What the Vig Is and Why It Matters
Look: the vig — short for “vigorish” — is the hidden tax on every wager, the bookmaker’s cut baked into the odds.
How the Bookie Builds the Edge
Here is the deal: a sportsbook sets a line, say -110 on both sides of a game. That “110” means you must risk $110 to win $100. The extra $10 is the vig, the profit margin that guarantees the house wins long term.
Math in Plain Sight
Take a simple coin-flip bet: fair odds would be 2.00 (evens). The bookie offers 1.91 on heads and 1.91 on tails. Convert to implied probability — 1/1.91≈52.4% each. Add them up, 104.8% — that extra 4.8% is the vig.
Vig Variations Across Markets
And here is why: different sports, different bet types, different markets. NFL spreads often carry a 5% vig, while NBA totals can dip below 2% if competition is fierce. Exotic props? Expect double-digit vig.
Impact on Your Bankroll
Every time you lose, the vig bites you twice — once on the losing side, once on the winning side’s reduced payout. Over 100 bets, a 5% vig can shave off 15% of your potential profit.
How to Spot a Low-Vig Offer
By the way, shop around. Compare lines from at least three bookmakers before placing a ticket. When you see -105 versus -115, that’s a $10 difference per $100 risk — significant over a season.
Using the Vig to Your Advantage
Sharp bettors flip the script: they bet where the vig is smallest, or they lay off the edge by taking the opposite side on a betting exchange where the commission is often under 2%.
Bottom Line
Understand the vig, calculate it, and you’ll stop handing free money to the house — start protecting your edge now.betting vig explained