If you’ve spent any time on a sportsbook, especially outside the US, you’ve probably seen odds listed like 2.00, 1.75, or 3.25. These aren’t typos or weird formatting. They’re European odds, also known as decimal odds. And if you’re new to betting, they might be the easiest format to learn.
Once you understand how European odds work, you’ll find it much easier to read markets, compare prices, and calculate potential payouts. In this guide, we’ll break it all down for you — what European odds mean, how they work, and how they compare to other formats.
Contents
The history of European odds
European odds, or decimal odds, became the dominant format in continental Europe in the second half of the 20th century as betting moved from informal, localized bookmaking to more standardized, regulated markets. Unlike fractional odds — which originated in British horse racing and were designed for face-to-face wagering — decimal odds offered a simpler, more transparent way to show potential returns.
Their popularity grew even faster in the late 1990s and early 2000s with the rise of online sportsbooks. The single-number format made it easy for bettors to compare prices and calculate returns instantly, which suited digital platforms perfectly. From there, decimal odds spread beyond Europe into Canada, Australia, much of Asia, and even some US sportsbooks as an alternative to moneyline odds.
European odds explained
European odds are the most widely used way to display betting prices around the world. You’ll see them listed as numbers like 1.75, 2.00, or 3.10, depending on how likely the outcome is.
How do decimal odds work?
In short, decimal odds show your total return for every $1 you bet, including your stake.
If the odds are 2.50, and you bet $10, your total payout would be $25. That’s $15 profit, plus your $10 stake returned.
The number tells you the total amount you’ll get back if your bet wins. No complicated conversions. No extra math.
For example, if you bet $20 on a tennis match at odds of 1.80. To find your payout, you simply multiply your stake by the decimal:
$20 × 1.80 = $36
You’ll get $36 in total: your $20 stake, and $16 in profit.
This is what makes decimal odds so popular, especially for beginners. Compared to American or fractional odds, they’re intuitive and easy to work with. You don’t need to memorise how +150 compares to –200 or figure out what 9/4 means. You just multiply your stake by the number you see.
What European odds tell you about probabilities
This is the important bit: the higher the odds, the less likely the bookmaker thinks that outcome is.
- A team listed at 1.50 is considered a favorite. You’ll get a smaller return because they’re more likely to win.
- A team listed at 3.00, on the other hand, is the underdog. They’re less likely to win, but if they do, you’ll get a much bigger return.
You can even turn decimal odds into a rough probability. Just divide 100 by the odds:
- 2.00 = 100 ÷ 2.00 = 50% chance
- 1.25 = 100 ÷ 1.25 = 80% chance
- 4.00 = 100 ÷ 4.00 = 25% chance
So when you look at decimal odds, you can easily see both the potential payout and the likelihood of your bet winning.
Why is this format so useful?
Decimal odds are easy to compare, especially across different sportsbooks. You can instantly spot which one offers a better return on the same outcome — 2.60 is clearly better than 2.40, and there’s no need to convert anything in your head.
They’re also ideal for parlays, since you just multiply each leg together to get your total payout odds. Meaning there is no need to stack fractional conversions or convert moneyline odds.
That’s what makes them so widely used. Whether you’re betting on a single match or building out a multi-leg combo, decimal odds give you a clear picture of your risk, return, and value.
How to calculate returns on European odds
To calculate your return, just multiply your stake by the decimal odds.
- Stake × Odds = Total Return (including your stake)
Let’s say you’re betting $40 on a tennis player at 2.25 odds. Your payout would be:
$40 × 2.25 = $90 total
That’s $50 profit, plus your original $40 stake
It’s that straightforward.
European odds always show total return, not just profit. So if you’re used to fractional or moneyline odds, remember that the stake is already baked into the number.
Here are a few more examples:
- 1.80 odds on a $50 bet → $90 return
- 2.00 odds on a $100 bet → $200 return
- 3.50 odds on a $20 bet → $70 return
How European odds compare to other formats
Betting odds can be displayed in several formats, depending on where you’re betting. The most common are decimal (European), fractional (UK), and American (moneyline). While they all express the same underlying idea, they do it in very different ways.
| Odds format | Example | What it means | Where you’ll find it |
| Decimal (European) | 2.50 | You’ll receive $2.50 total per $1 bet (stake included) | Europe, Canada, Australia |
| Fractional (UK) | 3/1 | You’ll win $3 profit per $1 bet (stake not included) | UK, Ireland, horse racing |
| American (Moneyline) | +200 | You’ll win $200 profit on a $100 bet (stake not included) | US, North America |
The biggest difference is what the number represents.
- Decimal odds show the total return, including your stake. A 2.50 decimal means $1 turns into $2.50 total — $1.50 profit, plus your $1 back.
- Fractional odds (like 3/1) show profit only. So 3/1 means $1 wins you get $3 in profit, and you get your $1 stake back on top of that.
- American odds are centered around a $100 benchmark. A +200 means you win $200 profit on a $100 stake (same as 2/1). A –150 means you need to bet $150 to win $100.
Why decimal odds are often easier
Decimal odds are considered the most intuitive because they’re consistent and scalable. The number always reflects the total return per $1 staked, and the math is simple: stake × odds = payout. No need to remember what +110 means or calculate fractional values. You can easily compare prices across markets, and for parlays, you can just multiply the decimals together.
FAQs
Not necessarily. European odds are simply a way of displaying prices — you can see them in both fixed-odds and live (dynamic) markets. In a fixed-odds market, the price is locked in when you place your bet, so it won’t change afterward. In live betting or other dynamic markets, the price can change right up until your bet is accepted, even though it’s still shown in the same decimal format.
2.00 is even money in European odds. You double your stake, so a $100 bet returns $200 total.
The same way you’re used to. Live odds constantly update, but once you place the bet, the odds are locked in. You’ll be paid based on what you clicked.
Usually yes, and it depends on whether the sportsbooks offer a cash out feature, which many do. The cash out price is based on the current live odds — not the original ones you locked in — and lets you secure profit or limit losses before the event ends.
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