The vig (short for vigorish) is how sportsbooks make money whoever wins. Instead of offering fair odds, they shade every price slightly in their favour.
On a game where both sides are -110, a true coin flip, you risk $110 to win $100. Bettors who split their money evenly lose about 4.5% of everything staked over time. That 4.5% is the vig.
The overround measures the same margin as a percentage above 100%. Lower vig means better value, which is why line shopping matters.
How it works
The vig is hidden inside the odds, so you never see it as a separate fee. You only notice it when you add up both sides of a market.
Here's how it works on a standard game. If both sides are -110 and the sportsbook takes $110 on each, it collects $220. Whoever wins gets $210 back. The sportsbook keeps $10 whatever happens. Real betting is never perfectly balanced, but that's the idea.
| Prices | Total implied | Vig |
|---|---|---|
| -105 / -105 | 102.44% | 2.38% |
| -110 / -110 | 104.76% | 4.55% |
| -115 / -105 | 104.71% | 4.50% |
The vig is why winning half your bets isn't enough. At -110 you need to win 52.38% to break even. It also adds up in a parlay, because every leg carries its own margin.
You'll hear it called juice in the US and margin in the UK. Reduced-juice sportsbooks offering -105 instead of -110 are worth seeking out, because a lower vig on every bet makes a real difference over a season.
Examples
- Example 1
-110 / -110 has a vig of about 4.55% and an overround of 4.76%.
- Example 2
A market at -115 / -105 adds up to 104.71% implied, a vig of about 4.5%.
- Example 3
At -105 on both sides, the vig drops to about 2.4%, roughly half the standard -110 market.
- Example 4
Bet $100 on both sides at -110 and you'll always lose $9.09, whichever side wins. That loss is the vig.
Common questions
Is the vig the same as juice?
Yes. Vig, vigorish, juice and margin all describe the sportsbook's cut built into the odds.
How much is the vig on a -110 bet?
On a market with -110 on both sides, the vig is about 4.55% of the money staked, and the overround is 4.76%.
Can you avoid paying the vig?
Not completely, but you can reduce it by line shopping and using sportsbooks with lower margins, such as -105 lines instead of -110.