Vig (Juice / Hold)
📖 GlossaryDefinition
The vig (short for "vigorish"), also called juice or hold, is the sportsbook's commission built into the odds. It's how they guarantee profit regardless of outcome.
Fair odds on a coin flip: +100 / +100
With vig: -110 / -110
At -110 both sides: You bet $110 to win $100. The book collects $220 total but only pays out $210. The $10 difference is the vig (4.5%). [/example]
Typical Vig Amounts
- •Standard: 4-5% (NFL/NBA spreads at -110/-110)
- •Low: 1-2% (Pinnacle, or promotional lines)
- •High: 8-10%+ (exotic props, parlays, live betting)
Why It Matters
The vig is the hurdle you need to clear to be profitable. With 4.5% vig on a coin-flip market, you need to win 52.4% of the time just to break even.
Lower vig = easier to be profitable. That's why line shopping across books matters — you can often find the same bet at better odds (less juice) at a different book.