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Decimal vs American vs Fractional Odds Explained

Betting odds come in three formats — decimal, American (moneyline) and fractional — that all express the same thing: the payout and the implied probability of a bet.

The three formats

Decimal (2.50) is total return per unit staked, including your stake. American (+150 / −120) shows profit on $100 or the stake needed to win $100. Fractional (3/2) is profit-to-stake. They're interchangeable — just different notation.

Converting between them

+150 American = 2.50 decimal = 3/2 fractional = 40% implied. To convert American to decimal: positive → 1 + odds/100; negative → 1 + 100/|odds|. Decimal is the easiest to do math with, which is why sharp bettors prefer it.

Example

A bet at +150 (2.50): stake $100 to win $150, total return $250. The implied probability is 1 ÷ 2.50 = 40%.
Try it yourself. Use our free Odds converter — or see live +EV bets and odds on the board.

FAQ

Which odds format is best?

Decimal is the clearest for calculating payouts and probabilities, which is why most tools and sharp bettors use it. American is standard at US books; fractional at UK books.

How do I convert odds formats?

Use an odds converter, or convert everything to decimal first: it's total return per unit, so probability is just 1 ÷ decimal.

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