This article explains, in clear steps, how a +500 American odds price pays out and how to evaluate whether it is worth a stake. It covers the core formulas, how to convert to decimal and implied probability, the effect of sportsbook margin, and a practical decision checklist. Whether you are new to American odds or refining a staking process, you will find worked examples and scenarios to apply the formulas immediately. The focus is on reproducible math, disciplined decision making, and realistic handling of sportsbook hold.

A +500 American price means $500 profit on a $100 stake, and the relationship scales linearly with any stake size.

Convert +500 to decimal 6.00 and implied probability 16.67 percent to compare prices consistently.

Account for sportsbook vig and use a precommitted checklist and bankroll rules before staking at longshot prices.

What +500 American odds mean for a vegas bet online

When you see American odds listed as +500, the convention is that a $100 stake produces a $500 profit and a $600 total return including the original stake; this convention is standard across betting education sources and sportsbooks Moneyline Bet (American Odds) definition.

Close up of a bettor writing stake and payout calculations with a small calculator and phone showing odds in a minimalist Funded Plays style vegas bet online

Put simply, profit refers to what you win beyond your stake, while total return includes the stake returned to you after the event settles. That distinction matters when you calculate breakevens and compare offers.

Numeric examples make this concrete: a $10 stake at +500 yields $50 profit and $60 total return, while a $100 stake yields $500 profit and $600 total return. These scale linearly with stake size under the standard American odds convention Fixed-odds betting and conversions.

How much will a +500 bet pay and how should I decide whether to stake at that price?

A +500 bet pays $500 profit on a $100 stake, with linear scaling to other stakes. Decide to stake only if your assessed probability meaningfully exceeds the implied 16.67 percent after accounting for sportsbook margin, and size the stake within precommitted bankroll rules.

If you are scanning markets for a quick decision, check both numbers: the profit quoted by the odds and the full payout you would receive if the selection wins. That lets you compare different price formats more easily when planning stake sizing.

The core formulas you need to calculate a +500 payout

Use two simple formulas to convert positive American odds into profit and total return. For positive American odds x the formulas are Profit = Stake × (x/100) and Total Return = Stake × (1 + x/100), which are the standard convention used by sportsbooks and betting education sources How to convert odds to implied probability (see calculators such as Covers odds calculator or TheRundown odds converter).

Follow these step-by-step examples so you can compute payouts by hand.

Pick the stake. Example: Stake = $1.
Plug into Profit = Stake × (Odds/100). With Odds = 500, Profit = 1 × (500/100) = 5.
Compute Total Return = Stake × (1 + Odds/100). Total Return = 1 × (1 + 500/100) = 6.

Now repeat for common stakes so you see the linear scaling: for $10 stake Profit = 10 × (500/100) = 50 and Total Return = 10 × (1 + 500/100) = 60; for $100 stake Profit = 100 × (500/100) = 500 and Total Return = 100 × (1 + 500/100) = 600 Fixed-odds betting and conversions.

Those two formulas work for any positive American odds number, so once you memorize them you can convert quickly between stake sizes and see how the payout changes linearly.

Convert +500 to decimal odds and implied probability for a vegas bet online

Convert +500 to decimal odds by dividing the American figure by 100 and adding 1. That gives decimal odds of 6.00, which means you get $6 back for every $1 staked including your original stake Fixed-odds betting and conversions. See an odds converter at AceOdds.

Implied probability expresses the same price as a percentage chance. For positive American odds the formula is Implied probability = 100 / (Odds + 100). For +500 that computes as 100 / (500 + 100) = 16.67 percent, which is the market-implied chance of the outcome under those odds Implied Probability definition and examples.

Funded Plays Challenges offers a skill-focused sports prediction challenge environment where users can practice converting odds, simulating stake choices, and testing discipline using virtual funded accounts without implying guaranteed earnings.

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Decimal odds and implied probability are mathematically equivalent ways to view the same price: decimal shows return per dollar, while implied probability shows the market chance implied by that return.

How sportsbook margin and hold change your real expected value

Bookmakers add a margin, often called the vig or hold, which makes the sum of market-implied probabilities exceed 100 percent; that margin is how sportsbooks generate a structural edge over bettors How to convert odds to implied probability.

Because implied probabilities from publicly quoted prices embed that margin, the raw 16.67 percent implied by +500 overstates the fair probability you would need to break even. In practice you must assess whether your true estimated chance exceeds the implied probability enough to overcome the vig and produce positive expected value.

Regulatory and industry reports from 2024 and 2025 show sportsbooks maintained positive hold in regulated markets, which underscores that the market price is rarely a fair zero-edge price and bettors should account for the house edge when evaluating longshot prices Nevada gaming reports on sports pool win and hold.

When to consider staking on a vegas bet online at +500: decision checklist

Before you stake at +500, run this short checklist. Only place a bet if your assessed probability meaningfully beats the implied 16.67 percent and you can size the stake inside your bankroll rules.

Checklist items to evaluate, step by step:

Estimate your true probability for the event based on research and objective signals.
Compare that estimate to 16.67 percent, the implied probability for +500.
Adjust for sportsbook vig so your required edge is larger than the raw difference.
Choose stake size based on predetermined bankroll rules and your confidence level.

Try FundedPlays Challenges to practice odds conversion and disciplined staking

Try the checklist above using a recent market price and a small stake you are comfortable risking to test your estimation process.

Explore Challenges

Example of the expected-value thought process: if you estimate the event has a 25 percent chance to occur and the price is +500 with an implied 16.67 percent, your raw edge is 25 - 16.67 = 8.33 percentage points. Convert that into expected value for a $100 stake: EV = (TrueProb × Profit) - ((1 - TrueProb) × Stake). With Profit = $500, EV = (0.25 × 500) - (0.75 × 100) = 125 - 75 = $50 positive EV before considering any additional fees or limits How to convert odds to implied probability.

Bankroll guidance is about discipline not guarantees. A common non-prescriptive approach ties stake size to confidence and bankroll percent. For example, you might risk 0.5 percent to 2 percent of your active betting bankroll on single selections depending on your conviction, but commit rules before you place bets and avoid increasing stakes after losses.

Also consider execution risks: market limits, changes in odds between selection and settlement, and whether the betting product enforces limits or settlement conditions that affect your real payout. Factor those practical constraints into your stake-sizing decision and always record outcomes so your edge assessment improves over time AGA State of the States report.

Minimal vector checklist visual for vegas bet online showing three icons probability pie six segment implied marker and coin stack representing bankroll rule on Funded Plays dark palette

Common mistakes bettors make with +500 odds

A frequent error is confusing profit and total payout. Quick check: when you see +500 ask whether the quoted number is profit for a $100 stake or the full payout per $1. That prevents simple math mistakes when planning stakes.

Another common trap is ignoring the vig and treating implied probability as a fair price. That underestimates the true edge you need to have a positive expected value over time. Similarly, poor stake sizing and chasing longshots after losses degrade long-run returns.

Simple safeguards: precommit to stake rules, use the Profit and Total Return formulas before you click place, and verify any conversions between American and decimal odds. Those steps reduce avoidable errors and make your results more reproducible.

Worked scenarios: three vegas bet online examples using +500

Scenario A, casual small-stake test. You want to try a selection with low cost so you can learn. Stake = $5, Odds = +500 gives Profit = 5 × (500/100) = $25 and Total Return = 5 × (1 + 500/100) = $30. If you estimate the true chance is 20 percent, the raw EV = (0.20 × 25) - (0.80 × 5) = 5 - 4 = $1 positive before any vig adjustments Fixed-odds betting and conversions.

quick profit calculator for positive American odds

paste values into a spreadsheet cell

Scenario B, disciplined bankroll test. You allocate a small testing pool of $2,000 and decide to risk 1 percent per selection while validating models. Stake = $20 at +500 yields Profit = 20 × (500/100) = $100 and Total Return = $120. If your model estimates a 22 percent chance, raw EV = (0.22 × 100) - (0.78 × 20) = 22 - 15.6 = $6.40 before accounting for vig and limits How to convert odds to implied probability.

Scenario C, high-confidence edge evaluation. Suppose after research you estimate a 35 percent chance for the outcome. On a $100 stake at +500 you would expect Profit = $500 and Total Return = $600, and raw EV = (0.35 × 500) - (0.65 × 100) = 175 - 65 = $110 positive before margin adjustments Moneyline Bet (American Odds) definition.

For each scenario document your estimate, compute EV, and note whether the EV remains positive after you adjust your estimated probability downward to account for a sportsbook margin. That disciplined record keeping separates skill from luck over many trials.

Closing summary and practical next steps for using +500 prices

Key takeaways: use Profit = Stake × (Odds/100) and Total Return = Stake × (1 + Odds/100) to compute payouts, convert +500 to decimal 6.00 for a per-dollar return, and remember the implied probability of +500 is 16.67 percent Fixed-odds betting and conversions.

Practical next steps: run the checklist when you see a +500 price, size stakes according to precommitted bankroll rules, and keep a simple log of estimates versus outcomes so you can measure whether you truly have an edge in the long run Implied Probability definition and examples. See related posts on the Funded Plays blog.

Apply the formulas on a few real examples in a simulation or small real stakes, and treat early trades as data gathering rather than immediate profit seeking. That approach helps you refine your assessment process and keep risk controlled. Learn more about how evaluations work at this blog post or visit the Funded Plays homepage for program details.

How much does a +500 bet pay on a $100 stake?

A $100 stake at +500 yields $500 profit and a $600 total payout including the returned stake.

How do I convert +500 to decimal odds?

Divide the American odds by 100 and add 1; +500 becomes 6.00, meaning $6 returned per $1 staked including stake.

What is the implied probability of +500?

The implied probability is 100 divided by (500 plus 100), which equals 16.67 percent.

Practice the formulas on a few low-cost examples and treat early bets as information gathering. Track outcomes against your probability estimates so you can tell whether your approach produces a measurable edge over time. If you consistently assess probabilities above the market-implied level after accounting for vig and limits, you can refine stake sizing with disciplined bankroll rules; otherwise use the process as training to improve your forecasting.