When punters first join the Betfair betting exchange just about the most confusing features will be the way that the odds are displayed. In the UK conventional bookmakers use fractional odds including 6/4, 2/1, 100/30 or 33/1. On Betfair a decimal odds product is used 2.5, 3.0,4.3 or sboarena 34.0.

You can readily convert fractional odds into decimal 6/4 is 6 divided by 4 which provides you 1.5 + your stake which = 1. So 6/4 could be the same as 2.5 around the exchange. If you consider what are the results whenever you place a wining bet with a bookmaker your give him your stake money. He places your bet in the agreed odds, say 4/1. If won by you he gives you 4x your stake A�40 along with your original investment back. On the exchanges you don't ever actually give your stake to anyone so needless to say this doesn't have to be returned.

The odds around the exchanges tend on average to get along with 20% higher than those available from the bookies. On outsiders with larger odds the gap may be considerably greater. Horses costing 33/1 or 50/1 by bookmakers is often available at three figure odds about the exchanges.

Although the chances may be better it has to become offset if your bet or lay is productive you'll have to pay 5% commission. His is generally easily offset through the better prices that you simply re getting this is not always true when betting on short priced horses.

Because Betfair win, i.e. please take a 5% commission from either the backer or layer, whatever the result unlike bookmakers they just don't care how frequently shipped to you. This means if you are successful there is absolutely no danger of having your closed.

The betting exchanges are growing in importance around the globe and in case you are interested in horse racing and betting then you certainly need to go online and take a look with the exchanges, especially Betfair.