Understanding Odds Formats (American, Decimal, Fractional)

Different regions around the world display betting odds in various formats, with the three most common being American odds, decimal odds, and fractional odds. Each format communicates the same information—how much you stand to win—but displays it differently. Understanding all three formats will help you navigate the global betting landscape with confidence.

American odds are the standard format in the United States and on BettorEdge:

For Favorites (negative numbers):

• Shown with a minus sign (-)
• Indicates how much you need to bet to win $100
• Example: -150 means you must bet $150 to win $100 (plus your original stake back)

• Shown with a plus sign (+)
• Indicates how much you'll win if you bet $100
• Example: +200 means a $100 bet wins $200 (plus your original stake back)

• Clearly distinguishes favorites from underdogs
• Easy to calculate potential winnings on standard amounts
• Provides a quick sense of how heavily favored a team is

Popular in Europe, Australia, and Canada, decimal odds represent the total return per unit staked:

• Multiply your stake by the decimal odds to calculate your total return (including your original stake)
• Example: 2.50 odds mean a $100 bet returns $250 total ($150 profit plus your $100 stake)
• The lower the decimal, the more likely the outcome is considered

• For positive American odds: (American odds ÷ 100) + 1
  • +150 converts to 2.50
• For negative American odds: (100 ÷ |American odds|) + 1
• -150 converts to 1.67

Key Benefits:

• Straightforward calculation of total returns
• No need to think separately about stake and profit
• Consistent format for all odds (no positive/negative difference)

Traditional in the UK and used extensively in horse racing:

• Displayed as a fraction (e.g., 5/1, 6/4)
• First number shows potential profit, second number shows stake required
• Example: 5/1 (or "five-to-one") means a $1 bet would win $5 profit plus your stake back

• For positive American odds: American odds/100
  • +500 converts to 5/1
• For negative American odds: 100/|American odds|
• -200 converts to 1/2

• Traditional format familiar to many bettors
• Easy to understand for simple fractions
• Provides clear profit expectations

Understanding the implied probability behind odds is essential:

• American: For negative odds, |odds|/(|odds|+100); for positive odds, 100/(odds+100)
  • -150 implies a 60% chance of winning
  • +150 implies a 40% chance of winning
• Decimal: 1/decimal odds
  • 1.50 implies a 66.7% chance of winning
• Fractional: Denominator/(Denominator+Numerator)
• 3/1 implies a 25% chance of winning

While BettorEdge primarily displays American odds:

• Understanding all formats helps you compare value against global markets
• You can mentally convert between formats to find the best opportunities
• Recognizing implied probabilities allows you to identify value bets with no high fees like traditional betting

Not Sure Which Format You're Looking At?

• American odds always have + or - signs
• Decimal odds are always greater than 1.00
• Fractional odds are always displayed as two numbers separated by a slash

Having Trouble Converting Between Formats?

• Use online odds converters for quick calculations
• Practice with a few common odds until conversions become intuitive
• Focus on understanding the implied probability, which remains constant across formats

To become comfortable with different odds formats:

1. Practice converting between formats to build familiarity, use a calculator to make it easier on you
2. Calculate potential returns for sample bets in each format
3. Look for the best values across BettorEdge's marketplace regardless of how you mentally process the odds
4. Remember that all formats ultimately communicate the same information about risk and reward

As you gain experience on BettorEdge's social betting marketplace, working with different odds formats will become second nature, helping you find the best value with no high fees like traditional betting platforms.