Kati Perry
@katiperry.bsky.social
graphics/dev at @washingtonpost.com. before this: @apnews.com. mississippi gulf coast forever 🦐
Reposted by Kati Perry
This story was the brainchild of sports data reporter @emilygiam.bsky.social, who collaborated with @katiperry.bsky.social and @asteckelberg.bsky.social to allow you to try parlay betting yourself. It's often not pretty
October 9, 2025 at 4:53 PM
This story was the brainchild of sports data reporter @emilygiam.bsky.social, who collaborated with @katiperry.bsky.social and @asteckelberg.bsky.social to allow you to try parlay betting yourself. It's often not pretty
Reposted by Kati Perry
We simulated what your bank account would look like if you kept betting parlays. Here we consider a five-leg parlay with -110 odds per leg. And we assume you're no better than random chance. (You probably aren't.)
You might get lucky every so often, but breaking even in the long run is very hard.
You might get lucky every so often, but breaking even in the long run is very hard.
October 9, 2025 at 3:21 PM
We simulated what your bank account would look like if you kept betting parlays. Here we consider a five-leg parlay with -110 odds per leg. And we assume you're no better than random chance. (You probably aren't.)
You might get lucky every so often, but breaking even in the long run is very hard.
You might get lucky every so often, but breaking even in the long run is very hard.
Reposted by Kati Perry
The sportsbooks’ advantage is obvious in the data: Operators bring in far more revenue for every dollar wagered on these bets than they do straight bets. Parlays account for about one-third of the total amount wagered, but they generate roughly two-thirds of the sportsbooks’ revenue.
October 9, 2025 at 2:57 PM
The sportsbooks’ advantage is obvious in the data: Operators bring in far more revenue for every dollar wagered on these bets than they do straight bets. Parlays account for about one-third of the total amount wagered, but they generate roughly two-thirds of the sportsbooks’ revenue.
Reposted by Kati Perry
But parlays *heavily* favor the operators — not because of the low win rate but because of the math going on behind the scenes.
As legs are added to the bet, the chance of winning drops faster than the growth of the potential payout.
www.washingtonpost.com/sports/inter...
As legs are added to the bet, the chance of winning drops faster than the growth of the potential payout.
www.washingtonpost.com/sports/inter...
Americans can’t stop betting parlays. Sportbooks are cashing in.
As betting booms, parlays are accounting for an increasing share of the money wagered on sports, according to a Washington Post analysis of state data.
www.washingtonpost.com
October 9, 2025 at 2:54 PM
But parlays *heavily* favor the operators — not because of the low win rate but because of the math going on behind the scenes.
As legs are added to the bet, the chance of winning drops faster than the growth of the potential payout.
www.washingtonpost.com/sports/inter...
As legs are added to the bet, the chance of winning drops faster than the growth of the potential payout.
www.washingtonpost.com/sports/inter...