Tutorial · 1:06
The book's cut (the vig)
A 1 minute 6 seconds walkthrough in Ross's voice, with captions on screen. Every sportsbook keeps a cut, called the vig.
Transcript
Every sportsbook keeps a cut, called the vig.
Say a book prices both sides of a game at -110. Each side implies about 52.4%. Together that's about 105%, not 100%. That extra is the book's cut, also called the hold.
The good news: every book sets its own price. Book A has a team at -110. Book B has the same team at -105. At Book B you risk $105 to win $100, not $110. Same bet, less money on the line.
Add up the best price on each side, take away one hundred, and you get what our tools call Market vig. At -105 on both sides, it drops to about 2.4%. A lower number means you pay a smaller cut. And below zero, the best prices cross.
Next: how Compare Books finds the best price for you.