Vig / Juice

Vig (vigorish) or juice is the bookmaker's built-in commission on every market. It's baked into the odds so that regardless of the outcome, the bookmaker retains a percentage of total turnover.

How Vig Works

In a perfectly fair coin flip, both sides should be offered at 2.00 (50%). A bookmaker might offer 1.91 on both sides instead. The implied probabilities: 1/1.91 + 1/1.91 = 104.7%. That extra 4.7% is the vig.

Overround = Sum of all implied probabilities − 100%

Typical Vig by Book Type

Sharp books (Pinnacle, Betfair): 1–3% overround. Soft books: 5–12%. Exchange (Betfair): 2–5% commission on winnings.

Value bettors use sharp book lines (low vig) as the reference price, then bet at soft books when they offer better odds than the devigged sharp price.

Frequently Asked Questions