Quick answer
For a single bet, payout = stake × decimal odds and profit = payout − stake. For an accumulator, multiply all the odds together first, then multiply by the stake. A void selection counts as odds of 1.00. Any tax or fee the bookmaker deducts comes off afterwards.
On this page
The two formulas you need
- Gross payout = stake × decimal odds
- Gross profit = gross payout − stake
"Gross" means before anything is deducted. Some bookmakers deduct tax or fees from winnings; we explain that separately below.
Single bets
Example: $3 on FC Platinum to beat Highlanders at odds of 2.20.
- Payout: $3 × 2.20 = $6.60
- Profit: $6.60 − $3.00 = $3.60
If FC Platinum do not win, the payout is $0 and you have lost $3.
Accumulators (multibets)
In an accumulator, every selection must win. The combined odds are all the odds multiplied together.
Example: a $1 accumulator with three selections:
| Selection | Odds |
|---|---|
| Manchester City to win | 1.40 |
| Dynamos to win | 2.10 |
| Over 2.5 goals in Chelsea vs Liverpool | 1.75 |
- Combined odds: 1.40 × 2.10 × 1.75 = 5.145, shown as 5.15 on most slips
- Payout: $1 × 5.145 = $5.15 (rounded to the nearest cent)
- Profit: $5.15 − $1.00 = $4.15
If any one of the three loses, the whole bet loses. The accumulator calculator handles up to 30 selections.
When a selection is void
If a match is cancelled or abandoned, that selection is usually made void and treated as odds of 1.00. Your bet continues with the remaining selections.
Example: in the accumulator above, if the Dynamos match is postponed and voided, the combined odds become 1.40 × 1.00 × 1.75 = 2.45, so the $1 bet pays $2.45 if the other two win.
Each bookmaker's rules on postponed and abandoned matches differ, so check its terms. Our glossary explains void bets.
Draw no bet and double chance
- With draw no bet, a draw returns your stake. A $5 draw-no-bet on Dynamos at 1.75 pays $8.75 if Dynamos win, returns $5.00 if it is a draw, and pays nothing if CAPS United win.
- With double chance, one bet covers two of the three results. The calculation is the same as a single: stake × odds.
Cash out
If you cash out before the bet finishes, the bookmaker pays the amount it offers at that moment instead of the full payout. That amount is set by the bookmaker and is usually less than the bet is "worth".
Tax and fees
Some countries, including Zimbabwe, have taxes that can apply to betting winnings, and bookmakers may also charge fees on some withdrawals. Rules about how and when these are deducted vary, and we have not verified how every bookmaker applies them. Our payout calculator shows gross figures only. To see what a deduction at a particular rate would look like, use the separate Zimbabwe betting tax calculator, and check your bookmaker's terms or bet slip for the actual amount.
Common mistakes
- Adding odds instead of multiplying them in an accumulator. 1.40 + 2.10 + 1.75 = 5.25 is wrong; 1.40 × 2.10 × 1.75 = 5.145 is right.
- Counting the stake as winnings. A $5.15 payout on a $1 stake is $4.15 profit.
- Forgetting about voids. A void leg lowers the payout because its odds become 1.00.
Summary
- Single: payout = stake × odds.
- Accumulator: multiply all odds, then multiply by the stake.
- Void selection = odds of 1.00.
- Profit is always payout minus stake, before any deductions.