What is the vig?

The vig (or juice, or hold) is the margin built into a sportsbook's prices. Here's how to see it and why it matters.

The vig (short for vigorish; also called juice or hold) is the margin a book builds into its prices. On a classic -110 / -110 market, you stake $110 to get $100 on top on either side. If the book takes equal money on both sides, it keeps about 4.5% of everything bet, whatever the result.

How to see it

Convert both sides to implied probabilities. Without a margin they'd add to 100%. At -110 / -110 they add to 104.8%; the extra is the margin. Our hold calculator works it out for any market, including three-way ones.

Why it matters

Margin is a cost on every bet. It varies by book and by market type: main lines are usually cheaper than props and parlays. Picking lower-margin markets and better prices (line shopping) reduces what you pay.