{"id":30732,"date":"2023-09-21T08:12:19","date_gmt":"2023-09-21T08:12:19","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/bettingsites.co.uk\/?page_id=30732"},"modified":"2024-04-25T13:46:13","modified_gmt":"2024-04-25T13:46:13","slug":"how-do-american-odds-work","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/bettingsites.co.uk\/how-do-american-odds-work\/","title":{"rendered":"How Do American Odds Work? – Get American Betting Odds Explained"},"content":{"rendered":"

American odds work against a base value of $100. Odds for favourites (-100) denote the stake required to win $100 while odds for underdogs (+100) display the profit that can be made on a bet of $100.<\/p>\n

And there you have it \u2013 a very basic answer to the question, \u201cHow do American odds work?\u201d If you would like a more detailed explanation with some practical help, keep reading. We cover American odds at online betting sites, how to convert them to other odds formats, and plenty more!<\/p>\n

What are American Odds?<\/h2>\n

American odds \u2013 also known as US or Vegas odds \u2013 are the main sports betting format used in North American bookmaking. But they can also be used at UK betting sites<\/a> that allow you to change odds formats. What stands American odds apart from fractional and decimal odds are the positive (+) and negative (-) symbols that precede a bookie\u2019s prices.<\/p>\n

Odds with negative signs indicate the stake required to make a profit of $100. Those with positive signs show the potential profit that can be made from a $100 wager. This doesn\u2019t mean you must place a $100 bet each time \u2013 this is simply an incremental value used to discern between fighters, runners, or teams in markets. Here is an example of American odds for the winner of the MLB World Series. in baseball.<\/p>\n

\"What<\/p>\n

We believe there are benefits to using American betting odds<\/a>. For example, they are generally consistent and easy to understand. Especially when betting on US sports like basketball or baseball. Other odds formats make it tougher to gauge the implied probability of a selection, which can sometimes make it favourable to use American odds.<\/p>\n

In much the same way as fractional and decimal formats, understanding American odds can help you identify betting value on football or other sports. It may also come in handy if you are planning a trip to North America or a specific country that uses them.<\/p>\n

Example of How American Odds Work<\/h2>\n

American odds might look strange at first glance. They can certainly spark curiosity if you have never had to use them before. We believe examples are good for answering questions like, how do American betting odds work? So, let\u2019s introduce an easy one.<\/p>\n

Here is an example of a moneyline bet placed on Arsenal vs Tottenham in the Premier League<\/a>.<\/p>\n

\"What<\/p>\n

As you can see, Arsenal are the favourites and are priced at -138 (8\/11) to win. This means a $138 stake is required to make a profit of $100. If you bet $138 and Arsenal beat Spurs, your total returns will be $238 ($138 + $100 = $238).<\/p>\n

Spurs are the underdogs at +300 (3\/1) and bookies pay out $300 for every winning $100 stake placed on them. If you back Spurs with a $100 stake<\/a>, total returns will be $400 ($300 + $100 = $400).<\/p>\n

Perhaps you fancy the draw at +320 (16\/5)? If you make a successful $100 bet on Arsenal and Spurs drawing, your total returns will be $420 ($320 + $100 = $420).<\/p>\n

American odds can make it easier to work out potential payout on bets. Especially where favourites, or \u201cplus money\u201d selections, are concerned. You might be wondering, how do American odds work when converted to other formats? Let\u2019s move on to the next section where you explain everything.<\/p>\n

American Odds Converter Guide<\/h2>\n

There may be times when you are looking to work out potential profit or implied probability. Regardless of the bet types or odds formats, everything comes down to maths. Sometimes, you\u2019ll need to figure out American odds that aren\u2019t as simple as +100 (Evens<\/a>).<\/p>\n

\"What<\/p>\n

The following sections explain how to convert American sports odds to decimal and fractional formats. And vice versa!<\/p>\n

Converting American to Decimal Odds<\/h3>\n

To convert American to decimal odds, you need both values. The formula is straightforward but must be adjusted depending on whether the sports odds are positive or negative.<\/p>\n

Let\u2019s use the example of Manchester United with American odds of +200.<\/p>\n

\n