This guide explains, in plain language, what the label "by 4s x5" means when it appears on a sportsbook betslip. It walks through the combination math, cost calculation, payout mechanics, and decision checks you should run before placing a ticket. The explanation is practical and aimed at readers who want clear steps to confirm what a round-robin setup will do to their stake and potential returns.

"By 4s x5" means your picks were turned into five separate four-leg parlays.

Total cost equals the stake per parlay multiplied by the number of generated combinations.

Each sub-parlay settles independently, so payouts vary by which combinations win.

Quick answer: what 'by 4s x5' means

When you see "by 4s x5" on a betslip it means the sportsbook has taken your set of selections and created multiple four-leg parlays from them. The label "by 4s" describes the size of each sub-parlay and the "x5" shows how many unique four-leg combinations the book will generate from your picks; this is the basic round-robin construction that operators document for bettors TheLines guide to round-robin bets.

The practical consequence is straightforward: treat each four-leg sub-parlay as its own ticket. Each one only pays if all four legs on that sub-ticket win. That structure reduces the all-or-nothing exposure of one big parlay because some sub-parlays can win even if others lose, but it also raises the total amount you must stake because you are buying multiple tickets at once Action Network overview of round-robin bets.

What does 'by 4s x5' mean on my sportsbook betslip?

It means your selection set was used to create five distinct four-leg parlays; you pay the stake for each of those five sub-parlays and each pays only if all four legs on that sub-ticket win.

Why does the slip show five sub-parlays when I only picked five teams? The count comes from the combination formula: with five total selections, choosing "by 4s" produces five unique four-leg combinations, written as C(5,4)=5, which explains the "x5" label on many operator betslips Investopedia on combinations.

Finally, the total cost of the wager equals the stake you assign to each four-leg parlay multiplied by the five combinations the book created. Operators often display either the stake per parlay or the total ticket cost in the betslip, so confirm which number you are looking at before you submit the ticket Covers explanation of round-robin cost.

how does round robin work fanduel: step-by-step mechanics

Start by selecting a pool of individual picks you want to include. That pool might be five teams, six player props, or any mix of legs allowed by the sportsbook. When you choose a round-robin option the book asks for a "by" size: "by 2s," "by 3s," "by 4s," and so on. The "by" size is the number of legs that go into each generated parlay. This interface behavior is described in operator help materials and industry guides that explain the available round-robin options DraftKings help on round-robin wagers. FanDuel support on round-robin

Step 1, choose your picks and the by size. For a concrete example, pick five selections and select "by 4s." That tells the sportsbook to form every unique group of four legs you can make from those five picks.

Step 2, compute how many sub-parlays the sportsbook will produce. Use the combination formula, also called "n choose k," where n is the number of picks and k is the by size. For five picks and by 4s, that is C(5,4)=5. The practical takeaway: the book will create five separate four-leg parlays from your single set of five selections Investopedia on the combination formula.

Close up minimalist digital betslip showing combination count and stake fields with the by size control highlighted to illustrate how does round robin work fanduel

Step 3, decide stake per parlay. The sportsbook will ask for a stake amount that applies to each sub-parlay. If you enter $2, that $2 is applied to each generated four-leg parlay. The total cost shown on the slip equals the per-parlay stake multiplied by the number of combinations. Some operators display the per-parlay stake first and show total cost separately; others display the total ticket cost directly, so check the interface and any help text before confirming BetMGM blog on round-robin mechanics and cost.

Step 4, review the generated tickets. The sportsbook treats each four-leg parlay as an independent ticket for settlement and accounting. Each one will be priced by multiplying the individual leg odds inside that specific sub-parlay. Because settlement is independent, some sub-parlays can cash while others lose. See FanDuel's guide for another operator description FanDuel guide to round-robin bets.

Quick checklist before submit: verify the combination count on the slip matches your expected C(n,k) calculation, confirm whether the displayed amount is per-parlay or total cost, and preview estimated payouts if your operator provides a preview tool. Doing this prevents surprises when the ticket posts to your account Covers on verifying your round-robin ticket.

How payouts work and why returns can vary

Each four-leg sub-parlay pays only when every leg within that sub-ticket wins. The payout for any single sub-parlay equals the product of that sub-parlay's leg odds transformed into parlay pricing, so different sub-parlays can return different amounts if the leg odds differ across combinations Action Network on round-robin payouts. Also see a third-party explanation of round-robin payouts HardRock sportsbook guide.

Because operator systems price each parlay by multiplying leg odds, a winning sub-parlay built from shorter favorites will pay differently than a winning sub-parlay that includes longer underdogs. That means the overall return across your whole round robin depends on which specific sub-parlays win, not just how many of your individual selections win BetMGM explanation of parlay pricing and variance.

Settlement is independent: the sportsbook closes and scores each four-leg sub-parlay according to the event outcomes and rules for voided legs, pushes, and related settlement policies. If a leg is voided in one sub-parlay but not in another, the affected ticket prices and pays according to the operator's rules for reduced-leg parlays. Check the help center or settlement policy to understand how pushes and canceled events are handled on multi-ticket round robins TheLines guide to settlement details.

Practical implication: expected returns have higher variance when your selections have a mix of odds. If your choices are tightly clustered at similar prices, payouts across the generated four-leg tickets will be more consistent. If odds diverge across legs, some winning sub-parlays might produce modest returns while others produce larger returns, and your total outcome will be the sum of the independent results.

Estimate total stake and basic ticket math for a round-robin

Use this to preview stake totals

Use a round robin calculator or the sportsbook preview to rehearse how different outcomes change your returns. That lets you see how many sub-parlays would win under each scenario and what partial wins would pay without committing real stake. Operator preview tools and independent calculators are useful because they show the independent settlement behavior and the payout dispersion across tickets Action Network examples of payout variance.

When to use a 'by 4s' round robin: decision criteria

First, check whether the increased total outlay fits your bankroll. A "by 4s" round robin multiplies your per-parlay stake by the number of combinations, which raises total exposure compared with placing a single four-leg parlay or several single bets. Always compute total cost before you submit the ticket BetMGM on cost and stake sizing.

Second, consider correlation between selections. If many of your legs are tightly correlated, the diversification benefit of separate four-leg sub-parlays shrinks because correlated outcomes tend to move together. In that case you may pay more for limited protection. Industry guidance warns that adding correlated legs reduces the risk-mitigation value of round robins, so review correlation when building the set Action Network notes on correlation.

Third, weigh the protection versus cost trade-off. Round robins can produce partial wins when some but not all picks hit, which is useful for players who prefer steady, smaller payouts over binary outcomes. But that protection costs money: you are buying multiple tickets. If your goal is a single large payout and you accept all-or-nothing risk, a single parlay may be more efficient from a stake perspective.

Practical checkpoints before choosing by size: ensure your bankroll covers the total ticket cost at your desired per-parlay stake, review whether your selections are independent enough to justify separate sub-parlays, and preview the payout dispersion if your operator provides that feature. Operator help pages commonly list these considerations when explaining round-robin options DraftKings help on choosing a round-robin.

Common mistakes and how to avoid them

A frequent error is underestimating total cost by not multiplying the stake per parlay by the number of combinations. If you pick five teams and choose "by 4s," remember the sportsbook will produce five tickets and you must pay the stake on each TheLines note on total cost.

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Another common misstep is adding many correlated selections without recognizing the effect on diversification. Correlated legs reduce the benefit of the round-robin structure and can make the extra expense less valuable. Verify correlations conceptually: if results tend to move together, the round robin provides less protection than you might expect Covers on correlation and value.

Also watch for misreading the betslip: some operators show per-parlay stake prominently while others highlight total cost. Mistaking "x5" for a payout multiplier rather than the number of sub-parlays is another source of surprise. Always double-check the combination count, the stake field, and the preview payout display if available DraftKings help on betslip reading.

Quick verification steps: compute C(n,k) for your picks and confirm the slip shows the same combination count, multiply your intended per-parlay stake by the combination count to verify total cost, and use a round robin calculator or the operator preview to confirm expected partial payouts. These simple checks catch the majority of common mistakes.

Scenario: you have five picks and choose a "by 4s" round robin. Conceptually, the sportsbook will make every possible group of four out of your five picks, and that produces five separate four-leg parlays. You do not need to build each ticket by hand; the book generates them and displays the generated set for you to review Covers examples of generated combinations.

Cost check: pick a stake per sub-parlay you are comfortable with, for example a small amount that does not strain your bankroll. Multiply that per-parlay stake by five, the number of generated tickets, and that is your total stake. If you see a different total on your betslip, pause and confirm which amount is shown, because operator interfaces differ in how they present per-parlay and total values BetMGM on checking total cost. For practice setups and examples, see our blog Funded Plays blog.

Interpreting mixed results: if some of your four-leg sub-parlays win and others lose, your account will be credited only for the winning sub-parlays. Because each sub-parlay pays according to the product of its leg odds, you might see a mix of small and larger returns depending on which combinations hit. The final net result equals the sum of payouts from winning sub-parlays minus the total stake across all generated tickets Action Network on mixed-results interpretation.

Minimalist 2D vector of five four leg tickets fanned from a central set of five selections on dark Funded Plays palette how does round robin work fanduel

Replication tip: if you want to practice, use a free round robin calculator or the sportsbook preview to enter your picks and stake per parlay. That lets you see the five generated tickets for a five-pick, by-4s example, plus the total cost and estimated payouts under different win-loss scenarios without risking real funds. This rehearsal is an efficient way to learn how the structure behaves on your chosen operator. You can also read about how our evaluations work here and visit the Funded Plays homepage Funded Plays for general information.

Conclusion and next steps

Practice with the Funded Plays Challenges preview to rehearse ticket math

Before you submit a multi-parlay ticket, double-check the combination count, confirm whether the displayed amount is per-parlay or total cost, and preview estimated payouts when the operator offers that feature.

Open Funded Plays Challenges

To recap: "by 4s x5" means the sportsbook generated five distinct four-leg parlays from your set of picks. Each four-leg sub-parlay pays only if all four legs in that ticket win, the total cost equals your chosen stake per parlay multiplied by the five combinations, and payouts vary because each sub-parlay is priced independently by multiplying its leg odds Action Network summary of round-robin mechanics.

Next steps you can take now: compute C(n,k) for your pick set to confirm the combination count, use a round robin calculator or the sportsbook preview to rehearse payouts, and adjust your per-parlay stake so the total cost fits your bankroll and objectives. These steps help you place round-robin tickets with clearer expectations and fewer surprises BetMGM on preparing round-robin tickets.

Responsible note: round-robin structures change how risk is distributed but do not eliminate risk. Manage stake sizing, confirm operator settlement rules for pushes and voided legs, and treat round-robins as a tool to match your risk tolerance and goals rather than a way to guarantee returns.

What does the 'by' size mean in a round-robin bet?

The 'by' size is the number of legs in each sub-parlay the sportsbook generates. For example, 'by 4s' creates four-leg parlays from your selection pool.

How is the number of sub-parlays calculated?

Use the combination formula n choose k, where n is your total picks and k is the by size; for five picks and by 4s, C(5,4)=5.

Does a round robin guarantee I will win some money?

No. Round robins can produce partial wins but they increase total stake and payouts depend on which specific sub-parlays win; there are no guarantees.

Check the betslip preview and operator help before committing funds. Use a round-robin calculator or preview tool to rehearse outcomes, and size stakes so the total ticket cost fits your bankroll and objectives.