Betting odds tell you how likely an event is to happen and how much money you can win if you place a bet successfully. There are three common types of betting odds: fractional, decimal, and American (moneyline). Here's how to read each:

Fractional Odds

• Shown as a fraction (e.g., 4/1 or 1/4).
• The first number (A) is how much you stand to win, and the second number (B) is the amount you must stake.
• Potential profit = (A/B) x stake.
• Total payout = profit + original stake.
• Example: 10/1 means you win £10 for every £1 bet, so a £1 bet returns £11 total.
• If the first number is smaller than the second (e.g., 1/4), it means the event is more likely (>50% chance), but payout is smaller; if it is the other way (e.g., 10/1), it indicates lower probability but higher payout.

Decimal Odds

• Shown as a decimal number (e.g., 2.5 or 1.20).
• This number represents the total payout for every £1 bet, including the stake.
• To calculate your return, multiply your stake by the decimal.
• Example: Odds of 4.00 mean a £1 bet returns £4 total (£3 profit + £1 stake).
• Lower decimal odds (<2) mean higher chance; higher odds mean less likely to win but bigger payout.

American (Moneyline) Odds

• Positive odds (e.g., +150) show how much profit you make on a $100 bet.
• Negative odds (e.g., -120) show how much you must bet to win $100.
• Example: +250 means a $100 bet wins $250 profit; -150 means you must bet $150 to win $100 profit.
• Used mostly in the US, and indicate favorites (negative) and underdogs (positive).

Understanding Probability from Odds

• Fractional odds probability = B/(A+B)×100%B/(A+B)\times 100%B/(A+B)×100%.
• Decimal odds probability = 100decimal odds%\frac{100}{\text{decimal odds}}%decimal odds100​%.
• American odds convert to probability differently for favorites and underdogs but reflect the implied chance of the event occurring.

In short, betting odds help you assess both the chance of an outcome and the payout if that outcome happens. Fractional odds focus on profit relative to stake, decimal odds show total return, and American odds indicate profit or stake relative to $100. This understanding can help decide which bets are worth placing based on risk and potential reward.