Understanding Vig and Hold
Vigorish (Vig), also known as Hold or Juice, is the theoretical percentage of all wagers that the sportsbook keeps as profit. Lower vig means better odds for the bettor.
Practical Example:
A standard -110/-110 market has a vig of 4.55%.
Why Vig Matters
The vig is the price you pay to bet. It's the "House Edge".
- Standard Lines (-110): ~4.5% Vig
- Good Lines (-105): ~2.4% Vig
- Bad Lines (-120): ~8.3% Vig
By betting into markets with lower hold, you lose less over time and have a better chance of being profitable. You should avoid markets with high hold (like Futures or Props) unless you have a massive edge.
Hold vs. Overround
These terms are often used interchangeably but have slight mathematical differences.
* Overround: The sum of implied probabilities minus 100%. (e.g. 104.5% sum = 4.5% Overround).
* Hold (Vig): The percentage of the total money wagered that the book keeps. (Overround / Total Implied Prob).
Our calculator provides the Vig/Hold percentage, which is the most accurate representation of the cost to the bettor.
Frequently Asked Questions
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