Same Game Parlay (SGP) Explained: How to Build Winning Bet Builders in Canada

Same Game Parlays, more commonly known as SGPs or bet builders, dominate Canadian sportsbook promotions with odds that look too good to pass up. Combine three or four bets from one match, and a CA$10 wager suddenly pays CA$150. But behind those flashy payouts sits complex pricing that makes SGPs some of the hardest bets to win consistently. 

This guide breaks down how SGPs actually work at Canadian sportsbooks like TonyBet, where the hidden costs sit, and how to build smarter bet builders.

What Is a Same Game Parlay (SGP)?

Before getting into strategy, it’s important to understand what a same game parlay is and how it differs from other multi-bet formats. This is where many Canadian bettors go wrong.

Definition of SGP / Bet Builder

A same game parlay allows you to combine two or more selections from a single sporting event into one bet. Every selection must win for the SGP to pay out. If one leg loses, the entire bet is settled as a loss.

For a Vancouver Whitecaps match, a soccer bet builder might include:

• Whitecaps to win
• Over 2.5 goals
• Brian White to score

In Canada, bet builders have become a core sportsbook feature, especially across hockey, basketball, and MLS markets, where combining outcomes from one match is now the norm rather than the exception. Many bettors are drawn to them because of the high-risk, high-reward trade-off they offer.

How SGP Differs from Traditional Parlays

Traditional parlays usually combine bets from different matches. With SGPs, all selections come from the same game, which changes how odds are calculated.

Instead of multiplying odds together, sportsbooks adjust pricing using correlation models. If two outcomes influence each other, like a team winning and scoring multiple goals, the combined odds are reduced. This adjustment protects sportsbooks from inflated payouts tied to predictable match scenarios.

How SGPs Work in Canadian Sportsbooks

Now that SGPs are legal and widely available in Canada, most sportsbooks follow similar structural rules, with differences usually hidden in the fine print.

Here are some of the key factors that shape how SGPs are priced, combined, and settled:

• Odds and correlation: Canadian sportsbooks price SGPs using internal analytics that account for correlation, because outcomes within a single game influence each other. When two bets are connected, the result of one can make the other more or less likely to win, so sportsbooks adjust the combined odds instead of treating selections as independent.
• Maximum legs: Most sportsbooks allow between three and six selections in a same game parlay. However, adding more legs increases overall risk and bookmaker margin faster than it improves the potential payout.
• Market availability: Not all markets can be combined in an SGP. Sportsbooks often restrict certain player props, niche stats, or closely linked outcomes to control risk and prevent overly dependent combinations.
• Settlement and void rules: If one selection in an SGP is voided due to a player not starting, a match being postponed, or a market being cancelled, sportsbooks may recalculate the odds or void the entire bet. The exact handling depends on the bookmaker’s rules.
• Cash-out eligibility: Cash-out is not guaranteed on SGPs. Some sportsbooks disable cash-out entirely, while others offer partial cash-out only if specific legs have already settled. Availability can also change during live play.

Types of Bets to Include in an SGP

A good bet builder starts with understanding which market types fit together naturally. Not all bets work well inside an SGP. Below are some of the markets that are most commonly used in SGPs.

Match Outcome

Match result markets often act as the foundation:

• Home win
• Away win
• Draw market (Note: NHL and NBA don’t offer draw markets, while MLS matches include the draw option)

Many bettors use match outcome prediction as the anchor that shapes the rest of the parlay.

Over/Under Goals or Points

Totals markets help define the expected flow of the game: 

• Over or under 2.5 goals
• Over or under total points

These bets influence, and are influenced by, most other selections in the SGP.

Player Props

Player props increase payout potential but add volatility:

• Goals or assists
• Shots or shots on target
• Points, rebounds, or passing yards

Player involvement can shift quickly due to substitutions, tactics, or injuries.

Team Props or Special Markets

These include:

• Team to score first
• Corners or cards
• Power plays or clean sheets

They work best when they clearly align with the overall match scenario.

Strategies to Build a Winning SGP

SGPs reward structure and discipline far more than creativity. The goal isn’t to stack as many legs as possible; it’s to build a coherent scenario.

Choosing Correlated Markets Wisely

Correlation on its own is not a problem. Issues start when too many selections depend on the same outcome. If you back the Toronto Raptors as heavy favourites against a weak opponent, combining the following markets usually follows a straightforward match narrative:

• Raptors to win
• Raptors over team total points
• Opponent under team total points

These selections support the same game scenario rather than competing with each other. Problems arise when bettors stack multiple outcomes that hinge on one specific event, such as an early red card or a single goal.

The sequencing of your legs also matters. Start with your highest-confidence assessment, then add supporting legs that follow the same dynamics.

According to SportsMemo, sportsbooks actively reduce payouts on tightly correlated SGPs, which lowers long-term returns even when the logic behind the bet seems sound.

Limiting Legs to Maintain Value

This is where most bettors slip up. Each added leg increases variance, compounds vig, and lowers the overall chance of the bet landing. While the payout grows on paper, the risk-adjusted return often moves in the opposite direction.

OddsShark explains that parlay probability drops quickly as legs are added. For example, even a simple two-leg parlay made up of common -110 odds has an implied chance of winning of roughly 27%, before additional margin is applied.

Using Key Events to Anchor the Parlay

An anchor event is the outcome you trust most. Examples include:

• A clear match winner
• A strong over/under angle
• A pace-driven game script

Every other leg should support that anchor. If it doesn’t, it weakens the structure.

Hedging and Partial Cash-Out Options

Some Canadian sportsbooks allow:

• Partial cash-out
• Live hedging on individual markets

These tools can help reduce risk when early legs land and the match takes an unexpected turn.

Risk Factors and Common Pitfalls

Even well-built SGPs carry structural risks. Understanding patterns in losing bets helps with optimisation and improves consistency over time.

Over-Correlation

Stacking outcomes that depend on the same single moment, such as a red card, an early goal, or an injury, exposes the entire ticket to one point of failure.

For example, a Maple Leafs SGP combining the Leafs to win + Auston Matthews to score + Over 6.5 goals collapses if Matthews is injured in the first period. One event flips multiple legs at once, even though the bet looked well structured before kickoff. Sportsbooks are very efficient at pricing this type of risk.

Juice & Vig on Bet Builder Markets

Every market includes sports bet vig, and in SGPs, that margin compounds. The larger the bet builder, the more hidden juice is baked into the odds. 

For example, a single bet priced at -110 already includes the bookmaker’s built-in margin. When two or three of those markets are combined in the same game parlay, each layer of vig stacks on top of the next. While the payout increases on paper, the true chance of winning does not improve at the same rate, eroding expected value as more legs are added.

Cancellation and Line Movement Risk

SGPs are sensitive to:

• Player withdrawals
• Match postponements
• Market void rules

Some sportsbooks recalculate odds if a leg is voided. Others cancel the entire bet.

Bookmaker-Specific Rules

SGP rules vary by operator, including max bet limits, cash-out eligibility, and how margins are applied to different markets. These details can change both the payout and how a bet is settled, so they are worth paying attention to.

Calculating and Managing SGP Risk

Because SGPs are high-variance by nature, managing exposure matters more than chasing payout size.

Estimating Parlay Payout and Probability

One way to keep SGP risk in check is by using the same game parlay calculators before placing a bet. Tools from platforms like ActionNetwork, OddsJam, and OddsShark allow bettors to preview potential payouts and see how quickly returns change as legs are added.

While these calculators do not capture every pricing adjustment used by sportsbooks, they help with precision in understanding true win metrics and expected value trends. 

How SGP Probability Decays:

Note: These calculations show independent outcomes. Actual SGP odds are lower due to correlation adjustments.

Using Staking Strategy for High-Variance Bets

Most experienced bettors use evaluation and performance monitoring to treat SGPs as small-stakes, high-variance wagers that are mainly used for entertainment rather than as part of a core bankroll strategy.

When (and Whether) to Use Cash-Out

Cash-out can make sense once the anchor event has already landed and the remaining legs carry higher volatility, especially if the game’s flow shifts in an unexpected direction. 

In these situations, cashing out offers a way to reduce exposure, although the settlement price is usually discounted relative to letting the bet run.

Responsible Gambling

Same game parlays aren’t shortcuts. They’re structured scenario bets. Built carefully, they can be engaging. Built carelessly, they quietly drain bankrolls. That makes discipline and strategy all the more crucial. Play responsibly by setting limits, tracking results, and always treating SGPs as high-risk bets.

Be sure to check out the support resources offered by the Responsible Gambling Council if you or someone close to you is affected by gambling harm.