1xBet Cricket Odds Explained: Decimal vs Fractional, and How to Find Value
The first time I opened 1xBet and saw numbers like 1.85, 2.10, and 4.50 next to cricket teams, I froze. In India, we grow up hearing "India is 60 paisa favorite" from our uncles during match discussions. Nobody explains what 1.85 means or why it is different from 3/1. It took me weeks of losing money to figure out how odds actually work. This post is what I wish someone had written for me back then.
Decimal Odds: What Those Numbers Actually Mean
1xBet uses decimal odds by default. The number you see — say 2.10 — is your total payout multiplier. If you bet Rs 1,000 at 2.10 odds and win, you get back Rs 2,100 (your Rs 1,000 stake + Rs 1,100 profit). That is it. The formula is: Payout = Stake x Decimal Odds.
Here is a cheat sheet for common decimal odds and what they mean:
| Decimal Odds | Profit on Rs 1,000 | Implied Probability | What It Means |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1.20 | Rs 200 | 83.3% | Heavy favorite — almost certain to win |
| 1.50 | Rs 500 | 66.7% | Clear favorite — expected to win comfortably |
| 1.80 | Rs 800 | 55.6% | Slight favorite — could go either way |
| 2.00 | Rs 1,000 | 50% | Even money — coin flip |
| 2.50 | Rs 1,500 | 40% | Underdog with a real chance |
| 5.00 | Rs 4,000 | 20% | Significant underdog — unlikely but possible |
| 10.00 | Rs 9,000 | 10% | Long shot — probably will not win |
Implied Probability: The Math Behind the Number
This is the single most important concept in betting, and almost nobody talks about it. Every odds number has an implied probability baked into it. The formula is: Implied Probability = 1 / Decimal Odds.
At 2.00 odds: 1 / 2.00 = 50%. The bookmaker is saying this outcome has a 50% chance of happening. At 1.50 odds: 1 / 1.50 = 66.7%. At 5.00 odds: 1 / 5.00 = 20%.
Here is where it gets interesting. If you add up the implied probabilities of all possible outcomes in a betting world, you will notice they add up to more than 100%. A cricket match with two teams might show India at 1.80 (55.6%) and Australia at 2.10 (47.6%). That adds up to 103.2%. The extra 3.2% is the bookmaker's margin — their built-in profit. On 1xBet, this margin on cricket markets is typically 3-5%, which is competitive (Betway runs 4-6%, 10Cric sometimes hits 7%).
Decimal vs Fractional vs American Odds
1xBet defaults to decimal, but you can switch to fractional or American in the settings menu. Here is the conversion for the same bet:
| Decimal | Fractional | American | Bet Rs 1,000 → Profit |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1.50 | 1/2 | -200 | Rs 500 |
| 2.00 | 1/1 (Evens) | +100 | Rs 1,000 |
| 2.50 | 3/2 | +150 | Rs 1,500 |
| 3.00 | 2/1 | +200 | Rs 2,000 |
| 5.00 | 4/1 | +400 | Rs 4,000 |
I strongly recommend sticking with decimal odds. They are the easiest to calculate mentally, and every serious bettor I know uses them. Fractional odds (3/1, 5/2) are a British tradition that adds unnecessary complexity. American odds (+150, -200) are even worse — positive and negative numbers mean different things. Save yourself the headache and keep it decimal.
Value Betting: The Only Way to Win Long-Term
Here is a truth that took me two years to internalize: you do not need to predict winners to make money. You need to find bets where the odds are higher than the true probability.
Let me give you a real example from IPL 2024. Rajasthan Royals were playing Punjab Kings in Guwahati — a small ground with a flat pitch and short boundaries. The "total sixes over 14.5" betting world was priced at 1.90 (implied probability 52.6%). But this specific ground averages 18 sixes per IPL match because the boundaries are tiny. The true probability of over 14.5 sixes was probably closer to 65-70%. At 1.90, the bet was significantly undervalued.
I bet Rs 2,000 at 1.90. The match produced 22 sixes. The bet won, paying Rs 3,800. But here is the key insight: even if that specific bet had lost, it was still the right bet to place. Over 100 similar situations with a 65% true probability and 1.90 odds, I would win 65 times (65 x Rs 1,800 profit = Rs 117,000) and lose 35 times (35 x Rs 2,000 = Rs 70,000). Net profit: Rs 47,000. That is value betting.
How I Find Value on 1xBet Cricket Markets
Finding value is the hard part — if it were easy, everyone would do it. Here is my process for cricket specifically:
- Know the conditions — Pitch reports, ground dimensions, weather, and dew factor are your edge. Most casual bettors ignore these. At Wankhede, chasing teams win 60%+ of the time due to dew. If the odds do not reflect that, there is value.
- Compare across platforms — If 1xBet offers 2.10 on MI to win and Betway offers 1.85, someone is wrong. The betting world consensus is usually closer to correct, so the 1.85 is probably the "fair" price and 2.10 represents value (or a mispricing you can exploit).
- Focus on niche markets — "Total runs in first 6 overs" and "method of dismissal" markets are less efficient than "match winner." The oddsmakers spend less time on them, creating more mispricing opportunities.
- Bet before team news breaks — When a key player is ruled out 30 minutes before toss, the odds shift fast. If you have information before the betting world adjusts (team leaks, pitch reports from groundsmen), you can grab value before it disappears.
One Final Thing: Odds Are Not Predictions
At 1.20 odds, a team is expected to win 83% of the time. That means they lose 17% of the time — roughly one in every six matches. I have lost "sure thing" bets at 1.15 odds more times than I care to remember. The odds represent probability, not certainty. Never bet more than you can afford to lose, even at 1.05.
If you want to see these concepts in action, check out our 1xBet cricket betting guide for practical application of odds across IPL markets.
— Vivek Sharma