Malay Odds: Positive and Negative Values Explained with Real Betting Examples
Key Takeaways
- Malay odds use a ±1.00 scale: positive values indicate underdogs or near-evens (decimal below 2.00), negative values indicate favourites
- Positive Malay: profit per 1 unit staked — at +0.90, a €100 bet wins €90 profit (€190 total return)
- Negative Malay: stake required to win 1 unit profit — at −0.90, you stake €90 to win €100 profit (not the other way around)
- Conversion to decimal: positive Malay + 1 = decimal; negative Malay: (1 / |Malay|) + 1 = decimal
- Malay odds are standard on most Malaysian and Singaporean-facing books; many Asian platforms allow switching to decimal
Malay odds (also called Malaysian odds or MYR odds) are the native format of Malaysian and Singaporean sportsbooks. They are encountered on platforms like SBOBET, PS3838, and other Asian books that display prices for the South-East Asian market. For Western bettors, Malay odds are unusual because the same price can be expressed in two completely different ways depending on whether an outcome is favoured or not.
This guide explains both positive and negative Malay odds, the calculation logic for each, how to convert to decimal, and where the confusion most commonly arises.
The Core Logic: Two Different Formats for One Market
Most odds formats (decimal, American moneyline, Hong Kong) express a price consistently regardless of which side is the favourite. Malay odds are different: the format switches between positive and negative depending on the implied probability of the outcome.
- Outcome implied at ≤50% probability (underdogs and near-evens): Positive Malay odds — ranges from 0.00 to +1.00. Represents profit per unit staked.
- Outcome implied at >50% probability (favourites): Negative Malay odds — ranges from −1.00 to −∞. Represents the stake required per unit of profit.
The switching point is exactly 2.00 in decimal odds (Malay 1.00 = decimal 2.00 = even money). At even money, the Malay format shows +1.00. At any price above even money (favourites), it switches to a negative number.
Positive Malay Odds: Underdogs and Near-Evens
Positive Malay odds work exactly like Hong Kong odds — they show the profit returned for every 1 unit staked.
Example 1: Manchester United +0.5 AH at Malay +0.88, stake €500
Return formula: stake + (stake × Malay odds)
Return: €500 + (€500 × 0.88) = €500 + €440 = €940
Profit: €440
Decimal equivalent: 0.88 + 1 = 1.88
Example 2: Liverpool +0.25 AH at Malay +0.93, stake €1,000
Return: €1,000 + (€1,000 × 0.93) = €1,930
Profit: €930
Decimal equivalent: 0.93 + 1 = 1.93 — typical PS3838 AH quality price
Negative Malay Odds: Favourites
Negative Malay odds are where most bettors struggle. The confusion arises because the number's meaning is inverted compared to positive odds. A negative Malay value shows how much you must stake to generate 1 unit of profit — the stake-to-win relationship rather than the profit-per-stake relationship.
Example 1: Manchester City −0.5 AH at Malay −0.88, stake €500
Return formula: stake + (stake / |Malay odds|)
Profit: €500 / 0.88 = €568.18
Total return: €500 + €568.18 = €1,068.18
Decimal equivalent: (1 / 0.88) + 1 = 1.1364 + 1 = 2.136
Example 2: Arsenal −1.0 AH at Malay −1.25, stake €400
Profit: €400 / 1.25 = €320
Total return: €400 + €320 = €720
Decimal equivalent: (1 / 1.25) + 1 = 0.80 + 1 = 1.80
Loss scenario (both examples): full stake forfeited
Common Confusion: What Malay −0.90 Actually Means
The most common mistake with Malay odds is reading a negative value as though it were positive. Malay −0.90 does NOT mean "you win 0.90 profit per unit staked." It means "you must stake 0.90 to win 1 unit of profit."
| Malay Odds | Decimal | On a €100 stake: profit | On a €100 stake: total return |
|---|---|---|---|
| +1.00 | 2.00 | €100.00 | €200.00 |
| +0.95 | 1.95 | €95.00 | €195.00 |
| +0.88 | 1.88 | €88.00 | €188.00 |
| −1.05 | 1.952 | €95.24 | €195.24 |
| −1.15 | 1.870 | €86.96 | €186.96 |
| −1.50 | 1.667 | €66.67 | €166.67 |
| −2.00 | 1.500 | €50.00 | €150.00 |
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Open AsianConnect AccountConverting Malay Odds to Decimal
Two simple formulas cover all cases:
Positive Malay to Decimal:
Decimal = Malay + 1
Example: Malay +0.85 → Decimal 1.85
Negative Malay to Decimal:
Decimal = (1 / |Malay|) + 1
Example: Malay −1.30 → (1/1.30) + 1 = 0.769 + 1 = Decimal 1.769
Decimal to Malay (positive range, decimal ≤ 2.00):
Malay = Decimal − 1
Example: Decimal 1.92 → Malay +0.92
Decimal to Malay (negative range, decimal > 2.00):
Malay = −(1 / (Decimal − 1))
Example: Decimal 2.20 → −(1/1.20) = −0.833 → Malay −0.83
For real-time conversions across all formats, use the Asian odds converter. This is particularly useful when comparing lines between a book displaying Malay odds and another displaying decimal.
Where Malay Odds Appear in Practice
Professional bettors encounter Malay odds primarily on:
- SBOBET: Offers Malay as one of four display options (Malay, Indonesian, HK, Decimal). Not the default — Indonesian odds display by default.
- PS3838: Similar multi-format display options. Most professional bettors who use Asian books default to decimal to simplify line comparison.
- Broker interfaces: Some broker platforms surface odds in the book's native format — encountering Malay odds in a broker's bet slip is common when accessing Malaysian-facing books.
- Regional bookmakers: Books specifically targeting Malaysian or Singaporean bettors often display Malay odds as default.
The practical recommendation: if you use Asian bookmakers via broker, change your account display to decimal to eliminate format confusion when comparing prices across books. The conversion is trivial but adds mental overhead when processing multiple simultaneous line comparisons during live betting.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why do Malay odds go negative for favourites?
Malay odds are designed around a 1-unit profit concept. For underdogs, 1 unit staked returns more than 1 unit profit — so the Malay value is less than 1 (positive). For favourites, you need to stake more than 1 unit to profit 1 unit — so the format flips to negative, showing how much stake is required per unit of profit. It's an inverted perspective compared to decimal odds, but internally consistent once you understand the logic.
Is Malay odds +0.50 the same as decimal 1.50?
Yes. Malay +0.50 = decimal 1.50. You profit 0.50 for every 1 unit staked. However, be careful: Malay −2.00 is also decimal 1.50 — a bet where you must stake 2 units to win 1 unit of profit. The same decimal price can appear in two different Malay expressions depending on which side of the market you are betting. A €100 bet on the favourite at decimal 1.50 (Malay −2.00) returns €150, while a €100 bet on the underdog at decimal 1.50 (Malay +0.50 on the other side) returns €150 as well — but they're different outcomes of the same market.
How do Malay odds relate to Hong Kong odds?
Positive Malay odds and Hong Kong odds are numerically identical: Malay +0.93 = HK odds 0.93. Both show profit per unit staked. The difference is in the favourite pricing: HK odds always stay positive (HK 0.50 for a decimal 1.50 favourite), while Malay odds switch to negative (Malay −2.00 for the same price). If you find HK odds intuitive, you can read positive Malay odds the same way and just remember the negative values for favourites use the inverted formula.
Can I switch from Malay to decimal odds on SBOBET?
Yes. SBOBET allows bettors to change their odds display format in account settings. Options typically include Malay, Indonesian, Hong Kong, and Decimal. Once switched to decimal, all prices display in the familiar decimal format regardless of what the book's native display is. This change applies to all markets and persists across sessions. Most professional bettors using SBOBET via broker operate in decimal mode for easier cross-book comparison.