- May 31, 2025
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What Is Vigorish (The Juice) in Sports Betting?
Introduction
Vigorish, often called “juice,” is the commission sportsbooks charge for taking your bets. Understanding how vigorish works is essential for bettors looking to maximize profits and manage betting costs.
What Is Vigorish?
Vigorish is the built-in fee sportsbooks charge on bets, ensuring they make a profit regardless of the outcome. It’s why betting odds rarely reflect true 50/50 chances.
How Vigorish Affects Betting Odds
The juice causes odds to be slightly worse than fair value, meaning bettors must overcome this margin to profit long-term.
Common Juice Rates
- Standard vigorish is around 10% on a standard -110 moneyline bet.
- Some sportsbooks offer reduced juice or “low vig” lines.
- Higher juice may apply to exotic or prop bets.
How to Minimize Vigorish
- Shop for sportsbooks offering better odds or lower juice.
- Use promotions and bonuses to offset costs.
- Focus on bets with value that overcome the juice.
Conclusion
Vigorish is a fundamental part of sports betting that affects your profitability. Knowing how to recognize and minimize juice can improve your chances of success.
Frequently Asked Questions
What does vigorish mean in betting?
Vigorish is the commission sportsbooks charge to take bets, also known as the juice.
How does juice affect my bets?
It reduces your potential profits by making odds slightly worse than true probabilities.
Can I avoid paying vigorish?
You can minimize it by shopping for the best odds and low-juice sportsbooks, but it’s hard to avoid entirely.
Why do sportsbooks charge vigorish?
It ensures the sportsbook makes a profit regardless of the outcome of the event.
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