What is round robin (RR) in sports betting? Definition, examples & strategies

You may have heard that round robin wagering is a popular method amongst sports bettors. But what is round robin in sports betting, and how could you develop a solid round robin betting strategy?

In this guide, we’ll explain not only how a round robin bet works but also share several round robin bet examples to help illustrate how you can benefit from using it. We’ll also dive into the pros and cons of using round robin, and when you should use it to your advantage.  

Simply put, round robin (RR) in sports betting refers to a format that combines several selections into grouped wagers, offering you the chance of receiving payouts even if not every pick comes in.

You essentially get to select a series of smaller parlays from a much larger list of potential picks, effectively hedging your bets. You’re creating several mini-bets that account for every combination possible, which spreads the risk across the parlay grouping you’ve selected.

Consider this round robin bet example: you select five NBA matchups and pick the teams you believe will win. Now, rather than placing a large single parlay bet, which needs all of them to win to be successful, you instead go with a 2-leg round robin. In doing so, even if just two of the five results come in your favour, you would still have earned a payout thanks to the round robin bet.

Alternatively, you can choose a 3-leg or a 4-leg round robin, which would require more of your picks to win for a payout, but the odds will be greater as they would equate to a three or four-bet parlay for each winning combination.

As you can imagine, round robins do require a larger initial stake amount due to the multiple bet combinations, but as a result, the more selections you hit, the more your winnings will jump.

Many newbie bettors often ask when it’s best to use a round robin betting strategy. 

The answer is quite straightforward: you’d want to use a round robin bet when you believe your pick selections are solid, but you want better odds than individual moneyline bets, yet you’re also keen to avoid the all-or-nothing risk of an individual parlay.

In other words, round robins are ideal if you believe the majority of your picks will win but feel more secure using a safety net should one or more selections fail.

On the flip side, using a round robin betting strategy might not always be the best move, particularly if you’re wagering a few bets on several underdogs. The reason being, is the larger stake requirement could quickly eat into your bankroll if the underdog picks are unsuccessful.

Let’s explore what round robin is in sports betting using the NFL as an example.

Say in a given NFL season game week, you identify the following teams as teams you expect to win:

Now, these are the possible combinations available to make a round robin bet:

Therefore, if all three teams won – congratulations, you’ve just cashed in on three separate 2-bet parlays! However, if the Eagles and Dolphins win, but the Chiefs lose, don’t worry; you still win ‘Bet 3’, and that’s the appeal of a round robin bet.

As you can now see, using a round robin betting strategy can be a successful tactic to generate larger payouts without the all-in style of a parlay bet. It helps even more if you know the pros and cons of round robin betting before you make it your go-to move.

Round robin betting is not just for experienced bettors. Despite sounding more complex than other straightforward betting formats like moneyline or spread betting, you’d be surprised that round robin betting isn’t solely reserved for experts.

In fact, beginners often utilise round robin betting rather than single parlays, as the win ratio is often higher.

Nevertheless, it’s important to understand how round-robin betting can impact your overall bankroll, which is why most people utilise it when picking short-priced favourites rather than several longshot underdogs.

The key is to start off using smaller bet selections on your favourite sports betting sites, which you can then expand on over time and, of course, experience. 

For example, try betting on a 2-leg round robin based on 3 team picks to see how different results can generate alternating profit levels. This is a more favourable way to learn how a round robin bet works without diving in too quickly.

However, if you’re just getting the hang of a round robin strategy, be sure to always start off using only small bet amounts. Then, once you feel more comfortable, you can begin to raise your stake levels to help you manage your bankroll better. Feel free to apply the same strategy when betting on esports, too. 

A round robin in sports betting is essentially a strategic wager that allows you to mix and match your selections into smaller parlays. Wth a bit of practice, you can begin to spread the wagering risk and still make potential payouts, even if one or more of your picks do not win. Learning how a round robin bet works with your preferred betting market selection is a smart way to diversify your bets.

Like with all forms of responsible betting, always be aware of your bankroll, be sure to pick your selections carefully, and always remember to have fun with your round robin bets.