Whereas odds in the US are often quoted as "lines" and odds in
Europe often as decimals (including the stake), UK odds in the UK are typically
shown as fractions. Some UK bookmakers do however offer the option to show
the odds in other ways.
Basically:
US odds: if + then the amount you win for a 100 stake, but if - then the
amount you bet to win 100
European odds: The multiple of your stake that your TOTAL RETURN will be
English odds: The fraction that is applied to your stake to calculate your
WINNINGS
This is easiest to illustrate with a few examples
|
Your Stake
|
Your Return (Winnings + Stake)
|
American Odds
|
European Odds
|
English Odds
|
|
100
|
400
+ 100
|
+400
|
5.0
|
4/1
|
|
100
|
100
+ 100
|
+100
|
2.0
|
EVENS
|
|
100
|
225
+ 100
|
+225
|
3.25
|
9/4
|
|
100
|
50
+ 100
|
-200
|
1.5
|
1/2
|
|
100
|
91
+ 100
|
-110
|
1.91
|
10/11
|
EACH WAY
An each way bet is a popular alternative to a win bet as it allows good
returns for a win but also some return for coming close. An each way bet
is essentially 2 bets - a normal win bet and a place bet. For example a
place in a horse race may be defined as finishing in the first 3 and the odds
for the place are normally shown as being a fraction of the win odds. For
example a race may state that the place odds are 1/5 1,2,3.
The first thing to know about an Each way bet is that the bet is always twice
the amount you enter.
For example if you bet $10 on a horse at 5-1 and select "each way
(EW)" then your stake is $20 not $10.
You are effectively placing $10 on the win at 5-1, and $10 on a place at
5-1 x 1/5th.
Hence if the horse wins your win portion returns $50 + your $10 stake + the
place portion returns $10 + the other $10 stake. However if the horse
finishes 2nd or 3rd the return is just $10 + the $10 place stake (i.e. you
break even overall).
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