Parlays, same game parlays and what each added leg does to the odds
A parlay joins several bets into one, and it pays only if every leg wins. Prices multiply, so the sportsbook's margin multiplies too. In our worked example, a 4.5% margin on a single leg becomes 16.8% across four legs. A same game parlay combines legs from one game, and its pricing rules are the operator's own. We have not read those rules yet.
Checked by the editorial team on
- 3 min read
- 9 sections
- 2 tables
- 5 FAQ
How the price is built
A parlay price is the product of its legs' decimal prices. Three legs at 1.62, 2.10 and 1.45 give 1.62 × 2.10 × 1.45 = 4.93.
A stake of 20 dollars would then return 98.66 if all three win. The implied probability of the whole parlay is 1 ÷ 4.93 = 20.3%. Check any price with the odds converter.
The figures are an example (not an offer).
Why the margin grows with each leg
Each leg carries the operator's margin, also called the vig. Multiplying prices multiplies that margin as well.
The example assumes every leg is priced at 1.91 (-110 in American format), each has a true 50% chance, and the legs do not affect one another. Return is the stake's expected value per dollar.
| Legs | Parlay price | True chance of winning | Expected return per $1 | Margin kept |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 1.91 | 50.0% | 0.955 | 4.5% |
| 2 | 3.65 | 25.0% | 0.912 | 8.8% |
| 3 | 6.97 | 12.5% | 0.871 | 12.9% |
| 4 | 13.31 | 6.3% | 0.832 | 16.8% |
See what vig is and the parlay payout method.
Bottom line: the more legs, the larger the share the sportsbook keeps, if the legs are priced like the ones above.
How a same game parlay differs
Legs from one game are often linked: a team that scores more makes a high total likelier. Linked legs cannot simply be multiplied, so an operator has to price them as a group.
How it does so, and which legs it refuses to combine, is in the operator's rule page. We have not read those pages, and we do not publish a rule we cannot trace.
Which operators publish SGP rules
| Operator (candidate) | Parlay rule page | SGP linked-leg rule | Date read |
|---|---|---|---|
| bet365 | Not published | Not published | — |
| FanDuel | Not published | Not published | — |
Both are candidates; the licence is still to be confirmed. See bets, odds and margins for the vocabulary.
What to check before you build a parlay
- What the operator does with a void, postponed or tied leg.
- Whether linked legs from one game are allowed or blocked.
- The total price, so you can compute the implied probability.
- That the stake is an amount you accept losing in full.
How we checked
- We took the leg price formula from the standard way decimal odds multiply.
- We built the margin table ourselves, from stated assumptions, and marked it as an example.
- We looked for operator parlay and SGP rule pages and found none in our notes, so we left those cells as not published.
Sources
- Reference notes on Canada, dated 2026-11-06
- Operator rule pages: not yet read
What changed
- : page created with the worked margin example; operator rules not yet read.
Before you bet
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FAQ
What happens to a parlay if one leg loses?
The whole parlay loses, because every leg must win. How a voided or postponed leg is treated differs by operator: some drop it and recalculate. We have not yet read those rule pages, so we publish no operator rule.
Does the sportsbook's margin grow with each leg?
In our worked example it does. With every leg priced at 1.91 and a true 50% chance per leg, the margin rises from 4.5% on one leg to 16.8% on four. The example assumes legs that do not affect one another.
What is a same game parlay?
A same game parlay, or SGP, combines several bets from one game. The legs can be linked, so the operator prices them together instead of multiplying. We have not read an operator's SGP pricing rule.
Do operators limit linked legs?
Operators publish rules on which legs cannot be combined. We have read none yet, so the table below shows them as not published.
Can I check a parlay price myself?
Yes. Multiply the decimal prices of the legs, then convert the result with the odds converter to see the implied probability.