These odds will display your potential profit as a fraction, such as 3/1 or 1/1. Fractional Betting Oddsįractional odds are the most commonly-used odds format in the UK and Ireland and you’ll find them available with most online bookmakers worldwide. Remember that if you want to go from fractional to decimal odds or vice-versa, most betting sites will allow you to change the format to suit your preferences. We've listed the three most common odds formats below, with simple explanations alongside each of them. You can change your stake, which requires more consideration, but getting an idea of the value of your odds is still simple. For example, with fractional odds, the number on the right of the fraction tells you how much you can win if you wager the number on the left. There are loads of odds formats but most have simple formulas you can read very quickly. With that said, understanding the most popular types of odds and how to use them will make betting easier for you.

In fact, most new betting sites will automatically do this for you when you add a stake to your online bet slip.

In the majority of cases, the math is simple and you should be able to roughly work out your profits at a glance. When punters can find an edge on the bookie, however, the roles are reversed and winning bets are made. How do Betting Odds Work?īetting odds allow you to work out your potential profits from a bet and allow the bookmakers to make their money by gaining an edge on the punter. Our ' betting odds explained' guide answers those questions and more, while also taking you through the various odds formats you'll find at the best betting sites. But how do betting odds work exactly? And how much will my bet win? There are many different odds formats, from fractional to decimal odds and even American style. Betting odds tell you how much profit you can receive from a bet.

4 to 5 odds