Odds are synonymous with sports betting and the term simply describes the payout you can earn on a successful bet. There are three main Odds types you are likely to come across: Fractional, Decimal and American.

Fractional Odds

Fractional Odds (also often referred to as “Traditional” or “UK” Odds) indicate the net payout earned relative to the amount staked. If a bet wins the initial stake is returned with the payout. You are most likely to find Fractional Odds on horse racing tracks and often as the default option with British bookmakers.

An example of Fractional Odds:

You bet £10 on Comply or Die winning the Grand National at odds of  7/1. If Comply or Die wins the race, the bet will pay out: 7/1 x 10 = £70. The initial stake is then added to this figure for a total payout of £80.

Decimal Odds

Decimal Odds (also often referred to as “Continental” or “European” Odds) are, as the name suggests, most popular in mainland Europe. These odds reflect the payout on a successful bet in decimal form, and factor in the return of the stake.

An example of Decimal Odds:

You bet £10 on Comply or Die winning the Grand National at odds of  8.00. If Comply or Die wins the race, the bet will pay out:  8 x 10 = £80. The initial stake is already included in the returns.

American Odds

American Odds (also often referred to as “US” or “Moneyline” Odds) are used primarily in the United States and for US Sports, such as NBA, Baseball or American Football, but are also offered by most online sportsbooks. These odds reflect the payout on a successful $100 bet, with the return of the stake not included in this figure.

An example of American Odds:

You bets £10 on San Diego defeating San Francisco in a baseball match at odds of +300. If San Diego wins, the bet will pay out 300 x 10/100 = £30. The stake will then be returned for a total payout of £40.

What Odds to use?

The decision what odds to use is entirely down to you. A lot of people find decimal odds easy to work with, while most punters into horse racing prefer fractional odds (you will hardly ever find decimal odds at a race track). In the end, it comes down to what you feel most comfortable with – all online bookmakers (including us, of course) allow you to choose a preferred odds type on your account and switch around between the different types.