Infrequent gamblers don’t always know exactly how to maximize their chances of success. A lot of numbers are out there available to crunch, but making sense of it all is another thing altogether.
One of the simplest questions comes down to comparing single-game bets and parlay bets. Is it better to do single bets or parlays?
For the most part, seasoned gamblers always recommend single-game bets over parlays. Having an understanding of why this is the case can help steer a lot of people in the right direction financially when hoping to play for big money.
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Better Odds
The payout for a single bet is going to be better compared to the odds of one side winning. There is a growing vig with parlay bets depending on the number of teams added. This is to safeguard any potential issues that a sportsbook might have as far as paying out a huge amount of money.
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There are stories of people who’ve won parlay bets with 10 or more picks combined. While they get paid very well, the actual odds of everything coming together are extraordinary. In some cases, they should earn close to double that amount if they won the same percentage as single game gamblers win.
More Consistent Winning
With long odds to win parlay bets, there are a lot of cold spells players must go through to get winnings. Sometimes these losing streaks last so long that it can be hard to have a sufficient bankroll.
Single bets are going to be much more consistent with wins. Those winning about 55% of the time make money in the long run.
Fewer Complications
If there’s just a single bet between two teams or individual athletes, there are fewer complications if something goes wrong. With parlay bets, it just takes one contest to have problems to throw everything off.
What are some of the problems that parlay bets run into? It could be a delay or cancellation, an unforeseen result like a tie, or any other minor detail. For a single bet, sportsbooks handle it with a canceled or void bet. With a big parlay on the line, most people don’t want to see it crashing down because of one complicated game.
Fewer Variables
It’s nice to only have to pay attention to one game when preparing for a bet. By doing this, variables are eliminated that could take up research time. The fewer the variables, the more predictable things can be.
Are Parlays Always Bad Compared To Single-Game Bets?
Smaller, smart parlays aren’t terrible, and some professionals make consistent money targeting two, three, or four-team options. Anything past four-team parlays is a huge gamble that rarely pays off. Sticking with smaller bets is always the better option.
Single-game bets might not allow for huge paydays, but the slow and steady approach to becoming a professional gambler is generally preferred. Even casual gamblers will find it a bit more relaxing to bet on a game-by-game basis rather than sweating out a big parlay.