Beginner's guide
What Is Vig in Sports Betting?
See the hidden cost built into sportsbook prices.
Written and reviewed by LineLens · Reviewed July 18, 2026 · 5–7 minute read
How we create and check guidesThe short answer
Vig—also called juice or margin—is the cost embedded in sportsbook odds. In a balanced market both sides might be -110 even though only one can win.
Simple example
Each -110 side implies 52.38%. Together they total 104.76%. The amount above 100% is the market's overround.
Vig versus hold
Overround measures how far implied probabilities exceed 100%. Realized hold is the share of actual wagers the book retains and changes with results and bet distribution.
How to reduce it
Compare the same line at several books. Moving from -115 to -105 lowers the break-even rate from 53.49% to 51.22% without requiring a better prediction.
Why LineLens removes it
LineLens removes each market's vig before estimating consensus probability so the book's fee is not mistaken for information.
Keep learning
What Is No-Vig Probability?
Remove the sportsbook's built-in fee to estimate the market's fair probability.
What Does Positive EV Mean in Sports Betting?
Understand what a positive edge means—and what it does not promise.
What Is Closing-Line Value?
Compare your placed price with the market's last price before an event starts.