How Sportsbook Vig Works
Vig (short for vigorish), also called juice, is the sportsbook's built-in commission. It's embedded in the odds so that no matter which team wins, the book profits on the losing bets. Standard US lines of -110 / -110 carry approximately 4.76% juice.
Example — Standard -110 Line
Both sides offered at -110 (decimal 1.909)
Implied probs: 52.38% + 52.38% = 104.76%
Overround = 4.76% | Vig = 4.76/104.76 = 4.55%
Per $110 bet: you risk $110 to win $100. The extra $10 is the book's margin.
How Much Vig Do Different Books Charge?
Standard US books charge 4.5–5% vig on sides and totals. Sharp books and betting exchanges can be as low as 2–3%. Prop bets and same-game parlays can carry 8–15% vig, making them significantly harder to beat. Always check the vig before placing a bet.
Vig vs Overround
These terms are often used interchangeably but are technically different. Overround is the total excess implied probability (e.g., 104.76% for -110/-110). Vig is the overround expressed as a percentage of the total handle (4.55%). Both measure the same concept — how much the book makes per dollar wagered.
Sibyl Compares Lines Across Books
Our system tracks the best available line for each pick across all major sportsbooks — so you always get the lowest possible vig on every wager.
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