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Vig Calculator

A vig calculator shows how much margin a sportsbook has in a betting market. Also called a hold calculator, it converts the odds for each side into probabilities and adds them together. Any probability above 100% is the bookmaker’s edge. Use this to compare sportsbooks and find lower vig markets.

How to Calculate the Vig

What is vig in sports betting?

 

Vig is the sportsbook’s built-in edge on a market. It is also called juice, hold, or margin. It's also sometimes called the overround, but overround is technically different (see below). Bettors often use those terms loosely, but the basic idea is that the sportsbook prices all outcomes so the total probability adds up to more than 100%. That excess is where the house edge comes from.

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How do you calculate vig?

 

Calculate the vig step by step:

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  1. Convert odds to probability.
    For negative American odds: probability = |odds| / (|odds| + 100)

    For positive American odds: probability = 100 / (odds + 100)

  2. Add the probabilities together.

  3. Subtract 100% (this gives you the overround)

  4. Divide by total probability

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Example: what is the vig on a bet with odds of -110 on each side?

 

If both sides are -110:

  • Side A probability = 52.38%

  • Side B probability = 52.38%

  • Total implied probability = 104.76%

  • Overround= 4.76%

  • Vig = 4.55%

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When betting at -110 on each side, you're starting at a disadvantage of -4.55%. This represents your expected ROI on similar bets. The reason "the House always wins" is because of this disadvantage (the vig). Recreational bettors either ignore the vig, believe it doesn't apply to them, or believe they're overcoming it when they actually aren't.

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Why lower vig matters

 

Lower vig means you're starting at less of a disadvantage. With line shopping, you can often cut the vig down to 1% or less. Sometimes, you can find bets with negative vig, which is a positive edge for you as the bettor. Sharp bettors compare pricing across books to trim the vig. It's much easier to overcome a 1% disadvantage than a 5% disadvantage, and your ROI will increase in the long run as well.

Vig Calculator FAQ

What is a vig calculator?

  • A vig calculator is a sports betting tool that shows the bookmaker’s built-in margin on a given market. It takes the odds for each outcome and gives you the vig as well as the probability implied by the odds. Bettors use a vig calculator to measure margins and compare prices to find the best value.

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What is a hold calculator?

  • A hold calculator is the same as a vig calculator. Vig and hold are synonyms, but can be used in different contexts. When referring to the built-in disadvantage in a given market, whether at one sportsbook or across multiple, bettors tend to use the term "vig". When referring to the percentage the sportsbook is expected to earn on the total volume (handle) in a given market, bettors tend to use the term "hold". However, they are interchangeable.

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How do you calculate vig in sports betting?

  • To calculate vig, convert each side of the market to probability, add them together, subtract 100%, and divide by the total probability. The higher the vig, the worse the pricing is for the bettor. Line shopping can lower the vig significantly.

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How do you calculate hold in sports betting?

  • Calculating the hold is the same as calculating the vig, since they're synonymous. To calculate sportsbook hold, convert each side of the market to probability, add them together, subtract 100%, and divide by the total probability.

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What is the vig on -110 odds?

  • The vig is 4.55%. On a standard -110 / -110 market, each side's probability is 52.38%, for a total of 104.76%. That means the market has 4.76% overround. Dividing by 104.76%, we get 4.55%.

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Why should bettors care about vig or hold?

  • Bettors should care about vig because it directly affects long-term profitability. Lower vig means better odds, which means a higher, or at least more positive, ROI in the long run. It's much easier to win when the vig is only 1% compared to 5% or higher.​​

Learn More About Betting Calculators

Check Out These Articles on a Range of Sports Betting Math Topics

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