Singles, Accumulators, Systems and Handicaps Explained
How selections are tied together, and how any return is worked out, depends on the bet format. Think of a cricket single: one pick, such as an IPL match winner, at one price. An accumulator multiplies its prices, and all of its picks have to come good. This is an explanation only, as staking money from India is prohibited under the Online Gaming Act 2025.
Any sports section on a Valmo account, and the sports it lists, would appear in that account, and not every market described on this page may exist there. This guide covers the general mechanics of bets and settlement, and how disputes tend to arise.
Accumulator
Multiply the prices of all the picks and you have the accumulator's odds, so three picks at 2.00 come to 8.00. A single losing pick sinks the entire bet. A voided pick normally counts as 1.00.
System bet
Several accumulators bundled together form a system bet. Take a "2 from 3" system: it is made up of three doubles. One wrong pick need not end everything, but the stake is divided across the parts.
Handicap
With a handicap, one team starts with an imaginary lead or deficit. The Asian version adds half and quarter lines, on which a portion of the stake can come back. A bookmaker's rules spell out how its quarter lines are settled.
How bonus terms treat bet types
Sports bonus terms commonly specify an accumulator and set minimum odds for each pick. Those conditions sit in the bonus terms themselves, and they do not change the ban on staking money from India.
Illustrative example
Consider this example of a four-fold accumulator priced at 1.80, 2.00, 1.60 and 2.10, which gives combined odds of about 12.10. Rain postpones one of the matches, so that pick counts as 1.00 and the combined odds fall to about 5.76. The bettor assumes the entire slip is void, yet the three remaining picks are still live.
When a settlement seems incorrect
Keep a record of the bet slip, including its bet ID, market, odds and time, then locate the settlement clause for that sport in the rules. Write to support, quote the clause and include the official result from a dependable source. An unsatisfactory answer can then be taken further as a formal complaint.
Related guides: Football · Basketball · Tennis · Cricket.
How the types compare
The single is the clearest format and the easiest to follow. The accumulator shows a larger possible return, but each added pick reduces the likelihood of a win. The system bet spreads the risk and thins the return too. None of this changes the law: staking money from India is prohibited.