If you have ever inquired about the odds of a particular gambling game,  you are probably familiar with the way in which odds are universally expressed.  This almost always amounts to a number followed by the words "to" or "for", a colon or even a slash, which is then followed by a second number (1). i.e. 17-to-1 or 17:1 or 17 for 1.

If you are new to the world of betting, it is likely that all three of these expressions mean exactly the same thing - They are simply expressed a little differently.  If you are of this school of thought, then you are halfway right.When odds are expressed with the word "to", they are the same thing as when those same very odds are expressed with a colon.  Therefore, 10-to-1 is the same thing as 10:1.  However, you are wrong to believe that the word "for" means the same thing.  Unfortunately, many bettors do not even realize their payout will be different when the odds are expressed with the word for, and therefore think the numbers return a payout of the "to" variety.

The difference between odds expressed as "for" and "to" is that you get one less unit back with odds expressed as "for".  For instance, on a street bet made at the roulette table,  the odds are 11:1, or, 11-to-1.  This means that for 1 wagered chip, you will win 11 chips plus the chip used to make the bet, giving a grand total of 12 chips.  If this same bet were expressed as 11-for-1, you would win 11 chips for the 1 chip bet.  In other words, you lose your single chip to the House and walk away with 11 chips instead of 12.

While it is very unlikely to find "for-one" odds at the roulette table - and most games for that matter - it is still important for a player to be aware of how the odds are expressed.  If you do come across odds in the "for" fashion at a game of roulette, simply put, find another place to gamble at.  The only game where you will find odds stated as "for-one" is at the video poker machines and for some bets at the craps table.

The lesson to glean from this is that it is very important to, first of all, read gaming rules of any kind, and secondly, to insure you understand what you are reading.  Any time you are offered a promotion or special odds on a game, be sure to read the fine print so that you can verify a "special promotion" is as special as it is cracked up to be.

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