You hit the first 4 legs of your 5-team parlay. Now you are sweating the final game. If your team wins, you win big. If they lose, you get nothing.
This Parlay Hedge Calculator helps you secure a Guaranteed Profit. It calculates exactly how much to bet on the opponent of your final pick to ensure you walk away with cash no matter who wins.
How to Hedge a Parlay
This strategy turns a gambling scenario into a financial transaction.
- Parlay Payout ($): Enter the total amount you stand to win if your parlay hits.
- Hedge Odds: Look up the current odds for the opposing team (or Draw/Win if hedging a football match).
- Original Stake: What you paid for the ticket (to calculate net profit).
- Result: The tool tells you the “Hedge Bet Amount.” Place this on the opponent.
Example: The “Monday Night Football” Hedge
You bet $50 on a 5-team parlay to win $1,000. The first 4 won on Sunday. The last game is Monday Night: Chiefs vs. Raiders.
- You have the Chiefs.
- The Raiders (Opponent) are paying 3.00 (+200) to win.
The Calculation:
- Hedge Bet: $1,000 / 3.00 = $333.33 on the Raiders.
- Total Cost: $50 (Original) + $333.33 (Hedge) = $383.33.
- Guaranteed Return: $1,000.
- Net Profit: $616.67 risk-free.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
Should I always hedge?
Mathematically, hedging usually has negative expected value because you pay a second margin (vig) to the bookmaker. However, psychologically and financially, guaranteeing a $600 profit is often smarter than risking it all for $1,000.