In the world of sports betting, the key parameter of a bet is the odds, which determine the payout in case of success. However, odds can appear in different formats depending on the region and type of bet. Many bettors are often surprised when they encounter an unfamiliar format of odds in a bookmaker’s line.
Therefore, it makes sense to consider the types of odds used in the betting industry:
- European (decimal).
- British (fractional).
- American (moneyline).
- Hong Kong.
- Indonesian.
- Malaysian.
Each of these formats has its own characteristics that can be useful depending on the bettor’s preferences and the specific betting market.
1. European (decimal)
European odds are considered the most popular and are used as standard by bookmakers worldwide. They are presented in the form of a decimal number. To calculate the return, you need to multiply your stake by the odds. To determine the net profit, you need to subtract the stake amount from the return.
The image shows decimal odds for the football (socker) match Tottenham – West Ham. Odds of 5.66 on West Ham’s win mean that if you bet $1000 on West Ham’s victory, you will receive a payout of $5660, and the net profit will be $4660 (5660 – 1000).
2. British (fractional)
British odds are expressed in fractional form. These odds are typically used for horse racing in the United Kingdom. For understanding, let’s take the odds of 3/1 (3 to 1). This means that for every unit you bet, you will receive 3 units of net profit. For example, with a $100 bet, if successful, you will get a $300 profit ($400 payout).
To convert British odds to European, the formula is: (numerator + denominator) / denominator.
For example, British 3/1 equals European (3+1)/1 = 4.0.
3. American (moneyline)
American odds are displayed as an integer with a «-» (minus) or «+» (plus) sign.
- The «-» sign indicates the amount you need to bet to win 100 units of profit.
- The «+» sign indicates the amount of profit you can win with a 100-unit bet.
Numbers with the «+» sign are most commonly used. For example, +250 means that with a $100 bet, you will receive a $250 profit (a $350 payout).
4. Hong Kong
The Hong Kong odds, like European odds, are presented as a decimal number but represent net profit in case of success. For example, with odds of 0.5 and a $100 bet, the profit will be $50 (a $150 payout).
5. Indonesian
Indonesian odds are similar to American odds, divided by 100 (adjusted to 1 unit). They are presented as a fractional number greater than 1 with a «-» (minus) or «+» (plus) sign. For example, odds of +1.5 will be equivalent to American +150.
- The «-» sign. To calculate the profit, you need to divide the stake by the odds without the «-» sign. Odds of -1.5, with a $100 bet – profit $66.66 (a $166.66 payout).
- The «+» sign. To calculate the profit, you need to multiply the odds by the stake. Odds of +1.5, with a $100 bet – profit $150 (a $250 payout).
6. Malaysian (Malay)
Malaysian odds are expressed as a fractional number from 0 to 1 with a «-» or «+» sign. Let’s break it down with examples:
- -0.5 means that with a 0.5 bet, you will receive 1 unit of profit. To calculate the profit, divide the stake by the odds without the «-» sign. For example, with a $100 bet, the profit will be $100 / 0.5 = $200, for a $300 payout.
- +0.5 means that for a 1-unit bet, you will receive a profit of 0.5 units. With a $100 bet, the profit will be $100 x 0.5 = $50, for a $150 payout.