Fractional odds represent the likelihood of a particular event happening in a sporting encounter. You can get fractional odds for options such as Team A to beat Team B in a football match, or a specific horse to win a race.
The fractional odds will feature two numbers that illustrate how likely the event is to occur. The fraction will also let you know how much you will win should you win your bet.
Fractional odds are the 'standard' odds used at sportsbooks in the United Kingdom[1].
How do fractional odds work?[]
The number on the left side of the fraction refers to how much you would win, while the number on the right side refers to how much you bet.
How much you win / How much you bet[]
If Team A had odds of 2/1 to beat Team B, it means that you would win £2 for every £1 that you bet. As a result, your total winnings would be £3 (your original £1 stake, plus the £2 profit). This is different from decimal odds that automatically include your betting stake in the returns.
Similarly, if Team A had odds of 1/4 to beat Team B, it would mean that you would only win £1 for every £4 that you bet. Your total winnings would therefore be £5 (your original £4 stake, plus the £1 profit).
Fractional odds that are displayed as 1/1 refer to there being an equal chance of you winning or losing this bet. This is also known as an ‘evens’ bet. If you bet £1 on fractional odds of 1/1 and won, you would walk away with a £2 profit.
If the number on the left is much higher than the number on the right, it means that this scenario isn’t likely to happen. But if the number on the right is higher than the number on the left, it means that this is an ‘odds-on’ bet. This kind of bet emerges when there is a strong favourite.