4 1 In Decimal Odds
Decimal - 1 divided by the decimal odds, multiplied by 100 to give a percentage e.g. Decimal odds of 2 = (1/2). 100 = 50%.; Fraction - 1 divided by (the fractional odds plus 1), multiplied by 100 to give a percentage. Fractional odds of 3/1 = (1 / ((3/1) + 1)). 100 = 25%.; American: Positive odds - 100 divided by (the american odds plus 100), multiplied by 100 to give a percentage e.g. Decimal Odds Versus Fractional Odds. As an example, with odds of 4/1, for every £1 you bet, you will win £4. There is a 20% chance of this happening, calculated. The most common odds format for European bookmakers is decimal, where a price such as 4.00 represents the equivalent of the 3/1 fractional price. In decimal prices, the returned stake in a successful bet is included the odds.
Decimal odds are the most common way online bookmakers present their odds to customers. Decimal odds are often called European odds, as they are most commonly used by sports bettors in Europe, Australia, and Canada. They are simple to understand, making them a favorite across the world for bookmakers and sports bettors.
Understanding Decimal Odds
Decimal odds take two seconds to calculate, they are simply your stake multiplied by the odds, which then equals your payout. A simple formula for decimal odds is:
Your Stake x Odds = Payout
Let’s look at a few examples.
Say you are backing Manchester United and Man U’s decimal odds to win are 1.82, if you wagered $100 your potential return on your bet would be $182. Remember that this counts your original stake of 100 dollars, so your net profit on a winning bet would be $82. The math looks like this:
Original Bet 100 x Decimal Odds 1.82 = Your Potential Winnings $182
Your potential net profit is $82, a stake of $100 and $82 in winnings. Let’s look at another example.
You are backing Tottenham, a big underdog in their match for $100 at 2.75 decimal odds. The math for your bet looks like this:
What Do The Odds 4/1 Mean
100 x 2.75 = 275
You are risking $100 to win $275 with the potential for a $175 net profit.
Just remember that when using decimal odds, your original stake is calculated into your potential winnings. When determining your potential net profit, always remember to account for your original stake.
The breakeven odds for decimal odds betting are 2.0, as these odds will simply double your stake. Decimal odds below 2.0 are less than even money odds, the potential return will be less than your stake. Odds above 2.0 will be plus odds, meaning your potential return will be more than your stake.
Decimal odds are also the most economical way to bet parlays, because the true odds will be calculated. Unlike traditional parlays which are calculated by the number of teams, parlays bets placed with decimal odds with give sports bettors the fairest and most accurate odds, maximizing their edge, so keep this in mind when using the best betting sites.
Conclusion
Decimal odds are the most widely used odds across continental Europe and continue to spread to other parts of the world. It is imperative for the modern day sports bettor to understand decimal odds, as they are used at many online books and betting exchanges.
Ready For More?
Bookies from around the world use different odds formats and this can be quite confusing. The United States and Canada use American Odds, also called Moneyline Odds. In Europe most countries use Decimal Odds, also called European Odds, except for the UK which uses Fractional Odds. In Asia there are several different odds formats; the majors being Hong Kong Odds, Indonesian Odds and Malay Odds. The good news is that no matter what the odds format, the payout for amount staked remains the same. I’ll explain more, but first note:
What is Implied Probability?
Implied Probability is how often a bet needs to win on average to break even over the long haul. When betting at even money, if we win half our bets and loses half our bets we’d net even. Therefore the implied probability at even money is 50%. If a bookie was giving us 2-to-1 and we lose twice and win once we’re even. Therefore at 2-to-1 the implied probability is 33.33%. This is the most important fundamental concept in sports betting. All wagers, no matter what the odds format, have an implied probability. A smart player calculates the chances a team is going to win (actual probability), then examines the implied probability offered by the bookmaker. If the implied probability the bookmaker is offering is less than his calculated actual probability he bets, if not he doesn’t bet.
Of course you can use our odds converter on this page to calculate the implied probability for any set of odds. However, when not having this page available it’s helpful to know the formula. That formula is risk/return=implied probability, where return is stake+win. For example betting $100 at 1/2 (American Odds: -200, Decimal Odds: 1.50) you’re risk $100 to win $50. In this case the return on a win is $150 (your $100 stake + $50 win), and the implied probability is $100 Stake / $150 Return = 66.66%.
Odds Formats Explained
Most all betting sites support multiple odds formats. Using either the account settings feature or a simple drop down box, you can change the format displayed. What happens here is the betting site’s software will convert the odds between formats keeping the same implied probability. Understand the payout on monetary amount risked is the same no matter what odds format is used. The difference between formats is more a language issue. Betting developed various places of the world independently long before online betting existed, thus creating multiple formats. Decimal odds, also called European Odds or EUR Odds, are the closest we have to a universal standard, but it is slow to catch on in all markets. For the benefit readers who wish to understand each odds format I’ll explain, but again this is a language issue and the odds converter on this page can easily translate.
American Odds Explained
In this odds format, also called Moneyline Odds, the odds are listed as either a negative or positive figure. When listed as positive this is how much profit will be paid on a $100 stake. For example +123 is risk $100 to win $123 profit. When the odds are negative this is how much you need to stake to win $100. For example if -177 is risk $177 to win $100. You can of course bet in any increment you’d like; it does not have to be multiples of $100. The trick here is to move the imaginary decimal two places and if you’re dealing with a positive line multiple, and if dealing with a negative line divide. For example $56 staked on +131 would win $56*1.31=$73.36 and $56 staked at -131 would win $56/1.31= $42.75.
Decimal Odds Explained
In this odds format, also called European Odds, the odds represent how much you’ll be returned for each 1 unit staked. 1 unit could be $1, £1, €1 or any other currency. For example if you bet €1 at odds 1.91 and win you’ll get back €1.91 which breaks down as your €1.00 stake plus €0.91 profit. This is the only of the six odds formats covered on this page where the payout calculation also includes the stake. This is also the easiest odds format to deal with because your payout (which includes stake) is always stake*odds=payout.
Fractional Odds Explained
Fractional Odds, sometime called UK Odds, are a fraction that represents how much you stand to win on a bet. The first number is the payout the second number is the stake. For example 2/1 means get £2 profit for each £1 staked.1/6 means £1 profit per £6 staked; in this case you’re dealing with a heavy favorite. To calculate your profit on a win just do out the fraction and multiple by stake. For example 11/5 is 11 divided by 5, which equals 2.2. If you bet £75 on 11/5 you stand to profit £75*2.2=£165 if your wager wins.
5 1 4% As Decimal
Indonesia Odds Explained
4 1 In Decimal Odds Worksheets
Indonesia Odds are offered at Asian bookies. This odds format functions the same as American odds format except here the odds are based on $1.00 stakes and therefore use a decimal. When Indonesian odds are -1.23 the American Odds are -123, when they are +1.31 the American Odds are +131. Here the same trick applies. When the odds are positive: stake*odds=profit. When the odds are negative stake/odds=profit.
Hong Kong Odds Explained
This odds format works the same as Decimal Odds explained earlier, but does not include the stake. When decimal odds are 1.91, Hong Kong Odds 0.91, when Decimal Odds are 4.23, Hong Kong Odds are 3.43. These odds tell you what your profit will be on a win for each unit staked. So if you risk $100 on odds 1.34 your profit is $100*1.34=$134, and you also get back your stake.
Malay Odds Explained
This odds format from Malaysia lists odds in either a positive or negative format. Here it’s however reversed, when odds are negative you’re dealing with an underdog and when odds are positive you’re dealing with a favorite. When positive the odds work the exact same as Hong Kong Odds mentioned above. For example: Malay odds 0.91 means risk 1 to win 0.91 profit. When the odds are negative this is how much you’ll need to stake to win 1. So for example Malay odds -0.600 means risk 0.60 to win 1 profit.
Betting Sites do the Math
At all online betting sites you’ll be shown what either the return or winnings will be on any bet you make prior to confirming. The information covered on this page was just to help players understand how betting odds work around the world. This can sometimes be helpful for reasons mentioned on my South Africa page. At SA bookies, Hong Kong odds are used are called Decimal Odds. Now that Euro bookies are licensed there, there’s confusion when these site use regular decimal odds calling them the same name as a different format than punters are used to. Again, the betting sites will show you the payout before your bet is confirmed, and you can also return to this page here to see the betting odds in the format you prefer at any time.
- Asian Bookies
- US Betting Sites
- UK Bookmakers
- NBA Betting
- F1 Betting Guide
- MLB Betting Guide