Sports Gambling Vig

What is the vig in sports betting? Quite simply, the vig, vigorish, or juice, is the house edge. The word itself carries a bit of a negative connotation because it is also used to describe the usually high interest charged by loan sharks. The goal of every sportsbook is to set lines that draw an equal amount of action to either side of a bet. Juice, or vig, in sports betting, is the cut or amount charged by a sportsbook or bookie for taking a bet from a gambler. Sportsbooks use juice to ensure they make money on a bet, regardless of the outcome. As you learn more about sports betting it is important to understand how the house or sportsbook makes their money through the big, vigorish or the juice on every bet. This is typically set at -110 or 10% of the bet amount placed. The vig that sports bettors pay varies not only by sportsbook, but the type of wager that is placed. For example, spread and over/under wagers almost always offer lower vigs than parlays, in which the house takes a larger edge. The vig charged by sportsbooks eats into potential profits, but bettors can help mitigate the damage by seeking out the best prices. Moneyline and the vig. Odds on the moneyline can be all over the map, so the vig can be tougher to discern. However, you can rest assured that it’s built into the equation.

Vig, or vigorish, is the cut or amount charged by a sportsbook for taking a bet, also known as juice in slang terms. The sportsbook only collects the vig if the bettor loses the wager.

For example, a point spread is often listed with -110 odds. If the Eagles are -6.5 point favorites, that would be at -110 odds. If there was no vig, it would be at even odds, or +100. With the vig, a $100 bet would result in a $190 payout. If there was no vig, a $100 bet would result in a $200 payout. This simply means if you want to win $100, you'd have to bet $110 because of the vig and when the bet loses, that $10 goes straight to the sportsbook.

Sports Gambling Vig

Of course, not all sportsbooks are the same and sometimes regular odds are listed at -115 or -120. As more states legalize sports betting, the variety in vigs across states will be a talking point. That's because a lot of in-person sportsbooks take a higher cut of bets than online sportsbooks, who receive more bets because they are more widely accessible. While each state has different rules, there are certain states where sportsbooks have a higher vig across the board, no matter where you wager.

Sports Gambling Virginia

Sports Betting Vig Calculator

There are also situations where -110 odds would push to -120 or higher because that bet is getting a lot of money. If a lot of people are betting the Eagles at -6.5 (public money) and the sportsbook doesn't want to move that number to -7, they'll push the odds to -120 or -130, meaning a $100 bet would result in an even smaller payout.