How odds work in sports betting is the most important skill that bettors need to master before placing real-money bets. Many beginners simply read the M88 betting odds table and bet based on their emotions, leading to unnecessary losses. The following article will guide you through how to calculate betting odds in detail from A to Z, based on how they actually work at popular bookmakers, helping you calculate accurately and increase your winning rate.
What Are Betting Odds And How Are They Calculated?
Betting odds are the numbers provided by bookmakers to indicate the amount of winnings if you correctly predict the outcome. Betting odds also reflect the probability of that outcome occurring according to the bookmaker’s assessment.
Betting odds reflect the probability of a match outcome occurring
Players need to understand how to calculate betting odds accurately because:
- Know exactly how much you will win or lose before placing a bet.
- Quickly compare multiple bookmakers to choose the most valuable bet.
- Calculate the implied probability to avoid trap bets.
- Manage your bankroll better and avoid being driven by emotions.
Currently, most bookmakers use fixed odds, meaning the odds at the time you place your bet will remain unchanged even if the odds change afterward.
Most Common Betting Odds Formats
Decimal Odds
Decimal odds are the most common and easiest-to-understand format today, widely used by most bookmakers. This format represents the odds as a decimal number (for example, 1.85 – 2.10 – 3.40), indicating the total amount you will receive if your bet wins.
Calculation:
- Total payout = Stake × Decimal Odds.
- Profit = Total payout – Stake.
Example: Bet $200 at odds of 1.95.
- Total payout = 200 × 1.95 = $390.
- Profit = $190.
Hong Kong Odds
Hong Kong odds only show the profit portion and do not include the original stake. This is a very practical calculation method because players can immediately see how much they will profit if they win.
Calculation:
- Hong Kong Odds = Decimal Odds – 1
Example: Decimal odds of 1.90 are equivalent to Hong Kong odds of 0.90. A winning $100 bet will generate exactly $90 in profit.
Malay Odds
Malay odds are very familiar to Asian bettors and are divided into positive and negative values. The special feature of this odds format is the mechanism of risking less to win more when betting on negative odds.
Negative Malay odds help players optimize their bankroll through the mechanism of risking less to win more
Calculation:
- Positive odds: Profit = Stake × Malay Odds (the entire stake is lost if the bet loses)
- Negative odds: A win receives 100% profit equal to the stake (loss = Stake × Negative Malay Odds).
Example:
- Positive odds 0.85: Bet 100, win $85, lose $100.
- Negative odds -0.80: Bet 100, win the full $100, lose only $80.
Indonesian Odds
Indonesian odds are standardized based on the 1.00 base point and are also divided into positive and negative values.
Calculation:
- Positive odds: Profit = Stake × Indo Odds (the entire stake is lost if the bet loses)
- Negative odds: A win receives 100% profit equal to the stake (loss = Stake × Indo Odds).
Example:
- Positive odds 1.25: Bet 100, win $125 in profit, lose $100.
- Negative odds -1.25: To win $100 in profit, you must stake $125, and you lose the full $125 if the bet loses.
American Odds
American odds are the standard betting format used at sportsbooks in North America. This format always uses $100 as the benchmark and is accompanied by either a plus or minus sign before the number.
Calculation:
- Positive odds with a plus sign: Show the amount of profit earned when you correctly bet $100.
- Negative odds with a minus sign: Show the amount of money you must stake to earn $100 in profit.
Example:
- Odds +150: Bet $100, win $150 in profit, lose $100.
- Odds -150: You must bet $150 to earn $100 in profit.
> Read our detailed guide on M88 poker to explore active cash tables, thrilling tournaments, and rewarding gameplay features today.
How To Calculate Half-Win And Half-Loss Bets
When playing Asian Handicap or Over/Under bets with 0.25 lines such as quarter-ball handicaps or 0.75 lines such as three-quarter-ball handicaps, you may encounter situations where you win or lose half of your stake:
Asian Handicap betting is very popular among bettors
- When Winning Half: The profit you receive is only 50% of the standard profit.
- When Losing Half: You only lose 50% of the amount staked, while the bookmaker returns 50% of the original stake to your account.
How To Calculate Combined Parlay Bets
Parlay betting is very popular among bettors because you can stake a small amount while receiving a higher payout through the cumulative multiplication mechanism:
- Full-win parlay formula: Multiply the stake consecutively by all the odds of each match.
- If a match ends in a draw or is canceled: That match will automatically have its odds changed to 1.00, while the winnings from the remaining matches are still paid normally.
How odds work in sports betting may be simple, but it is very important because it directly affects your betting money in a match. Once you clearly understand how to calculate bets, you will feel more confident when choosing betting odds and increase your winning rate to the highest possible level.