Betting Odds Explained
If you’re new to the world of sports betting, one of the first things you’ll need to do is figure out how betting odds work. At a quick glance, betting odds can be quite intimidating to first-time bettors, and you may find yourself asking “how do betting odds work?” That’s where Compare.bet can help; we’ve taken it back to the basics to explain betting odds and how they work.
What are the Different Types of Betting Odds?
The first step to understanding betting odds is appreciating what they do. Betting odds simply indicate the likelihood of an event and the return you’d get if you did make a wager on the result. Betting odds may be displayed in three different formats at US sportsbooks and online and mobile sports betting platforms: American odds, fractional odds and decimal odds. Different formats don’t mean different odds; it’s simply a different way of presenting them. This isn’t as complicated as it might sound and, by the time you’ve read our guide to betting odds, you’ll be an expert.
American Odds
You’re most likely to come across American odds when you’re betting at American sports betting sites. This odds expression indicates a bettor’s return relative to a base figure of 100 units. American odds start with either a positive or negative sign (e.g. -200 or +200). A minus sign indicates a bookie’s favorite to win while a plus symbol indicates an underdog. A -250 favorite has a better chance of winning an event than a -150 favorite, while a +200 underdog has a better chance of winning than a +500 underdog.
Let’s consider a real-world example to understand how American odds work in action:
In an NFL game between the Chargers and the Patriots, a sportsbook sets odds of +170 for the Chargers to win. This means a $100 bet would net you $270 if they did win- that’s a profit of $170. However, if you were to make a successful bet on the Patriots winning, at odds of -190, your $100 would see a return of $152.65- a more modest, $52.65 profit.
When it comes to calculating the return from a bet made using American odds there are two different formulas that can be used:
- Calculating negative odds: (100/Odds) x Stake = Profit
- Using the example above: (100/190) x $100 = $52.65
- Calculating positive odds: Odds x (Stake/100) = Profit
- Using the example above: 170 x ($100/100) = $170
When looking at American odds, it’s important to remember that the results of some matches have a points spread attached to them. This applies to a variety of sports including NBA, NHL, NFL and MLB games.
When a point spread is attached to a set of odds it means that for the bet to be successful the team must ‘cover the spread’. This means that the team you are betting on must win or not lose by a predetermined margin of points.
For example, the Chargers could have odds of (+4) -110 to win. The (+4) indicates the point spread, meaning the Chargers would need to win by 4 points for the bet to be successful. This shows that, even though a team may be a sportsbook’s favorite, the final score must cover the point spread for a bet to be successful.
Fractional Odds
Displaying odds in a fractional format is more common in overseas markets, such as the UK, than at US online sportsbooks, but it’s useful to understand them nonetheless. Fractional odds are some of the most simple to understand, as they present your potential winnings as a fraction of the money you stake: while the denominator represents the amount bet, the numerator is the amount your stake will yield in a winning bet.
For example, odds of 1/1 mean you’d get a return of $20 for a winning $10 bet. Want a real-life example? Making a $10 winning bet on an NBA game priced at 5/1, would net you $60 in total.
You can use the following formula to calculate potential returns with fractional odds:
- ((Stake/ denominator) x numerator) + stake = return
- For example: (10 x 5) + 10 = 60
Decimal Odds
The decimal odds format, also known as European odds, represents the multiple of your stake that you will get back for winning a bet. While these are more common at overseas betting exchanges, you may see these at US betting sites. For example, betting on a market priced at 2.5 means you would win two and a half times your stake if your bet were to win. This means you’d win $2.50 for every $1 you wager.
Another example of decimal odds in action would be betting on NHL game with odds of 9.0. A $10 stake on odds of 9.0 would earn a total payout of $90 with $80 being won from the sportsbook and your initial $10 stake being returned.
You can use the following formula to calculate potential returns with decimal odds:
- Calculating total payout: Odds x Stake = total payout e.g. 9.0 x $10 = $90
- To calculate profit: (Odds x Stake) – Stake = profit e.g. (9.0 x $10) – $10 =$80
Comparing Different Types of Odds
Whichever format odds are written in, they all have an equivalent in another format. While some sites, such as William Hill’s Jersey sportsbook, allow bettors to change odds formats, it is useful to understand how to calculate odds between formats. Not only will this help you understand your potential return, but it also makes it easier to compare betting odds across sportsbooks.
Fractional Odds To:
| Decimal |
American |
| (numerator/denominator) + 1 = decimal odds |
Convert fraction to decimal x 100 =American odds |
| (11/4) + 1 = 3.75 |
(11/4) x 100 = 2.75 x 100 = 275 |
Decimal Odds To:
| Fractional |
American |
| (decimal odds-1) and round to nearest integer = fractional odds |
(decimal – 1) x 100 = American odds |
| (3.75-1=2.75) = 2.75/1 or 11/4 |
(3.75 – 1) x 100 = 275 |
Positive American Odds To:
| Decmial |
Fractional |
| (American odds/100) +1 = decimal odds |
(American odds/100) then reduce to its simplest form |
| (275/100) + 1 = 3.75 |
(275/100 = 2.75) = 2.75/1 or 11/4 |
Negative American Odds To:
| Decimal |
Fractional |
| (100/ American odds) + 1 = decimal odds |
(100/american odds) then reduce to its simplest form |
| (100/275) + 1 = 1.36 |
(100/275 = 0.36) = 4/11 |
Understanding the Markets Betting Odds Apply To
We’ve explained betting odds, but what markets are these set on? As the US sports betting industry continues to grow, so does the selection betting options, or betting markets, at each site. Odds will vary between these markets, and even between the same markets at different sports betting sites. Not quite sure what every US sports betting market means? These are the most popular:
Straight Bet
A straight bet is a single bet on the outcome of a game or sporting event that is determined by a money line or point spread.
Futures
A futures wager is a bet placed on the outcome of an event in the future. For instance, you can place a wager on the winners of the NFL season which doesn’t even begin until next year
Parlay
A parlay wager is a single bet that is linked with two or more wagers. In order to win a parlay bet, a bettor must win every wager in the parlay. If a bettor loses one wager in the parlay then they will lose the entire parlay bet. Parlay bets tend to have much higher odds than other bet types.
Teaser
Teaser bets are usually available for basketball and football events. A teaser allows bettors to combine their bets on two different games and adjust the point spreads for the two games. However, the better will see a lower return in the event that their teams win.
Round Robin
A round robin is essentially a series of parlay bets. For instance, a round robin made up of three teams will consist of three two-team parlay bets.
Propositions
Propositions bets are sometimes referred to as “prop” bets. These bets focus more on the outcome of a certain event happening during a sports game such as “which team will score the first touchdown?” or “how many field goals will team x score?”
It’s up to you to compare betting odds and pick your betting market. If you’re new to sports betting, we’d recommend sticking to ‘safer’ bets with lower odds until you get to grips with how it works exactly.
While gambling odds can vary between US sports betting sites, you should now be equipped with the knowledge and know how to start betting and find the best odds on the US sports betting market. Not sure where to bet? Compare.bet US has the latest on the best legal sportsbooks in your state.
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How to Make the Most of Betting Odds
Once you’ve got to grips with how to read betting odds, you will then want to apply your knowledge to your sport of choice. But making the right decision can be harder than it seems. So if you’re unsure on where to start, check out our top betting tips.
Check Out the Stats
Modern-day sport is dominated by statistical analysis and we are incredibly lucky to live in an age where access to that information is very easy. It is therefore simple to look up important figures such as the number of goals per game a soccer player is scoring, the number of passing yards a quarterback has made or even the number of blocks per game a player is making in the NBA. Understanding these figures and their impact on individual games can help you make an informed decision when placing your bet.
Follow Comments in the Media
A good way to understand the mindset of the players and coaches before any event is to follow their comments in the media. These will give you an insight into their approach a game, who they may select to start and whether there are any external factors that will affect the outcome.
Understand Form
Last season’s MVP may have scored a record number of points, or even recorded the highest number of assists all season, but that counts for nothing if they’re not performing well this term. So if you’re thinking of placing a bet on any individual player, make sure to research how their season has fared up to this point.
Understanding Odds for Real
Now that you’ve got to grips with the basics of how to read odds, what markets they apply to and how to make the best gambling decisions, you should be ready to try out your knowledge for real. To find the best betting sites available in the US, check out our list of top sportsbooks currently operating.
Your Questions Answered
Yes, there is. If you want a fast and convenient way to convert European odds into American, for example, then you can check out of odds converter page. Here we offer a dedicated odds conversion tool that allows you to see the value of any odds in Fractional, Decimal and American format, as well as the implied probability.
There is no one betting site that offers objectively the best odds. Your best option is to review the odds of several other bookies to see where you can find the best deal.
No one sport offers the best odds. Each sport, from football to baseball to soccer to hockey and beyond, are all played at completely different speeds, which has an impact on how odds fluctuate. The match result odds on high scoring games like basketball, for example, will likely fluctuate wildly throughout the game, while the same market for low scoring events such as soccer will be more stable.
