These are all just different ways of showing how much money the bettor will get back from their initial outlay. We’ll cover the three main ways to read betting odds – decimal odds, American odds, and fractional odds. However, after giving this article a read you’ll be speaking that language like a local. Sports odds can feel like learning a new language. Sports betting odds take several different forms and are calculated in a wide variety of ways. This How To Read Sports Odds offers a comprehensive look at how to interpret the numbers you see at a sportsbook. Especially those who feel like they are a new bettor, who visit the sports betting world occasionally for entertainment purposes. Photo Credit: John Shishmanian/Norwich Bulletinįiguring out how to read sports betting lines can seem a nightmare for many bettors.