Asian Odds Formats Explained: Malay, Hong Kong, and Indonesian Odds
- Asian bookmakers use three primary odds formats: Malay, Hong Kong, and Indonesian — all differ from European decimal odds
- Malay odds: positive numbers show profit per unit staked (like European decimal minus 1 for favourites); negative numbers show how much to stake to win 1 unit
- Hong Kong odds: profit per unit staked only (no negatives) — equivalent to European decimal odds minus 1
- Indonesian odds: similar structure to American/Moneyline odds — positive shows profit on 100, negative shows stake needed to win 100
- Most Asian platforms let you switch formats freely; understanding the default format used by your book prevents calculation errors
Why Asian Books Use Different Odds Formats
Asian betting markets developed independently of European betting markets, creating different convention standards that persist today. SBOBET, PS3838, and ISN all use Asian odds formats as their default display, though they allow users to switch to European decimal. For bettors accessing Asian books for the first time, encountering odds of 0.85 or −0.95 is confusing without understanding the underlying format.
The three formats are mathematically equivalent — they all represent the same underlying probabilities and payouts. The choice between them is purely convention, driven by the regional preferences of the book's primary customer base.
Malay Odds
Malay odds are the default format at many Asian books, including SBOBET. They work differently for favourites and underdogs:
Positive Malay Odds (underdogs and near-evens)
Positive Malay odds show profit per unit staked. Malay 0.85 means: stake 1 unit, win 0.85 units profit (return 1.85 units total).
- Malay 1.00 = European decimal 2.00 (even money)
- Malay 0.90 = European decimal 1.90
- Malay 0.75 = European decimal 1.75
- Malay 0.50 = European decimal 1.50
Negative Malay Odds (favourites)
Negative Malay odds show how much you must stake to win 1 unit. Malay −0.95 means: stake 0.95 units (or 95% of your intended profit) to win 1 unit profit.
- Malay −0.95 = stake 0.95 to win 1 = total return 1.95 = European decimal ~1.05/0.95 ≈ 2.05 equivalent — wait, let's be precise:
For negative Malay odds (favourites): European decimal = (1 / |Malay odds|) + 1
Malay −0.95: European decimal = (1 / 0.95) + 1 = 1.053 + 1 = 2.053
Malay −0.85: European decimal = (1 / 0.85) + 1 = 1.176 + 1 = 2.176
Malay −1.00: European decimal = (1 / 1.00) + 1 = 1.00 + 1 = 2.00 (even money)
For positive Malay odds (underdogs): European decimal = Malay odds + 1
Malay 0.85: European decimal = 0.85 + 1 = 1.85
Malay 0.95: European decimal = 0.95 + 1 = 1.95
Hong Kong Odds
Hong Kong odds show profit per unit staked for all outcomes — similar to positive Malay odds but applied to all selections including favourites. There are no negative Hong Kong odds.
Hong Kong odds are equivalent to European decimal odds minus 1:
- Hong Kong 0.95 = European decimal 1.95
- Hong Kong 0.85 = European decimal 1.85
- Hong Kong 1.00 = European decimal 2.00 (even money)
- Hong Kong 1.50 = European decimal 2.50
- Hong Kong 3.00 = European decimal 4.00
Conversion: European decimal = Hong Kong odds + 1
Conversion: Hong Kong odds = European decimal − 1
Hong Kong odds are the simplest Asian format to work with for European bettors because the conversion is a simple addition/subtraction of 1. They're used as the default format at several Asian platforms and are widely understood across the region.
Indonesian Odds
Indonesian odds work similarly to American (Moneyline) odds but with different scaling:
Positive Indonesian Odds
Positive Indonesian odds show profit per 1 unit staked — the same as positive Malay and Hong Kong odds for values above 1.00:
- Indonesian 1.00 = profit of 1 per unit staked = European decimal 2.00
- Indonesian 1.50 = profit of 1.50 per unit staked = European decimal 2.50
- Indonesian 0.85 = profit of 0.85 per unit staked = European decimal 1.85
Negative Indonesian Odds
Negative Indonesian odds show how much to stake to win 1 unit profit — the same structure as negative Malay odds:
- Indonesian −1.00 = stake 1.00 to win 1.00 = European decimal 2.00
- Indonesian −1.20 = stake 1.20 to win 1.00 = European decimal 1.833
- Indonesian −0.95 = stake 0.95 to win 1.00 = European decimal 2.053
Conversion from negative Indonesian to European decimal: European = (1 / |Indonesian|) + 1
Conversion from positive Indonesian to European decimal: European = Indonesian + 1 (for Indonesian > 0)
Comparison Table: Same Bet in All Four Formats
| European Decimal | Hong Kong | Malay | Indonesian | Implied Probability |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1.50 | 0.50 | 0.50 | 0.50 | 66.7% |
| 1.75 | 0.75 | 0.75 | 0.75 | 57.1% |
| 1.90 | 0.90 | 0.90 | 0.90 | 52.6% |
| 1.95 | 0.95 | 0.95 | 0.95 | 51.3% |
| 2.00 | 1.00 | 1.00 / −1.00 | 1.00 / −1.00 | 50.0% |
| 2.10 | 1.10 | −0.952 | −0.952 | 47.6% |
| 2.20 | 1.20 | −0.833 | −0.833 | 45.5% |
| 2.50 | 1.50 | −0.667 | −0.667 | 40.0% |
| 3.00 | 2.00 | −0.500 | −0.500 | 33.3% |
| 4.00 | 3.00 | −0.333 | −0.333 | 25.0% |
Which Format to Use at Asian Books
Most Asian platforms allow you to select your preferred odds format in account settings. For European bettors new to Asian books, switching to European decimal is the simplest immediate step — you'll work with familiar numbers while learning the platforms.
As you become more experienced with Asian books, developing fluency in Malay or Hong Kong odds is useful because:
- Forum discussions, Telegram groups, and professional betting communities in Asia often use Malay or Hong Kong odds notation — understanding them helps you engage with these information sources
- Some Asian platforms display certain markets (Asian Handicap) in Asian format by default, and switching formats for each bet adds friction
- Hong Kong odds (= European decimal − 1) are the easiest Asian format to learn and provide a direct entry point to Asian odds literacy
FAQ — Asian Odds Formats
Why do Asian odds look different from European odds?
Asian betting markets developed their own odds display conventions based on regional preferences. Malay odds, for example, were standardised among Malaysian bookmakers in the 1990s and became the regional standard because the negative/positive format intuitively separated favourites (negative) from underdogs (positive). European decimal odds were standardised differently. Both represent exactly the same payout information — it's a display convention, not a different pricing system.
Is Malay 0.95 better than Malay −0.95?
They describe entirely different probabilities, so "better" doesn't apply directly. Malay 0.95 implies the selection wins less than 50% of the time (positive odds = underdog). Malay −0.95 implies the selection wins more than 50% of the time (negative odds = favourite). The actual payout: Malay 0.95 pays 0.95 profit per unit staked; Malay −0.95 requires staking 0.95 units to win 1 unit profit. They happen to use the same numbers but mean completely different things.
Can I switch odds format at SBOBET or PS3838?
Yes — both SBOBET and PS3838 allow you to select your preferred odds format in account settings. Available options typically include Malay, Hong Kong, Indonesian, European (decimal), and sometimes American (Moneyline). The odds display changes but the underlying bet, payout, and probability are identical regardless of which format you view. Set your preferred format once in settings and it persists for all markets.
What is the easiest Asian odds format for a European bettor to learn?
Hong Kong odds are the easiest entry point: they're always positive and the conversion to European decimal is simply adding 1 (HK 0.95 = decimal 1.95). There are no negatives to confuse you. Once comfortable with Hong Kong odds, Malay odds are the natural next step — they use the same values for underdogs (positive Malay = Hong Kong) but introduce negative values for favourites. Indonesian odds follow the same pattern as Malay but are less commonly encountered as the primary default format at the major Asian books.