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American odds is a format used to display betting odds. Positive and negative numbers are used to indicate potential profit relative to a 100 unit risk. American odds are frequently used in the United States.

How American Odds Work

The betting odds for any market will be either a positive or negative number. The negative numbers require an initial risk of that amount in order to profit $100. In the example below the New England Patriots are -180 favorites on the moneyline. A risk of $180 would yield $100 profit for a total return of $280.

Team Spread Total Moneyline
  New England Patriots -3.5 (-110) Over 44.5 (-110) -180
  Baltimore Ravens +3.5 (-110) Under 44.5 (-110) +160

Positive numbers will require a risk of $100 in order to profit that amount. Using the same example the Baltimore Ravens are +160 underdogs on the moneyline. A bettor who risks $100 would stand to make $160 profit for a total return of $260. It should be noted that any amount within a sportsbook's limits can be wagered. The $100 base risk and return are simply to make the odds easier to visualize.

The more favored a market is to win the more negative the American odds will be; the bettor is required to risk larger amounts to yield the same $100 profit. Consequently the more of an underdog a market is the larger the positive number; the bettor will receive a greater return on their $100 wager if it were to win. Here are some example odds with their respective risk, profit, and return:

American Odds Risk Profit Return
-500 $500 $100 $600
-250 $250 $100 $350
-125 $125 $100 $225
-110 $110 $100 $210
-105 $105 $100 $205
-101 $101 $100 $201
+100 $100 $100 $200
+101 $100 $101 $201
+105 $100 $105 $205
+110 $100 $110 $210
+125 $100 $125 $225
+250 $100 $250 $350
+500 $100 $500 $600

The transition between positive and negative odds can be observed in the table above. A wager that features a 1-to-1 return would have +100 odds since a $100 risk returns a $100 profit. However two sides of a betting market with equal odds will instead be set at -110. This is due to the bookmaker's commission known as the vig. In the example below both sides of the spread and total have -110 odds.

Team Spread Total Moneyline
  New England Patriots -3.5 (-110) Over 44.5 (-110) -180
  Baltimore Ravens +3.5 (-110) Under 44.5 (-110) +160