With the Premier League season about to kick off, betting shops and online sportsbooks are bracing for one of the busiest times of the year. For many punters, that means one thing: accumulator bets (often called “accas”). They’re thrilling, potentially lucrative, and, if you believe some fan folklore, often cursed. With insight from Bet442, here’s your guide to getting the most out of them this season.
What is an Accumulator Bet?
An accumulator bet combines multiple selections into a single wager. All the selections (or “legs”) must win for the bet to pay out. For example, you might pick four Premier League teams to win on the same weekend. If all four win, you cash in; if even one lets you down, your whole bet is lost.
The appeal? The odds multiply with each selection. A single £5 stake could, in theory, turn into hundreds, or even thousands, if enough results go your way. But with great potential reward comes a steep increase in risk. We explain acca odds in more depth next.
How Do Acca Odds Work?
Acca odds combine the odds of multiple selections into one bet, multiplying them together to create a single overall price. For example, if you back three football teams at odds of 2.0, 1.5, and 1.8, the acca odds would be calculated by multiplying them (2.0 × 1.5 × 1.8 = 5.4), meaning your stake would be multiplied by 5.4 if all selections win.
Because every leg must win for the acca to pay out, the risk is higher than placing individual bets; however, the potential payout is much greater. Bookmakers sometimes offer acca insurance or bonuses to make these high-risk, high-reward bets more appealing.
Is an Accumulator Bet Worth It?
The honest answer is that it depends on your goals.
Pros:
○ High potential payouts from small stakes.
○ Adds excitement to multiple matches at once.
○ Can be a fun social bet among friends.
Cons:
○ Very high risk, bookmakers love accas because one upset can kill the bet.
○ Hard to win consistently.
○ Often leads to overconfidence when a few legs are “easy on paper.”
For casual bettors seeking entertainment and willing to lose their stake, accas can be worth it. But if your aim is steady profit, single bets usually offer more realistic chances.
What is an Acca Freeze?
Some bookmakers now offer an “acca freeze” feature. If one leg of your accumulator looks like it’s about to go wrong, for example, if your team is trailing 2-0, you can “freeze” that leg to protect the rest of your bet.
Here’s how it works:
- The frozen leg is settled as a win at reduced odds (or sometimes removed entirely).
- Your total potential payout will drop, but your accumulator stays alive.
This tool can be handy, especially late in games when a comeback looks unlikely. It won’t save every bet, but it can turn a total loss into a partial victory.
Should You Really Avoid the Early Kick-Off?
There’s a long-standing superstition among punters that the early Saturday kick-off is cursed for accumulators. The thinking goes that if your first leg loses at lunchtime, your whole bet is dead before the 3 p.m. matches even start.
While the “curse” isn’t supported by statistics, there’s some psychology at play:
- Emotional impact: Losing early can sour the whole day.
- Selection bias: Popular teams in early kick-offs may be overpriced due to heavy betting.
- Memory bias: Punters remember early losses more vividly than late ones.
If you’re superstitious or just want to enjoy your Saturday without stress, you might prefer to avoid early kick-offs in your acca. But if you’ve spotted good value, there’s no rational reason to skip them.
Final Word
Accumulators can be a thrilling way to follow the Premier League, but they’re a high-risk, high-reward game. Bet for fun, manage your expectations, and maybe, just maybe, your acca will survive past the early kick-off.
