What is Same Game Parlay Betting? Same Game Parlays Explained

A same game parlay bet (SGP) allows bettors to predict multiple outcomes of a single game into a single bet – whether it’s the moneyline, over/under or player prop, the aim is to predict two or more bets/legs in the same game correctly. The more bets added to a parlay bet, the higher the payout if it hits.

As you could probably derive, with that, the higher payouts indicate a lower percentage probability of the bet actually hitting; a sportsbook’s dream.

In this guide, we’ll discuss the same game parlay in length, including the advantages of betting this way and the best sports to be on.

Same Game Parlay Betting Example

So, let’s start with an example, on a college football Saturday. A bettor places a bet on Arizona State -9.5 (-110) vs. Arizona and Ole Miss Money Line (+140) vs. Texas A&M.

There are numerous parlay calculators online that can help you calculate your odds, and there you can of course see them on your sportsbook before placing the wager. 

While parlay betting isn’t a terrific strategy for long-term consistent success, there’s no denying it’s as fun as betting can get. And every once in a while, you see a parlay circulating that is for life-changing money such as a recent one making the rounds with the success of the Golden State Warriors. 

While a traditional parlay requires a bettor to place each leg on a different game or sport, sportsbooks have recently introduced Same Game Parlays which do exactly as the name suggest; allow you to parlay bets in the same game in the same bet. Unlike the traditional parlay, the bettor can tune into the same game to see each leg of their parlay in action. 

Typically, bettors will dive into player prop markets when same game parlay betting, as it allows them to connect their bets with the same goal in mind. As an example, someone who might expect a high-scoring game in the Denver Nuggets vs. Phoenix Suns game would bet on the stars to have high-scoring games, with a lot of made shots and low rebounding totals. A bettor cooking up a same game parlay bet might do something like this. 

Make no mistake about it, the rise in popularity of same game parlay betting has certainly been, at least in part, a product of social media some massive hits that have received widespread attention. The NBA playoffs always produce some doozies in particular, with bettors flocking to the primetime games, and of course, dropping their winners on Twitter for the world to see. 

How Does Same Game Parlay Betting Work?

Also known as a single game parlay, same game parlay betting allows bettors to make multiple bets within the same game or event. Made available just a few years ago to most bettors, the same game parlay has exploded in popularity, taking rise with the explosion of offshore sports betting in the United States. Another catalyst in same game parlay sports betting blowing up, has been the addition of more player props than ever hitting the market in all sports. 

As the name implies, a bettor betting on a same game parlay must make all bets within the same game or event. If each of the bets hit, you win your bet at the combined odds from each of the legs; the payout being bigger the more legs that are involved. If just one of those legs does not hit, however, the bet is graded a loser. 

Sportsbooks are also wise to you trying to associate your bets within your same game parlay betting and will lower your odds in such instances. As an example, if you bet on the Pittsburgh Steelers vs. Cleveland Browns game to go over the points total and include Kenny Pickett throwing for more than 2.5 touchdowns, the combined odds will be lower than if you were to punch them into a parlay odds calculator. Reasons such as this are why pro bettors rarely bet parlays, and in general, parlay betting is typically not a long-term winning strategy. 

Recent Big Payout Wins from Parlay Betting

NBA First Basket Parlay Wins $375

In early 2022, three friends from Pennsylvania put a combined $1.50 on a same game parlay that centered around first-basket props with odds ranging from +370 to +1100. As the title suggests, it cashed with all three earning $130,284 from a $.50 bet each.

NFL Same Game Parlay Nets $154,815

In the 2022 NFC Championship game between the San Francisco 49ers and Los Angeles Rams, a bettor put down a $2,985 same game NFL parlay bet with the potential to win more than $150,000. With eight legs already down, the ninth leg cashed as the clock hit zero with the Rams victorious and the point total over 34.5

All-time Big Payout Wins from Parlay Betting

College Basketball Parlay Wins Bettor $530K

This one was recent as well, finalizing in February 2022, but is still the biggest parlay win I can ever remember seeing. Bet across 23 separate games at combined odds of +90869356, a FanDuel bettor put down just $1.1 to win $532,478 when all was said and done. Tickets like this are why many consider playing parlays like playing the lottery. 

Cross-Sport Parlay Nets $1.1 Million on $50 Bet

In late 2021, a BetMGM bettor placed a $50 parlay on games across the NHL, NCAAB, NFL, and even Golf. A 15-leg parlay in total, the icing on the cake for this bettor was taking Jin Young Ko to win a lower-tier pro event at the CME Group Tour Champion at odds of +500, the highest on the card. In the end, from a $50 bet, the bettor walked away with more than $1.1 million in cash (before taxes, of course. 

How many parlays were wagered in 2022? 

The advertising of big parlay wins and the general push to increase their popularity is no mistake when it comes to sportsbooks’ desires. Always popular given the big payouts, sportsbooks salivate at the idea of bettors placing them, as even two-team parlays offer some of the lowest odds in the entire casino. 

According to the Washington Post and a recent study from the University of Nevada, while straight bets earn around 5 cents for every dollar wagered, parlays average a staggering 32.1 cents per dollar wagered. Taking it a step further, a 2022 review of Louisiana sports betting revealed that nearly 50% of their monthly income came from parlay betting.

While the exact number of parlays wagered in 2022 is unknown, based on recent data that has emerged from the industry, it’s safe to assume that the number is not just high but increasing. When it comes to same game parlay sports betting, regulated United States sportsbooks continue their push to make them front and center in terms of getting bettors to the counter (and app) to place more and more. 

How often do parlays win?

As sports betting, in general, continues to expand across the country, the concept of hitting a big payday via a parlay is front and center of many bettors’ minds. Most bettors who have been in the game for a prolonged time know, however, that parlays are not the way to long-term success. 

Using an average bet juice of -110, a two-team parlay has just a 27.5% chance of hitting according to the implied odds. That number shrinks to just 14.4% for a three-teamer, 7.5% for a four-teamer, and 4% for a five-teamer. 

When you get down to a 10-team parlay at average odds of -110, the chance of that parlay hitting shrinks to just 0.15%.

What is the biggest-priced parlay to win?

In terms of pure price, in March a bettor hit a 25-leg parlay at the odds of +94544 at FanDuel on an absolutely insane college basketball parlay.  Luckily for FanDuel, the bettor bet just $1, but still walked away with a staggering $94,544 using everything from money lines, point spreads, and even alternate lines. 

Which sports have the most parlay bets?

When it comes to sports betting in the United States, and increasingly abroad, the NFL parlay is king. By far America’s favorite sport, the NFL is as popular as it’s ever been, and sports betting legalization has certainly helped to fuel that growth. According to a recent article from Variety, in the month of October when all major sports are in action, the NFL attracts 81% of the bets mobile gamblers placed in 2022. 

What Are the Advantages of Same Game Parlay Betting?

Bet Small, Win Big

The advantages of betting same-game parlays are rather clear, as they allow for putting up a small amount of money with the potential to win a lot. They have boosted deviations of standard parlays, with the same reward of a sizable potential payout for little money invested.

Fewer Legs, Higher Chance of Winning

Picking the right legs, or teams involved in the parlay, is critical in turning a profit long-term. In many same game parlays, we are unable to see the prices of the individual parlay legs adjust once we add them, and instead have to rely on the sportsbook to calculate the adjusted payouts. As noted above, parlays in and of themselves are already difficult to win, but the more legs involved the lower your probability is at an exponential rate.

Here For the Fun

Let’s be honest, there’s a very small (and shrinking the way sportsbooks operate) chance that you’re betting on sports and relying on the winnings to pay your bills. Like many who bet on sports, you’re likely doing it for some weekly or nightly entertainment, and nothing more. Instead of following several different bets or games over the course of a night, same game parlay sports betting allows maximum enjoyment by tuning into just a single game.

Parlay Betting in Casinos

If you’re not on the smartphone apps or betting on sports online at all, physical casinos also offer physical parlay cards that you can complete and turn in for a physical ticket. While same game parlays have not made their way to the betting cards, you can still bet across different sports and markets, as well as find cards for Teasers and Round Robin parlays.

Same Game Parlay Betting vs. Same Game Parlay Extra

There are certain sportsbooks on the internet that provide “same game parlay extra bets” which take same game parlay betting to the next level.  With these, you have the ability to combine multiple single/traditional wagers with an existing same-game parlay gambling wager into one single bet designated as a Same Game Parlay (SGP) Extra. If you’re interested in placing this kind of SGP wager, you must specifically search for the SGP Extra betting category at your preferred sportsbook.

Because there are more betting legs and results required, SGP Extra bets are harder to find and especially more difficult to win. Because you are combining your parlay with other separate bets, however, the potential profit is also higher than with traditional same game parlay betting. One thing is for sure, if you want to bump up your payouts, they are an excellent option.

Most Popular Sports for Same Game Parlay Betting?

When it comes to same game parlay betting, more and more sports are allowing the new method. Whether it be sides, total, game props, or player props, there are more options than ever to throw in your same game parlay bet. Let’s take a look at a few of the most popular by sports. 

NFL

Moneyline bets, totals, and against the spread bets, yardage props, and touchdown props are a few examples of straightforward NFL betting wagers. These are available for full games, halves, and even quarters, and offer bettors no shortage of options to get in on the action. Who will score first, who scores most in a particular half or quarter, how many touchdowns a certain player will score, and other NFL player prop bets are especially popular in same game parlay betting. 

NBA

For bettors who wager via NBA sportsbooks, then as with football, you may use conventional bets, individual props, and game props when creating an NBA same game parlay. These wagers can be placed on the whole game, the first half, or specific quarters, with odds and numbers varying for each. There are multiple prop bets mentioned for each game because basketball and football are longer games with more participants.

MLB

The run line bet, over/under inning bets, and moneyline bets are common MLB betting wagers when it comes to same game parlays in baseball . So too are player props, such as the number of home runs in a game, the number of strikeouts a particular pitcher tosses, whether (or not) a run will score in the first inning, and many more. Any of these wagers can be added to a same game baseball parlay and can be placed on the whole game, a single inning, or all five innings.

NHL

The puck line, moneyline, and totals based on the period are the three fundamental elements of same game parlays when it comes to NHL betting. However, there are also other game props and player props available, including over/under goals for a specific player, save totals from the goalies, isolated period winners, and much more. When constructing a same game hockey parlay, any of these wagers are accepted.

Soccer

Goal spread, totals, and moneyline are common soccer wagering options, and outside the United States, the most popular sport for same game parlay soccer betting. Additionally, unique to soccer, sportsbooks allow you to wager on ties, the total number of penalties, corner kicks, and penalty kicks, among many other things. More game and player props are accessible the larger the event, and as we saw recently, the World Cup offers no shortage of same game parlay betting opportunities. 

Tennis

The three basic categories of tennis betting wagers are moneyline, match lines, and total round wagers. Tennis bettors can also get into the prop market, as things like winner of opening sets, total number of sets played, over/under aces scored, and more are available. You can also bet the aforementioned props based on a specific set or the entire match. Similar to soccer, larger events are likely to have more same game parlay betting prop bets available, which can make a tennis same game parlay very exciting and profitable for those who know the sport. 

How to Calculate a Parlay?

A quick search online shows no shortage of parlay odds calculators bettors can access, but my favorite one is compliments of the VSiN parlay calculator. In order to use it, you start out by putting your total wager in, and then the odds of each of the legs involved (up to 10). 

Once all of your legs are entered, you can hit “Calculate” at the bottom to determine the true odds of that parlay payout. 

A keen observer might notice that these odds do not match what their favorite sportsbook is displaying for the exact same parlay. The reason might be that sportsbooks slant the return in their favor, offering less return than the “true” odds actually calculate. 

Is Same Game Parlay Betting Legal?

Same Game Parlay betting is legal everywhere sports betting in general is legal. Both at United States operators and offshore sportsbooks, same game parlay betting is not just legal but increasingly popular. 

While offshore sportsbooks are regulated by international bodies, they are legal for anyone in the United States to use and no one has ever been prosecuted for using them. If you live in the United States, you can access those offshore sportsbooks from anywhere at any time. 

If you would rather use a US-based and regulated sportsbook for your same game parlay betting, it’s entirely dependent on what state you are located in. Though that list is constantly expanding and not all offer sports betting apps or mobile apps, as of May 2023, residents of Arkansas, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Michigan, Montana, Nevada, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, North Carolina, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Tennessee, Virginia, West Virginia, and Wyoming.may legally bet on sports in one form or another. 

Tips For Same Game Parlay Betting and Strategy

Though most look to same game parlay betting as just another way to get in on the action and have some fun, who doesn’t want to win them?

1. Check Terms & Conditions

Before getting involved with same game parlay sports betting at your favorite sportsbooks, make sure you know all that is involved in terms of rules. One thing to check is how the sportsbook treats canceled events that remove one of your legs from the payout equation. 

2. Start Small

Despite it being tempting to dive into your same game parlay gambling with big risks and many legs, start with small amounts and just a couple of legs to make sure you get the mechanics. Though the saying is you can’t win big without betting big, you can’t bet big if you don’t start small.

3. Manage Your Bankroll

A good rule of thumb for sports betting in general, you should always start a betting week/month/year with a maximum set amount that you are comfortable losing. For your same game parlay betting, your bet amounts should be no more than 1%-5% of that maximum amount, as this will allow you to manage your bankroll management.

4. Know Where a Same Game Parlay Fits in Your Betting Arsenal

Every bettor should know the time and place for putting a parlay on their betting card, and the same applies to their same game parlay betting. In some instances, a straight bet where you are betting on just one game or prop may be more fitting and have more value. 

5. Do Research

Even if you are placing same game parlays explicitly for entertainment purposes, it’s always more fun when you’re winning. While you can get lucky now and then, it’s important to do your research and choose your bets carefully if you want to win long-term in betting in general – always gamble responsibly on same game parlays.

How to Sign Up and Have a Same Game Parlay Bet?

When it comes to getting involved in same game parlay betting, the first step is signing up for a sportsbook. Let’s take a quick look at all that is required in the steps leading up to placing your first same game parlay bet.

Step 1 – Pick a Sportsbook

Though it’s important to do your research when picking out the sportsbook for your first parlay bet, for my money, no one beats BetOnline. Not only do they have a plethora of betting options, but the payout methods are easy and quick.

Step 2 – Create an Account

Using BetOnline as an example, navigate to the upper right and click “Join” to sign up for your account. After some basic information collection, you’ll be ready to load money onto the site.

Step 3 – Make a Deposit

Now that your account is created, it’s time to put some money in your account. Also in the upper right, navigate to “Deposit” to find your account by whatever method you see fit. 

Step 4 – Choose a Parlay Bet

Once you have money in your account, navigate back to the main page and select the sport, and then the event you want to wager on. From there, select all of the legs you wish to include in your play and hit “Place Parlay”

Same Game Parlay Betting – The Pros and Cons

Pros of Same Game Parlay Betting

• Massive Payouts: While parlay payouts are big, SGP payouts can be even bigger as they offer boosted odds for betting on the same game
• Watch One Game: A traditional parlay requires betting on multiple games, oftentimes starting at different times and on different channels. A SGP puts all the action on the same game or event
• Specific Knowledge: If you know a lot about a certain team but few other teams, you can put all that knowledge into the same game and parlay

Cons of Same Game Parlay Betting

• Low Probability: As a product having to win every single game in your parlay, your probability of hitting shrinks with every leg that you add
• Not True Odds: The odds you plug into a parlay calculator, are the true odds of adding together many bets. Sportsbooks, however, diminish them slightly in order to turn a bigger profit. 

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