Odds can be confusing for sports betting beginners. They show the probability that a team will win or lose and what you stand to earn for placing a wager on one outcome or another. Understanding odds can help you make smarter bets and increase your chances of winning at online sportsbooks.
Odds are calculated as the probability in favor of an event divided by the probability against it. This number can be displayed in many ways, including as a ratio, or as a decimal or fraction. The calculation behind each format is slightly different, but the results are identical. Odds as a ratio, odds as a number, and probability (also a number) are all related by simple formulas, so understanding one will help you understand the others.
In science, odds are often used instead of probabilities in experiments and case-control studies. The two can be easily converted, but it’s important to know the difference between them so you don’t overestimate risk. For example, 9/1 can be calculated as probability (%) = 1 / (9 + 1) or simply probability (%) = 1 / (a+b).
In betting, odds achieve three essential things: They tell you how likely an event will occur, they reflect how much you should bet to win a certain amount, and they indicate the sportsbook’s opinion based on complex algorithms. The odds may change, so it’s best to check them regularly and compare lines before making a bet. In addition, be sure to factor in the vig, which is the amount that a bookmaker charges for taking your bets.