When betting online you will come across several terms and a common question for many gamblers is what is betting overround? Overround is used in sports betting and we explain more about why overround is important and the key aspects you must understand when betting. So, what is overround?
1. What is Overround Betting?
When considering what is over-round betting, we can use a simple definition and then break it down to assess the impact for you, as a sports gambler. The definition of overround is the profit margin factored into the betting odds by a bookmaker. Perhaps the most common use of overround in betting is horse racing and many live broadcasters will choose to show overround as a percentage when going through the runners before a race.
One of the key aspects when discussing what is betting overround is the fact the overround will differ between bookmakers. Each bookmaker sets its own odds and therefore the overround can be different for the same market across several bookmakers. However, the goal of each bookmaker remains the same and that is to make money. Overround in sports betting is vital for bookmakers because it can allow them to make a profit on a bet, regardless of the outcome.
However, you must know how to use over-round when betting on sport because it can give you some insight into the bookmaker. Understanding concepts like Soft vs Sharp bookmakers can also help you identify which type of bookmaker you’re dealing with and how their pricing strategies might affect your bets. Is a bookmaker adding too high a profit margin to their odds and can you get better value elsewhere? We will look at this more closely in our Over-round betting example shortly. Before we do that, you must know how to calculate betting overround.
2. How to Calculate Overround
As mentioned above, we can calculate overround as a percentage and this is what is usually used by broadcasters. What does overround in betting mean? It is the profit margin factored into the odds by the sportsbook so to calculate betting over-round, we must change the odds to an implied percentage.
When calculating the overround for betting, it is best to use decimal odds as this makes the process more efficient. So, if we take the odds for Liverpool vs Manchester United in the Premier League game that was due to be played on the 19th of October 2025, we can see how the calculations works.
2.1 Overround Example
Liverpool were the favourites to win the game with odds of 1.60. The first calculation to work out the overround is 100/odds:
Liverpool win – 100/1.60 = 62.5%
So the implied probability for Liverpool to win the match is 62.5% but there are also two other outcomes to a football match we must consider when calculating the over-round and they are the draw and a Manchester United win:
Draw – 100/4.33 = 23%
Manchester United win – 100/4.75 = 21%
The percentages above are all implied probability and if we add them together, we can calculate the total implied probability for the three outcomes in this match:
62.5 + 23 + 21 = 106.5%
Then, to achieve the final overround figure for the bookmaker for this particular match, we can deduct 100 from the total implied probability as follows:
106.5 – 100 = 6.5%
That means, for this match, the odds provide the bookmaker with an overround of 6.5%. So, in theory, the bookmaker is guaranteed to make a profit on this match, whatever the outcome. When adding the implied probabilities together, anything that is close to 100% means you are getting better odds because, in theory, the bookmaker is making less profit.
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3. What does Overround Mean for You?
You now know the answer to the question, what does overround mean but what does it mean specifically for you, the gambler? In the example above, the odds are not as good as they could be because they are comfortably over 100%. That means you should look elsewhere and compare the odds with other bookmakers. You might find more competitive odds giving you more value and a higher profit if your bet is successful.
What is betting overround in terms of the average you should expect from an online bookmaker? Anything around a 5% margin is considered typical for online bookmakers but anything from 10% and above is considered high. If you calculate an over-round to be 10% or more, you should definitely look elsewhere before betting.
You will always have more time to calculate and use overround when betting on pre-match markets. You can take your time and learn how to use overround to your advantage when betting on sports. If you’re also considering what are the safest betting markets, understanding overround can help you make smarter choices and identify where the true value lies. The odds for in-play markets move a lot faster and that means there can be inefficiency in the way the odds are calculated by the bookmaker, giving a higher chance of good odds for the market. Taking football again as an example, the most volatile time for in-play odds is just after a goal has been scored. If you can anticipate where the odds are going to move when that happens, you can take advantage of the value.
4. The Pros and Cons of Using Overround in Betting
As with every betting strategy, there are pros and cons of using overround in betting. You can see them both in the table below.
In summary, the overround calculation can be used to discover which bookmakers have the best value odds and as a long-term betting strategy to reduce the bookmakers edge. For those who like to explore different betting platforms or bonuses, checking out offers such as TheStakeHouse Casino promo code can also add extra value to your betting experience. However, you must always consider true probabilities and other factors that could have an influence the result of a match or race.
5. FAQs - Betting Overround Strategies 2025
5.1 📈 Why use betting overround?
Using betting overround can show which bookmakers have the best value odds
5.2 🧮 How to calculate overround?
Take the decimal odds for each outcome and divide them individually into 100. Add the results together to give you the combined total and deduct 100 to give you the overround.
5.3 💶 What is overround in betting?
What is betting overround can be answered simply as the bookmakers profit margin.
What is Betting Overround
When betting online you will come across several terms and a common question for many gamblers is what is betting overround? Overround is used in sports betting and we explain more about why overround is important and the key aspects you must understand when betting. So, what is overround?
Contents
1. What is Overround Betting?
When considering what is over-round betting, we can use a simple definition and then break it down to assess the impact for you, as a sports gambler. The definition of overround is the profit margin factored into the betting odds by a bookmaker. Perhaps the most common use of overround in betting is horse racing and many live broadcasters will choose to show overround as a percentage when going through the runners before a race.
One of the key aspects when discussing what is betting overround is the fact the overround will differ between bookmakers. Each bookmaker sets its own odds and therefore the overround can be different for the same market across several bookmakers. However, the goal of each bookmaker remains the same and that is to make money. Overround in sports betting is vital for bookmakers because it can allow them to make a profit on a bet, regardless of the outcome.
However, you must know how to use over-round when betting on sport because it can give you some insight into the bookmaker. Understanding concepts like Soft vs Sharp bookmakers can also help you identify which type of bookmaker you’re dealing with and how their pricing strategies might affect your bets. Is a bookmaker adding too high a profit margin to their odds and can you get better value elsewhere? We will look at this more closely in our Over-round betting example shortly. Before we do that, you must know how to calculate betting overround.
2. How to Calculate Overround
As mentioned above, we can calculate overround as a percentage and this is what is usually used by broadcasters. What does overround in betting mean? It is the profit margin factored into the odds by the sportsbook so to calculate betting over-round, we must change the odds to an implied percentage.
When calculating the overround for betting, it is best to use decimal odds as this makes the process more efficient. So, if we take the odds for Liverpool vs Manchester United in the Premier League game that was due to be played on the 19th of October 2025, we can see how the calculations works.
2.1 Overround Example
Liverpool were the favourites to win the game with odds of 1.60. The first calculation to work out the overround is 100/odds:
Liverpool win – 100/1.60 = 62.5%
So the implied probability for Liverpool to win the match is 62.5% but there are also two other outcomes to a football match we must consider when calculating the over-round and they are the draw and a Manchester United win:
Draw – 100/4.33 = 23%
Manchester United win – 100/4.75 = 21%
The percentages above are all implied probability and if we add them together, we can calculate the total implied probability for the three outcomes in this match:
62.5 + 23 + 21 = 106.5%
Then, to achieve the final overround figure for the bookmaker for this particular match, we can deduct 100 from the total implied probability as follows:
106.5 – 100 = 6.5%
That means, for this match, the odds provide the bookmaker with an overround of 6.5%. So, in theory, the bookmaker is guaranteed to make a profit on this match, whatever the outcome. When adding the implied probabilities together, anything that is close to 100% means you are getting better odds because, in theory, the bookmaker is making less profit.
3. What does Overround Mean for You?
You now know the answer to the question, what does overround mean but what does it mean specifically for you, the gambler? In the example above, the odds are not as good as they could be because they are comfortably over 100%. That means you should look elsewhere and compare the odds with other bookmakers. You might find more competitive odds giving you more value and a higher profit if your bet is successful.
What is betting overround in terms of the average you should expect from an online bookmaker? Anything around a 5% margin is considered typical for online bookmakers but anything from 10% and above is considered high. If you calculate an over-round to be 10% or more, you should definitely look elsewhere before betting.
You will always have more time to calculate and use overround when betting on pre-match markets. You can take your time and learn how to use overround to your advantage when betting on sports. If you’re also considering what are the safest betting markets, understanding overround can help you make smarter choices and identify where the true value lies. The odds for in-play markets move a lot faster and that means there can be inefficiency in the way the odds are calculated by the bookmaker, giving a higher chance of good odds for the market. Taking football again as an example, the most volatile time for in-play odds is just after a goal has been scored. If you can anticipate where the odds are going to move when that happens, you can take advantage of the value.
4. The Pros and Cons of Using Overround in Betting
As with every betting strategy, there are pros and cons of using overround in betting. You can see them both in the table below.
In summary, the overround calculation can be used to discover which bookmakers have the best value odds and as a long-term betting strategy to reduce the bookmakers edge. For those who like to explore different betting platforms or bonuses, checking out offers such as TheStakeHouse Casino promo code can also add extra value to your betting experience. However, you must always consider true probabilities and other factors that could have an influence the result of a match or race.
5. FAQs - Betting Overround Strategies 2025
5.1 📈 Why use betting overround?
Using betting overround can show which bookmakers have the best value odds
5.2 🧮 How to calculate overround?
Take the decimal odds for each outcome and divide them individually into 100. Add the results together to give you the combined total and deduct 100 to give you the overround.
5.3 💶 What is overround in betting?
What is betting overround can be answered simply as the bookmakers profit margin.