While it is an uncommon type of wager, pleaser bets are interesting and unique because they combine elements of both parlay and point spread betting. If you understand what a teaser bet is, you can think of a pleaser bet as a variation of a teaser bet — it just works in the opposite direction. Instead of adjusting the point spread in favor of the bettor like in a teaser bet, bettors are required to give up points on the point spread or total.
Like a parlay bet, a pleaser bet will only pay out if every leg of the bet is successful. Therefore, a pleaser bet requires multiple selections on a single ticket, just like a parlay. The key difference however is that the point spread is now adjusted against the bettor’s favor. That means the odds are even more against you and it’s much more difficult to successfully win a pleaser bet. The increased risk however, comes with an increased potential payout.
What is an example of a pleaser bet?
Before we discuss more about pleaser bets, it’s worth taking the time to give an example to better illustrate how they work. Let’s say you want to place a two-team, six-point pleaser bet using these two games:
Game 1:
New York Giants (+4) vs. Dallas Cowboys (-4)
Game 2:
San Francisco 49ers (-7) vs. Arizona Cardinals (+7)
In these games, the Giants and Cardinals are underdogs, while the Cowboys and 49ers are favorites. If you decide to place a two-team, six-point pleaser bet involving the Cowboys and the 49ers, the point spread will be adjusted against your favor by six points. Let’s take a look at the adjusted point spreads:
- Dallas Cowboys (-10)
- San Francisco 49ers (-13)
That means the Cowboys are now 10-point favorites and the 49ers are 13-point favorites. In order for you to win the pleaser bet, both teams must cover their new spreads. That means the Cowboys need to win by more than 10 points and the 49ers need to win by more than 13 points. If either team fails to cover the spread, the pleaser bet is lost.
What is the payout for a pleaser bet?
The payout for a pleaser bet will depend on the number of teams involved and the sportsbook or online betting site you are using. Some sportsbooks will offer slightly different odds than others, so it’s always worth shopping around if you’re interested in wagering a pleaser bet. But here are some hypothetical payouts for pleaser bets:
- Two-team pleaser bet: 6:1 to 8:1
- Three-team pleaser bet: 18:1 to 25:1
- Four-team pleaser bet: 40:1 to 60:1
- Five-team pleaser bet: 100:1 to 150:1
- Six-team pleaser bet: 200:1 to 300:1
Again, these are hypothetical payouts and should only be used as an example. But they should give you a good idea of how the higher payouts for pleaser bets. In the above example of a two-team pleaser bet, you would win anywhere from $600 to $800 in profit with a successful $100 bet if the payouts were between 6:1 to 8:1.
Are pleaser bets high risk?
Pleaser bets are considered high-risk wagers and are recommended for experienced bettors who understand the added risk. Since the adjusted spreads are not in your favor, pleaser bets are higher risk and require a lot of knowledge and understanding to mitigate that risk.
Can I combine pleaser bets with other types of bets?
Typically, pleaser bets are standalone wagers and cannot be combined with other types of bets.
What is the most common point adjustment for pleaser bets?
When placing pleaser bets, you’ll most often find the point adjustment to be six points. Some sportsbooks and online betting sites will have other options, including 6.5 or seven-point pleasers. Again, you should always check various websites for the bets that cater to you.
What is a reverse pleaser bet?
If you’re considering placing a pleaser bet, you may also notice reverse pleaser bets or pleaser-ties-win bets as options. They are the same, and with this type of bet, a push on any of your selections results in a win for that part of the bet. In normal pleaser bets, a tie or push of any sort results in the entire bet being lost. Since it does lower the risk, they payouts for a reverse pleaser bet is typically lower than a standard pleaser bet.
Can I do pleaser bets on live betting?
While it isn’t impossible, pleaser bets are most commonly pre-game wagers. Since live betting markets are more dynamic and odds change in real-time based on how the game is progressing, pleaser bets during live betting can be challenging for sportsbooks and online betting sites. If you are really interested in placing a pleaser bet for live betting, check with your sportsbook of online betting site of choice.
Since pleaser bets are high-risk wagers, we’d like to remind you to never bet more than you can afford to lose. Conducting thorough research before placing a pleaser bet is extremely important, if you’d like to increase the odds of winning.