Round Robin: Visual Breakdown
Let's say you have 3 picks: Team A (-110), Team B (-110), and Team C (-110). Here's how a round robin with 2-leg parlays breaks down:
Round Robin vs Straight Parlay
Here's how outcomes differ between a $30 straight parlay and a $30 round robin (3x $10):
| Outcome | 3-Leg Parlay ($30) | Round Robin ($30) |
|---|---|---|
| All 3 Win | +$169.70 | +$48.60 |
| 2 of 3 Win | -$30.00 | +$6.20 |
| 1 of 3 Win | -$30.00 | -$30.00 |
| 0 of 3 Win | -$30.00 | -$30.00 |
Key Insight
The round robin's big advantage shows when you go 2-for-3. With a straight parlay, you lose everything. With a round robin, you still profit! The tradeoff: your maximum payout when all legs hit is lower.
How Many Parlays in Each Round Robin?
The number of parlays depends on your picks and parlay size. Here's a quick reference:
| Your Picks | 2-Leg Parlays | 3-Leg Parlays | 4-Leg Parlays |
|---|---|---|---|
| 3 Picks | 3 parlays | 1 parlay | — |
| 4 Picks | 6 parlays | 4 parlays | 1 parlay |
| 5 Picks | 10 parlays | 10 parlays | 5 parlays |
| 6 Picks | 15 parlays | 20 parlays | 15 parlays |
| 8 Picks | 28 parlays | 56 parlays | 70 parlays |
Watch Your Total Stake
More picks = more parlays = higher total investment. A 6-pick round robin with $10 per 2-leg parlay costs $150 total. Use our Round Robin Calculator to see exact totals before betting.
Step-by-Step: 4-Pick Round Robin Example
Let's walk through a realistic Sunday NFL round robin:
Your 4 Picks
Your 6 Two-Leg Parlays ($10 each)
Results: 3 of 4 Picks Win (D Loses)
Even with 1 loss, you still profit $19.75! A straight 4-leg parlay would have lost your entire $60.
When to Use Round Robins
Good For Round Robins
- 3-5 picks you feel confident about
- NFL Sundays with multiple games
- When you want parlay action with less risk
- Correlated plays across multiple games
- Building a bankroll steadily
Skip the Round Robin
- Going for a massive longshot payout
- Only 2 picks (just do a straight parlay)
- 6+ underdogs at plus odds
- When you can't afford the total stake
- Props with high correlation
5 Common Round Robin Mistakes
Not Calculating Total Stake
A 5-pick round robin with 2-leg parlays is 10 bets. At $10 each, that's $100 total — not $10. Always use the calculator first.
Too Many Picks
More picks means exponentially more parlays. Stick to 3-5 picks for manageable round robins. 8 picks with 3-leg parlays = 56 separate bets!
Using Highly Correlated Legs
If your picks are correlated (same game over + receiving props), they'll likely win or lose together, defeating the risk-spreading purpose.
Ignoring the Juice
Round robins multiply the vig across all parlays. Stick to -110 lines when possible. Heavy favorites (-200+) kill your value.
Wrong Parlay Size
2-leg parlays maximize protection. 3+ leg parlays within a round robin still require multiple wins to cash each parlay.
Try Our Round Robin Calculator
Enter your picks and instantly see all parlay combinations, total stake, and potential payouts. No math required.
Frequently Asked Questions
How does a round robin bet work?
A round robin takes your selections and creates every possible parlay combination of a specified size. With 3 picks and 2-leg parlays, you get 3 separate parlays (AB, AC, BC). Each parlay is bet independently, so you can win some even if others lose.
What's the difference between a round robin and a parlay?
A parlay is a single bet where all legs must win. A round robin is multiple parlays from the same picks. Round robins cost more (multiple bets) but offer protection — you can still profit if some picks lose.
How much does a round robin cost?
Your total stake = per-parlay bet × number of parlays. A 4-pick round robin with 2-leg parlays at $10 each = 6 parlays × $10 = $60 total. Always calculate before betting!
Can you do a round robin with just 2 picks?
No, you need at least 3 picks. With only 2 picks, the only possible 2-leg parlay is those 2 picks together — which is just a regular parlay.
What's the best round robin strategy?
Use 3-5 picks with 2-leg parlays for the best balance of risk protection and payout potential. Avoid heavy favorites (-200+) and make sure your picks aren't too correlated.
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