Betfair - Understanding The Odds

When punters first join the Betfair betting exchange the most confusing features will be the method in which the odds are displayed. In the UK conventional bookmakers use fractional odds for example 6/4, 2/1, 100/30 or 33/1. On Betfair a decimal odds strategy is used 2.5, 3.0,4.3 or 34.0.

You can readily convert fractional odds into decimal 6/4 is 6 divided by 4 giving you 1.5 + your stake which = 1. So 6/4 is the same as 2.5 around the exchange. If you consider what goes on when you place a wining bet which has a bookmaker your give him your stake money. He places your bet in the agreed odds, say 4/1. If shipped to you he will give you 4x your stake A�40 together with your original investment back. On the exchanges you don't ever actually give your stake to anyone so obviously it does not should be returned.

The odds about the exchanges tend on average to get along with 20% higher than those made available from the bookies. On outsiders with larger odds the difference may be considerably greater. Horses coming in at 33/1 or 50/1 by bookmakers are frequently purchased at three figure odds for the exchanges.

Although chances could be better it is to be offset that if your bet or sbobet lay is productive you'll need to pay 5% commission. His is generally easily offset by the better prices that you re getting this isn't always true when betting on short priced horses.

Because Betfair win, i.e. take a 5% commission from either the backer or layer, regardless of the result unlike bookmakers they do not care the frequency of which you win. This means when you are successful there's no danger of experiencing your closed.

The betting exchanges are growing in importance around the world and if you are enthusiastic about horse racing and betting then you should use the internet here and please take a look with the exchanges, especially Betfair.