Sports Betting Calculator (Odds Payout Ratio Checker)

This calculator helps you check the payout rate and potential return for sports betting. By entering between two and five odds, it calculates the overall payout rate. Just input your stake to see how much profit you could make if any of the odds win.

This calculator can be used to check and compare payout rates across different bookmakers and markets, as well as for strategies like arbitrage betting. It’s also useful for evaluating profit margins when placing multiple bets on outright markets, such as predicting a tournament winner or race champion.

Betting Calculator

How to Use Calculator

There are four types of calculators available: for 2-way, 3-way, 4-way, and 5-way bets.

Let’s walk through how to use the 2-way calculator. First, open to the 2-way tab and enter the two odds you want to evaluate into the Odds1 and Odds2 fields.

When you find a match on a bookmaker’s site that interests you—whether it’s a win/loss prediction, over/under, or point spread—just enter the odds.

For example, suppose an NBA game between the New York Knicks and Boston Celtics is listed with odds of 2.68 for the Knicks and 1.48 for the Celtics. If you input 2.68 in Odds1 and 1.48 in Odds2, the calculator will show a payout ratio of 95.346%.

This means the bookmaker’s margin for these odds is 100% - 95.346% = 4.654%.

Now, let’s say you want to bet $1,000 across the two odds. When you enter 1000 into the Betting Amount field, the calculator will determine the optimal distribution based on the ratio between Odds1 and Odds2—allocating $356 to Odds1 and $644 to Odds2.

It also calculates the potential returns for each outcome. In this case, if Odds1 wins, you get $954 (2.68 × 356), and if Odds2 wins, you get $953 (1.48 × 644). As you can see, the payouts are nearly equal.

However, here’s the catch: no matter which side wins, you still receive less than your original $1,000. This demonstrates that betting on both sides of a market within the same bookmaker—such as backing both outcomes in a win/loss or over/under market—doesn’t give you any advantage.

Instead, it confirms that the bookmaker’s margin effectively reduces your capital.

The same principle applies to other calculators. If you enter 1X2 odds from a football match into the 3-way calculator, or a tennis set score prediction (2–0, 2–1, 1–2, 0–2) into the 4-way calculator, the result is the same: as long as the odds come from the same site and market, the payout ratio will always be less than 100%.

Tips for Using Calculator

This calculator isn’t just designed to show how bookmakers consistently take a margin from players—it helps you understand the system and use that knowledge to bet more strategically.

Comparing Payout Ratio

To better understand how bookmaker odds work, try entering different odds into the calculator and checking the payout rates.

For example, the Knicks vs. Celtics match we mentioned earlier had different odds at another bookmaker at the same time—2.96 for the Knicks and 1.448 for the Celtics. These odds yield a payout rate of 97.234%.

In other words, this bookmaker has a margin of about 2.8%, which is nearly 3% lower than the previous one. That means they return more value to the player, making them more favorable or “player-friendly.”

As you can see, payout rates vary by site, by market type, and even by timing. Comparing them helps you identify the best betting opportunities.

For Arbitrage Betting

Arbitrage betting is a strategy where you select odds from two or more different bookmakers and distribute your stake in such a way that, no matter which outcome wins, your return will exceed your original investment. This works because the combined payout rate of those odds is over 100%.

As mentioned earlier, the payout rate for odds within the same market on a single bookmaker’s site never exceeds 100%. However, that changes when you compare across different sites. Bookmakers each set their own odds and are influenced by the unique betting patterns of their users. As a result, odds vary constantly, and certain combinations can create arbitrage opportunities.

Here’s an example: imagine a tennis match where Bookmaker A offers odds of 3.5 for Player 1 and 1.3 for Player 2. Meanwhile, Bookmaker B offers 2.8 for Player 1 and 1.5 for Player 2.

If you take 3.5 for Player 1 from Bookmaker A and 1.5 for Player 2 from Bookmaker B, the combined payout rate is 105%. That 5% surplus represents your profit margin, or ROI.

Let’s say you have $1,000 to bet. You place $300 on Player 1 at 3.5 odds with Bookmaker A, and $700 on Player 2 at 1.5 odds with Bookmaker B. If Player 1 wins, you receive $1,050 (3.5 × 300). If Player 2 wins, you also get $1,050 (1.5 × 700). Either way, you’ve made a 5% profit on your $1,000 investment.

This kind of guaranteed profit—regardless of the outcome—is possible when you combine odds from multiple bookmakers. Arbitrage opportunities usually occur in 2-way or 3-way markets, and with the 2-way and 3-way calculators, you can quickly check payout rates and recommended stake distributions.

However, be aware: although arbitrage betting is considered a near risk-free strategy, many bookmakers prohibit it. So, proceed with caution if you plan to try it in practice.

For Strategic Outright Betting

This calculator isn’t just for arbitrage—it’s also great for planning strategic bets that involve multiple odds. Think of markets like the FIFA World Cup, the UEFA Champions League, national league titles, the NBA Finals, or the NFL Super Bowl winner.

In these outright betting markets, you can use the calculator to check whether a diversified bet across 2 to 4 teams results in a payout rate over 100%.

For example, here are some odds from the start of the 2023/24 UEFA Champions League season. Let’s say you combine a 3.00 odd on favorites Manchester City with 9.00 on Real Madrid, 26.00 on Napoli, and a longshot 81.00 on Porto.

The combined payout rate of these four bets is 201.9%. That means if you distribute your stake properly, your ROI will be 101.9%—essentially doubling your money—if any of the four teams wins. (In fact, Real Madrid ended up winning that season.)

Of course, if you had bet only on Real Madrid, the return would’ve been 9x your stake—but the risk of missing out would have been much higher. A diversified bet with a payout rate above 100% offers lower returns, but increases your chances of winning.

To fine-tune this strategy, consider blending your strategic bets with a slightly larger single bet on your favorite team. In this case, you could place extra on Real Madrid, or top up your stake on a team you personally believe in—like Manchester City or Napoli—giving you a chance to chase higher returns while still managing your risk.

Use this calculator to deepen your understanding of how bookmaker odds work. With that knowledge, you can build smarter betting strategies and aim for profit. The calculator is versatile and can be used across many types of bets. Good luck!