Vig (vigorish)
The book's built-in cut on every line, the reason both sides of a game pay a bit less than they really should.
The vig (la commission), also called juice, is how sportsbooks make money. There's no fee on your bet slip. Instead, the book shaves the odds on both sides so it comes out ahead over time no matter who you back. It's basically the sportsbook version of the house edge.
Example: Habs -135 / +115
Say the Habs are -135 and the other team is +115 (illustrative).
- -135 implies 135 / 235 = 57.45%
- +115 implies 100 / 215 = 46.51%
- Together: 103.96%
In a fair world those would add up to exactly 100%. The extra 3.96% is the margin. As a share of all the money bet, the vig works out to 3.96 / 103.96 = about 3.8%.
What it costs you
At the classic -110 on both sides, you need to win 52.4% of your bets just to break even. Not 50%. That 2.4% is the vig eating into you.
How to pay less
- Compare the same line at a few books before you bet. The Habs at -125 somewhere else instead of -135 is a better deal for the exact same bet.
- Props, futures and same-game parlays usually carry more vig than the main moneyline.
- Learn to spot it with overround maths; it takes two minutes.