Round Robin Calculator
How To Use This Calculator
The round robin calculator creates every possible parlay combination from your selections. Enter your odds, choose your parlay size, and see a full breakdown of each combination.
Enter the amount to wager on each individual parlay.
Select how many legs per parlay (2-pick, 3-pick, etc.).
Enter the odds for each selection. Minimum 3 selections required.
See every parlay combination, payout, and total profit.
What is a Round Robin Bet?
A round robin bet takes a group of selections and creates every possible parlay combination of a chosen size. Unlike a single parlay where one loss kills the entire bet, round robins let you win some parlays even if not all selections hit.
Think of it as insurance for your parlays. You pay more upfront (since you are placing multiple parlays), but you get protection against one or two selections losing.
Parlays = C(n, k) = n! / (k! ? (n-k)!)Round Robin Combinations Reference
Number of parlays created for common round robin configurations.
| Selections | 2-pick | 3-pick | 4-pick | 5-pick |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3 | 3 | 1 | — | — |
| 4 | 6 | 4 | 1 | — |
| 5 | 10 | 10 | 5 | 1 |
| 6 | 15 | 20 | 15 | 6 |
| 8 | 28 | 56 | 70 | 56 |
Step-by-Step Round Robin Example
You have 4 selections at -110, +150, -130, and +120. You want $10 2-pick round robins.
Round Robin Payout Chart
The number of parlays in a round robin grows quickly as you add selections. Before placing a round robin, check the chart below to understand your total outlay. Each parlay is an independent wager, so your total stake equals the number of parlays multiplied by your per-parlay wager.
| Selections | 2-Pick | 3-Pick | 4-Pick | 5-Pick | Total Parlays | Total Stake ($10/parlay) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3 | 3 | 1 | - | - | 4 | $40 |
| 4 | 6 | 4 | 1 | - | 11 | $110 |
| 5 | 10 | 10 | 5 | 1 | 26 | $260 |
| 6 | 15 | 20 | 15 | 6 | 56 | $560 |
| 7 | 21 | 35 | 35 | 21 | 112 | $1,120 |
| 8 | 28 | 56 | 70 | 56 | 210 | $2,100 |
Total cost scales exponentially. Going from 5 to 8 selections increases your stake by roughly 8x. Most bettors find the sweet spot between 3 and 5 selections. You can reduce cost by selecting only specific parlay sizes rather than all combinations.
Round Robin vs Parlay vs Straight Bets
These three bet types use the same selections but structure risk completely differently. Understanding the tradeoffs helps you pick the right format for each situation.
A straight bet is one wager on one outcome. You win or lose based on that single result. Risk is low, upside is modest (typically paying around -110 for spread bets), and each selection is independent. Straight bets are the lowest variance way to bet and what most professional bettors default to.
A parlay combines multiple selections into one bet where every leg must win. This concentrates risk: one loss wipes out the entire wager. The upside is higher because the odds multiply together. A 4-leg parlay at -110 per leg pays roughly 12.3 to 1, but the probability of hitting all four is only about 6.25%. Parlays are appropriate when you want maximum payout from a small stake.
A round robin splits your selections into every possible parlay combination of a given size. It sits between straight bets and a full parlay on the risk spectrum. You pay more total stake than a single parlay, but you collect partial payouts when most (not all) of your selections win.
If you pick the same selections, all three bet types have the same expected value. The math does not change. What changes is variance. A round robin smooths out your results, turning the all-or-nothing parlay outcome into a range of partial wins and losses.
| Bet Type | Risk Level | Upside | Protection | Best For |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Straight Bets | Low | Low | Full | Bankroll management, grinding +EV edges |
| Parlay | High | High | None | Small stakes, moonshot payouts |
| Round Robin | Medium | Medium | Partial | Protecting correlated selections, reducing variance |
How to Place a Round Robin on Major Sportsbooks
The process is similar across all major US sportsbooks. Add three or more selections to your bet slip. Instead of choosing "parlay," look for the round robin option, which is usually listed below the parlay in the bet slip. Select which parlay sizes you want (2-pick, 3-pick, etc.), enter your per-parlay wager, and confirm the bet.
Terminology varies by platform. DraftKings and FanDuel both label it "Round Robin" in the bet slip, and it appears automatically once you have three or more legs. BetMGM uses the same "Round Robin" label. Caesars Sportsbook also offers round robins. European and Australian sportsbooks often call the same concept a "system bet" or "combination bet," with names like Trixie (3 selections), Yankee (4 selections), or Canadian (5 selections).
Most sportsbooks calculate and display the total stake before you confirm. Always check this number. A 7-team round robin at $10 per parlay costs $1,120 total, which can surprise bettors who expected to risk just $10. The Bet Hero round robin calculator lets you preview the exact cost and potential payouts before you open your sportsbook app.
When Round Robins Make Mathematical Sense
Round robins do not improve your expected value. If you pick four selections and each has +3% EV, your expected return is the same whether you bet them as straights, a parlay, or a round robin. The math is identical. What changes is the distribution of outcomes: how much you win when things go well, and how much you lose when they don't.
Lower variance is worth paying for in specific situations. If you are risking a meaningful percentage of your bankroll on a set of correlated legs (for example, three players from the same high-scoring game to hit their prop overs), a round robin protects you from a single bad beat wiping out everything. It also makes sense when you have a strong read on a group of selections but acknowledge that one or two might lose.
Round robins are wasteful in two common scenarios. First, when your selections are heavy favorites with short odds. The individual parlay payouts are so low that winning most of your parlays barely covers the total stake. Second, when you include too many selections. The cost grows exponentially, and the number of losing parlays in any realistic outcome makes it nearly impossible to profit overall.
The most important principle: round robins only make mathematical sense when the underlying selections are positive expected value. Wrapping losing bets in a round robin just means you lose more money across more parlays.
Common Mistakes to Avoid
A $10 round robin with 6 selections in 2-picks creates 15 parlays ? that is $150 total, not $10. Always check the total stake before placing your bet.
More selections means exponentially more parlays. 8 selections in 2-picks is 28 parlays. Keep your selection count manageable to control total stake.
Round robins do not reduce the sportsbook's edge ? they just redistribute your risk. Each individual parlay still has the same vig. The EV of a round robin equals the sum of each parlay's EV.
Calculate how many selections need to win for you to break even. If you need 4 of 5 to hit just to break even, the risk/reward may not be worth it compared to straight bets.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the difference between a round robin and a parlay?
A parlay is a single bet combining multiple selections where all must win. A round robin creates multiple smaller parlays from your selections. If one selection loses in a parlay, you lose everything. In a round robin, you only lose the parlays containing the losing selection.
How many selections do I need for a round robin?
You need at least 3 selections for a round robin (which creates 3 two-pick parlays). Most sportsbooks allow up to 8-12 selections, though the total number of parlays grows quickly.
Can I lose money on a round robin if most selections win?
Yes. Depending on the odds and parlay size, you might need most or all selections to win just to break even. Low-odds favorites in large round robins can result in a loss even with only one miss. Always check the breakeven point.
What is a ?full cover? bet?
A full cover bet includes every possible parlay combination of every size from your selections, plus sometimes the individual straight bets. For example, a ?Trixie? is a full cover on 3 selections (3 doubles + 1 treble). Round robins are a subset of full cover bets.
Are round robins a good strategy?
Round robins are useful when you have confidence in multiple selections but want protection against 1-2 losses. They are not a magic strategy ? the expected value is the same as placing the individual parlays separately. The benefit is purely risk management.
Can I use round robins with player props?
Yes. Round robins work with any bet type ? moneylines, spreads, totals, and player props. They are especially popular with player props where bettors have strong opinions on several selections but want to hedge against one missing.
How many parlays are in a 5-team round robin?
A full 5-team round robin contains 26 parlays: 10 two-pick parlays, 10 three-pick parlays, 5 four-pick parlays, and 1 five-pick parlay. If you select only specific parlay sizes (for example, just 2-pick combinations), you can reduce this to 10 bets.
What happens if one leg of my round robin pushes?
A push (or void) removes that leg from any parlay it appears in. A 3-pick parlay with one push becomes a 2-pick parlay at adjusted odds. A 2-pick parlay with one push becomes a straight bet. Your stake is not lost on parlays containing the pushed leg; those parlays simply recalculate with the remaining legs.
Can I do a round robin on DraftKings or FanDuel?
Yes. Both DraftKings and FanDuel support round robins. Add three or more selections to your bet slip and the round robin option appears below the parlay. You can choose which parlay sizes to include and set your per-parlay wager before confirming.
Is a round robin better than a straight parlay?
Neither is objectively better. They have the same expected value given the same selections. A round robin costs more total stake but pays out partial returns when one or two legs lose. A straight parlay costs less but pays nothing unless every leg hits. Round robins reduce variance; straight parlays maximize upside from a small wager.
How much does a 6-team round robin cost?
A full 6-team round robin contains 56 parlays (all combinations of 2-pick through 5-pick). At $10 per parlay, that is $560 total. You can lower the cost by selecting only certain parlay sizes. For example, choosing only 2-pick parlays from 6 selections gives you 15 bets for $150 at $10 each.
Can I combine round robins with free bets?
Most sportsbooks do not allow free bets or bonus bets to be applied to round robins directly. Free bets are typically restricted to single wagers or standard parlays. If you can use a free bet on a standard parlay, that is usually a better use of it, since free bets have higher expected value on longshot parlays where you keep only the profit.
Pro Tip: Keep It Small
The sweet spot for round robins is 3-4 selections in 2-pick parlays. This gives you meaningful protection (you can lose 1 selection and still profit) without the total stake spiraling out of control. Anything beyond 5 selections gets expensive fast.