What is a Round Robin Bet?
System bets are a popular choice among punters looking to cover multiple outcomes in a structured way. While accumulators offer high returns for low stakes, they come with high risk — a single losing selection wipes out the entire bet. In contrast, system bets like the Round Robin aim to strike a balance between risk and reward, offering broader coverage and multiple ways to profit.
A Round Robin bet is a clever combination of standard multiples and conditional bets, designed to give punters better chances of a return, even if not all selections win. Though it’s not as widely known as some other system bets, it’s a favourite among experienced punters who want a bit more from their three-fold bets.
In this article, we’ll explore what a Round Robin bet is, how it works, and when it might suit your betting strategy.
What is a Round Robin Bet?
A Round Robin is a full-cover system bet involving three selections in different events. It comprises 10 separate bets, made up of:
- 3 Doubles
- 1 Treble
- 3 Up-and-Down Single Stakes About (SSA) Bets — each consisting of 2 bets (one “up” and one “down”), totalling 6 SSA bets
These Up-and-Down SSA bets are essentially conditional bets: if your first selection wins, the winnings are used to place a stake on the second. In a “Round Robin,” each of the three selections is paired with the other two in this format — once in each direction — meaning all conditional possibilities are covered.
How Much Does a Round Robin Bet Cost?
Your total stake is calculated as:
Unit stake × 10
For example:
- A £1 Round Robin = £10 total stake
- A £2 Round Robin = £20 total stake
If you opt for an each-way Round Robin, the number of bets doubles to 20:
- A £1 each-way Round Robin = £20 total stake
It’s important to note that while the base stake may appear modest, the conditional nature of SSA bets can significantly affect the overall outcome.
Example of a Round Robin Bet
Let’s say you’re betting on three tennis players to win their matches:
- Player A at 2/1
- Player B at 5/2
- Player C at 6/4
Your Round Robin will include:
- Doubles: A+B, A+C, B+C
- Treble: A+B+C
- SSA pairs:
- A → B and B → A
- A → C and C → A
- B → C and C → B
If only one player wins, you lose your doubles, treble, and conditional bets (unless the single win is in the “up” leg of an SSA and covers the cost of a following losing bet).
If two players win, one double wins and one SSA bet pays out.
If all three win, all ten bets pay out — the doubles, treble, and SSA bets — resulting in a substantial return.
Advantages of a Round Robin Bet
1. Greater Flexibility Than a Treble
While a straight treble requires all three selections to win for any return, a Round Robin can provide returns from just two winners — or sometimes even one, depending on SSA outcomes.
2. Balanced Risk
You’re covering all possible doubles and the treble, along with SSA bets that give you further opportunity to win through conditional outcomes.
3. Suitable for Many Sports
This bet works well across sports like football, horse racing, tennis, and rugby, where three distinct outcomes can be easily picked.
4. Exciting to Follow
Because of the number of combinations, a Round Robin keeps punters engaged as results come in — with multiple chances for payouts.
Disadvantages of a Round Robin Bet
1. No Singles Included
If only one selection wins, and it’s not part of a successful SSA bet, your return will be zero.
2. Slightly Complex for Beginners
The SSA format can be difficult to understand without prior experience, and returns are not as straightforward to calculate manually.
3. Moderate Return Unless Multiple Win
You typically need at least two or ideally all three selections to win to see a worthwhile profit — particularly if backing short-priced favourites.
When Should You Use a Round Robin Bet?
A Round Robin is best suited when you:
- Have three confident selections and want to maximise coverage
- Prefer some return potential from partial success
- Want an alternative to a straight treble that isn’t as risky
- Enjoy system bets and are comfortable with conditional formats like SSA
It’s a particularly good option on a busy matchday or racecard when you spot three standout selections and want to give yourself a better chance of a payout without committing to a full accumulator.
Final Thoughts
The Round Robin bet is a smart and flexible option for punters who enjoy system betting and want more return possibilities than a traditional treble offers. By combining doubles, a treble, and Single Stakes About bets, it spreads the risk across a variety of combinations while retaining the excitement of high-reward betting.
While it may take a little time to fully understand the mechanics of SSA bets, once mastered, the Round Robin becomes a valuable part of a punter’s toolkit — offering tactical depth, increased coverage, and the potential for handsome returns.