When the NBA gambling scandal emerged last month and several players along with a coach were taken into custody, it underscored the widespread culture surrounding sports betting.

Chicago Bulls center Nikola Vucevic pointed out a particular type of wager as representative of a larger, potentially detrimental trend — the parlay.

This bet, a multi-part wager that pays out only when a bettor successfully predicts a sequence of outcomes, is promoted as an enjoyable way for sports aficionados to leverage their extensive knowledge of players and teams.

For example, a parlay might involve the defending NBA champions Oklahoma City Thunder winning their match, a certain over/under on that game, a point spread, and the all-star guard/forward Jalen Williams scoring at least 10 points upon his return from injury.

This might seem entertaining, but some bettors risk a significant amount on their parlays. Despite generally low stakes and high odds, desperate bettors may resort to them to recuperate losses. As gamblers can place parlay bets amidst a live sporting event, some make several bets in rapid succession.

Experts in gambling psychology indicate that parlays can be particularly hazardous. Bettors who think their in-depth sports knowledge offers them an advantage are not discouraged by, or do not fully grasp, the odds. Instead, they picture improbable scenarios.

They frequently keep betting, especially during a live match, sometimes encouraged by notifications from their favored betting app. Emotions soar and optimism remains.

“In those scenarios, sports betting becomes akin to slot machines, where you can instantly place another bet just by pressing a button,” states Brad Humphreys, an economics professor at West Virginia University.

Vucevic recognizes how seriously some individuals regard parlays, as they communicate this to him.

“As players, we sense it when we enter the court,” Vucevic stated, according to K.C. Johnson from the Chicago Sports Network. “Before, you would hear, ‘Hey, Vooch, get a win.’ Now it’s more like, ‘Hey, my parlay needs 10 rebounds.'”

Don’t anticipate a big win with a parlay

Humphreys sees why parlay wagers attract both bettors and the online sports betting sector.

Parlays have been around for years, notably in horse racing. However, online sports betting applications have made parlays popular among mainstream sports enthusiasts. They frequently incorporate prop bets, or bets on an individual’s or team’s performance. The allure of multiple bets all succeeding in the same game, or across various games, can be enticing.

However, accomplishing this becomes increasingly difficult with each added leg. This is why they are profitable for gambling operators: Betting on a parlay can resemble purchasing a lottery ticket in terms of odds. The house is nearly guaranteed to win, but not without first providing a $1,000 payout for a $1 wager.

Joe Maloney, senior vice president of strategic communications for the American Gaming Association, which represents industry entities like DraftKings and FanDuel, notes that the allure of the parlay arises from an American tradition of supporting superstars as a means of fandom.

Furthermore, some sports enthusiasts feel “empowered” by their understanding of how a favorite player performs or how a specific game unfolds and place bets accordingly, states Maloney.

Nonetheless, Maloney stresses that parlay betting should not be seen as a “wealth creation or investment vehicle.”

Instead, consumers ought to view the parlay as a form of entertainment. Maloney also advises that consumers take advantage of chances to grasp how parlay odds function. The American Gaming Association maintains two websites designed for consumer education initiatives, Have A Game Plan and Play Smart From The Start.

Even former NBA star Charles Barkley, who collaborated with FanDuel