Put 100 players into a $10 double up and the site collects $1,000. In a made up but typical setup, the top 44 finish with $20 each and everyone else gets nothing. The missing $120 is the rake.
Every multiplier contest works this way. The prize is fixed at a multiple of your entry fee, and the site pays as many players as the prize pool allows. Double ups pay 2x. Triple ups pay 3x. Then come 5x and 10x contests, which pay fewer players more money.
The payout math
The table below uses a made up field of 100 players at $10 each, with rake taking about 10 to 12 percent.
| Contest (example) | Prize per winner | Winners out of 100 | Win rate to break even |
|---|---|---|---|
| Double up | $20 | 44 | 50 percent |
| Triple up | $30 | 30 | 33 percent |
| 5x | $50 | 18 | 20 percent |
| 10x | $100 | 9 | 10 percent |
Two numbers matter in each row. The share of the field that gets paid tells you how good your lineup has to be on a given night. The break even win rate tells you how often you need to cash over the long run.
That second number depends only on the multiplier. If a contest pays 3x, you need to cash about one time in three to break even, no matter how big the field is. Rake decides how many players get paid, and the rake guide explains why that cut matters so much in these formats.
Double ups
You need to beat a bit more than half the field. This is cash game territory, so build for a high floor.
- Favor players with steady roles and clear workloads.
- Popular value plays are usually fine. If most of the field has the same cheap starter, fading him only adds risk.
- Skip the risky punt plays that need a perfect night.
Double ups work especially well in sports with predictable roles, like basketball, where minutes drive most of the scoring. A double up lineup should look a little boring. That is the point.
Triple ups
Now you need roughly the top 30 percent. A pure floor lineup can fall short on a slate with several big scores. Keep the core steady, then add one or two spots with more upside, such as a receiver in a likely shootout or a small hitter stack in baseball. You are still playing for safety, just with a bit more ambition.
5x and 10x contests
These play more like small tournaments. To finish in the top 10 to 20 percent, you usually need a couple of players to have huge games. Stacking helps, because it bunches your upside together. Ownership starts to matter too, since a lineup full of the most popular players will look like dozens of others. Playing Against the Chalk covers how to stand out without going overboard.
Same lineups, different results
Say your lineups are good but not great. Over a season, in this made up example, they cash in 55 percent of double ups and 30 percent of triple ups.
- Double ups. Each $10 entry returns an average of $11 (55 percent of $20). That is a 10 percent profit.
- Triple ups. Each $10 entry returns an average of $9 (30 percent of $30). That is a 10 percent loss.
Same player, same skill, opposite results. Your lineup style simply fits one format better than the other. Tracking your cash rate in each contest type, even in a simple notebook, shows you where your edge actually lives.
Choosing your format
If you are newer, double ups and head to heads are the gentlest place to start. They reward solid fundamentals, and the swings are smaller. Triple ups suit players who want a little more reward and can handle more losing nights. The 5x and 10x contests suit players who like tournament builds but want better odds than a giant field offers.
Whatever you pick, size your entries to your bankroll. Managing Your Fantasy Bankroll has simple guidelines, and Every Contest Type Explained shows where multipliers fit among all the formats.