When placing a wager on sports, often times you’ll see odds given in the form of +X to -Y. What does this mean? Let’s take a quick look.
The Basics
When you see +6000 in odds, it means the favorite has raised the stake by six thousand. For example, a horse bet at odds of 6:1 – that is, the favorite has placed a six thousand dollar wager, while the underdog is offering 1,600 – will result in a profit of 100%, or $6,000, for the favorite, and a loss of $1,600, for the underdog. Simple enough.
In the United States, sportsbooks use the American betting fractional odds (2:1) instead of the English fractional odds (2.1). This means all wagers on sports will have an exact meaning, regardless of which country you’re in.
What About Margins?
Sometimes when you see odds in the form of +6000, it means the bookmaker is making a generous offer – called a ‘credit’ by American sportsbooks. For example, if you’re at +10000 odds and choose to bet the favorite, you’ll need to place a ten dollar wager. While this may seem like a large sum, consider the fact that this is essentially just a ‘hair’ credit. You’re essentially betting on the sides with a credit balance of nine dollars, since the initial ten dollar wager is being covered by the bookmaker.
This offer is usually made by the bookmaker to attract high rollers who want to take a lot of money off the underdog. It’s also a common practice for bookmakers to make this offer to new customers, in an effort to get them to sign up and open an account with them. The downside is that if you’re not familiar with gambling, this type of offer can seem a little too good to be true. In fact, it probably is.
The takeaway from this is that if in doubt, ask a representative of the bookmaker. Some sportsbooks will guarantee a specific profit, while others may not. Some may also prefer that you place your wagers on certain teams or players, rather than allowing you to choose your own sides. This can make a difference in how much you win or lose, and will probably depend on the bookmaker’s terms and conditions.
More Than Meets The Eye
On rare occasions, you’ll see odds in the form of +6000 given for a reason other than simply to show you what the stake is. This is especially common when talking about poker odds, where the extra zeros are used to represent the number of players involved in the game. For example, if there are five players at a table and the stakes are $10/$20, odds of +6000 mean the deal is twice as high – or ten thousand dollar bets, rather than five thousand dollar bets. This is just a way of helping you keep track of how much you’re wagering, rather than having to do the calculations yourself!
You’ll also see odds in the same form outside of the U.S., where English is the official language. Here, the odds of 6:1 would simply mean that the bet is six to one, or in other words, the favorite has put up one six-hundredth of the total wager. This is a very similar concept to the one just described, where a six thousand dollar wager would result in a profit of one thousand six hundred dollars, for the favorite, and a loss of one thousand six hundred dollars, for the underdog. Just remember the rule of thumb: If you’re unsure of what these numbers mean, ask an expert. They will be able to provide you with an explanation that makes sense to you, and helps you keep everything straight in your head!
Hopefully this article has helped you understand what the +6000 in betting means, and how to make use of it effectively. When picking your own bets or placing market bets, it is important to realize the different rules that apply, and what each one means. Make sure to do your research and learn the odds, before placing your wagers. Do your best to avoid the many different types of scams that surround online gambling, and instead, pursue the many reputable sportsbooks out there that offer a safe and secure environment for you to place your bets!