The term “Juice” is actually a slang term for Vigorish or “Vig”. In sports gambling is the amount of money or commission a sports book receives for taking your bet. Most of the time, the sports books takes a. Juice or “vig” is simply the percentage a sportsbook “charges” for offering odds on sports betting events. As we all know, there are no membership fees to join and bet at a sportsbook and contrary to the.

When you place a bet at a sportsbook, the operator is going to make a profit. How do we know that for certain?

It’s thanks to what’s known as vigorish, which is the fee charged by the book for facilitating the bet. You can think of it in similar terms to a commission you would pay on a transaction, or the mark-up charged by retail outlets on products they sell.

• It is amazing to us how predictably bad sports bettors are at money management. Case in point, the phenomena of reduced juice betting, laying -105 or -107 instead of -110. Reduced juice betting is one.
• “Vigorish”, “vig” or “juice” is the commission charged by sportsbooks for each bet. Reduced juice is a decrease in the amount of vigorish that is paid to the bookmakers on each bet.
• Channels devoted to MLB, NBA, college sports, mixed martial arts and more; A place to discuss Matt Perrault’s latest episode of The Daily Juice Podcast; An opportunity to talk sports betting strategy with.

Sportsbooks are for-profit entities and in the business of making money. Since there are simply no guarantees as to what the end result of a sporting contest will be, the vigorish helps to insure they are covered regardless of the outcome.

We’re going to take a closer look at the concept of vigorish right here, including how it’s calculated and what it means for your overall bottom line. Here’s what you need to know before you bet on sports in Colorado.

What is vig (or vigorish)?

If you place a bet at standard odds of -110, the return you see will be less than your original wager amount. For example, if you place a $1 bet at those odds and go on to win, you’ll get back a grand total of $1.91: your initial stake plus a profit of $0.91.

Instead of doubling your money, you’ve received a 91% return. That’s not bad for a day’s work. So where does the other 9% go?

That’s the fee that the sportsbook keeps for itself for offering the bet. Known as vigorish or juice, this is how sportsbook operators make their money regardless of the outcome.

Let’s consider a random game in which the odds on both sides of the equation are set at -110. It appears to be a toss-up, so the book has attracted nearly even action on both sides.

At the end of the day, one side will win while the other will lose. For sportsbooks, no matter what happens, they know they are keeping a portion of the pool.

The winning side will be paid out, while the losing tickets will move on to play another day. For a sportsbook, the hope is that what they pay out will be less than the amount they get to keep.

Vigorish is essentially a built-in cushion to ensure that happens. For many casual bettors, they simply look past it and call it a day. If they win more than they lose, they’re happy campers.

Seasoned bettors look at vigorish differently. They know that it needs to be factored into the equation. To profit on a long-term basis, they need to “beat the vig.”

For bettors to break even when betting at odds of -110, they need to win about 52.4% of their bets when the vig is factored in.

How to calculate vig

For standard odds of -110, the math has been done thousands of times over. The vig — or juice or amount kept by the sportsbook — is 4.54% at these odds.

Here’s another way to think it through.

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When you see odds of -110, that can also be interpreted to mean that you have to bet $11 in order to see a return of $10. If the odds were exactly the same on both sides of the equation, the two bettors would be betting a total of $22.

The winning side will get back a total of $21 — the initial stake of $11 plus a profit of $10. The extra dollar has been kept by the sportsbook as vigorish. If we divide the $1 vig by the total amount wagered of $22, we come out with 4.54%.

Of course, both sides of the betting equation are not always equal, so calculating the actual vig isn’t as clear cut. For those who like to do it themselves, there is a formula that helps you figure it out.

Vig = 100 * (1 – p * q/p + q)

In the above formula, p and q represent the decimal payout for each outcome of the bet. Yep, that means you would have to convert the odds to decimal form to figure it out.

That’s an entirely different kettle of fish. Thankfully, there are a number of helpful calculators on the internet that can help you figure out the vig in an instant without racking your brain.

Is the vig the same for all bet types?

While it would be great if the answer to that question was a simple “yes,” the reality is different. The vig will vary based on the bet type. For spreads and totals, the vig will fall into the range used for our example above.

However, it will vary based on the actual odds, which can fluctuate based on market action, book standards or other tweaks implemented. For moneyline, the vig will vary dramatically based on the listed odds.

Let’s take a look at the details for each of the three main bet types.

Vig on point spread

For most sportsbooks, the standard odds listing for point spread bets is -110. Upon the initial release of lines, both the underdog and favorite side of the bet will be listed at those odds.

After bets begin to come in, it’s not uncommon to see movement in one direction or the other based on the action. For example, if lots of money comes in on the favorite side, the odds may be adjusted to -115 on that side and to -105 on the other.

This is done in a bid to even out the action as much as possible. Sportsbooks aren’t in the business of exposing themselves to liability, so the goal is to keep it as even as possible on both sides.

Naturally, that’s not always the case. One side of a bet can get hammered with action regardless of line moves. That’ll open up the sportsbook to potential losses, but the public isn’t always right, either.

At the end of the day, the goal is for the sportsbooks to pay out less than they take in. Vigorish helps to ensure the scale is tilted further in their favor.

While -110 odds are considered the norm for the industry, there are operators out there who will offer odds of -105 for point spread bets either on a promotional or ongoing basis.

That may not seem like a huge difference, but it can absolutely add up for any bettor who wagers a decent level of volume. Consider the potential return for a successful $100 bet at both price points.

• Odds of -110: $90.90 profit
• Odds of -105: $95.20 profit

For a single $100 bet, the difference is only $4.30. While that may not seem like much, multiply that difference for 100 correct wagers, and you’re looking at $430. That’s far from chump change. Ticks of difference in the favor of bettors can make a huge difference for the bottom line.

Vig on totals

The vig for totals — also known as over/unders — is basically the same as for point spread bets. The standard odds are -110, but some operators may deviate slightly.

The odds for totals wagers will also move based on market action. One side could rise up to -112 or even -115, while a side that’s not seeing much action could hit -108 or -105.

For experienced bettors, finding the most attractive price is part of the game. New bettors can get in on this as well by partaking in what’s known as “line shopping.”

This simply means that you’re comparing the odds at multiple operators in a bid to find the most attractive prices. Many moons ago, this wasn’t an easy trick to turn, but it’s much simpler these days.

The odds and lines from legal sportsbooks in Colorado are easily accessible, so comparing offerings takes just a couple of minutes.

That can add up to time very well spent. As mentioned, the seemingly minor ticks of difference can add up to a lot over the course of a sports season or betting year. Consider the returns for successful $100 wagers at the following odds.

• Odds of +100: $100 profit
• Odds of -105: $95.20 profit
• Odds of -110: $90.90 profit
• Odds of -115: $87.00 profit
• Odds of -120: $83.30 profit

The vig charged by sportsbooks eats into potential profits, but bettors can help mitigate the damage by seeking out the best prices.

Moneyline and the vig

Odds on the moneyline can be all over the map, so the vig can be tougher to discern. However, you can rest assured that it’s built into the equation.

Payouts on winning bets on the favorite side will drop right along with the odds, but they’ll increase on underdogs as the odds rise. At the end of the day, the sportsbook operator has some wiggle room built into the equation in the form of a vig.

For games that appear to be tight between two evenly matched squads, you may see odds offered in the range of -110, such as one side at -105 and the other at -115.

However, many matchups are listed with clear favorites and underdogs. The favorite side could fall in the range of anywhere from -105 to astronomical levels depending on the sport, such as -250 or -400.

On the underdog side, it’s a similar story. Dogs that aren’t that far behind their competitors could be listed at +100, while serious long shots could be listed at exorbitant odds such as +500.

Line shopping is important for both spreads and totals, but it becomes even more imperative when it comes to the moneyline. Odds at sportsbooks aren’t always created equal, so a little shopping around can do wonders.

For a quick example, consider a game with a clear-cut favorite that’s listed at -155 on that side and +135 for the dog. If you shop around a bit, you could find that another operator has the same game listed at a split of -140/+120.

Just like that, you’ve increased your profit potential for a game you planned on betting on. For further perspective on how much of a difference this can make, consider the payouts on winning $100 bets at the following odds on the favored side.

• Odds of -125: $80 profit
• Odds of -150: $66.70 profit
• Odds of -175: $57.10 profit
• Odds of -200: $50.00 profit

Let’s look at the same on the underdog side.

• Odds of +125: $125 profit
• Odds of +150: $150 profit
• Odds of +175: $175 profit
• Odds of +200: $200 profit

When looking to place a bet, always factor the potential payout into your line of thinking. Each tick of difference on the odds board can have a direct impact on your overall bottom line.

The vig for other bet types

Just like with moneyline betting, the vig charged by books on other bet types isn’t as clear cut as it is with spreads and totals. However, you can remain assured that it’s there.

We’ll walk through how to calculate the vig in a sec. For now, let’s consider the example of a prop bet with a range of five choices. Typically, the book will consider one outcome to be more likely than the others, and so on.

That’ll result in a range of odds that looks something like this, listed with the payouts offered for a successful $20 wager.

• Odds of -115: $17.40 profit
• Odds of +100: $20 profit
• Odds of +120: $24 profit
• Odds of +150: $30 profit
• Odds of +180: $36 profit

The less likely something is to happen, the more of a bounty will be paid by sportsbooks. Underdogs are going to come in here and there, and that’ll place the book on the hook for some big payouts.

However, remember that sportsbooks are also taking in plenty of action elsewhere, and not all of it is successful. When you add in the vig, the book is designed to come out ahead.

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What vigorish means for your bottom line

You can win more bets than you lose and still come out behind. How is that possible? That’s due to the juice, which needs to be factored into your thought process to achieve the goal of long-term profitability.

If you’re placing all of your bets at odds of -110, you’ll need to win 52.4% of your bets just to break even. Naturally, not all bets are placed at that price point. As the odds you are betting at deviate, so too will the break-even percentage.

However, it’s safe to use this as a benchmark for spread and totals bets. When it comes to moneyline and other bet types, it’s going to vary.

In all cases, tracking your bets over a range of time will provide you with your ultimate bottom line. While that can be time consuming, it’s a valuable step to take on the path to long-term profitability.

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• Sportsbooks take a cut of every bet placed on a sporting event, called the ‘juice’ or ‘vig’
• The vig influences odds, so you need to remove it for a clear picture of likely outcomes
• Learn how to remove the vig to place smarter bets with this guide

“Vig” (also known as vigorish or ‘juice’) refers to the fee a bookmaker or sportsbook charges a bettor for placing their wager. The vig allows the bookmaker or sportsbook to make money on every betting line, regardless of the actual outcome of the event. Bettors win and lose, but the right vig guarantees the bookies always win.

Sportsbooks collect the vig by adding it into the odds as overround, or setting probabilities such that the total implied probability of all potential outcomes exceeds 100%. Because it’s baked into the odds as overround, the vig will shift the numbers, so you need to remove it to gain an accurate picture of what bookmakers actually expect to happen in a game.

Check out our comprehensive guide if you want more detail on how and why your favorite sportsbooks take their cut.

How to Read and Calculate Sport Odds

Before you can remove the vig from the line, you need to be confident effectively reading sports odds.

You’ve probably have seen a spread similar to this:

• L.A. Rams: -3.5 -110
• Seattle Seahawks: +3.5 -110

The -110 indicates that for the bettor must wager $110 for every $100 they want to win.

The $10 withheld from the bettor is the vig, which the bookmaker or sportsbook keeps as their profit.

If you need a hand converting odds, check out our guide on how to read and calculate sports betting odds.

Why You Should Remove the Vig

Sportsbooks are in the business of dealing risk, but they like to play things safe themselves. Their goal with any betting line is to ensure the money comes in on each side in optimal proportions, such that they can cover their payout obligations while still pocketing some for themselves. This is one reason the odds will change in the lead up to an event: to attract more action on one side of the line, or to include a higher ‘vig’ percentage to guarantee profit.

Because the odds consider profitability rather than likely outcomes alone, you need to remove the vig from the betting line to gain an accurate picture of the actual probabilities oddsmakers assign to each potential outcome. We refer to this as ‘actual probability’ to differentiate it from ‘implied probability,’ which includes juice in the form of overround.

Finding this actual probability will help you handicap your wagers by getting a clearer view of the oddsmaker’s expectations. This exercise allows you to compare how much the sportsbook has inflated the price on a betting line, or to compare the handling fees baked into the odds at two different sportsbooks.

That said, it’s key to remember that you are ultimately wagering on the odds as they’re offered. When analyzing the potential value of any given bet, you should compare your estimated probability with the implied probability suggested by the odds with the vig included.

How to Remove the Vig

There are a number of calculations that need to be completed to remove the vig and look at the actual probabilities oddsmakers have assigned to each outcome of an event. Follow the following steps for a ‘clean line’ that isn’t influenced by the money coming in on each side:

1. Calculate implied probability (including the vig) of all outcomes.
2. Total implied probability includes overround, and we can use this value to find the vig as a percentage, or to remove it from the betting line.
3. Calculate actual probability by removing the overround (which also removes the vig) to bring total implied probabilities to 100%.
4. Compare actual probability with your own handicapping efforts to determine if a line has value.

How to Calculate Implied Probability

The formula to find implied probability is risk/return = implied probability.

As an example, let’s find the implied probability of the following NHL moneyline:

In this scenario, you’ll need to bet $300 to win $100 (with a total return of $400).

Using the above formula of risk/return: 300(risk)/400(return)=0.75. The 0.75 number, or 75%, is the implied probability of the Capitals winning.

For the Vegas Golden Knights you would calculate: 100(risk)/325(return)= 0.30. 30% is the implied probability of the Golden Knights winning.

Now, you’ve got to determine the total implied probability, also known as the overround. To do so, you add each team’s implied probability, which would be .75 + .30 = 1.05, or 105%.

As you can see, the sum of total implied probabilities is more than 100. By effectively taking wagers on a range of outcomes that’s greater than the actual possible outcomes, overround is a simple way for bookmakers to guarantee they take in more money than they pay out. In the example above, the bookmaker would expect to pay out $100 after receiving $105 worth of wagers.

How to Calculate the Vig as a Percentage

The vig is technically defined as the associated percentage amount the sportsbook will profit on the line. Overround can be used to calculate this percentage using the following formula:

Vig = 1 – (1/Overround) x 100

Vig = 1 – (1/105) x 100

Vig = .0476

Vig = 4.76%

It’s worth noting that you don’t need to calculate the vig as a percentage to find actual probability, or the implied probability of each outcome before books add the vig.

How to Calculate Actual Probability (Odds without the Vig)

You must remove the overround to find actual probability by dividing each team’s implied probability by the total implied probability (or overround).

Actual probability = team implied probability/total implied probability

So 75.00/105.00 = .71 or 71%. The actual probability of the Capitals winning is 71%.

30.00/105.00= .29 or 29%. The actual probability of the Golden Knights winning is 29%.

To confirm you have done your calculations correctly add up both of your actual probabilities. The total should be 100 or 1, as a percentage or decimal, respectively:

.71 + .29 = 1.00. or 100%.

By removing the overround, we can see the actual probabilities of each outcome as estimated by the bookmakers before they account for the vig.

Actual Probability Provides an Inside View

Removing the vig provides a behind the scenes viewpoint for sports bettors. If you don’t remove the vig or juice, you won’t know what the sportsbook actually thinks is going to happen in the game.

What Is The Juice In Sports Betting

Calculating the vig on a betting line also helps you identify those bets that are simply overpriced.

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For more great articles on sport betting tactics and tips, check out our guide to the sharpest strategies in the business.