What Is Vig (Juice) in Sports Betting and How to Calculate It
Vig (short for vigorish), also called juice, is the margin a sportsbook builds into its prices. It is the reason both sides of a coin-flip game are priced at -110 instead of +100. You never see it as a fee on your bet slip, but you pay it on every wager, win or lose.
Where the vig hides
Take a game where both teams are priced at -110. Convert each side to an implied probability:
- Team A at -110: 110 ÷ 210 = 52.38%
- Team B at -110: 110 ÷ 210 = 52.38%
Together that is 104.76%. A fair market would add up to exactly 100%. The extra 4.76 points is the book's built-in edge, sometimes called the overround. (New to converting odds? Start with American vs decimal odds.)
How to calculate the vig
The cleanest way to state the vig is as the book's expected hold, the share of all money wagered that it keeps if the action is balanced:
vig = 1 − (1 ÷ total implied probability)
At -110 / -110: 1 − (1 ÷ 1.0476) = 4.55%.
Do the same for other common lines:
| Line (both sides) | Total implied | Vig (hold) |
|---|---|---|
| -120 / -120 | 109.09% | 8.33% |
| -115 / -115 | 106.98% | 6.52% |
| -110 / -110 | 104.76% | 4.55% |
| -108 / -108 | 103.85% | 3.70% |
| -105 / -105 | 102.44% | 2.38% |
Moving from -110 to -105 cuts the book's cut nearly in half.
Uneven lines work the same way
For a moneyline like -150 / +130, convert each side (-150 → 60.00%, +130 → 43.48%), add them (103.48%), and apply the same formula: 1 − (1 ÷ 1.0348) = 3.36%.
No-vig odds: the fair price
Strip the vig out and you get the market's fair estimate of each side. Divide each side's implied probability by the total:
- At -150 / +130: 60.00 ÷ 103.48 = 58.0% and 43.48 ÷ 103.48 = 42.0%
Those no-vig numbers are useful when you compare a price at one book against another. If one book offers you better than the fair price, you have found value.
What the vig costs you over time
The vig is small per bet and large over a season. At -110 you need to win 52.38% of your bets just to break even, which means a bettor who wins exactly half their bets loses about 4.5% of everything they wager. The full table is in break-even win rate.
Three ways to pay less vig
- Bet at reduced-juice prices. Some books price spreads and totals at -105 instead of -110. Our reduced juice guide shows the math and which books offer it.
- Shop lines. The same game often carries different prices at different books. Compare them on the odds page and take the best number.
- Get cashback on your action. Cashback returns part of what the book earns from your play every month. It does not change any single price, but it lowers your total cost. See reduced juice vs cashback vs rakeback for how they compare.
Vig FAQ
What is a normal vig in sports betting?
Around 4.5% on standard -110 spreads and totals. Moneylines, props and parlays usually carry more, often well above that.
Is vig the same as juice?
Yes. Vig, vigorish and juice all mean the sportsbook's built-in margin.
Do you pay the vig if you win?
Yes, indirectly. At -110 a winning $110 bet pays only $100 instead of $110. You pay the vig through reduced winnings, not as a separate fee.
How do I find the vig on a moneyline?
Convert both sides to implied probability, add them, then calculate 1 minus 1 divided by that total.
Which bets have the lowest vig?
Main-line spreads and totals on major sports, especially at reduced-juice books. Parlays and player props usually have the highest.
Bet within your limits
Paying less vig makes your betting cheaper, not risk-free. Only stake what you can afford to lose. 18+ only.