44%, 44/100 and 0.44 are all different ways to describe the same thing.  How you prefer to describe 44 parts per 100 is a matter of your own personal preference.  A similar phenomenon happens with sports betting.  Consider a bet on a team where for every $1 you wager the book will pay you $2 in profit.  Here are the various ways that you may see that presented at a sportsbook.

+200

This is known as “American Style” odds.  It is based on betting or winning $100.  For American odds that are positive, such as +200, then it is based on betting $100.  At +200 if you bet $100, then you will win $200 if your team prevails.  If the American odds is negative, such as -200, then it is based on how much you have to wager to win $100.  At -200 you would wager $200 to win $100 if your team prevails.

3.0

This is known as “Decimal Style” or sometimes “European Style” odds.  It is a multiple used to determine how much the sportsbook will pay out if your bet prevails.  At 3.0, if you bet $100 and your bet wins, the sportsbook will pay out (3.0)($100) = $300.  Note that unlike American style odds this payout amount includes the refund of your original bet.  Your profit is $200, thus 3.0 is the decimal odds equivalent of +200.  If you bet $200 at decimal odds of 1.5, and your bet wins, your payout is (1.5)($200) = $300, for $100 profit.  1.5 is the decimal equivalent of -200.

2/1

This is known as “Fractional Style” odds, spoken “two-to-one”.  It shows the ratio of profit (on the left) to the wager (on the right).  $200 profit would be earned on a $100 wager placed at 2/1 odds.  It is the equivalent of +200 (American) and 3.0 (Decimal).  Similarly, 1/2 is the equivalent of -200 (American) and 1.5 (Decimal).  Fractional odds are not used very often outside of the UK and Ireland.

CONVERTING BETWEEN AMERICAN AND DECIMAL ODDS

It is three commonly used methods to describe the very same thing.  Whichever you choose to use is a matter of familiarity and personal preference.  If you wish to convert between American style and Decimal style, you can use one of the following formulas:

American to Decimal, odds <  -100:

Decimal odds = 1 – (100/American odds)

American to Decimal, odds > +100

Decimal odds = 1 + (American Odds/100)

Decimal to American, Odds < 2.0

American odds = (-100)/(Decimal odds – 1)

Decimal to American, odds > 2.0

American odds = 100*(Decimal odds -1)

 Intertops Sportsbook allows you to display the odds in any format you like.  

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