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Beginners
7 min read
1/18/2025

How Odds and Probabilities Work

Learn how to interpret odds, calculate probabilities and identify value in betting.

by Giuseppe Verdi

Odds are the heart of sports betting. Understanding how they work is essential to becoming a successful bettor.

Types of Odds

Decimal Odds

Most used in Europe, easy to interpret:

  • 2.00 = 50% probability
  • 1.50 = 66.67% probability
  • 3.00 = 33.33% probability

  • Fractional Odds

    Traditional in the UK:

  • 1/2 = 1.50 odds
  • 2/1 = 3.00 odds
  • 5/4 = 2.25 odds

  • Probability Calculation

    Formula
    Formula: Probability = 1 / Decimal odds × 100

    Example with 2.50 odds:

    Formula
    Probability = 1 / 2.50 × 100 = 40%

    Bookmaker Margin

    Bookmakers apply a margin to odds:

  • Real odds vs offered odds
  • How to identify low margins
  • Comparison between operators

  • Finding Value

    A bet has value when:

    Real probability > Implied probability


    Useful Tools

  • Probability calculators
  • Odds comparators
  • Analysis software

  • 🛠️ Professional Tools

    Use specialized software for odds analysis, value betting calculators and bankroll management tools to optimize your performance.

    Conclusion

    Understanding odds is fundamental to successful betting. Practice with these concepts and use available tools to improve your skills.

    Topics covered:oddsprobabilitiesmathematics
    Tags:oddsprobabilitiesmathematics

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