Whether you’re new to sports betting or a seasoned pro, determining possible payouts for your wagers is a crucial skill. Traditionally, most UK betting sites have used fractional odds (12/5, 1/2, etc). However, decimal odds are rapidly gaining popularity worldwide and offer some distinct advantages when calculating potential profits. In this article, we’ll explain what fractional odds are, how to read them, and most importantly, how they can help you quickly calculate exact potential payouts on your bets. Let’s get started!
What Are Fractional Odds?
Fractional odds represent the potential profit you would receive on a winning bet per unit wagered. They are expressed as two numbers separated by a slash – e.g. 12/5, 4/1, 1/2.
Some examples:
- 12/5
- 5/2
- 1/4
The key thing to understand is that the number before the slash is the profit made on a winning £1 bet. The number after is the amount you need to wager to win that profit.
How to Calculate Payouts with Fractional Odds
Calculating possible payouts with fractional odds just requires a simple formula:
Stake x (Numerator / Denominator) + Stake = Total Payout
So for example, let’s say you place a £50 bet at odds of 5/2:
£50 x (5/2) + £50 = £150
Therefore, if your £50 bet wins at odds of 5/2, your total payout would be £150. This includes your original £50 stake plus £100 profit.
The main benefit of fractional odds is that they allow you to quickly calculate exact payouts.
Comparing Fractional Odds Values: Looking at the fractional number also tells you the implied probability for that outcome.
Lower fractions like 1/5 indicate the outcome is more likely to happen. Higher fractions like 5/1 or 10/1 indicate an unlikely event.
So when comparing betting opportunities, you can use the fractions to find the most valuable odds.
For example:
- Horse A at 2/1 (£2 profit for every £1 staked)
- Horse B at 10/1 (£10 profit for every £1 staked)
This shows that Horse B is the underdog with higher potential payout at 10/1.
Here is a table comparing decimal odds to more complex fractional odds:
| Decimal Odds | Fractional Odds | Explanation |
|---|---|---|
| 1.25 | 1/4 | Simple fractional odds |
| 1.40 | 2/5 | More complicated fraction |
| 1.62 | 8/13 | Fraction with larger numbers |
| 1.28 | 15/25 | Fraction with multiple digits |
| 6.60 | 11/2 | Mixed number fraction |
As you can see, some decimal odds convert to clean fractional numbers like 1/4.
However, other decimals lead to more complicated fractions like 8/13 or 15/25 when converting the payout ratios.
Still, even with complex fractions, the same payout calculations apply:
Stake x (Numerator / Denominator) + Stake = Total Payout
So, while the fractions may seem unintuitive, the payout mathematics remain consistent.
The benefit of decimal odds is avoiding these complex fractions altogether and offering a simpler representation for the payout ratio on a bet. Decimals allow you to bypass the fractions and directly calculate potential winnings.