Reviewed by TipsterCheck Editorial TeamLast checked 29 October 2026MethodologyCorrections
Betting glossary · Odds & Maths
What is American (Moneyline) Odds?
What is American (Moneyline) Odds?
How American (Moneyline) Odds Work
American odds are expressed as a positive or negative whole number. A positive figure, such as +200, tells you the profit you would make on a £100 stake. In this case a £100 bet returns £200 profit plus your £100 stake back, giving total returns of £300. The higher the positive number, the greater the underdog and the larger the potential payout relative to what you risk.
A negative figure, such as -150, tells you how much you must stake to make £100 profit. So a -150 bet requires a £150 stake to return £100 profit, giving total returns of £250. The larger the negative number, the shorter (more favoured) the selection. Odds of -100 are equivalent to evens, and +100 is also equivalent to evens. To convert to decimal odds: for positive figures, divide by 100 and add 1 (e.g. +200 = 3.00); for negative figures, divide 100 by the absolute value and add 1 (e.g. -150 = 1.67).
A Worked Example
Suppose a tipster advises a football selection priced at +350. A £50 stake on that selection would return (50 × 350 ÷ 100) = £175 profit, plus the £50 stake returned, giving total returns of £225. Now suppose another tip is priced at -200. To calculate returns on a £50 stake, divide the stake by (200 ÷ 100), which gives £25 profit, plus the £50 stake returned, for total returns of £75.
The implied probability is straightforward to calculate. For positive odds: 100 ÷ (odds + 100) — so +350 implies 100 ÷ 450 = 22.2%. For negative odds: absolute value ÷ (absolute value + 100) — so -200 implies 200 ÷ 300 = 66.7%. Being able to make these conversions quickly is useful because many US-facing sportsbooks and data feeds display moneyline odds, and a tipster serving an international audience may quote them alongside or instead of fractional or decimal odds.
Why It Matters When Judging or Following a Tipster
If a tipster publishes selections using American odds and you are used to fractional or decimal odds, it is easy to misread value — particularly with negative lines, where a large number looks dramatic but may represent a very short-priced favourite. Always convert to your preferred format before assessing whether the odds represent genuine value. Tipsters who operate across US sports such as NFL or NBA will routinely use moneyline odds, so understanding them is essential to evaluate their advised prices and track their claimed profits accurately.
When reviewing a tipster's historical record on TipsterCheck, be aware that profit in points and yield figures should reflect the odds at which selections were proofed. If a tipster quotes moneyline odds but records results in fractional or decimal terms, check that the conversions are consistent throughout their history. Inconsistencies in how odds are recorded can distort ROI figures significantly. As with all odds formats, the format itself does not affect the underlying value of a bet — what matters is whether the implied probability is lower than your own assessment of the true probability.
Example: A tipster advises an NFL team at +180, meaning a £100 stake returns £180 profit (£280 total) if the selection wins.
FAQs
How do I convert American odds to decimal odds?
For positive odds, divide by 100 and add 1 (e.g. +250 = 3.50). For negative odds, divide 100 by the absolute value and add 1 (e.g. -200 = 1.50). Most betting calculators will do this automatically.
Are American odds commonly used by UK bookmakers?
Rarely. Most UK bookmakers default to fractional or decimal odds. American odds appear mainly on US-facing sportsbooks or specialist platforms covering American sports, though some sites let you switch between formats in your account settings.
Do American odds change the actual value of a bet?
No. Fractional, decimal, and American odds are three ways of expressing the same information. A bet's value depends on the implied probability versus the true probability, not on which format is used to display the price.
More odds & maths terms: Drifter, Evens