Sports betting odds: American, decimal and fractional
Betting odds are not the same all
over the world. Depending on where you 🏧 are, you will be presented with one of three
different formats. It’s always worth reminding yourself that the probability they 🏧 are
expressing is the same – and that you can convert from one to another quite easily. You
can compare 🏧 all three formats using our free online odds calculator.
American odds
Also
known as moneyline odds or US odds, it is always 🏧 displayed using a bet total ofR$100.
The odds for the favorite, which will have a minus sign (-) in front 🏧 of them, show the
amount you need to bet to winR$100. The odds for the underdog, which will carry a 🏧 plus
sign (+), show how much you will win if you betR$100 on your choice.
If the Kansas City
Chiefs are 🏧 the favorites to win, their odds might be -175, and you’ll have to betR$175
to winR$100 – a total return 🏧 ofR$275. Their opponents, the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, may be
priced at +145, and you’ll have to betR$100 to winR$145 – 🏧 a total return ofR$245.
©
Jayne Kamin-Oncea-USA TODAY Sports
Decimal odds
Decimal odds are used in many parts of
the world, including Europe, 🏧 Australia and New Zealand. The main thing to remember when
you see decimal odds is that they include the stake 🏧 that will be returned to you. This
is not the case with American or fractional odds.
If you look at the 🏧 market for a major
European horse race and the favorite is priced at 3.50, that means if you stakeR$100
you 🏧 will winR$350. Decimal odds may look unfamiliar to you at first but it doesn’t take
long to be comfortable with 🏧 them.
Fractional odds
Fractional odds are distinctly
old-school and are used in the United Kingdom and Ireland. The best way to understand
🏧 them is to add the numbers either side of the dash together. Once you’ve done that, the
number on the 🏧 right of the slash is how often out of that total a certain event should
happen.
If a competitor is 1/5, 🏧 that means out of every six times the event occurs they
should win five times – so they are a 🏧 heavy favorite. Taken literally, this means, for
everyR$5 you bet, you’ll getR$1 in return. If they are 10/1, they should 🏧 win once every
11 times – so there is less chance it will happen. Which means, for everyR$1 you bet,
🏧 you’ll getR$10 in return.
To calculate your winnings, divide your stake by the number
on the right and multiply the result 🏧 by the number on the left.
© Kareem Elgazzar/The
Enquirer / USA TODAY NETWORK
