What Is Vig In Betting?
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Last Updated: 15 July, 2025
Vig, short for vigorish, is the built-in fee that sportsbooks charge to take your bet.
It’s also called “juice” and is usually hidden in the odds.
The vig helps sportsbooks make a profit no matter who wins.
Understanding how vig works can help you place smarter bets and keep more of your potential winnings.
How the vig works
In sports betting, the vig is how sportsbooks make money.
It’s not a separate fee; they build it into the odds.
Most bettors don’t notice it, but over time, it cuts into your profits.
Let’s say you place a $110 bet on a team at -110 odds.
If you win, you get $100 in profit and your $110 back.
But if you lose, the sportsbook keeps the full $110; that $10 extra is the vig in betting.
Vig example
Imagine both teams in an NFL game are listed at -110.
This creates a balanced line, but it also means the sportsbook takes more than 100% of the action.
Instead of paying out $100 for every $100 risked, the betting vig makes sure they earn a cut.
If both sides of a line get equal action, the sportsbook profits from the losing side’s vig.
Even though each bet has a fair chance, the house always keeps an edge.
How to calculate vig
Understanding how to calculate the vig in sports betting helps you spot how much the sportsbook is taking from each market.
The vig is built into the odds, so calculating it gives you the real cost of placing a bet.
To do this, you first convert the odds to decimal format.
Then, you use this formula:
Vig Formula: (1 / Decimal Odds Team A) + (1 / Decimal Odds Team B) – 1 = Vig
Let’s say a sportsbook lists both sides of a football game at -110 odds.
That’s the most common line for point spreads or totals.
Convert -110 to decimal:(100 / 110) + 1 = 1.91
Plug into the formula:(1 / 1.91) + (1 / 1.91) – 1= 0.524 + 0.524 – 1= 0.048 or 4.8%
So the vig sports betting rate in this example is 4.8%.
That’s the cut the sportsbook earns for offering the bet, even when the action is evenly split.
The higher the vig, the more you have to win over time just to break even.
At -110 odds, you need to win 52.4% of your bets to stay profitable.
How vig affects your bets
The vig in betting directly impacts how much profit you can make over time.
Since sportsbooks build the vig into the odds, you’re always starting with a slight disadvantage.
Even if you win half your bets, you’ll lose money if you’re always betting at -110 or worse.
For example, at -110 odds, you need to win 52.4% of your bets just to break even.
With higher vig, like -120 lines, you’d need to win even more.
That’s why sharp bettors aim for lower vig, or “reduced juice” lines, whenever possible.
Pros and cons of vig betting
Pros
- ✅ Keeps sportsbooks in business - Vig allows sportsbooks to offer markets and stay profitable long-term.
- ✅ Smooths out risk for the book - It protects the house from losing money even on balanced betting action.
- ✅ Can be minimized - By shopping lines or using promos, bettors can reduce the vig they pay.
Cons
- ❌ Hurts long-term profits - Even small vig takes a cut of every win, reducing your edge.
- ❌ Raises break-even rate - You must win over 50% of bets just to stay even at standard odds.
- ❌ Not always obvious - The vig is hidden in the odds, so many new bettors don’t realize it’s there.
Vig betting tips
The vig is always working against you, but smart strategies can help you limit its impact.
Use these tips to stretch your bankroll and protect your profits.
Shop for the best lines: Compare odds across sportsbooks to find lower vig on the same bet.
Look for -105 or +100 markets: Reduced juice lines give you a better long-term chance to break even or win.
Use odds boosts or promos: These can offset or remove the vig entirely on select bets.
Avoid high-vig bets: Parlays and exotic props often carry higher hidden vig—stick to basic markets when possible.
Track your break-even rate: At -110 odds, aim to win at least 52.4% of bets. Know your numbers before you bet.
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Josh Miller
Author
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.
Bradley Gibbs
Reviewed By
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.