Understanding BetUS Odds: A Detailed Analysis
There's no better feeling than watching your team win, that is unless you've wagered some cash on your team and their win also turns into a big win for you! Placing bets on sports isn't hard, but it does require you to know a few terms. Our guide Understanding BetUS Odds: A Detailed Analysis walks you through the odds and what they mean to you if you win or lose a bet.
You Set the Type of Odds Shown in the Betting Lines
When you've chosen a sport for placing bets, there's a drop-down menu on the top right that allows you to change from American Odds to Fractional or Decimal Odds. What does each of these odds mean?
- American Odds (Every $100 in winning bets pays X amount)
- Decimal Odds (Every $1 in winning bets pays the decimal odds times that $1)
- Fractional Odds (Every $1 in winning bets pays the dollar times the fraction)
In general, all of these will lead to the same payout, but you may simply find it easier to understand one form of odds over another. BetUS allows you to customize the betting lines to be easiest for you to understand.
Breaking Down How Much You'd Win
The amount you win is always based on the odds. But, you do have different betting options to consider, too. Suppose you're placing a bet on your favorite MLB team, you're thinking that the Toronto Blue Jays are going to win tonight's game. You have four betting options:
- Run Line - Bet on the number of runs between the winning and losing team
- Money Line - Bet on them winning or losing
- Total (Over/Under) - Bet on the total number of runs from both teams by the end of the game using an over X or under X format
- Team Total - Bet on the total number of runs from one team by the end of the game
If you wagered $100 on a run line bet that had +105 (2.05 decimal or 21/20 fractional), you'd get $105 in prizes on your $100 bet. The odds for a money line bet are -175 (1.57 decimal or 4/7 fractional), so you'd win $57. The total bet has odds of -115 (1.95 decimal or 19/20 fractional), so you'd win $87 on a $100 winning bet. Finally, a team bet has the same odds, so again, you'd win $87 on a winning bet.
The odds will change over time, so don't be alarmed if you see the amount you can win increasing or decreasing slightly. As more bets are placed and stats change, there will be fluctuation.
Don't worry too much about figuring out the odds on your own. It helps to have a basic understanding, but there's a bet slip on the right side of the screen that automatically calculates the math for you. You can try different bets and see how much you can win if you have the winning bet. The trash can icon removes that bet, and nothing is final until you have clicked "Place My Bets," deposited funds, and finalized everything.