What Is Juice in Sports Betting? Expert Guide
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Last Updated: 5 August, 2025
Juice in sports betting, also called vig, is the fee a sportsbook charges to take your bet.
It’s built into the odds and affects how much you win.
For example, odds of -110 mean you must bet $110 to win $100.
That extra $10 is the betting juice.
It's how sportsbooks make a profit, no matter which side wins.
You'll find juice in betting on spreads, totals, moneylines, and futures.
Even small juice adds up over time, which is why smart bettors track it closely.
Why juice matters
Juice affects every bet you place.
It’s the reason you can win more than 50% of your bets and still lose money over time.
With standard odds of -110, you need to win at least 52.4% just to break even.
That’s the impact of sports betting juice; it raises the bar for long-term profit.
The higher the juice, the harder it is to stay ahead.
That’s why many sharp bettors look for reduced juice betting options.
Lower juice means better odds, better value, and better chances of turning a profit.
Break-even win rates by odds
Lower juice = lower win rate needed to stay profitable.
How to calculate betting juice
Sports betting apps build juice into the odds.
You can calculate it by converting each side’s odds into implied probabilities, then adding them together.
Anything over 100% is the juice.
Step-by-step example (Using -110 Odds on Both Sides)
Convert each side to implied probability:
110 / (110 + 100) = 0.524 or 52.4%
Add both sides:
52.4% + 52.4% = 104.8%
Subtract 100%:
104.8% - 100% = 4.8% juice
This 4.8% is the betting juice the sportsbook takes on that market.
For negative odds:
Juice = (|Odds| / (|Odds| + 100)) × 100
For positive odds:
Juice = (100 / (Odds + 100)) × 100
You can also use online juice calculators to skip the math.
But knowing how it works helps you compare sportsbooks and spot better value.
Moneyline example
Let’s say a game lists:
Team A: -140
Team B: +120
Convert to implied probabilities:
Team A: 140 / (140 + 100) = 58.3%
Team B: 100 / (120 + 100) = 45.5%
Add them together:
58.3% + 45.5% = 103.8%
Subtract 100%:
103.8% - 100% = 3.8% juice
That 3.8% is the sportsbook’s built-in edge on this bet.
Juice on different types of bets
Juice isn’t just for point spreads.
You’ll find it built into totals, moneylines, props, and especially futures.
Here’s a quick look at how juice compares across common bet types:
Juice levels by bet type
Key takeaways:
Futures markets often carry the highest juice.
Player props can be heavily juiced, especially on both sides.
Point spreads and totals usually hover around standard -110, but this varies by book.
Understanding juice on each bet type helps you avoid overpriced odds and find better value.
Reduced juice betting means placing bets with lower-than-normal odds, like -105 instead of -110.
That smaller fee gives you a better chance to profit over time.
Let’s break it down.
At -110 odds, you need to win 52.4% of bets to break even.
At -105, that drops to 51.2%.
Just a 1.2% difference can have a big impact on hundreds of bets.
Some sportsbooks offer reduced juice during promos, big events, or as part of their standard pricing.
Sharp bettors often seek these books to stretch their edge.
Profit at different juice levels (100 bets at 54% win rate)
How to remove the juice
Want to see the true odds of a bet without the sportsbook’s cut?
Follow these four simple steps to remove the juice.
Frequently asked questions
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References
Contributors
Bradley Gibbs
Author
With over 12 years of experience, Bradley Gibbs is a seasoned sports betting writer and analyst specializing in uncovering value bets across football, horse racing, tennis, and golf.
His extensive coverage of these sports has been featured on numerous websites and in The Racing & Football Outlook, a renowned UK betting publication.
Bradley's expertise lies in identifying betting edges and delivering insightful, data-driven content for informed wagering.
Josh Miller
Reviewed By
Josh Miller, Sporting Post’s Sports & Casino Editor, brings over five years of experience in feature writing, blogging, and SEO.
With a strong background in football coverage and sports betting, his work has been featured in VAVEL.
Josh also writes extensively about online casinos, providing expert insights into games, bonuses, and gambling trends.
His engaging and informative content makes him a reliable resource for Sporting Post readers.