Odds are an integral part of wagering and that is why it is crucial to understand what they mean in order to be able to place bets correctly. Therefore, read our review in which we will grant you all the important information that you need to know about odds. You will not only have betting odds explained but also their most common types described which will improve your understanding of odds.

Betting Odds Explained: What Is It?

Betting odds are numbers that show the probability of a particular outcome taking into account the bookmaker’s margin. They are the most important value for all bettors as with their help, they can calculate the potential profit from each bet. Odds are established for every single event individually by the sportsbooks. Simply speaking, the higher the odds are, the more money you will win if your predictions turn out to be successful.

100% Bonus
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* The minimum required deposit to activate the bonus is 75 INR.
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Before making a deposit, customers must agree to receive a sports betting bonus either on the ‘Account Settings’ page, or directly on the ‘Deposit’ page. This bonus is automatically credited to customers’ accounts once the first deposit has been made, provided that the account details have been completed in full and a phone number has been activated.

*Wager 5 times the bonus amount in accumulator bets. Each accumulator bet must contain at least 3 events with odds of 1.40 or higher.
100% Bonus
Up to 8 000 INR
* The minimum required deposit to activate the bonus is 110 INR.
5.0
T&Cs Apply
New customers only

The bonus will be credited to your account automatically once you have made your first deposit, provided that your account details are fully completed and your phone number has been verified by SMS.

*Wager 5 times the bonus amount in accumulator bets. Each accumulator bet must contain at least 3 events with odds of 1.40 or higher.

How Does It Work?

When it comes to odds meaning in betting, it is the likelihood of a specific event to occur during a certain match. Initially, the odds reflect the result of the work of analysts who determine the starting probability of occurrence of a specific event. Further on, they are influenced exclusively by bettors who bet on one or another result of the match.

It also includes the bookmaker’s margin which is a commission that the operator takes from each bet. Sometimes different betting platforms may have distinct betting odds on the same sports event and the reason for that is that they have various margins established. In such a case, the lower the margin of the bookmaker, the more winnings the bettors will obtain.

What Is Probability?

While explaining what odds are in betting, the term “probability” should be taken into account. The odds show the bookmakers’ predictions for a particular outcome of the sports event. If the results are quite predictable, then the odds for such an event will be low and the winnings will be rather small. The lower the probability (e.g. a bet on the outsider), the higher odds are offered by the bookie and more considerable winnings respectively.

How To Read Betting Odds

You should also be familiar with the basic formats of odds that bookmakers use nowadays. Below you will find each and every format of betting odds explained in detail. 

Fractional Odds

This format is also called British. The examples of odds in this format are 6/5, 3/2, 2/1, etc. If we have odds 3/2, then it determines that for every $2 invested you will obtain $3 of profit. In order to convert fractional odds into decimal ones, you will simply need to divide 3 by 2, add 1, and you will get 2.5.

Decimal Odds

Decimal or European odds are often used in Eastern Europe and in some Asian countries. Examples of decimal odds are 1.20, 2.10, etc. In order to calculate the number of your winnings, you should simply multiply your stake by the decimal odds value. So, if you place $100 with the odds of 1.20, then you will get $120 in case of a successful prediction.

betting odds explained

American Odds

In order to understand odds in betting, you should be familiar with American odds as well. They are written with a minus (negative) or plus (positive) sign, for example, +110 and -130. The value of the positive American odds is the amount of potential net profit at a rate of 100 conventional units. For example, a +110 odd means that for every $100 bet, a player can earn $110 in net profit. 

The value of the negative American odds is the amount you need to bet to win 100 conventional units. For example, a multiplier of -130 means that you need to bet $130 to get $100 in net profit. To convert American odds to decimal, you need to divide its value by 100 and add 1 (for example 110/100 + 1 = 2.10).

Money Line Odds

American odds is a term that is used to describe money line odds because they are either positive or negative. Such odds refer only to the deliberate outcome of the match without considering the spread of points.

How To Calculate Odds In Betting

The calculation of betting odds will be explained in this section because every bettor should remember that odds do not represent the actual chances of winning. They are only the results of the bookmaker’s analysis. So, if you want to find out the true likelihood of a specific event result, you should calculate the probability for every single sports event and its odds. 

Gambling Odds Vs Probabilities

Every beginner in sports betting needs to learn how to convert odds into probability percentages in order to accurately assess the chances of both teams in a particular match. For example, if you have 3.00 and 4.00 odds on a selected game, and you want to calculate the probability, you should divide 100% by the value of odds. As a result, the chances of winning for the first team are 100/3.00=33.3% while for the second one – 100/4=25%.

100% Bonus
Up to 10 000 INR
* The minimum required deposit to activate the bonus is 75 INR.
5.0
T&Cs Apply
New customers only

Before making a deposit, customers must agree to receive a sports betting bonus either on the ‘Account Settings’ page, or directly on the ‘Deposit’ page. This bonus is automatically credited to customers’ accounts once the first deposit has been made, provided that the account details have been completed in full and a phone number has been activated.

*Wager 5 times the bonus amount in accumulator bets. Each accumulator bet must contain at least 3 events with odds of 1.40 or higher.
100% Bonus
Up to 8 000 INR
* The minimum required deposit to activate the bonus is 110 INR.
5.0
T&Cs Apply
New customers only

The bonus will be credited to your account automatically once you have made your first deposit, provided that your account details are fully completed and your phone number has been verified by SMS.

*Wager 5 times the bonus amount in accumulator bets. Each accumulator bet must contain at least 3 events with odds of 1.40 or higher.
100% Bonus
Up to 10 000 INR
* The minimum required deposit to activate the bonus is 80 INR.
5.0
T&Cs Apply
New customers only

The bonus will be credited to the customer's account automatically after the first deposit is made, unless the box "I do not want any bonuses" is ticked.

*Wager 5 times the bonus amount in accumulator bets. Each accumulator bet must contain at least 3 events with odds of 1.40 or higher.

How Do Bookmakers Set Their Odds

What is also needed to be understood is how odds are calculated in betting by bookmakers. It is usually done in the following way:

  • The professional analysts perform an in-depth analysis of a particular match and determine the probable outcomes and bookmakers collect reports from them. 
  • Then the bookies convert the obtained results into odds and add a margin. 
  • After that, they compare the acquired odds with odds at other betting platforms. 

While setting odds, bookies take into account numerous factors such as time lineups, their motivation, venue, referees, tactics, injuries of players, weather conditions, previous matches statistics, etc.

Why Do Odds Change?

To gain a full understanding of how odds do work in betting, you should be aware of the fact that they may change in some cases. For example, analysts monitor all the information regarding the match and when some alterations appear such as an injury of a player or unexpected weather conditions, they may slightly modify the odds.

What is more, odds for a specific event may also be changed when there are a considerable number of bets placed on it. In addition, odds are changing all the time in live betting mode. They depend on what is happening on the field. That is why If you want to make a bet at high odds, then you should react quickly in order to be able to catch the right moment.

Conclusion

Wagering odds are a crucial factor that needs to be considered while making bets because they may tell you about your potential profit. You should also compare odds at diverse platforms while seeking the greatest ones because they may vary. In this guide, we placed useful particulars concerning odds meaning in betting, their most important terms, and formats.

Frequently Asked Questions

What Are Odds In Betting?

Odds express the probability of the occurrence of a specified event such as the victory of a particular team, for example.

How To Read Odds In Betting?

The odds are numbers that indicate the likelihood of a specific event happening. Therefore, they will tell you how much money you will be able to win out of betting. The lower the odds, the higher the chance of an event happening.

How To Calculate Odds In Betting?

Above we provided you with practical guidelines on how to calculate odds in betting.