Bet and accumulator calculator
This calculator works out the combined odds, return and profit for a single bet or an accumulator (multi) of up to 20 legs. A R50 four-leg acca at 1.85, 2.10, 1.40 and 2.60 has combined odds of 14.14 and returns about R707, but its implied chance of winning is only around 7%.
How the bet calculator works
Enter the decimal odds for each selection and your stake. Use Add a leg for up to 20 selections, or remove legs until only one remains for a single bet. The calculator shows:
- Combined odds: every leg’s odds multiplied together.
- Win chance (implied): 1 ÷ combined odds. This includes the bookmaker’s margin on every leg, so the true chance is a little lower.
- Potential return: stake × combined odds, including your stake.
- Profit: return minus stake.
If a selection is declared void (a postponed match, say), change its odds to 1.00 and it no longer affects the total, which is how most bookmakers settle it.
A worked example in Rands
A Saturday PSL four-fold with a R50 stake:
| Leg | Odds |
|---|---|
| Chiefs to win | 1.85 |
| Pirates to win | 2.10 |
| Sundowns to win | 1.40 |
| Stellenbosch to win | 2.60 |
- Combined odds: 1.85 × 2.10 × 1.40 × 2.60 = 14.14.
- Return: R50 × 14.14 = R707, a profit of R657.
- Implied win chance: 1 ÷ 14.14 = 7.1%.
Add a fifth leg at 2.00 and the return doubles to about R1,414, but the implied chance halves to 3.5%. That trade-off is the whole story of accumulators: each extra leg multiplies the payout and divides the chance.
The hidden cost of long accas
Each price carries the bookmaker’s margin, typically a few percent per selection. In a single bet you pay it once; in an accumulator you pay it on every leg, so a ten-fold can carry a combined margin of 30% or more. That is why bookmakers promote accas so heavily, and why “acca boosts” exist to tempt you into adding legs. Treat a big multi as a cheap lottery ticket for fun, not a plan.
Related tools and pages
To translate fractional or American odds into decimal before entering them, use the odds converter. For a free bet’s real value, check its minimum odds and wagering on our free bets page, and see the PSL betting sites list for bookmakers that price local football well.
Set a weekly betting budget and stick to it, whatever the last result. Help is free and confidential on 0800 006 008.
Frequently asked questions
How are accumulator odds calculated?
Multiply the decimal odds of every leg together. Three legs at 2.00 each give 2 × 2 × 2 = 8.00, so a R10 stake returns R80.
What happens if one leg of my accumulator is void?
The void leg is normally removed and the rest of the acca stands at the reduced odds. In the calculator, set that leg to 1.00 and it drops out of the total.
What is a multi bet in South Africa?
Multi is the term many South African bookmakers, such as Hollywoodbets and Betway, use for an accumulator: several selections combined into one bet that only pays if every selection wins.
Why is an accumulator riskier than singles?
Every leg must win. Even with four short-priced favourites, the chances multiply down quickly, and the bookmaker's margin is multiplied too, so accas lose more often and cost more over time.
Do accumulator bonuses change the calculation?
Yes. An acca boost adds a percentage to the profit if the bet wins, and acca insurance refunds the stake (often as a free bet) if one leg loses. Check the minimum legs and odds in the promotion's terms.
Mark has been writing about online gaming since 2007, covering everything from sportsbooks to casino and slot reviews, offering insights for players of all levels.