-252 Odds Explained
- Decimal
- 1.40
- American
- -252
- Fractional
- 25/63
- Implied probability
- 71.59%
- Polymarket
- 72¢
- $100 wins
- 39.68
- American
- -252
- Fractional
- 25/63
- Implied probability
- 71.59%
- Polymarket
- 72¢
- Profit
- 39.68
- Total return
- 139.68
1.397 decimal, -252 American, 71.59% implied probability
-252 is an American price:
the minus sign marks a favourite, and the number is the stake needed to win 100
. Every other format describes the same chance: 1.40 decimal, 25/63 fractional, 71.59% implied probability, 72¢ on Polymarket.
What -252 pays
A 100 stake at -252 returns 139.68 in total: your 100 back plus 39.68 profit. To win exactly 100 you would stake 252.00. The table covers the stakes people actually use.
| Stake | Profit | Total return |
|---|---|---|
| 10 | 3.97 | 13.97 |
| 25 | 9.92 | 34.92 |
| 50 | 19.84 | 69.84 |
| 100 | 39.68 | 139.68 |
| 500 | 198.41 | 698.41 |
| 1,000 | 396.83 | 1,396.83 |
Break-even and long-run results
The implied probability of -252 is 71.59%, and that number is also the break-even win rate: win more often than 71.59% of the time at this price and you profit in the long run, win less often and you lose. The table shows the return on stake at a few win rates, including the break-even rate itself.
| Win rate | Return on stake |
|---|---|
| 50% | -30.2% |
| 55% | -23.2% |
| 60% | -16.2% |
| 65% | -9.2% |
| 72% | 0.6% |
With an implied probability of 71.59%, -252 is a moderate favourite. Prices in this band are where the bookmaker's margin is easiest to see: the opposite side of the market is usually priced a little longer than the fair line, and the two implied probabilities add up to more than 100%.
The vig at -252
If both sides of a two-way market were priced at -252, the implied probabilities would add up to 43.18% above 100%. That excess is the overround, or vig; as a share of stakes it is a 30.16% margin for the bookmaker. Removing it leaves fair odds of 2.00 decimal ( +100) on each side. Use the devig calculator to do the same for any market.
-252 on a betting exchange
Exchanges charge commission on net winnings, so the price you see is not the price you get. At 2% commission -252 is worth 1.389 decimal (-257 American); at 5% it drops to 1.377 (-265). Those are the bookmaker prices you would need to beat.
| Commission | Effective decimal | Effective American | Break-even |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2% | 1.389 | -257 | 72.00% |
| 5% | 1.377 | -265 | 72.62% |
Same price in other formats
Same price in other formats
Nearby prices
Nearby prices
Frequently asked questions
What does -252 mean in betting?
-252 is an American price. Positive numbers show the profit on a 100 stake; negative numbers show the stake needed to win 100. At -252 the implied probability is 71.59% and a 100 stake returns 139.68.
What is -252 in decimal odds?
-252 converts to 1.397 in decimal odds (usually shown as 1.40). Decimal odds are the total return per unit staked, so multiply your stake by 1.397 to get the return.
What is -252 as a fraction?
-252 is 25/63 in fractional odds, the traditional bookmaker notation where the top number is profit and the bottom number is stake.
How much do I win on a 100 bet at -252?
A 100 stake at -252 wins 39.68 in profit and returns 139.68 including the stake. To win exactly 100 you would stake 252.00.
What win rate do I need at -252?
The break-even win rate equals the implied probability, 71.59%. Winning more often than that at this price is profitable over the long run; winning less often loses money.