Odds are the foundation of sports betting. They represent the probability of a certain event happening, according to the sportsbook. Through them, you know how much you can win if your guess is correct.
Odds work like a kind of quotation. Imagine the odds for Flamengo to win against Corinthians are 2.00. This means that for every R$1.00 bet, you will receive R$2.00 if Flamengo wins (your profit would be R$1.00).
There are three main formats of odds used in sportsbooks: American, Decimal, and Fractional.
American odds are identified by a plus ( ) or minus (-) sign.
Decimal odds are the easiest to understand. Simply multiply the value of the odds by the amount of your bet to know how much you will receive in case of victory (bet amount x odds). For example, if the odds are 1.50 and you bet R$10.00, the total return will be R$15.00 (R$10.00 x 1.50).
Fractional odds use a fraction to represent the proportion between the profit and the amount wagered. For example, 3/1 means that for every R$1.00 profited, you need to bet R$3.00. To calculate the total return, add the amount of the bet to the profit. Therefore, a bet of R$10.00 with odds of 3/1 would have a total return of R$14.00 (R$10.00 R$4.00 profit).
Understanding odds is essential for success in sports betting. By mastering the different formats and using them in conjunction with your sports analysis, you'll be better prepared to make your picks and profit from your bets.