Betfair - Understanding The Odds

When punters first join the Betfair betting exchange probably the most confusing features could be the method that the odds are displayed. In the UK conventional bookmakers use fractional odds including 6/4, 2/1, 100/30 or 33/1. On Betfair a decimal odds system is used 2.5, 3.0,4.3 or 34.0.

You can certainly 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 on the exchange. If you consider what happens if you place a wining bet having a bookmaker your provide him your stake money. He places your bet on the agreed odds, say 4/1. If won by you he offers you four times your stake A�40 together with your original investment back. On the exchanges you don't ever actually hand over your stake to anyone so naturally it doesn't have to be returned.

The odds for the exchanges tend an average of to be with 20% greater than those offered by the bookies. On outsiders with larger odds the difference could be considerably greater. Horses coming in at 33/1 or 50/1 by bookmakers can often be bought at three figure odds on the exchanges.

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

Because Betfair win, i.e. require a 5% commission from either the backer or sboarena layer, no matter what result unlike bookmakers they just don't care how frequently you win. This means that if you are successful there's no danger of experiencing your closed.

The betting exchanges are growing in importance worldwide and if you're enthusiastic about horse racing and betting then you definitely need to use the internet here and have a look on the exchanges, especially Betfair.