The commission a sportsbook charges on a bet, built into the odds.
Vigorish (commonly called vig or juice) is how sportsbooks make money. Instead of offering true fair odds, they shade the odds in their favor. The standard vig on point spreads and totals is -110 on both sides, meaning you must risk $110 to win $100.
The vig creates a gap between the implied probabilities of all outcomes and 100%. For a standard -110/-110 market, each side implies 52.38%, totaling 104.76%. The 4.76% over 100% is the total vig, also called overround.
Shopping for the best odds across multiple sportsbooks is one of the easiest ways to reduce the vig you pay. Even small differences in odds compound significantly over hundreds of bets.
On a two-way market priced −110 / −110, the book’s vig is the overround baked into the line. Implied probabilities: 52.38% + 52.38% = 104.76%. The 4.76% excess is the book’s theoretical profit margin.
Over 1,000 bets of $100 each at −110, a 50/50 coin-flipper loses roughly $4,545 purely to vig. That is why hitting 52.38% ATS is the break-even mark — anything above that clip is actual edge. Sportsbooks rarely move the line to exactly 50/50 action; instead, they shade toward sharp money and let squares pay the vig on the wrong side.
Total vig = Sum of all implied probabilities - 100%<p>On a two-way market priced −110 / −110, the book’s <strong>vig</strong> is the overround baked into the line. Implied probabilities: 52.38% + 52.38% = <strong>104.76%</strong>. The 4.76% excess is the book’s theoretical profit margin.</p><p>Over <strong>1,000 bets of $100 each</strong> at −110, a 50/50 coin-flipper loses roughly <strong>$4,545</strong> purely to vig. That is why hitting 52.38% ATS is the break-even mark — anything above that clip is actual edge. Sportsbooks rarely move the line to exactly 50/50 action; instead, they shade toward sharp money and let squares pay the vig on the wrong side.</p>
Remove bookmaker margin and compare the fair price behind a market.
Use this toolGo deeper with the related lesson, examples, and plain-English rules.
Continue learningThe probability of an outcome as implied by the betting odds, including the bookmaker's margin.
The true fair odds after removing the sportsbook's built-in margin.
The percentage of total money wagered that the sportsbook or casino keeps as profit.
Another term for vigorish — the commission built into the odds by the sportsbook.
The commission a sportsbook charges on a bet, built into the odds.
Total vig = Sum of all implied probabilities - 100%
<p>On a two-way market priced −110 / −110, the book’s <strong>vig</strong> is the overround baked into the line. Implied probabilities: 52.38% + 52.38% = <strong>104.76%</strong>. The 4.76% excess is the book’s theoretical profit margin.</p><p>Over <strong>1,000 bets of $100 each</strong> at −110, a 50/50 coin-flipper loses roughly <strong>$4,545</strong> purely to vig. That is why hitting 52.38% ATS is the break-even mark — anything above that clip is actual edge. Sportsbooks rarely move the line to exactly 50/50 action; instead, they shade toward sharp money and let squares pay the vig on the wrong side.</p>
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