There are different ways in which odds can be displayed for sports betting markets. The two primary display types include American Odds and Decimal Odds.
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American Odds: A measure of how much you can win per $100 wager. They are expressed as whole numbers with a minus (-) or plus (+) sign placed in front of the odds. If the figure displayed is positive, the odds are quoting how much money will be won on a $100 wager. If the figure displayed is negative, the odds are stating how much money must be wagered to win $100.
- Example: If a bettor places a wager at -180, they must bet $180 to win $100. A bet at +300 signifies $300 is won for every $100 in wagers. This does not mean that $100 is the minimum bet requirement (the minimum straight wager amount $1).
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Decimal Odds: A display type, most common in Europe. The decimal figure stated is used to calculate the total return, inclusive of the stake.
- Example: When the decimal price is 3.75 then the total return will be $37.50 for a bet of $10. To calculate the exact payout for a certain bet amount, simply multiply the stake wagered by the decimal odds displayed.
