Sports betting has exploded in popularity around the world and same game parlays are one of the most exciting ways to bet. Punters are encouraged to combine a series of selections from a single game with sites offering incentives, but how do they work and are they worth it? Let’s find out.
What is a same-game parlay?
Whether a site is calling it a one-game parlay, bet builder,same-game parlay or SGP, these are bets that are made up of two or more selections with one key distinction from regular parlays – they must be placed on a single game or event.
For example, let’s take an NBA game between the Memphis Grizzlies and Oklahoma City Thunder. Say you take the over on points and think the Thunder are going to cover the -9.5 spread, then chances are that Shai Gilgeous-Alexander will have a big game so you’d take him to score over 31.5 points. That’s a great example of a same-game parlay.
How does a same-game parlay work?
As we have already stated, same-game parlays are bets placed on a single game or event. Building one is really easy. Find a game that you want to place a bet on and locate the same-game parlay tab within the event. Then pick your selections and place the bet as usual.
When you pick each selection, it will be added to the betslip and the odds will be shown at that stage.
Same-game parlays are a classic case of risk vs. reward. By adding more legs and making things more interesting, the parlays become more risky. On the flip side, the potential rewards are larger than a single bet as more selections = higher odds. Do your research and these parlays can be a lucrative way to maximise your winnings.
What is correlation?
You’ll notice that some sites don’t display the odds of each selection within the same-game parlay tab, which brings us to the topic of correlation and how it affects parlays.
For example, say you bet a same-game parlay on Man City vs. Arsenal and pick City to Win and Erling Haaland to score at anytime. These selections correlate because if Haaland scores then City are more likely to win. The bookmaker will factor this into the odds and adjust them accordingly.
Compare this to a regular parlay that includes the following selections:
Man City to Win vs. Arsenal
Liverpool to Win vs. Man Utd
Chelsea to Win vs. Tottenham
None of these selections correlate as they are completely separate events and the bookmaker simply multiples the odds of each selection together to calculate the parlay odds.
What markets are available?
There are a wide range of markets that are available for same-game parlays ranging from regular options to more exotic choices. What you can add to a same-game parlay also varies depending on the sport you are betting on.
Soccer is one of the most popular sports for same-game parlays and the markets you can use include 1×2, correct score, both teams to score, team total goals, corners, anytime goalscorer, player yellow cards, player shots on target and more.
US sports leagues like the NBA and NFL also offer plenty of opportunities for same-game parlays. The markets on offer for NBA same-game parlays include winner (inc spreads), total points, team totals, match assists, and player props such as points, rebounds, threes made, steals, blocks, turnovers, fouls and more.
One final thing is to be patient where markets are concerned. Certain player props are not published by operators until the day of the game or event and it’s sometimes worth waiting it out before finalising your parlays.
Tips on how to be successful
Find Your Selections Sweet Spot
When building a same-game parlay, you want to hit a sweet spot when it comes to the number of selections. Basically, pick enough so that the potential payoff is large but not too many that it’s got a high chance of failure. We think around four to five selections is a good spot, but you’ll find your favorite.
Capitalise on Promotions
Many operators run promotions such as odds boosts and free bets that are specific to same-game parlays. Take advantage of the best ones by shopping around sites and this will also allow you to test out the functionality of different platforms to see the one that fits your preferences.
Research, Research, Research
Before placing a same-game parlay, make sure that you have done your research. Use any of the scores of sites that offer in-depth research and data on sports to inform your bets. By employing this strategy, you’ll make sure that your picks are informed by data and not entirely on emotion.
Build a Plausible Narrative
Imagine how a game will play out and this will allow you to create a same-game parlay that makes sense. Say you’ve got Kansas City Chiefs at Buffalo Bills and can see it being a Bills victory that covers the over on points. You’d imagine that Josh Allen would have a lot of passing yards and running back James Cook would run for his target.
You’ve also seen that Patrick Mahomes has thrown for at least 200 yards in every game of the year so far, so you add that to the same-game parlay too. Using this example, you can start to see what we mean by building a narrative. Combine this with your research and you’ll start to see not only how fun it is to build a story in your head, but how helpful it can be to winning bets.
Conclusion
Same game parlays are incredibly popular and have become the weapon of choice for bettors looking to spice up their betting experience.
They are now ubiquitous across operators and offered on all sports and competitions including soccer, hockey, tennis, NFL, NBA, UFC and more.
With even more sites adding functionality and markets, stay tuned to Lucky Hat to find out even more about same-game parlays.