Parlays Hit 35% of Handle: Why Multi-Leg Bets Keep Growing
Parlays aren’t slowing down. The parlay wagers in December 2025 were 35.1 percent of total sportsbook handle, which is more than 22 percent four years prior. Multi-leg tickets continue to draw bettors and it is not difficult to understand the reason why.
The appeal? Small stakes, big potential. Bet $10 on a three-legging and you have $60+ up over the table in case it hits. That ratio attracts millions of gamblers that prefer to sweat multiples as opposed to grinding single bets. and All sport betting apps have transformed the construction of parlays into the simplest act on earth – a couple of taps and you are in.
This is supported by New Jersey and Maryland statistics. More than one third of the action is attributed to parlays. Casual fans love them. So do regulars.
How Parlay Odds Work
The math isn’t complicated. Straight bet at -110? You’re risking $110 to pocket $100. Win probability is at 50 and the reward is at that.
Parlays change the game. Take two picks at -110, and you are getting about 2.6-to-1. The third leg– it is more like 6-to-1. The more legs there are the longer the odds and fatter the potential returns. However, here is the big twist, all the selections must hit.
| Parlay Legs | Typical Payout | Win Probability |
| 2 legs | 2.6-to-1 | ~25% |
| 3 legs | 6-to-1 | ~12.5% |
| 5 legs | 20-to-1 | ~3% |
| 8 legs | 150-to-1 | ~0.4% |
That’s the trade-off. Bet 20 dollars on a five-leg parlay and you would get the four-hundred dollars. Same 20 divided in five straight bets? Way less exciting. Much less upside per ticket.
In 2023, Illinois books received 194.6 million parlay tickets. Parlays in Louisiana brought in 67 percent of the betting revenue. People want these bets.
Same Game Parlays: A New Way to Bet
Same-game parlays inverted the pattern of approaching single matches by gamblers. And no longer do you have to spread picks to various games, you are now able to cram on top of a ticket player props and spreads, and totals of one game.
Suppose you are watching the Lakers play. You prefer LeBron to score 25+ points, LA defends and the match fly out of the mark. Bundle all three. Everything that one has becomes important. Every bucket. Every stop. Your ticket rides on it all.
According to the report 2025 released by Kambi, 83% of the most active bettors at Kambi placed at least one parlay. Super Bowl LIX? Almost half the pre-game action came with it in the form of parlays – 88% of which were attached with player prop. This is obviously a format that gamblers love.
Same-game parlays are pushed and continue to be pushed by platforms. Celebs promote them. Builds are posted by influencers. online basketball betting apps serve up recommended combos during live games. It’s everywhere.
Choosing Between Parlays and Straight Bets
Different strokes. Straight bets are less paying and struck more often – good when you want to have the same action without the ups and downs. Parlays reverse that scenario: reduced hit rate, increased ceiling.
Think about what you’re after:
- Entertainment: Parlays will provide you with something more to cheer about, that is simple.
- Bankroll: It is possible to risk less and still pursue a good payout.
- Upside: Multi-leg tickets where there is no touch of returns provided by straight bets.
- Consistency: Singles are more successful, keep the game going.
- Matchup knowledge: Same game parlays are offered to bettors with inside knowledge of a game.
Plenty of gamblers do both. This is when singles are sure. Parlays when they are lusting juice. It is a matter of choice, whatever makes betting fun to you.
At -110 per leg cash, 5 leg parlays cash in at approximately 3 percent. Long odds, sure. However, to many gamblers, that is the point that the big payoff on a small bet. That is why parlays are at 35 per cent. of handle and rising.
