Decimal odds show the total return per unit staked if a bet wins, including the stake. Multiply the stake by the decimal odds for total return; subtract the stake to find profit.
Return and profit are different
For a hypothetical 8-unit bet at 2.50, total return is 8 × 2.50 = 20 units. Profit is 20 − 8 = 12 units. If the bet loses, the loss is the 8-unit stake. These examples assume an ordinary cash bet, no commission and no deductions. Free-bet offers can treat the original stake differently.
| Stake | Decimal odds | Winning return | Profit |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10 | 1.50 | 15 | 5 |
| 10 | 2.00 | 20 | 10 |
| 10 | 3.20 | 32 | 22 |
Implied probability
The formula is 1 ÷ decimal odds × 100. Odds of 2.50 imply 40%. This is a way of expressing a price, not a prediction, measured likelihood or guarantee. The bookmaker’s margin, market conditions and pricing decisions affect the quote.
Consider a hypothetical two-outcome market offering 1.90 on each side. Each price implies about 52.63%; together they total 105.26%. The amount above 100% is the overround. Looking at just one price hides this margin, and removing the overround mechanically would still not prove the true probabilities.
Other formats describe the same price
Fractional odds of 3/2 convert to decimal 2.50: divide 3 by 2, then add 1. American odds of +150 also convert to 2.50. American −200 converts to 1.50: add 1 to 100 ÷ 200. Differences in display do not improve the underlying offer.
Use our odds converter to compare formats. Results are rounded for readability, so converting a rounded output back can produce a small difference. The price accepted on the bet slip, not an earlier screen or a rounded example, determines the starting calculation.
Check the settlement conditions
Confirm the market, event period and accepted stake. A void bet, dead heat, cash-out or promotional bet may use different settlement rules. Betfair’s documentation is a useful explanation of odds formats, but its operator-specific rules must not be assumed to apply at Felistra.