How Do You Understand Odds in Sports Betting With Decimal Odds? Calculating your potential winnings with decimal odds is easy. All you have to do is multiply the amount of money you’re wagering with the odds attached to the team you’re betting on. Betting odds represent the probability of an event to happen and therefore enable you to work out how much money you will win if your bet wins. As an example, with odds of 4/1, for every £1 you bet, you will win £4. There is a 20% chance of this happening, calculated by 1 / (4 + 1) = 0.20. Understanding betting odds is key to enjoying the experience of betting online and essential to learn before you start placing a bet online. We’ll go through the various kinds of gambling odds new players might see as they flick through the various online providers, detailing how to understand betting odds, the pillars of how sports betting.

For the novice sports bettor, understanding how sports betting odds work can be one of the most confusing sets of numbers you've ever dealt with. For those who have just started betting on sports, to know how the odds work is of key importance for a profitable and enjoyable betting experience. We are here to give you an overview of the basic styles of betting odds, how you can read the different formats, and how to use them to your favor.

While you may still be confused at the end, the only way you are going to learn how to play with odds is by adapting the appropriate information and utilizing it firsthand. To this degree, we have found various sports betting sites where you can utilize these options to the fullest extent. And, if you ever have any questions, please drop us a line at webmaster@explainbettingodds.com where we can answer all of your questions through email.

Different Types Of Betting Odds Explained

Quick Explanation Of How To Read Sports Betting Odds

• Point Spread - If A Football Team Is -7, Then That Team Must Win By 8 Points To Win The Bet.
• Over / Under ' AKA The Total' - If An Over / Under Is 42 In A Football Game, The Combined Total Amount Of Points Both Teams Must Score Needs To Be Over 43 Points To Win The Wager.
• Moneyline Betting Odds - If The Money Line Has “Team A” at -150 Betting Odds Against The Colts, I Must Bet $150 To Win $100 And If Team A Wins, Then I Would Win My Bet.There are three forms of regular betting odds that you will see at every sportsbook that you visit, whether online or in person. These are the ones that you see right off the bat and the ones that really matter when you are betting on sports. If nothing else, you have probably heard them talked about by either your friends or TV broadcast on ESPN or other channels.

How To Read And Understand MoneyLine Betting Odds

First there are the moneyline betting odds , which is the bet on who will win the event outright with no point spreads or other variables. You simply pick the team you think will win and place the bet. However, without using the odds, the payouts are usually much different then they would be with the odds in place.

When betting on the moneyline, the favorite will always have a negative symbol in front of the number and the underdog will always have a plus sign in front of it (an example is -150 favorite or +150 for the underdog).

How To Read The Point Spreads

Next, we come to what may be the most common type of sports betting odds, which is the point spread. They put point spreads up for all of the main sports such as football, basketball, hockey, baseball, and others. This is called 'The Spread' and it basically tells you which team is favored and by how much. When betting the spread, you are betting that a team will win by a certain number of points, runs, or whatever. Here is an example to help you understand point spreads in football.

If you are Betting The Point Spread On 'Team A' in Football - Favored by -6 - This means 'Team A' must beat the other team by 7 points or more to win the bet.

If You Are Betting The Point Spread On 'Team B' in Football Game - Underdog that is getting +6 points - This means as long as 'Team B' does not lose by 7 or more points, then you will win the bet. If Team A wins, but only by 3 points, then you will still win and get paid.

How To Read The Over / Under Betting Odds

There is also the total score or the over/under, and this line lets you bet on whether or not the total score between all competitors will go above or below a predetermined amount. You simply look at what the Over / Under is and then bet on which you think it will be. There are over and under betting odds for pretty much every sport including baseball, football, hockey, UFC, Basketball, Horse racing, and much more.

The over/under betting odds, or the totals, work differently for each sport. If the number is 42 in a football game and you bet the over, you would need 43 points total between the two teams. In baseball betting, it is the number of runs scored that sets the total. The UFC over/under betting odds are which round the fight will end. Hockey totals are how many goals will be scored between both teams.

With the spread and the total, you will occasionally see that the odds are distributed with 'half points,' which are in place to prevent a 'push,' or no one winning or losing the bets. As long as there is a winner or loser, the sportsbooks will make their money on the juice and be happy.

What To Know About Vegas Betting Odds

The truth of the matter is that Vegas pretty much sets all of the sports betting odds for the entire world. All of the world’s leading experts work for the big casino companies in Las Vegas, and all of them work together to set the odds for different sports. Anytime you hear someone asking or talking about Vegas odds, they are simply talking about the odds and nothing specifically related to Vegas. All of the online sportsbooks use services that simply use the Vegas odds as a starting point for events. Then their own systems will adjust the spread depending on how people are betting at their sportsbook. Ultimately a sportsbook wants 50% of the bets on each side of a game so that they can simply make money on the juice.

Exotic Betting Odds Explained

Exotic bets are there to make for a more entertaining betting experience, but they work somewhat differently compared to the straight bets. But, the original point spread is still used in all these bets no matter how you look at it.

Parlays are essentially a combination of two or more bets into one, such as three teams winning their respective matches. These parlays are usually a long shot since so many teams have to win, but in the end, they are also some of the highest paying games. You can pick teams to cover the point spread, over or unders, or moneylines in a parlay and sometimes you can mix in different sports.

Pleasers are some of the highest paying bets, as they take the spread and then subtract points, making it harder to succeed. Then you also have to combine them into another bet of the same type in order to win. The payouts are huge, but it is not likely that these will come in unless you have the utmost luck or some sort of inside knowledge.

Teaser bets bets are the exact opposite, in that you can adjust the spread to be more favorable, thus lowering your payout but increasing your chances of winning. Either way, these are some of the more exciting ways for you to wager.

There are also 'If-Bets', which allow you to combine two bets. The first bet has to win for the second bet to have action. If the first bet fails, the second bet doesn't come through. If you win the first bet, you can then use the winnings on the second bet, essentially building your bankroll.

Different Formats Of Betting Odds

How To Read American Betting Odds

American odds have become incredibly commonplace, despite the fact that they are not as easy to read as other formats. As an example, American Odds read like this:

Odds To Win Super Bowl:

• Team A: -150
• Team B: +200
• Team C: +600
• Team D: +1000

With American odds, the number represented is how much you have to bet to win $100. If the number is preceded with a '+' sign, then you would risk less than $100 to win a wager worth $100. And, the opposite is true when the number is preceded with a '-' where the bettor would have to risk more than $100 just to win $100 of the wager.

In the example above, you can see that Team A has the lowest number of the group and are considered to be the favorite to win this bet. If you wagered on Team A to win the Super Bowl and they end up winning, you are going to need to risk more than $100 to win $100 as indicated by the '-' symbol preceding the payouts. In this particular example, a bettor would need to wager $150 to win $100.

On the opposite side of that, the other 3 teams in contention all pay better than 1 to 1 odds (risk less than $100 to win $100). Team B is at +200: risk $50 to win $100. Team C is at +600: risk $16.67 to win $100. Team D is at +1000: risk $10 to win $100.

These can be a little bit confusing but if you just pay attention to the + or - symbol then you should not have any issues. And, with a little bit of manipulation, you can see how these odds will pay if the wager ends up being a winner and that is what we're all here for... to win.

How To Read Fractional Odds

Fractional betting odds are the easiest to understand. Just about every single sportsbook that caters to Americans has the option available for fractional odds. And, while they may seem daunting at first, you don't really need to understand complex fractions in order to utilize these odds. Let's look at an example:

Odds To Win Fight:

• Fighter A: 4/7
• Fighter B: 3/2

In order to best understand these lines, you first need to look at the ratio to 1. In the example above, 4/7 odds is less than 1 and the opposite can be said for the other side as 3/2 is more than 1. Once you have determined this, you can figure out the favorite.

To figure out which side is favored, you simply need to figure out which is the lower number. In this case, Fighter A is at 4/7 odds which is less than 1 and Fighter B is at 3/2 odds which is more than 1. Fighter A's wager is the clear favorite as it is the lower number.

So, how do you figure out what these pay? Again, we refer back to 4/7 being less than 1, and 3/2 being more than 1.

Anytime fractional odds are displayed at a value of less than 1, the bettor must risk more than they intend to win if the wager is a winner. And, the opposite can be said for if a fractional value is more than 1... that bet will pay more than what is risked.

As we said before, 4/7 odds are less than 1 so in this case, the bettor must risk $7 to win $4 from the wager. Then, 3/2 are more than 1 so when risking $2, the bettor will win $3 off the wager. As you can see, the payouts are in the fractional odds, you just need to know which way they go based on if they represent a value greater than or less than one.

Understanding Betting Odds That Use Decimals

Decimal odds are slightly more confusing than most other types of odds. In fact, we prefer not to use them when we bet but that is just our preference. Regardless, we are going to give you a little insight into these lines, as we want to give you insight about all of the common types of odds available.

If you look into these odds, you will definitely come out a little bit confused unless you are from Europe where these odds are commonly used than American or Fractional odds. The multiplication game is not as straight forward with decimal odds. Let's take a look at another example:

Odds To Be Next President:

• Candidate A: 1.50
• Candidate B: 2.45

When looking at decimal based odds, the same thing applies to them as all the other forms of odds when trying to determine the favorite... whichever is the lowest number is favored. In the example above, the favored candidate is Candidate A at 1.50 however Candidate B is only a little bit behind at 2.45

Figuring out the payouts is where decimal odds can get tricky, but you'll soon learn a little trick that will make these very easy to understand.

The best way to start off look at these odds is to consider them to be monetary amounts based on what you will win if you wager $1 or one euro, one pound, etc... which includes the original wager. Be sure to keep that in mind when looking at the other odds types.

If Candidate A wins the election, every $1 wagered will win $.50 plus the original $1 wagered which equals $1.50 or 1.50 odds.

Candidate B: every $1 wagered earns $1.45 which equals $2.45 or 2.45 odds.

Now That You Know How To Read Sports Betting Odds

Now that you understand how to read odds, you will then want to see how they are adapted to the different betting lines. With the straight wagers and exotic wagers alike, you will find that these odds are worked into the lines. After you figure out how to read the odds, you will then have to figure out the different types of bets that you can find through most sports betting sites. The different types of bets use odds somewhat differently, but in the end, it is all fairly similar.

We have created special pages that explain how to read the betting odds on a variety of sports. The reason for this is that some sports have betting odds available that others do not. Some sports betting odds can be broken down into a half or quarters while others are just for the entire duration of a match or game. For instance, you cannot really compare the NASCAR or PGA odds with NFL, and vice versa. Each page is crafted specifically for an individual sport making it easier for bettors to learn the ins and outs of betting on whichever sport they choose.

Online Sportsbooks With The Best Sports Betting Odds Available

Now we come to the online sportsbooks + sports betting sites that actually offer the odds we are explaining. There are plenty of betting sites out there, but we have decided to list only those we felt were of the highest level of quality. When personally and individually tested these sportsbooks in order to figure out exactly what they have to offer. In the end, we decided to play with those offering the highest paying odds, the most diverse set of betting types, and a fairly wide range of different sports. Throw in the big bonuses and easy financial transfers and what you get is one of the best sets of betting sites on the Internet.

Bovada Sportsbook - More Betting Odds Than Other Sports Betting Sites

Its already know that Bovada is one of the better online sportsbooks for players to sign up for. The fact that there are so many betting options on this sportsbook makes it known to be a better site as well. Most of the time players look for sites that have the total package which is what Bovada has. Players will flock towards Bovada and one main reason for that is because of the betting odds that are offered to players.

The odds offered on Bovada are her for a player to place big-time bets and make a lot of cash. This makes it very easy for players to pick which bets they want to place. Because of these great betting odds offered, it is known that players are cashing big on parlay bets. More players have a lot got involved in live betting as well because these odds that are here on Bovada are better than other sites they have visited. Because of these betting odds offered, the attention Bovada will get will only increase!

BetOnline Sportsbook - New Bettors Get Bonuses On Every Deposit You Make For Life

There is no doubt that BetOnline has a lot of players that have accounts with them. There are many reasons for that and this list of players will continue to grow and will for the right reason. Even though the age requirement of 18 and older to sign up is one thing that players notice when it comes to BetOnline, the betting odds are something that also grabs a lot of attention as well. These betting odds that are here on the prop bets and are much better than most other online sportsbooks.

Knowing how betting odds work is important and that also will make it easier to understand why BetOnline has the best betting odds for all players. These close odds are what players like and most of the time this will decide what bets they place. With a team being slight underdogs with those odds definitely makes players think if they want to place a bet on those teams and these upsets can end up earning players a lot of extra money! BetOnline odds are very good and makes players consider both sides.

MyBookie Sportsbook - Betting Odds The Best Here On MyBookie

Mybookie is clearly known to be one of the better sites for many players. The number one thing that players check out when they sign up for online sportsbooks is what kind of bets that it offers and there is no doubt that MyBookie has any bet that players can think of. With so many different betting options comes the betting odds as well. The odds here for are taylor made for players. This means that these odds are very good for players because they are close and have players considering to take the upset over the favorite sometimes.

Taking the upset sometimes over the favorite can be the way that players can capitalize big. Something as simple as picking the Miami Heat over the Los Angeles Lakers in the NBA could be considered because of the close the betting odds could be on MyBookie. The great thing about sports is nothing is guaranteed and upsets are often happening so taking an upset sometimes could be very beneficial on MyBookie. This also goes picking the favorite as well. Slight favored could mean to put a lot more money down and lead players to win more. MyBookie is known for great betting odds.

Thanks for visiting ExplainBettingOdds.com, where we will help you understand exactly how to read NHL betting odds. The NHL is a fast-paced sport, complete with a ton of action and wild entertainment. And with 82 games during the regular season, plus the playoffs, that provides both oddsmakers and bettors alike with a lot of opportunities when it comes to betting lines for the sport. The NHL has a number of different betting odds which are formed during the season for each matchup. Here on this page, we detail what types of lines you will see online sportsbooks come out with during the season, and explain them so that they are easy to understand. The NHL is definitely a different type of sport to wager on than for example the NFL. Actually, Major League Baseball betting lines could be compared most similarly to that of the NHL. So let's check out what betting lines you can expect to see formed for the NHL.

How To Bet On The Spread In The NHL

The NHL Goal line is a type of spread installed for each game on the schedule during the week. But unlike the NFL or NBA, the NHL goal line is a set number a 1.5 goals. A team will then be set in the role of having to cover that spread, which is always the team that is set as the favorite on the moneyline. We will get into the moneyline further down below. But for this purpose, consider the team that has to cover the 1.5 goal line with a two-goal win or more as the favorite to win the game out right. Every game is installed with this goal line, though most of the time the team picked as the one having to win by two goals or more is not the favorite to cover the spread. That's because statistically, the majority of hockey games are decided by one goal or less, or result in a tie. Payouts around the goal line can actually vary quite a bit, and you can see some big disparities between the team having to win by two or more goal, and the one that can still lose by a goal and cover.

Article: How To Read Point Spreads

NHL Moneyline Betting Odds Explained

Just like a goal line, every match up in the NHL is installed with a moneyline. This is a straightforward wager, where the bet is placed on the team to win the game outright, with no goal line or any type of spread involved. If you bet on the Canucks to beat the Islanders, the bet is won if Vancouver wins the game, no matter what the score is. This sounds easier right? Well it is. But you can see a disparity in the payouts. The favorite on the moneyline will obviously payout quite a bit less than a bet that would be made and potentially won on the underdog.

Here in this moneyline example, the Canucks are set as -300 favorites on the betting line. That means for every $3 wagered on Vancouver to win, a $1 profit is returned. In the role of the underdog, New York is going off at 2/1 on the payout.

NHL Over / Under Bets Explained

The goal total betting line is a game line set down with the total number of goals for a game between both teams. Oddsmakers will research the two teams, and then come up with an over/under goal total for the specific matchup. The wager is made on the actual scoring total of the game going higher, or lower, than the oddsmakers' prediction. Payouts for this wager are right around even.

Article: How To Read Over / Under Betting Odds

NHL Team Props Explained

NHL Team prop betting odds are lines formed for games and during the season that do not really relate to the direct outcome of the game. For example, a team prop in a specific game might be something like the first team to score a goal in the match up. The bet is placed, and once the first team puts one in the back of the net, the bet is closed. The rest of the game does not have any effect on the outcome of this particular wager. Prop betting odds reduce many of the variables in a game, and are smaller bets within a game. By smaller, we do not mean the amount that can be wagered; only that it's not a bet on the outcome of the game.

NHL Player Props Explained

Player prop betting odds for the NHL are just like team props, only related to specific players. Within a game, we could see as many as 30 or 40 prop betting lines set down for players. They range in nature, and typically revolve around the number of goals or assists, or a combination thereof for players during the game. The bet is made on the number installed for a player, whether it be one goal or 1.5 goals or whichever number. The wagered would then be made on the actual total going over or under that installed number from oddsmakers and online sportsbooks.

How To Read NHL Live Betting Odds

Betting live on sports is definitely something that is becoming more and more popular in this day and age. With the increase in technology and the accessibility of online sportsbooks, live betting is available right at your fingertips. As far as the NHL is concerned with live betting, it is available for games. Not every single game is available for live betting, but online sportsbooks will establish which ones are. From there, the available betting lines will also be shown. Alternate moneylines, team and player props are what are typically available. With live betting, odds are obviously changing every couple of minutes, making for a fun and exciting way to bet sports.

How To Read Stanley Cup Betting Odds

Stanley Cup futures wagers are a betting line which is formed during the season. In fact, these odds come out the day after the championship from the previous season is won. The bet is placed on the odds to win the Stanley Cup for the upcoming or current season. These odds are not set in stone, and do change during the season as teams do well, or fall out of contention.

Bovada Sportsbook - NHL Games Big On Bovada!

The reason that may fans come and sign up for an account with Bovada is because of the variety of games that can be bet on. Hockey is a sport that goes know but barely talked about but is still bet on often. Bovada knows that even though there are a few hockey fans everywhere, having the games on their sportsbook only means that more players will sign up and wager on NHL soon as the puck drops. This means that live betting feature that is present to all account holders can be very busy when it comes to all these games that last a few hours sometimes.

There are so many different money lines and also different betting odds that will be here for players to check out. The fact that there are many different prop bets here as draws a huge crowd of players and that means more and more players will drop money on a bet that could win them a lot of money. Check out the bonuses as well that could make a difference in how much money players can put on their account.

MyBookie Sportsbook - MyBookie The Best Place To Bet On NHL Games

Now for the most part players like to go on their online sportsbooks a place their bet and leave. With MyBookie, placing your bet is only the tip of the iceberg as far as what players can do on their account. With so many different betting options here on MyBookie, the NHL is one of the sports that after you place your bet, you can find other things to get into like checking out other money lines and also participate in live betting feature that it offers.

How To Understand Betting Odds

There is also a mobile betting feature here on MyBookie as well that lets players log in and check on their bets and even place other wagers while they are out of the office or not close to a computer. The games that are being seen will always show up as options and with the NHL season, there will always be plenty of games up on MyBookie so there is no reason for a player to be bored with this account they have!

Betting Odds Meanings