Betting slips show you the stake and the odds, but the actual payout math trips up plenty of bettors — especially across American, decimal, and fractional formats.

Decimal odds are simplest: payout = stake × odds. A $10 bet at 2.50 returns $25 total ($15 profit). Fractional 6/4 means $6 profit per $4 staked. American -110 means you risk $110 to win $100.

Accumulators multiply: four legs at 2.00, 1.80, 2.20, 1.50 combine to 11.88 — a $10 stake returns $118.80. One leg loses and the whole ticket is dead, which is why acca insurance exists.

Each-way bets double the stake (win + place parts) and dead heats split things further. When the slip gets complicated, run it through a calculator before you confirm — sportsbooks will not fix your math.