What are Odds Formats?

Definition: Odds formats are different ways of writing the same price. A sportsbook front-end can display decimal, fractional or American odds depending on the market and player settings.

The same price in three formats:

  • Decimal 2.50 - a €10 stake returns €25 in total.
  • Fractional 3/2 - profit of 3 for every 2 staked, so €15 profit on €10.
  • American +150 - profit of 150 on a 100 stake.

Conversion rules:

  • Fractional to decimal: a/b + 1 (3/2 + 1 = 2.50).
  • Positive American to decimal: 1 + A/100 (+150 → 2.50).
  • Negative American to decimal: 1 + 100/|A| (-200 → 1.50).

Where each format is used: decimal in Europe and Canada, fractional in the UK and Ireland, American in the US.

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