In this example the odds of the Patriots beating the Rams is 2.83. To find the payout you simply multiply the selections decimal odds by your wager amount. I think it is the best format because it’s the easiest to understand and the quickest method of calculating your potential payout for any wager amount. It’s used by each of the provincial sports lotteries such as Proline, and will likely be the default format used by any of our three recommended sportsbooks. This is the most common odds format used by Canadians. If you think you will get confused learning all three at the same time then I suggest you start out by fully grasping decimal odds because they are the easiest to understand and the most useful when betting online. Keep reading for a break down of each format with examples. There are three main odds formats and I suggest that you understand each one. If you don’t understand how the odds work then you really have no clue what you are betting on. Understanding betting odds is the first thing you should do before ever placing a sports bet.