A Betting Glossary From Accumulator to Void

A short answer

A betting glossary explains the words used to describe a bet, its price and how it is settled. An accumulator combines selections, an each-way bet has separate win and place parts, and a void selection is treated according to the applicable rules rather than simply assumed to have won or lost.

The definitions are a starting point. Always read the rules for the particular bet and market before relying on a settlement outcome.

How the terms fit together

Start with what you are betting on, then identify the amount at risk, the price and the conditions for settlement. These terms help you follow that sequence.

Accumulator, double and treble

An accumulator, or acca, combines multiple selections in one bet. A two-selection multiple is a double; a three-selection multiple is a treble. Each selection is sometimes called a leg.

Read the rules for what happens if a leg cannot be settled normally. A void leg may change the structure and potential return of a multiple rather than settle it in the same way as a losing selection.

Each-way

An each-way bet consists of two separate bets on the same selection: one to win and one to place. The total stake therefore covers both parts. The place terms tell you which finishing positions qualify and how the place price is calculated.

An each-way multiple also has two parts. Betfair describes one bet for all selections to win and another for all selections to place. Check the applicable terms rather than assuming that an each-way multiple is just one bet with one settlement condition.

Evens, return and profit

Evens is a price at which a successful bet returns twice the stake. The return is the total paid back; profit is the return minus the amount staked. They are not two separate payments.

A potential return is conditional on the bet settling successfully under its terms. It is not money already received, and a price does not promise a particular result.

Market, selection and stake

A market describes what is being bet on. A selection is the chosen outcome within that market, while the stake is the amount committed to the bet. The market rules and bet slip should make clear what has been selected and what conditions apply.

Non-runner and non-runner no-bet

A non-runner is a participant originally due to compete who no longer takes part. That description alone does not tell you how every bet will settle.

Non-runner no-bet is a concession on some ante-post markets under which the stake is returned if the selection does not participate. Check whether the concession applies to the particular bet; do not assume it applies to every ante-post market.

Settlement and void

Settlement is the process of determining a bet’s result under the applicable rules. A void bet or leg is not settled as an ordinary winner or loser; check the rules to see what happens next.

For example, Betfair Sportsbook’s general rules say a void or non-runner leg in a fixed-odds multiple is voided and the multiple adjusted accordingly. Betfair says a double with one void leg becomes a single, with reduced odds and potential winnings. That is a named operator’s rule, not confirmation of every bookmaker’s approach.

Worked example: a successful bet at evens

Example: A hypothetical single bet has a £10 stake at evens and settles successfully. At evens, the successful return is twice the stake:

• Total return: £10 × 2 = £20.
• Profit: £20 return − £10 stake = £10.

The £20 is the total returned, including the original £10 stake; the profit is £10. If the bet does not settle successfully, this example’s successful return does not apply. The arithmetic illustrates the price, not a prediction of an event.

Where rules differ and what to check

Before betting, read the bet slip alongside the bookmaker’s general and market-specific rules. Applicable Gambling Commission licence conditions require operators to make rules available covering core acceptance and settlement terms, including when bets are voided and how non-runners are treated.

Look particularly for:

• The accepted bet: the selection, stake and price recorded on the bet slip.
• Place terms: the qualifying positions and place price for an each-way bet.
• Non-runners: whether the bet has a non-runner no-bet concession and what happens if a participant does not take part.
• Multiples: how a void leg affects the remaining selections and potential return.
• Settlement conditions: the result or event period the market uses, and any relevant rules for an interrupted event.

The treatment of a particular bet cannot be confirmed without its applicable terms. If the wording is unclear, check with the operator before placing it.

Common mistakes to avoid

Counting the return as profit. Subtract the stake from the total return to see the profit. In the evens example above, £20 returned is not £20 profit.

Treating each-way as one stake. There are separate win and place bets. Check the total amount committed as well as the place terms.

Assuming every non-runner produces the same result. Non-runner no-bet is a specific concession on some ante-post markets. The relevant rules determine how a particular bet is treated.

Assuming a void leg wins or loses. A void leg can alter a multiple. Check the operator’s rules and the resulting bet rather than using the original potential return as though nothing had changed.

Reading a glossary in place of the rules. A definition gives you the vocabulary; the accepted bet and applicable terms determine how that bet is settled.

Related guides to read next

For more detail on combined bets, see Singles, Doubles and Accumulators: How Multiples Settle. The guide to Each-Way Bets: Place Terms and Worked Returns explores the two parts of an each-way stake.

To understand prices, read Fractional and Decimal Odds: Reading and Converting Both. You can also explore the Betting Glossary for more terminology.