Online betting has obviously changed the landscape of sports wagering over the last few decades. While much of the broad mechanics of placing a bet remain the same as they do when placing a bet in-person, tech has also changed the experience. Elements like live betting, live statistical feeds, and live streaming are all aspects that you wouldn’t usually find offline. In recent years, though, SGPs have become hugely popular and a key part of the online sports betting experience.
An SGP is a same game parlay, basically a combination of bets on a single event. For example, in NFL football betting, an SGP could consist of the game winner, the total number of points scored, the spread, and the prospect of a specific player scoring a touchdown. All of these outcomes are treated as separate legs of the bet, but all must be successful for the bet to win.
A complex equation to calculate the total odds
Some might think there’s nothing really groundbreaking about this idea; after all, parlays have been around since betting began, but it is a bit more than meets the eye. For instance, if Player A scores a touchdown, then Team A is more likely to win the game; thus, the two legs are not truly independent of each other. All of that must be factored into the algorithms to create the final odds.
There are a vast number of possibilities. DraftKings’ football betting platform, for instance, will have 100s of individual markets that influence the outcome of a single game, so you can appreciate the myriad of possibilities that can be built into an SGP. The algorithms work instantly to calculate the odds as you click.
SGPs have become a talking point on socials
Yet, the popularity of the SGPs has led to another – perhaps unforeseen – consequence of sports betting: they are really popular on social media. Betting tipsters and casual fans will often lay out their SGP picks for a big game on platforms like X and Reddit, laying out their thesis as such on how the game will go. It generates discussion, arguments, counter-theses, and you might argue it might drum up interest for the game in question.
Of course, you might also say that it can detract a little from the spectacle of the game itself. If you are busy counting rebounds in an NBA game, the action itself might pass you by. That said, it can keep you engaged right up to the final moments, no matter what way the game is going.
Always base your bet on stats
The best SGP strategies are rooted in statistics, which is something to keep in mind. Over-complex bets might seem fun, but the best way to approach them is to keep it simple and do some research before you add a leg. Props bets that are completely random – such as whether the game’s score will be an odd or even number – should be left aside. That’s what we mean about the social media aspect. There is a “show you work” quality to some of the tipsters’ posts, so it’s not just about picking legs for the sake of it.
In the end, SGPs are like any other sports bet. The combination of the legs can make it a bit more entertaining, and as we said, there is a community aspect to picking them on social media. But bear in mind that making them too complex can make them less fun, and more likely to use. And if it’s distracting you from the game itself, best to leave it for another time.