Odds & Formats

Decimal Odds

An odds format showing total return per unit staked. Decimal 2.50 means $2.50 back per $1 bet.

Also known as: European odds

Definition

Decimal odds represent the total return (stake + profit) per unit wagered. A decimal odd of 2.50 means every $1 bet returns $2.50 — that's $1.50 profit plus your $1 stake.

Decimal odds are the standard in Europe, Australia, and most international markets. They're mathematically cleaner than American odds because payout = stake × decimal odds.

The minimum is 1.01 (almost certain). Even money is 2.00. Anything above 2.00 is an underdog.

Formula

payout = stake × decimalOdds
profit = stake × (decimalOdds - 1)
impliedProb = 1 / decimalOdds

Worked Example

At 2.50 decimal: a $100 bet returns $250 total ($150 profit). Implied probability = 1/2.50 = 40%.

Try It Yourself

Odds Converter

Convert between American, Decimal, Fractional and Implied Probability

Related Terms

American Odds

An odds format where negative numbers show how much to risk for $100 profit, and positive numbers show profit on a $100 bet.

Fractional Odds

An odds format expressed as a fraction (e.g., 5/2) showing profit relative to stake.

Implied Probability

The probability of an outcome implied by the odds. Includes the bookmaker's margin (vig).