When you’re browsing through betting odds, you might stumble upon the term “EVS.” It’s a common sight, but if you’re new to betting, it might leave you scratching your head. So, what exactly does EVS mean, and why is it so commonly used?
EVS is short for Evens. In betting, evens is a way of expressing odds that are 1/1, or in decimal format, 2.00. Essentially, it means that for every £1 you stake, you stand to win £1 in profit, plus your original stake back.
Imagine you’re placing a bet on a football match where the odds for a particular outcome are EVS. You decide to bet £10:
EVS is considered a 50/50 bet because, in theory, the outcome has an equal chance of going either way. It’s like betting on a coin toss—though, of course, in sports betting, the reality is often more complex.
Bets at evens are popular for a few reasons:
Evens (EVS) odds can be presented in various formats, each commonly used in different regions or by specific betting sites. Here’s how EVS odds appear across three popular formats:
| Odds Format | EVS Odds |
|---|---|
| Fractional | 1/1 |
| Decimal | 2.0 |
| American | +100 |
American (+100): Popular in the US, American odds indicate the profit on a £100 bet when positive.
Fractional (1/1): Often used in the UK, fractional odds show the ratio of profit to stake.
Decimal (2.0): Common in Europe and Canada, decimal odds represent the total payout, including the original stake.
You might also see odds expressed as “Even Money” or simply “1/1”. These all mean the same thing as EVS—essentially, it’s an even bet where your potential profit equals your stake.
In decimal odds, EVS is represented as 2.00, which is another way to show that for every £1 you bet, you’ll get £2 back (your stake plus £1 profit).
While EVS bets offer straightforward odds, they’re not always the best option. If you’re confident that an outcome is more likely than the odds suggest, you might prefer to seek out odds longer than evens for a bigger potential payout. Conversely, if you think the outcome is less likely, but still want to place a bet, shorter odds might be more appealing.
Even money (EVS) bets can play a strategic role in accumulator bets (accas), where multiple selections are combined to boost potential payouts. Including EVS bets in an accumulator can add value without increasing the overall risk too heavily, as EVS bets offer a straightforward 50/50 outcome.
For example, adding an EVS bet to a five-fold acca means that each selection has an equal chance of success, giving a more balanced overall outcome. However, each added leg in an accumulator increases the risk, as all selections must win for a payout. For more details on accumulator betting strategies, see our guide to acca bets.
If you’re new to the world of betting, understanding some key terms and concepts can make all the difference. Here, we’ll break down a few basics to help you get started confidently.
In betting, odds can be categorized as odds on, odds against, or even money (EVS). These terms indicate the likelihood of an outcome and how much you stand to win relative to your stake:
Understanding these differences can help you decide when to take a safer odds-on bet, go for a higher-risk odds-against wager, or stick with an even money bet for a balanced approach.
In betting, probability and odds are often used interchangeably, but they mean different things. Probability is the chance of an event happening, expressed as a percentage. For example, if there’s a 50% chance of winning a coin toss, that’s the probability of it landing on heads or tails.
Odds, on the other hand, are how bookmakers represent the payout for an event based on its probability, often factoring in a margin. For example, a 50% probability might translate to EVS odds (1/1) at some bookmakers, but bookie margins can adjust these odds slightly lower to secure a profit.
In short, probability helps you understand the chance of winning, while odds show you the potential return. Understanding both can help you evaluate whether a bet offers fair value.
Want to learn more? Check out our Betting Guides for more in-depth information on betting strategies, sports-specific guides, and tips to help you improve your skills.
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