Knowing how to calculate returns from your horse betting online bets can be very useful, especially if you can’t access your PC for some reason and can’t therefore check your return with your chosen bookmaker. All you need to calculate racing returns are a pocket calculator, the betting odds of your winners and the size of your stake (which we assume you will have no problem remembering).

The calculation required to find out how much any given horse racing bet has returned is slightly different for fractional odds and decimal odds. Both versions will therefore be provided so that you can get the job done either way.

Fractional Odds
If you only know the fractional odds of your winner then the first thing you will need to do is convert fractional odds to decimal and then add 1 point to represent your stake. The formula for doing this is:

(L / R) + 1

In other words, take the left hand side of the odds, divide by the right hand side of the odds and then add 1.

For example, if the odds of your winner were 15/8, your calculation would be 15 divided by 8, which would give you 1.875, and then add 1, giving you 2.875.

At this point you can calculate your return by multiplying the figure you have just identified by your stake. So, if you had bet £20 on the 15/8 winner, your total return would be 20 x 2.875 = £57.50, which means you would have made a profit of £37.50.

Decimal Odds
If you know the decimal odds that already include 1 point for your stake (such as the on-screen odds shown on Betfair) then no conversions are necessary. If you know the decimal odds without your stake then simply add 1 point to represent your stake.

Next, multiply your stake by the figure and the result will be your total return. £20 on a 3.50 winner (which is a 5/2 winner) would therefore give you a return of £70, which means you would have made a £50 profit.

Winning Accumulators
If you ever bet on a winning accumulator then calculating your returns is just as easy. First, convert all fractional odds into decimal and add 1 point. Then multiply the resulting figures together. When you have done that, multiply by your stake.

For example, if you have a £20 winning treble where the odds were 2/1, 3/1 and 5/1, you would convert these and get figures of 3.00, 4.00 and 6.00. Multiply these together to get 72 and then multiply by your £20 to get £1,440. Your profit here would therefore be £1,420, which would make it a pretty good treble!