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Understanding Betting Odds: A Complete Guide

Learn how to read and interpret American, decimal, and fractional odds formats.

LineMonkeys Team8 min readDecember 23, 2025

Understanding Betting Odds

Betting odds represent the probability of an outcome and determine your potential payout.

American Odds

American odds are displayed as positive (+) or negative (-) numbers:

  • Negative odds (-150): The amount you need to bet to win $100
  • Positive odds (+150): The amount you win on a $100 bet

Example

  • -150: Bet $150 to win $100 (total return $250)
  • +150: Bet $100 to win $150 (total return $250)

Converting to Probability

To convert American odds to implied probability:

Negative odds: Probability = |Odds| / (|Odds| + 100) Positive odds: Probability = 100 / (Odds + 100)

Why Shop for the Best Odds?

Even small differences in odds can significantly impact your long-term profits. A difference of 10 points on a -110 line could mean thousands of dollars over a season of betting.

That's why LineMonkeys exists - to help you always find the best odds across all major sportsbooks.