Racing News
	Friday 20th October 2017

How to Read Different Betting Odds Formats

"Bookmakers betting ring at Musselburgh" (CC BY 2.0) by www.theedinburghblog.co.uk

If you bet on a regular basis, you may have noticed that bookmaker’s odds can be displayed in a variety of different formats. But do you understand what they all mean?

Most bettors are familiar with the type of odds most commonly used in their own country but it can also pay to learn how to read odds in other formats to save you using an odds converter tool.

Some online bookmakers accept players from all over the world, so you if you want to take advantage of a free bet from the UK and Ireland's top six bookmakers or a bonus offer you have seen advertised, knowing how to read the odds often comes in handy. So, let’s take a look at how each system works.

Fractional odds

Most bookmakers in the UK and Ireland use fractional odds. This system displays the return from a stake as a fraction. 

Example:
• Odds: 5/1
• Return: 5
• Stake: 1
• Total return: 5 + 1 = 6
Odds where the fraction would be 1/1 are displayed as ‘Evens’.

Decimal Odds

Often referred to as ‘European odds,’ these odds work on the same principle as fractional odds but using a metric format.

Example:
• Odds: 6.00
• Net return: 5
• Stake unit: 1
• Total return including stake: 5 + 1 = 6
A £1 stake would produce a £5 return profit and a gross return (including initial stake) of £6.

Hong Kong Odds

Hong Kong odds are a variation on the decimal theme but they display the net return rather than the gross return.

Example:
• Hong Kong odds: 5.00
• Return: 5
• Stake: 1
• Total return: 5 + 1 = 6
These odds are rarely seen outside of China.

"Sports betting" (CC BY 2.0) by Marit & Toomas Hinnosaar

US Moneyline

Moneyline odds (AKA American odds) are the default format across the USA, Central and South America. If the odds are positive, the figure represents how much you would win from a stake of $100.

Example 1:
• Moneyline odds: +500.00
• Return: 500
• Stake: 100
• Total return: 500 + 100 = 600
If the odds are negative, the figure represents how much stake is needed to return $100.
Example 2:
• Moneyline Odds: -500.00
• Return: 100
• Stake: 500
• Total return: 100 + 500 = 600

Indonesian odds

This format follows the same system as the US format but uses a single unit instead of 100. If the odds are positive, the figure represents how you would win from a stake of $1.

Example 1:
• Indonesian Odds: +5.00
• Return: 5
• Stake: 1
• Total return: 5 + 1 = 6
If the odds are negative, the figure represents how much stake is needed to return $1.
Example 2:
• Indonesian odds: -5.00
• Return: 1
• Stake: 5
• Total return: 1 + 5 = 6

Malay Odds

The system also follows a similar system to the other Moneyline format but with the odds displayed as decimals between 0 and 1. If the odds are positive, the figure represents how you would win from a stake of $1.

Example 1:
• Malay odds: +0.35
• Return: 0.35
• Stake: 1
• Total return: 0.35 + 1 = 1.35
If the odds are negative, the figure represents how much stake is needed to return $1.
Example 2:
• Malay odds: -0.35
• Net: 1
• Stake: 0.35
• Total return: 1 + 0.35 = 1.35

Italian odds

Italian odds are rarely used these days but it is worth knowing how they work should you come across them. This system indicates the return from a 100 unit stake but does not use negative numbers.

Example 1:
• Italian odds: 50
• Return: 50
• Stake: 100
• Total return: 50 + 100 = 150
Once you understand how sports betting works and how to read the odds, you can choose the format that you are most comfortable with.