NFL parlay betting has its own vocabulary, and misreading even one term — "push," "vig," "leg" — can cost real money. The definitions below cover every core concept a bettor encounters when building or settling a parlay ticket on any licensed US sportsbook.
What is a parlay (accumulator or multi-bet)?
A parlay is a single wager that links two or more individual bets into one ticket. Every selection must win for the ticket to pay out; one loss voids the entire bet. Because each winning leg's return rolls into the next, the potential payout is much larger than placing the same selections as separate straight bets. See how NFL parlays work with legs, odds compounding, and payouts explained for the full math.
What is a "leg"?
Each individual selection within a parlay is called a leg. A three-team parlay has three legs. Most licensed US sportsbooks allow anywhere from 2 to 12 or more legs on a single ticket, though the maximum varies by operator.
What does "push" mean on a parlay?
A push occurs when a leg's result lands exactly on the spread or total line — for example, a team favored by 3 wins by exactly 3. That leg is typically voided, and the parlay recalculates using the remaining legs, paying out at a reduced leg count rather than grading the entire ticket a loss.
What is vig (juice)?
The vig (short for vigorish, also called juice) is the sportsbook's built-in commission on each wager. Standard spreads and totals are priced at -110, which represents approximately 4.5% house edge per leg. Because each leg carries that margin, the edge compounds as legs are added — a 4-leg parlay of all -110 lines carries roughly 17% house edge versus 4.5% on a single straight bet. For a deeper breakdown, read about the NFL parlay house edge and how the book's margin compounds per leg.
What is a same-game parlay (SGP)?
A same-game parlay combines multiple bets drawn from a single NFL game into one ticket — for instance, a team moneyline plus an individual player prop from the same contest. Because the legs can be correlated (a big favorite winning outright may also push the total lower), sportsbooks reprice SGP odds downward relative to what a standard parlay calculator would show. Understand the pricing mechanics on the same-game parlay bets page covering NFL SGP pricing and odds.
What is a round-robin parlay?
A round-robin parlay covers every possible sub-parlay combination within a larger pool of selected teams. Choosing five teams and requesting 2-team round-robins generates ten separate 2-leg tickets, so a single team losing does not wipe out the entire stake. It costs more upfront but spreads risk across multiple tickets. Learn more about round-robin parlays and how they spread NFL parlay risk.
What is a teaser?
A teaser is a parlay variant in which the bettor moves point spreads or totals in their favor — commonly 6 points in NFL betting — in exchange for reduced payout odds. Six-point NFL teasers that cross the key numbers of 3 and 7 are generally considered the most mathematically favorable version of this bet type. The NFL teaser bets guide on moving the spread 6 points and key numbers covers when teasers make sense.
What is cash-out on a parlay?
The cash-out feature lets a bettor settle an open parlay before all legs have concluded, locking in a partial return. The sportsbook's offered value almost always underpays relative to the true in-flight value of the remaining legs — it is a convenience tool, not a neutral settlement mechanism. Use the NFL parlay calculator to estimate what a ticket's remaining legs are worth before accepting a cash-out figure.
What is a bonus bet (free bet)?
A bonus bet (sometimes called a free bet) is a non-withdrawable promotional credit used to place a wager. Only the winnings — not the original stake — are paid out in cash if the bet wins. Expiration periods typically run 7 to 30 days, and many offers carry minimum odds thresholds per leg. Review current offers on the NFL parlay sportsbook promos page covering bonus bets and parlay insurance.
What is a moneyline, point spread, and total?
- Moneyline
- A bet on which team wins outright with no point spread applied. Odds reflect the implied probability of each outcome.
- Point Spread
- A handicap assigned to the favorite requiring them to win by more than the spread for spread bettors to cash; underdog bettors win if their team loses by less than the spread or wins outright.
- Total (Over/Under)
- A bet on whether the combined score of both teams will exceed or fall short of a line set by the sportsbook.
Any of these bet types can serve as a leg in an NFL parlay. For answers to common questions about pushes, legality, and bonus rules, visit the NFL parlay bets FAQ. Must be 21+ to wager in most states (18+ in select states including Kentucky and Wyoming). Gambling problem? Call 1-800-GAMBLER.
For state-by-state age requirements, LegalClarity's breakdown of US parlay betting age rules is a useful reference. Responsible gambling ratings for licensed operators are available through RG.org's legal sports betting state guide.