What Does ‘Fractional’ Mean in Sports Betting?
In sports betting, ‘fractional’ refers to a way of expressing odds, most commonly used in the United Kingdom and Ireland. The fraction shows you the potential profit you will make relative to your stake (the amount you bet).
How to Read Fractional Odds
Fractional odds are written with a slash (/) or a hyphen (-). The number on the left (the numerator) indicates how much you will win, and the number on the right (the denominator) is the amount you need to stake.
For example, if you see odds of 5/1 (read as “five-to-one”):
- For every £1 you bet, you will win £5 in profit.
- If you bet £10, you would win £50 in profit (£10 x 5).
Your total return would be your profit plus your original stake. So, a winning £10 bet at 5/1 would return £60 (£50 profit + £10 stake).
Common Scenarios
Odds Against
When the first number is bigger than the second (e.g., 2/1, 10/1), it’s called “odds against.” This means the potential profit is greater than the amount you staked. These are typically for outcomes considered less likely to happen.
- Example: A horse is listed at 10/1 to win a race. If you bet £5 and it wins, you get £50 profit (£5 x 10), plus your £5 stake back for a total return of £55.
Odds On
When the second number is bigger than the first (e.g., 1/2, 2/5), it’s called “odds on.” This means the potential profit is less than your stake. These are for outcomes considered very likely to happen, often called a “heavy favourite.”
- Example: A top football team is 1/2 (“two-to-one on”) to win a match. You have to bet £2 just to win £1 in profit. If you bet £10, you would win £5 profit (£10 ÷ 2), plus your £10 stake back for a total return of £15.
Evens
When the numbers are the same (e.g., 1/1), it’s called “evens” or “even money.” Your profit will be the same as your stake.
- Example: A tennis match is priced at 1/1. A winning £20 bet will give you £20 profit, plus your £20 stake back for a total of £40.
Comparison with Other Odds Formats
It’s helpful to see how fractional odds compare to the other main types:
| Odds Type | How it Works | Example Bet | Total Return |
| Fractional | Shows profit relative to stake (e.g., 2/1). | Bet £10 at 2/1, win £20 profit. | £30 |
| Decimal | Shows total return for every £1 staked (e.g., 3.00). | Bet £10 at 3.00, return is £30. | £30 |
| American | Shows profit on a £100 bet (+) or stake needed for £100 profit (-). | Bet £10 at +200, win £20 profit. | £30 |