How to Use Parlay Cards at the Sportsbook

The following post explores how to use parlay cards at the casino sportsbook.

Parlay cards are a popular way to place multi-team wagers at casino sportsbooks. With minimum wagers sometimes as low as $2 and potentially large payouts, they can be an enticing option for bettors looking to turn a small wager into a much larger payday.

Read: Flat Betting For Wagering Success

Related: How to Avoid Late Night Slumpbuster Bets

You will find parlay cards at many casino sportsbooks, particularly during football season. Different sportsbooks may offer several variations, with different point spreads, rules, and payout schedules.

Here’s what you need to know.

Overview

A parlay card allows you to combine multiple betting selections into a single wager. Rather than placing individual bets on each game, you select several games on one card and combine them into a parlay.

The more selections you include, the more difficult it becomes to win the entire wager—but the potential payout also increases.

Parlay cards commonly include anywhere from three selections to 10 or more, depending on the sportsbook and the specific card.

Types of Parlay Cards

Depending on the sportsbook and time of year, you may find several different parlay card formats available. Here are some of the most common.

1/2 Point Parlay Card

A 1/2 Point parlay card uses half-point spreads, which eliminates the possibility of a tie or push on most point-spread selections.

For example, instead of a team being listed at -3, the card might list the team at -3½.

Because every selection generally has to produce a win or loss rather than potentially pushing, these cards typically offer higher payouts than comparable “ties win” cards.

Ties Win Parlay Card

Ties Win parlay cards generally use whole-number point spreads, meaning a game can end in a push.

For example, a team listed at -3 would result in a push if it wins by exactly three points.

Under the rules of a Ties Win card, a push does not count as a loss and may allow the remaining selections to determine the outcome of the parlay. The exact treatment of ties can vary, so always check the rules printed on the card.

Ties Win cards generally offer slightly lower payouts than comparable half-point cards because the possibility of a push makes the parlay somewhat easier to complete.

Teaser Parlay Card

Teaser cards allow bettors to adjust the point spreads in their favor.

For example, a team listed at +3 on a standard point spread might be available at +10 on a teaser card. The additional points make the individual selections easier to win, but the tradeoff is a substantially lower payout.

Teaser cards are particularly popular in football, where moving through key numbers such as 3 and 7 can make a significant difference.

1st Half Parlay Card

First-half parlay cards offer selections based only on the first half of a game rather than the final result.

These cards can be popular for NFL, college football, NBA, and college basketball games. Some bettors prefer first-half wagers because they don’t have to worry about what happens during the second half.

As with other parlay cards, the exact selections and rules vary by sportsbook.

Parlay Card Payouts

The payout is one of the biggest differences between parlay cards and ordinary straight bets.

A straight bet generally pays according to the odds associated with that individual wager. A parlay combines multiple selections and offers a larger payout when every selection wins.

Parlay-card payouts are usually presented in a table printed directly on the card. The table tells you how much your wager will pay based on the number of selections you make.

For example, a three-team parlay will generally pay considerably less than a six-team or 10-team parlay. The larger payout reflects the increased difficulty of getting every selection correct.

The payout schedule can differ between half-point, Ties Win, teaser, and other parlay-card formats, so don’t assume that every card uses the same odds.

Always review the payout table and rules printed on the specific card before placing your wager.

Making Your First Parlay Card Wager

Making a parlay-card wager is easy. Winning is the hard part!

Parlay cards are generally filled out much like a Scantron test. Use a pencil to mark the corresponding number for each selection you want to include.

For example, if you want to bet six games, locate the six betting selections on the card and bubble in the appropriate numbers.

Some cards also include additional areas for indicating the type and amount of wager. Follow the instructions printed on the particular card because the layout can vary.

Once you’ve made your selections, take the completed card to the sportsbook betting counter along with your money and, if required, your players card.

The sportsbook employee will enter your selections and issue a betting ticket.

Check your ticket before leaving the counter. Make sure the teams, betting selections, wager amount, and number of selections are correct. Mistakes can happen when selections are entered manually, and it is much easier to address an error immediately than after the games begin.