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Calculating Odds & Payouts

5 min read

You don't need advanced maths to bet well — just a few simple calculations you can do on any slip. Here's how to work out payouts, probability and the bookmaker's cut.

Working out your return

Return = stake × decimal odds. A 20 stake at 3.40 returns 68 (a 48 profit). For accumulators, multiply all the odds together first, then multiply by your stake.

The bookmaker margin

Add the implied probabilities of every outcome in a market. If they total 105%, the extra 5% is the bookmaker's margin — the built-in edge you must overcome. Lower-margin markets give you better long-term value.

Frequently Asked Questions

Continue Learning

Understanding Betting OddsA plain-English guide to reading decimal, fractional and American (moneyline) odds and turning them into probabilities.Value Betting ExplainedWhat value betting is, how to find value bets using implied probability, and how Statlign surfaces positive-EV picks with a 50-strategy engine.How To Read Betting OddsLearn how to read betting odds — decimal, fractional and American Vegas lines — and turn any price into a real probability in under a minute.Bankroll ManagementProtect your bankroll with disciplined stake sizing, flat-stake rules and the Kelly Criterion.Moneyline Betting ExplainedWhat a moneyline bet is, how to read + and − money line odds, and how the moneyline works in NFL, NBA, NHL, MLB and 3-way soccer markets.Point Spread & HandicapsHow point spreads and handicaps work across NFL, NBA, NHL, MLB and soccer — and how they level the playing field between mismatched teams.Over/Under Betting ExplainedHow over/under (totals) betting works — the 2.5 goals line, Asian totals, team totals and how to spot value in NBA/NFL over-under lines.HT/FT Betting ExplainedHow half-time/full-time (HT/FT) betting works, the six combinations, why it pays big odds and how to find HT/FT value with data.Parlays & AccumulatorsHow parlays/accumulators combine multiple bets for bigger payouts, the maths behind acca odds, and how to build them wisely.BTTS Betting TipsHow to find value in the Both Teams To Score market using attacking and defensive form, and common BTTS mistakes to avoid.Correct Score Betting TipsHow to approach the high-odds correct score market, the most common scorelines, and how to build value without chasing longshots.MLS Betting GuideHow to bet on MLS — best markets, home-field trends, playoff lines and how Statlign generates data-driven Major League Soccer predictions.NBA Betting GuideHow to bet the NBA — moneyline, point spread, totals, player props and situational spots — plus how Statlign generates data-driven NBA predictions.AI vs. Human Tipsters: Serie AA head-to-head comparison of AI-driven Serie A predictions and traditional human tipsters — accuracy, bias, transparency, coverage and cost, with the evidence behind each.

Put It Into Practice

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