How Sports Betting Odds are Calculated

You can calculate betting odds based on the likelihood of an event occurring. Historical data, team performance, player injuries, and other factors determine an event’s likelihood. Three types of odds are fractional, decimal, and moneyline. The formula is Probability (%) = B / (A+B) to calculate the probability of an outcome. Remember, A and B are the numbers in the odds.
How Sports betting odds are calculated

How Betting Odds Are Calculated

Betting odds show the event’s probability of happening and enable players to work out the amount of money they will win if their bet wins. For instance, if the odds are 4/1 for every one euro/dollar bet, the player will win $4. So, there is a 20% chance that the event will occur.

In addition, let’s say the odds for an Indian Cricket Team to win are 2/1. It means that for every $1 bet, you will win $2. So, the total payout will be $3, including your original $1 bet and $2 you have won. You can calculate the probability as follows:

Probability (P) = 1/ (odds + 1)

So, in this mathematical example, P = 1 (2+1) = 1/3 = 0.33. Therefore, the chance is 33% for the Indian team to win according to the betting odds.

Understanding and Calculating Sports Betting Odds

Bookmakers calculate betting odds to represent the likelihood of a sports event. Common representation forms of sports betting odds are:

  • Fraction
  • Decimal
  • Moneyline

Fractional Odds

Fractional odds are also called traditional or British odds. You can write these odds as fractions, such as 4/1. You can also express them as a ratio, which is 4-to-one. Fractional odds are very popular in horse racing and other sports betting, particularly in the UK and Ireland. A fraction provides you with an intuitive understanding. Let’s consider the example 4/1. The denominator “1” represents the bet amount, and the numerator “4” is the potential profit. You multiply your stake by the fractional odds to calculate your potential winnings. For example, if you bet 15 euros at odds of 4/1, you could win 60 euros.

Decimal Odds

Decimal odds show how much you could win if you place a bet on a sports event. For example, if the odds are 3.0 and you bet 1 euro, you could win 3 euros if your bet is successful. So, your profit is 2 euros/pounds because you get 1 euro bet back and 2 euros in winnings. You could win 300 euros if you bet 100 euros. Basically, it is multiplying your bet by the decimal odds to determine your winnings. You can calculate winnings from decimal odds using the following formula:

Winnings = (Bet Amount x odds) – Bet Amount

For example:

Winnings OR Profit = (1 euros x 3.0) – 1 euro

So, when you calculate the profit, it will be 2 euros.

Moneyline Odds

How sports betting odds are calculated

Moneyline odds are popular in the United States. That’s why they are called American odds. When you place a moneyline bet, you bet on who will win the game. A team or player is the favorite and has a higher chance of winning if the odds are negative. On the other hand, the team or player is less likely to win if the odds are positive. Some bookmakers called teams or players with positive odds “the underdog.”

Favorite Odds

Favorite Odds = the team most likely to win

Do you like basketball? If yes, let’s consider an example of this thrilling sport. Imagine a match between the New York Knicks and Los Angeles Lakers. The Lakers are the favorites to win, so that they may have moneyline odds of -200. So, you need to bet $200 on the Lakers to win $100. The formula for calculating favorite moneyline odds is: Profit = Stake * (100/|Odds|)

Why are Favorite Odds Negative Numbers

The negative sign shows that a team or player has a higher chance of winning. So, you must risk more money to get a small reward. Bookmakers use this tactic to balance the bets on both sides. If the favorite always paid out the same as the underdog, everyone would bet on the favorite. That’s why bookmakers ensure the potential payout is less attractive: it encourages bettors to bet on the underdog. And this is how bookmakers manage risks.

Underdog Odds

Underdog odds = The team is less likely to win.

When the odds are positive, the formula to calculate them is: Profit = Stake * (Odds/100)

The positive + sign tells you how much you can win if you bet $100. If the odds are +200, you can win $200 on your $100 bet.

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My name is Qazi. I work as an editor at Casinoswithoutswedishlicense.com. We focus on telling Swedish casino players about the best-unlicensed gaming websites. I know a lot about how online casinos work. I can tell you which websites are safe and which ones will pay out your winnings. I also share tips to help you make the best betting decisions. My goal is to guide Swedish players to great casinos outside the licensed system. I want our users to have fun gaming experiences.