How odds work
Decimal, American and fractional odds
4 min
Odds are just a price. The same bet can be written three different ways depending on where you are in the world, and learning to read all three is the first step to understanding betting.
Decimal odds
The most common format internationally (and the easiest). Decimal odds show your total return per unit staked, including your stake back. Odds of 2.00 mean a winning $10 bet returns $20 (your $10 back plus $10 profit). Odds of 1.50 return $15 on $10.
American odds
Used mainly in the US, written with a + or −.
- A positive number (e.g. +150) is the profit on a $100 stake — +150 returns $150 profit.
- A negative number (e.g. −200) is how much you must stake to win $100 — −200 means risk $200 to win $100.
Fractional odds
Traditional in the UK and shown as a fraction like 3/1 ("three to one"). It's pure profit relative to stake: 3/1 returns $3 profit per $1, 1/2 returns $0.50 per $1.
Converting between them
They all describe the same thing. A quick anchor: decimal 2.00 = American +100 = fractional 1/1 (an even-money bet). To turn fractional into decimal, divide and add one: 3/1 → 4.00. Most apps let you switch formats in the settings, so pick whichever you read fastest.