What are esports betting odds? A guide to moneyline, decimal & fractional

Depending on your country, esports odds will be calculated very differently, so you’ll need to understand how to read and interpret these odds before you place any wager.

Esports odds are numerical representations of the likelihood of an event occurring during a match. They help bettors calculate the potential payout for each wager and reflect the degree of risk involved. 

These odds are displayed with every wager offered by esports betting sites. While there are different formats for presenting and calculating odds, such as decimal, fractional, or moneyline, they all serve the same purpose: indicating the likelihood of an outcome and the potential payout.

The odds reflect the probability of winning a wager by simplifying the core attributes of a match into an easy-to-read number. Odds aren’t only useful for calculating your chance of success; they help you understand how much money you can earn if you win.

There are three common types of odds in esports gambling, including moneyline, decimal, and fractional. These figures represent the likelihood of an outcome actually happening and the potential profit you can win with your wager.

When it comes to using the odds to calculate the potential payout, we’ve identified the three components that make up an esports wager: stake, return and profit.

Once the implied probability – the likelihood of an event occurring based on the odds – is known, bettors can then make an educated decision on whether to place a wager or not.

Fractional odds are odds presented in a fractional format such as 10/1. The first number represents the potential payout. The second number represents the amount that must be bet to win the potential payout.

This format is commonly used in the United Kingdom. Bettors in the UK use fractional odds to calculate the risk versus reward for a wager. 

To better understand how to calculate fractional odds, it is best to use an example. Say the odds for Fnatic to win an upcoming VALORANT match are 3/1. To calculate your potential profit, simply multiply your bet amount by the fraction. So a $100 bet at 3/1 odds would win $300. 

Calculation: $100 stake on odds of 3/1: $100 x (3/1) = $300 profit with a total return of $400 (profit + your original stake amount).

Now, to calculate the probability of Fnatic winning their match based on the given fractional odds, follow this equation: Denominator / (Numerator + Denominator) x 100%.

So with Fnatic’s 3/1 odds, simply calculate: 1 / (3 + 1) x 100% = 25%, meaning Fnatic has a 25% chance of winning their match.

Decimal odds, also known as European odds because of their popularity with bettors in Europe, indicate the total return for every $1 wagered on a particular line, including your initial stake. An example is 3.50, meaning if you bet $100, your total payout would be $350.

Decimal odds are also common in many locations outside of Europe, such as Australia. To understand the possible risk and reward, you must apply a bit of multiplication.

Decimal odds may seem daunting at first, but they are fairly easy to understand. To calculate your payout, simply multiply the odds by the amount you’re wagering.

For example, let’s say the decimal odds on Team Heretics winning their next League of Legends match are 4.5. If you wagered $100 on that outcome and were successful, you would receive $450 (your original $100, plus $350 in winnings). 

Calculation: $100 stake on odds of 4.5: $100 x 4.5 = $450 total return with a profit of $350.

Now the probability of Team Heretics to win based on the decimal odds of 4.5 are calculated as such: 1 / Decimal Odds of 4.5 x 100% = 22%.

Moneyline bets are one of the most common types of wagers. They use American odds, which are based on a $100 bet, and feature a favorite and an underdog.

Moneyline favorites have a higher probability of winning an event and are associated with a negative number, such as -120. Underdogs have a lower probability of winning and will have a positive number, such as +120. 

A negative line denotes how much you need to wager to bet $100. Meanwhile, a positive line signifies the winnings from a $100 bet. 

If, for example, the odds of a bet are +300, wagering $100 would return $300 in profit, not including the value of the initial bet.

Calculation: $100 stake on odds of +300: (300/100) x 100 = $300 profit with a $400 return

Placing a $100 stake on a bet displayed as -250 would only net the bettor $40 in profit.

Calculation: $100 stake on odds of -250: (100/250) x 100 = $40 profit with a $140 return in total

Negative odds denote the team is more likely to win. Because of this, bettors need to wager more for greater profit. 

Odds-setting factors vary between different games and competitions. Bookmakers will usually use a mix of analysis and essential information to determine the statistical odds of a bet being correct.

In esports, factors such as past wins and losses, as well as the game’s patch, all have a significant impact on calculating the odds. You can also use a betting odds calculator to better understand the risks and rewards of a bet. 

Here’s a look at some of the most common factors that dictate how odds are determined:

Many factors can influence esports odds, but the most important are a game’s patch and the athlete’s recent performance.

Physical sports and esports are different in many ways. Basketball doesn’t change its rules very often, whereas a game like Fortnite or Call of Duty offers a new competitive meta to learn in every patch. Due to the evolutions most multiplayer video games go through, bookmakers have to consider rapidly changing factors that may influence an athlete or team’s performance. If a competitor’s main operator gets nerfed, their chances of winning the next tournament drop.

Team rosters change more often and chaotically than a traditional sports team, so substitutes and new athletes may alter your chance of winning a wager. There are also fewer statistics to pull from for analysis while calculating odds, since esports is relatively new compared to long-established traditional sports.

Understanding how to interpret and calculate odds is the first step to placing a successful wager. Bettors who study statistics and market trends will best understand how to determine the chance of losing a bet or netting a profit.

The way esports odds are displayed varies significantly among countries, but in the end, how bookmakers calculate odds are very similar. Betting odds may seem overwhelming to first-time gamblers, but knowing the roles that risk and reward play in any esports wager is already a step in the right direction.

When placing any type of wager, it is important to bet responsibly. Betting should be fun and should never be a source of distress. Remember to always prioritize responsible gambling practices, and never bet more than you can afford.