Singles, Doubles and Accumulators: How Multiples Settle

The short answer

A single is one bet on one selection. A double combines two selections in one bet; a treble combines three, and an accumulator can combine more. In a straightforward multiple, every selection must win for the bet to win, and the decimal odds are multiplied together to calculate the return. A void selection is treated differently from a loser, but the applicable rules matter.

How the bet types work

A selection is the outcome you choose for a bet. In a multiple, each selection is also called a leg. A conventional double has two selections in different events, while a treble has three. William Hill describes an accumulator as one bet on four or more selections; check the bet description rather than relying on the name alone.

Here is the settlement process for a straightforward win bet:

1. Identify the bet and stake. A single has one selection and its own stake. A double or other straight multiple is one bet with one stake, even though it contains several selections.
2. Check each leg's result. A conventional multiple wins when all its selections succeed. If a selection loses, the whole multiple loses.
3. Calculate the combined odds. Multiply the decimal odds for the selections together. For a single, use that selection's odds on their own.
4. Calculate the return. For a winning bet, multiply the stake by the applicable decimal odds. The total return includes the original stake; subtract the stake to find the profit.
5. Check for adjustments. A void leg or another applicable settlement rule can change the calculation. Do not assume the original potential return is the final return.

Another way to understand a multiple is that the return from one successful selection rolls on to the next. Larger combined odds do not make a return certain: the bet depends on each included selection succeeding.

Worked example: single, double and treble

Example: Selections A, B and C are in different events and each has decimal odds of 2.00. Each row below is a separate £5 bet. Assume all selections in each row win and there are no voids or other adjustments.

Each total return includes that bet's £5 stake. These are conditional illustrations, not predictions. Placing all three bets would mean a total stake of £5 + £5 + £5 = £15.

Example: If A wins but B loses, a separate £5 single on A at 2.00 returns £5 × 2.00 = £10. A £5 double on A and B returns £0 because B lost. Across those two bets, £10 was staked and £10 returned: £10 − £10 = £0 overall profit or loss. The single and double settle separately.

Where rules differ: voids and non-runners

A void selection is not the same as a losing selection. Under Betfair's fixed-odds multiple rules, a void leg is removed: a treble with one void leg becomes a double, and a remaining single stands. That is a specific rule to check against the terms applicable to your own bet, rather than an assumption about every bookmaker or market.

Example: A £5 treble contains selections at 2.00, 3.00 and 2.00. If the 3.00 leg is void, the applicable rules remove it and the other two legs win, the adjusted odds are 2.00 × 2.00 = 4.00. The total return is £5 × 4.00 = £20, including the stake. Profit is £20 − £5 = £15. If either remaining leg loses, the multiple loses instead.

Non-runners need particular attention. Bet365 says a non-runner in a single normally makes the bet void and returns the stake, but its ante-post selections are generally all-in, run or not. That distinction means you should check both when the bet was placed and the relevant terms before assuming a withdrawal leads to a refund.

Applicable betting licensees must publish core acceptance and settlement rules, including when bets are voided and how withdrawals and non-runners are treated. Before betting, find those rules and check:

• How each selected market is settled, including its definition of a winning selection.
• What happens to a multiple if a leg is void, withdrawn or otherwise affected.
• Whether any special terms apply to the bet type or event.
• Whether the selections can be combined in the way shown on the bet slip.

Common mistakes to avoid

Confusing one multiple with several bets

A treble is not automatically three singles. Nor is every combination bet one straight treble. A Trixie, for instance, consists of three doubles and one treble across three selections: four bets in total.

Example: At £2 per bet, a Trixie's total stake is 4 × £2 = £8. That is different from a single £2 treble, whose total stake is £2. Check whether a displayed stake is per bet or the total before confirming.

Assuming any selections can be combined

A conventional double involves selections in different events. Same-event combinations can have particular restrictions or require a specific product. Betfair's fixed-odds multiple rules restrict related selections within the same event, apart from selections made through a Same Game Multiple. Check the relevant rules and the bet slip rather than assuming a conventional multiple price applies.

Treating potential return as settled profit

A potential return is conditional on the selections and the applicable rules. It is also not the same as profit: a total return includes the stake. Read each market description and compare the settled bet with the relevant rules if the result differs from what you expected.

Related guides

For more on reading prices, visit Odds Explained. Explore Bet Types for other bet structures, or use the Betting Glossary to look up unfamiliar terms. For a guide to setting boundaries, see Staying in Control: Deposit Limits, Time-Outs and Breaks.