Working out Odds

BetNose gives you some quick advice to work out betting odds.

You can also visit www.bet365.com and view their help section for full details.

Working out betting odds can be hard if you don't know what you are doing. Trying to work out your returns on a winning bet can be very complicated!

Not only do you need to know the odds but you also need to know the type of bet you have placed. 

To calculate win betting odds it comes as second nature to some people. Many less experienced people need to know how to work out odds.

Traditional odds are show as a fraction: i.e 7/4 – 9/4 – 3/1

Decimal odds are show in decimal: i.e 2.75 – 3.25 – 4.00

Decimal win odds are the same as traditional win odds, its just the division has been done for you.

(7/4) 7 divided buy 4 = 1.75 + 1 (your stake = 2.75) the same as decimal.

The main difficulty many people get confused with in calculating odds is the return of stake.Try to think of it like this, every time you place a bet the bookmaker always holds the bet. In other words if you make a bet of £10 you give the £10 to the bookmaker until the event or race has finished. Then if you lose the bookmaker keeps the £10 or if you win, then the bookmaker has to pay you back the £10 AND the profit at the odds agreed.

For example to calculate betting odds: Traditional win odds 9/4

Always divide the first number by the second number 9 divided by 4 = 2.25. But remember the 1st rule the bookmaker/layer holds your money, so you must ADD 1 to calculate your total return 2.25 + 1 = 3.25 (if you had bet £10 @ 9/4 your total return is 3.25 x £10 = £32.25)

Therefore your profit is £22.25 because your original £10 has been returned.

For traditional win odds divide the first number by the second and ADD 1 for your total return.

You can also visit www.bet365.com and view their help section for full details.