Decimal odds explained: a two-minute guide

Decimal odds are the standard format at bookmakers in Kenya. The number tells you your total return for every shilling you stake, with your stake already included. Once you can read it, you can compare prices, spot value and understand how much the bookmaker keeps.

What the number means

Multiply your stake by the odds to get your total return. A KSh 500 bet at odds of 2.50 returns KSh 1,250 if it wins: KSh 750 profit plus your KSh 500 back. At odds of 1.40, the same bet returns KSh 700, so only KSh 200 of that is profit. Lower odds mean the bookmaker thinks the outcome is more likely, and you are paid less for it.

Turning odds into a probability

Divide 1 by the odds to get the implied probability. At 2.50 that is 1 ÷ 2.50 = 0.40, or 40%. At 1.40 it is about 71%. This is the chance the price suggests, not a guarantee. If you think a team's real chance is higher than the implied probability, the price may be good value.

The bookmaker's margin

Add up the implied probabilities of every outcome in a market and the total comes to more than 100%. Take a match priced at 2.10 for the home win, 3.40 for the draw and 3.60 for the away win. That works out at 47.6% + 29.4% + 27.8% = 104.8%. The extra 4.8% is the bookmaker's margin. The lower the margin, the more of every shilling staked comes back to customers.

Why comparing prices matters

Different bookmakers price the same match differently. A KSh 500 bet at 2.50 returns KSh 1,250, while the same bet at 2.65 returns KSh 1,325: KSh 75 more for the same prediction. Over a season, those differences add up. That is why every match page on FootieRadar shows the best price at bookmakers licensed in Kenya next to the market average.

Odds change as team news and money come in, so always check the price on the bookmaker's own bet slip before you confirm. Bet only what you can afford to lose. 18+.