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ToggleWe believe that you are new to the sports betting market and that’s exactly why you’ve landed here. Well, let us tell you that you are at the right place!
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ToggleJust as an investor carefully analyzes the market and weighs the risks against the rewards, a sports bettor must also develop a keen understanding of the key concepts in betting, one of them being odds.
Let’s dive in and understand sports betting and odds in sports betting, how they are calculated, and how as a beginner you can read them.
Odds in sports betting determine the probability of an event to happen and the potential payout that you can fetch out of it if it does.
Just like evaluating stock prices or market trends, interpreting odds is crucial for making informed decisions about where to place your wagers in the global sports betting world.
Odds can be represented in three broad categories namely, decimal, fraction, or moneyline odds also known as American odds in sports betting. You will encounter the odds being depicted in any one of these formats, so you must understand how to read all of them. We will explain them in the upcoming section.
Read Also: Sports Betting Sites Checklist: Must-haves of Sports Betting Sites that Drive Success
One of the most straightforward ways of representing odds is through decimals. As the name suggests these odds in sports betting are expressed in decimal numbers that indicate the potential payout for every $1 wagered, including your original stake.
For instance, let’s consider the decimal odds for the upcoming basketball game:
Team A: 2.75
Team B: 1.45
Now, if you decide to bet $1 on team A and they win, you get a total amount of $2.75 which will be inclusive of the initial stake i.e., $1 plus profit of $1.75.
Similarly, if you bet on team B, you get $0.45 as profit plus $1 that you had wagered initially.
To calculate your potential profit, you would multiply your stake by the decimal odds and then subtract your original stake amount. So, if you bet $100 on Team A at 2.75 odds, your potential profit would be:
Potential payout = $100 x 2.75 = $275
Potential profit = $275 – $100 (original stake) = $175
In the above example, team A is considered the underdogs while team B is the favorite. Don’t worry these concepts might read confusing but we will clarify them in the upcoming sections of the article.
This is another method of representing odds in sports betting. These odds are typically represented in fractions such as ¼, 3/1, etc.
In fractional odds, the numerator signifies the profit earned while the denominator represents the amount wagered.
For example, let’s look at the fractional odds for an upcoming soccer match:
Team X: 3/1
Team Y: 1/4
Now if you bet $1 on team X your payout if you win will be $3 plus your initial bet which is $1 making the total amount $4.
On the other hand, if you bet on Team Y with odds of 1/4, it means that for every $4 you wager, you’ll receive a profit of $1 if Team Y wins. The total payout would be your original $4 stake plus the $1 profit, which is $5.
So, to calculate the profits,
Stake * (numerator/denominator)
Now let’s take another scenario where you wager $20 on team X, so by the formula, your profit will be as follows:
20*3/1 = 60/1 = $60 (Also, don’t forget to add your initial $20 to the payout making it a total of $80)
Moneyline odds in sports betting are also known as American odds (don’t confuse them with moneyline bets!).
Money line odds can be a little tricky to understand as they are represented with either a (+) or a (-) sign before them. To understand why, we’ll have to decode the concept of favorites and underdogs.
Positive moneyline odds (Underdogs)
When a team or outcome has positive odds, like +150 or +275, it indicates an underdog. The number represents the potential profit you would make if you bet $100.
For example, if a team is listed at +200 money line odds in sports betting, it means they are the underdog. If you bet $100 on them and they win, you would receive a payout of $300 (your original $100 stake + $200 profit).
The higher the positive odds in sports betting, like +400 or +500, signify an even bigger underdog with higher potential payouts if they pull off the upset victory.
Negative moneyline odds (Favorites)
When a team or outcome has negative odds, like -120 or -250, it indicates a favorite. The number represents the amount you would need to risk to potentially win $100.
For instance, if a team is listed at -150 money line odds, they are the favorite. To win $100 on this bet, you would need to risk $150. If the favorite wins, you get your $150 stake back, plus the additional $100 profit, for a total payout of $250.
Lower negative odds, like -300 or -500, signify an even bigger favorite, meaning you’d need to risk more to win the same $100 potential profit.
The higher the positive odds, the bigger the underdog and potential payout. The lower the negative odds, the bigger the favorite, but the potential profit is smaller relative to the risk.
Understanding money line odds allows you to quickly identify underdogs and favorites, and evaluate the risk versus potential reward before placing your bets, similar to assessing high-risk, high-return versus lower-risk, lower-return investment opportunities.
Read Also: Scope of Online Sports Betting in 2024
Now you know how to read odds in sports betting no matter which format they are in. However, have you ever wondered who sets these odds or how are they calculated in the first place? Let’s help you understand it.
Sportsbooks and bookmakers expend significant resources to determine the correct odds that allow them to make profits in the long run. Several factors go into creating these odds, let’s look at them one by one.
So the first step in the process is estimating the probability of the outcome happening. This is done after extensive research into team stats, injuries, home-ground advantage, and other such variables.
The bookmakers also try to understand what is the initial response from the public. If the response is heavily lopsided, they try to adjust the odds to ensure a balance, which also means reduced risk.
The vig or juice can be simply understood as the commission of the bookmaker. This commission is earned by setting odds at slightly worse values than true probability would dictate. This overround provides them an edge to make a profit over the long run.
In simple words, the vig or juice is the commission that the bookmaker takes from bettors as the house.
For example, if a game has a true 50/50 probability, the sportsbook may set the odds at -110 on both sides instead of +100. This -110 pricing means you’d have to bet $110 to win $100, giving the bookie that extra $10 as their commission on whichever side wins.
By using these steps, bookmakers calculate the odds that maximize their profits while also keeping sufficient action on both sides to place a bet.
Read Also: How To Create Your Own Sports Betting Platform?
While odds in sports betting different formats convey the same probability, being able to convert them is a skill you need to master if you are planning to step into this field. Let’s help you understand the conversion process.
For instance, decimal odds of 2.75 convert to fractional of 2.75 – 1 = 1.75
Fractional odds = 1.75/1 or 7/4
For example, 3.5 decimal = (3.5 x 100) – 100 = +250 moneyline.
Similarly, 1.67 decimal = -100/((1/1.67) – 1) = -150 moneyline
Taking the previous example, 7/4 becomes 1.75 + 1 + 2.75
For example, 5/1 fractional = 5 x 100 = +500 moneyline or 1/4 fractional = -(4 x 100) = -400 moneyline odds.
For example:
+200 moneyline = 200/100 + 1 = 3.0 decimal odds
-150 moneyline = 100/150 + 1 = 1.667 decimal odds
Example: +400 moneyline converts to 4/1 fractional odds
So, -200 moneyline converts to 100/200 or 1/2 fractional odds
Odds in sports betting are important to understand if you want to excel in the field. Interpreting and reading the odds carefully will help you to assess risks versus rewards while placing bets. As the future of sports betting continues to look bright, with new markets and opportunities emerging, having a solid grasp of odds will be crucial for making informed decisions and maximizing your potential returns.
Read Also: How White label Solutions Enhance User Experience in Online Sports Betting?
Simranjeet Kaur is a former PR professional turned content writer with a knack for creating compelling content that cuts through the noise. Now a writer at PieGaming, Simran brings fresh insights to the iGaming world. Join her as she explores the latest trends and innovations in this exciting domain.
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