What is vig in sports betting?

Vig (vigorish, juice, margin) is the commission sportsbooks charge on bets. It's built into the odds. Standard -110/-110 lines have ~4.5% vig, meaning for every $100 wagered, the book expects to keep $4.55 long-term.

How do you calculate vig?

Vig = (1/Odds₁ + 1/Odds₂) - 1, where odds are in decimal format. For -110/-110: (1/1.909 + 1/1.909) - 1 = 1.048 - 1 = 4.8% vig.

What is a good vig percentage?

Lower is better. Pinnacle offers 2-3% on major markets. US sportsbooks typically charge 4-5%. Props and parlays can have 10-20%+ vig. Shopping for the best lines across books is essential.

Vig Calculator

Calculate the sportsbook's margin (juice) on any line. Lower vig = better value for you.

Side 1 Odds

e.g., favorite, over, home team

Side 2 Odds

e.g., underdog, under, away team

Sportsbook Vig (Juice)

4.76%

Standard vig — typical for US sportsbooks

Side 1 Implied

52.38%

Side 2 Implied

52.38%

Total (should be 100%)

104.76%

⚖️ Fair Odds (No Vig)

Side 1 Fair Odds

-100

50.00% true probability

Side 2 Fair Odds

-100

50.00% true probability

Where This Line Falls

0% (No Vig) 5% 10%+ (High Vig)

What is Vig?

Vig (short for vigorish, also called juice or margin) is the commission sportsbooks charge on bets. It's built into the odds themselves, which is why both sides of a bet never add up to exactly 100% probability.

The classic example: -110 / -110 on a spread bet. Each side implies 52.4% probability, totaling 104.8%. That extra 4.8% is the vig — the sportsbook's edge.

Vig = (1/Decimal₁ + 1/Decimal₂) - 1

Or: Total Implied Probability - 100%

Vig Comparison by Sportsbook Type

Market Type	Typical Vig	Rating
Pinnacle (main markets)	2-3%	Excellent
Betfair Exchange	2-5% (commission)	Excellent
Circa / sharp books	3-4%	Very Good
DraftKings, FanDuel (spreads)	4-5%	Standard
BetMGM, Caesars	4.5-6%	Standard
Player props	5-10%	High
Parlays (per leg)	10-20%+	Very High

Why Vig Matters

The vig is the cost of betting. Over time, it's the #1 factor in whether you're profitable (after having an edge on selections).

2% vs 5% vig = 3% more profit on every bet. Over 1,000 bets, that's huge.
Line shopping across multiple books often saves 1-3% per bet.
Reduced juice days (-105 instead of -110) cut vig nearly in half.
Props and parlays have much higher vig — be extra selective.

Professional bettors are obsessive about finding the best lines because small vig differences compound dramatically over thousands of bets.

How to Find Lower Vig

Use sharp books: Pinnacle, Circa, and betting exchanges offer the lowest margins.
Shop lines: Compare odds across 3-5+ sportsbooks before every bet.
Time your bets: Limits are higher and vig is often lower on main markets closer to game time.
Avoid props/parlays: Or at least recognize you're paying a premium for them.
Use odds comparison sites: OddsJam, Oddschecker, and similar tools automate line shopping.

Frequently Asked Questions

Why don't sportsbooks just charge a fee instead of vig?

Some do (betting exchanges). But built-in vig is simpler for casual bettors and allows books to adjust their margin market by market. Popular events might have 3% vig; obscure props might have 15%.

Can you beat the vig?

Yes, with edge. If you're right 54% on -110 bets (52.4% implied), you're profitable despite the vig. But without edge, the vig guarantees long-term losses. That's why it exists.

What about 3-way markets (moneyline with draw)?

Same formula, just three outcomes: Vig = (1/Dec₁ + 1/Dec₂ + 1/Dec₃) - 1. Soccer moneylines often have 5-8% vig across the three outcomes.

Are "boosted odds" actually good value?

Sometimes. Calculate the fair odds from the original line, then compare to the boost. Many boosts are still -EV after the boost — the original line just had huge vig. Do the math.