Juice in Sports Betting: What It Means and Why It Matters

Every sportsbook takes a cut on every bet you place. That cut is called the juice, and understanding how it works is one of the most important concepts in sports betting. Whether you have been betting for years or just placed your first wager, juice directly affects your potential profits on every single bet.

Juice goes by several names: vig, vigorish, the take, the cut, or simply the house edge. Regardless of what you call it, it represents the commission that sportsbooks build into their odds. It is how they stay in business, and it is the primary reason why the math is always tilted slightly against bettors.

This guide breaks down exactly what juice is, how to calculate it, how it varies across different bet types, and practical strategies to reduce its impact on your bankroll. By the end, you will understand why some bettors obsess over finding lower juice and how even small differences compound into significant money over time.

What Is Juice in Sports Betting?

Juice is the built-in commission that sportsbooks charge on every wager. It is not listed as a separate fee on your bet slip. Instead, it is embedded directly into the odds themselves, which is why many bettors do not realize how much they are actually paying.

The simplest way to think about juice: it is the gap between what you risk and what you would receive in a perfectly fair market. In a truly fair bet on a coin flip, both sides would be priced at +100 (even money). You risk $100 to win $100. But sportsbooks do not offer fair odds. They price both sides at -110, meaning you risk $110 to win $100. That extra $10 you put up on either side is the juice.

Juice, vig, and vigorish all refer to the same concept. "Vig" is short for "vigorish," which traces back to a Russian word meaning "winnings." In practice, most bettors and industry professionals use these terms interchangeably. You might also hear it called the "overround" in some markets. For a full breakdown of common terminology, see our sports betting terms glossary.

The juice ensures that sportsbooks generate revenue regardless of the outcome. They do not need one side to win. They just need enough action on both sides to collect their margin. This is fundamentally different from a casino game where the house needs you to lose. With sports betting, the sportsbook profits from the spread between what they take in and what they pay out.

Why Sportsbooks Move the Juice

Sportsbooks do not always keep the juice static. When too much money comes in on one side of a bet, the book faces lopsided risk. Rather than always moving the point spread or total, they often adjust the juice instead.

For example, suppose the Eagles are -3 against the Cowboys and both sides open at -110. If the public is heavily backing the Eagles, the sportsbook might shift the Eagles side to -120 while easing the Cowboys to +100. The spread stays at -3, but the juice now discourages further action on the popular side and attracts money on the other. This is one of the most common ways sportsbooks manage their exposure in real time, and it explains why you often see different juice on either side of the same spread or total.

Watching how the juice shifts can also signal where the sharp money is going. If one side suddenly moves from -110 to -115 without a spread change, it often means the book has taken significant action on that side.

How Juice Works: A Simple Example

The easiest way to understand juice is through the most common bet in sports: a point spread at -110 on both sides.

Imagine the NFL has a game between the Chiefs and Bills. The sportsbook sets the spread at Chiefs -3, and both sides are priced at -110. Two bettors take opposite sides:

• Bettor A wagers $110 on Chiefs -3 at -110
• Bettor B wagers $110 on Bills +3 at -110

The sportsbook has collected a total of $220. No matter who covers the spread, the book pays the winner $210 (their $110 stake plus $100 in profit). The losing bettor forfeits their $110 stake. The sportsbook keeps $220 collected minus $210 paid out, netting $10 in profit.

That $10 profit on $220 in total wagers works out to a 4.55% margin. The sportsbook does not care which team covers. Their profit comes from the juice built into both sides of the line.

Here is how this scales:

Total Action (Both Sides)	Sportsbook Collects	Pays Winner	Sportsbook Profit
$220	$220	$210	$10
$2,200	$2,200	$2,100	$100
$22,000	$22,000	$21,000	$1,000
$220,000	$220,000	$210,000	$10,000

In reality, sportsbooks rarely get perfectly balanced action on both sides. But the principle holds: the juice creates a mathematical edge that generates consistent revenue across thousands of events.

How to Calculate Juice on Any Bet

Calculating juice requires converting odds into implied probabilities. When the implied probabilities on both sides of a bet add up to more than 100%, the excess represents the juice. For a deeper dive into the math behind these conversions, see our guide on implied probability in sports betting.

American Odds

For negative American odds (favorites), the implied probability formula is:

Implied Probability = Absolute Value of Odds / (Absolute Value of Odds + 100)

For positive American odds (underdogs):

Implied Probability = 100 / (Odds + 100)

Example: Standard -110 / -110 spread

• Side A at -110: 110 / (110 + 100) = 110 / 210 = 52.38%
• Side B at -110: 110 / (110 + 100) = 110 / 210 = 52.38%
• Total implied probability: 52.38% + 52.38% = 104.76%
• Juice: 104.76% - 100% = 4.76%

Example: Moneyline at -150 / +130

• Favorite at -150: 150 / (150 + 100) = 150 / 250 = 60.00%
• Underdog at +130: 100 / (130 + 100) = 100 / 230 = 43.48%
• Total implied probability: 60.00% + 43.48% = 103.48%
• Juice: 103.48% - 100% = 3.48%

Decimal Odds

For decimal odds, the conversion is even simpler:

Implied Probability = 1 / Decimal Odds

Example: 1.91 / 1.91 (equivalent to -110 / -110)

• Side A at 1.91: 1 / 1.91 = 52.36%
• Side B at 1.91: 1 / 1.91 = 52.36%
• Total: 104.72%
• Juice: 4.72%

Fractional Odds

For fractional odds (e.g., 10/11):

Implied Probability = Denominator / (Numerator + Denominator)

Example: 10/11 on both sides

• Side A: 11 / (10 + 11) = 11 / 21 = 52.38%
• Side B: 11 / (10 + 11) = 11 / 21 = 52.38%
• Total: 104.76%
• Juice: 4.76%

Use our vig and true odds calculator to instantly strip the juice from any line and see the fair odds underneath.

Standard Juice vs. Reduced Juice

Not all sportsbooks charge the same amount of juice. Understanding the difference between standard and reduced juice can meaningfully impact your long-term results.

Standard Juice

The industry standard for point spreads and totals is -110 on both sides, also known as a "dime line" in betting terminology. This translates to roughly 4.55% juice per side, or about 4.76% total overround on a two-way market. Most major sportsbooks (DraftKings, FanDuel, BetMGM, Caesars) use standard -110 dime line pricing as their baseline.

Reduced Juice

Some sportsbooks offer reduced juice, typically pricing spreads and totals at -105 or -107 instead of -110. Here is how the numbers compare:

Juice Level	Risk to Win $100	Implied Probability	Total Overround	Break-Even Win Rate
-110 (Standard)	$110	52.38%	4.76%	52.38%
-108	$108	51.92%	3.85%	51.92%
-107	$107	51.69%	3.38%	51.69%
-105	$105	51.22%	2.44%	51.22%
-102	$102	50.50%	0.99%	50.50%

The difference between -110 and -105 may look small, but it adds up significantly over time. A bettor placing 1,000 bets at $100 per bet saves approximately $2,200 over the course of those bets by using -105 juice instead of -110. That is not a rounding error. Over a full season of regular betting, that difference can determine whether you finish in the red or break even.

When Reduced Juice Matters Most

Reduced juice has the biggest impact on high-volume bettors. If you place a few bets per week, the savings are modest. But if you are making dozens of wagers weekly across multiple sports, the cumulative effect of reduced juice can be the single biggest factor in your profitability. Even sharp bettors with a genuine edge see their returns dramatically improved when they consistently access lower juice.

Juice on Different Bet Types

Not all bets carry the same amount of juice. Understanding where sportsbooks embed more or less margin helps you make informed decisions about which markets to focus on.

Point Spreads and Totals

These are typically the most competitively priced markets because they see the highest betting volume. Standard juice is -110 on both sides (4.76% overround). High-profile games, especially in the NFL, often see the most efficient pricing because so many sharp bettors are involved.

Moneylines

Moneyline juice varies significantly depending on how lopsided the matchup is. A competitive game might show -115/+105, while a heavy favorite game could show -350/+280. The juice on moneylines is often harder to spot because the odds are not symmetric. In lopsided matchups, the total overround can reach 6-8% or higher.

Parlays

This is where juice becomes particularly punishing. When you combine multiple bets into a parlay, the juice compounds. A standard two-leg parlay at -110 per leg carries more total juice than either individual bet. As you add more legs, the sportsbook's edge grows exponentially. A four-leg parlay at standard juice has an effective overround that is substantially higher than any individual bet, which is one reason sportsbooks heavily promote parlays.

Player Props

Player prop markets typically carry higher juice than point spreads or totals. It is common to see -115 or -120 on both sides of a player prop, translating to overrounds of 5-7% or more. The reasoning is straightforward: prop markets see lower betting volume, limits are smaller, and the lines are less efficient, so sportsbooks build in a larger cushion.

Futures

Futures markets generally carry the highest juice of any bet type. When you add up the implied probabilities of every team in a futures market (Super Bowl winner, NBA champion, etc.), the total often exceeds 120-140%, meaning 20-40% total overround. Sportsbooks justify this because futures tie up your money for long periods and are difficult for bettors to model accurately.

Game Props and Exotics

Special markets like game props (first team to score, total touchdowns, exact score) tend to carry heavy juice similar to futures. These markets attract recreational bettors and are priced accordingly, with overrounds often in the 10-20% range.

How Juice Affects Your Bottom Line

The impact of juice on your betting results is straightforward but often underestimated. At standard -110 juice, you need to win 52.38% of your bets just to break even. That means even a skilled bettor who can correctly predict outcomes 53% of the time is only barely profitable.

Here is how different juice levels change the math:

Juice Level	Break-Even Win Rate	Your Edge at 55% Win Rate	Profit per 1,000 $100 Bets
-110	52.38%	2.62%	+$5,000
-108	51.92%	3.08%	+$5,926
-105	51.22%	3.78%	+$7,381
-102	50.50%	4.50%	+$8,922
+100 (No juice)	50.00%	5.00%	+$10,000

A bettor with a 55% win rate earns $5,000 per 1,000 bets at -110 juice but $7,381 at -105 juice. That is a 48% increase in profit from a seemingly minor juice reduction. For bettors with a smaller edge (say 53%), the difference is even more dramatic in percentage terms because the juice consumes a larger share of their already thin margin.

This is why experienced bettors say "you cannot out-handicap bad juice." Even the best picks in the world produce mediocre results if you are consistently paying too much in juice. The math is relentless, and over hundreds or thousands of bets, juice is the single biggest drag on returns for most bettors.

How to Reduce the Impact of Juice

You cannot eliminate juice entirely, but you can take practical steps to minimize how much it costs you.

Line Shopping

The most effective strategy for reducing juice is comparing odds across multiple sportsbooks before placing a bet. Different books price the same event differently, and those differences create opportunities. If one book has Chiefs -3 at -110 and another has Chiefs -3 at -105, taking the -105 line saves you money every single time.

Over the course of a season, line shopping can save a regular bettor thousands of dollars. It requires maintaining accounts at several sportsbooks and checking lines before each bet, but the payoff is significant. For more on this approach, see our guide on betting line shopping.

Use Reduced Juice Sportsbooks

Some sportsbooks make reduced juice their competitive advantage, consistently offering -105 or -107 on spreads and totals. While these books may have fewer promotions or smaller bonuses, the lower juice often provides more long-term value than any sign-up offer.

Consider Betting Exchanges

Betting exchanges operate differently from traditional sportsbooks. Instead of betting against the house, you bet against other users on a peer-to-peer platform. Exchanges do not embed juice into the odds. Instead, they charge a small commission (typically 2-5%) on your net winnings. For bettors who win consistently, this structure can result in significantly lower costs than traditional sportsbook juice.

Be Selective About Markets

Focus your betting on markets with the most competitive pricing. Point spreads and totals in major sports (NFL, NBA, MLB) typically offer the lowest juice because they attract the most volume. Avoid markets where the overround is excessive unless you have a strong reason to believe you have an edge that outweighs the extra cost.

Understand True Odds

Before placing any bet, calculate the true odds by stripping out the juice. This helps you evaluate whether the actual probability you are being offered justifies the bet. Our vig and true odds calculator makes this process easy. When you see the fair odds next to the offered odds, you can make more informed decisions about which bets provide genuine value.

Consider Expected Value

Every bet has an expected value based on the true probability versus the offered odds. Understanding expected value in betting helps you focus on bets where the juice is more than offset by a favorable price. A bet with higher juice can still be worthwhile if the odds sufficiently exceed the true probability.

Time Your Bets

Odds move throughout the week as sportsbooks adjust to new information and betting patterns. Early lines sometimes offer less juice because books are testing the market, while lines close to game time can tighten as well due to competitive pressure between sportsbooks. Pay attention to when lines are most favorable for the markets you bet.

Juice in Live Betting and Parlays

Two areas deserve special attention because of how juice behaves differently in them.

Live Betting Juice

In-game or live betting markets consistently carry higher juice than pre-game markets. This makes sense from the sportsbook's perspective: they have less time to set accurate lines, the situation is changing rapidly, and the risk of being beaten by bettors who react faster to in-game developments is higher. Live betting overrounds of 7-10% or more are common, even on major markets like the point spread.

If you bet live, be aware that you are paying a significant premium for the ability to react to in-game action. The entertainment value may be worth it, but the mathematical edge against you is steeper than pre-game betting.

Parlay Juice Compounding

Parlays deserve their own discussion because the juice problem compounds with each leg you add. Here is a simplified illustration of how this works:

Parlay Legs	True Fair Odds	Typical Sportsbook Payout	Effective Juice
2 legs	+300 (3-to-1)	+260	~10%
3 legs	+700 (7-to-1)	+595	~13%
4 legs	+1500 (15-to-1)	+1228	~17%
5 legs	+3100 (31-to-1)	+2435	~20%

The payouts look big, but the sportsbook is keeping an increasingly large share of what a fair payout would be. A five-leg parlay at standard juice has roughly 20% effective overround, meaning the sportsbook keeps about one-fifth of what a fair market would return. This compounding effect is the primary mathematical reason why parlays are so profitable for sportsbooks and so costly for bettors.

This does not mean you should never bet parlays. But you should understand exactly how much extra you are paying for the correlation between legs and the convenience of a single bet.

Frequently Asked Questions About Juice in Sports Betting

What does juice mean in sports betting?

Juice is the commission or fee that sportsbooks build into their odds on every bet. Instead of charging a separate transaction fee, sportsbooks adjust the odds so that the total implied probability on both sides of a bet exceeds 100%. The excess is the juice. It is also commonly called the vig, vigorish, or overround. At standard pricing, the juice on a point spread is about 4.76%, meaning the sportsbook takes roughly $4.76 out of every $100 wagered.

How much is standard juice on a bet?

The standard juice on point spreads and totals is -110 on both sides. This means you risk $110 to win $100 on either side. The total overround at -110/-110 is approximately 4.76%. However, juice varies significantly by bet type: moneylines can range from 3% to 8%, player props often carry 5-7%, and futures markets can have overrounds of 20-40%.

Is juice the same as vig?

Yes. Juice, vig, and vigorish all refer to the same thing: the sportsbook's built-in commission on bets. "Vig" is simply a shortened form of "vigorish." Some bettors also refer to it as the "take" or the "house edge." The terminology varies by region and context, but the concept is identical.

Can I avoid paying juice on sports bets?

You cannot eliminate juice entirely because it is how sportsbooks generate revenue. However, you can reduce it by shopping for the best lines across multiple sportsbooks, using reduced juice sportsbooks that offer -105 or -107 instead of -110, and focusing on markets with the most competitive pricing. Some promotions or odds boosts temporarily remove juice from specific bets, but these are exceptions rather than the norm.

Why do some bets have more juice than others?

Sportsbooks charge higher juice on markets where they face more risk or uncertainty. Major market spreads and totals see high volume from sharp bettors, which keeps the lines efficient and the juice low. Player props, futures, and live bets have lower volume, less efficient pricing, and more uncertainty, so sportsbooks build in a larger margin to protect themselves. Exotic and novelty bets carry the highest juice because they are difficult to price accurately.

How does juice affect my break-even win rate?

At standard -110 juice, you need to win 52.38% of your bets to break even. At -105 juice, the break-even rate drops to 51.22%. At -120 juice, it rises to 54.55%. Every increase in juice makes it harder to profit because you need to win a greater percentage of your bets just to cover the sportsbook's commission before you start earning anything.

Does juice compound in parlays?

Yes, and this is one of the most important concepts for parlay bettors to understand. Each leg of a parlay carries its own juice, and the effect compounds as you add more legs. A two-leg parlay at standard juice has about 10% effective overround, while a five-leg parlay can reach 20% or more. This compounding is the primary mathematical reason why parlays favor the sportsbook much more heavily than straight bets.

What is reduced juice and is it worth seeking out?

Reduced juice means a sportsbook offers odds of -105 or -107 instead of the industry-standard -110. For high-volume bettors, the savings are substantial: betting 1,000 bets at -105 instead of -110 saves roughly $2,200 on $100 wagers. Casual bettors who place a few bets per week will see smaller absolute savings, but the percentage improvement in expected return is the same regardless of volume. If all other factors are equal, reduced juice is always worth seeking out.

Do all sportsbooks charge juice?

Yes. Every sportsbook charges juice because it is their primary revenue model. Without it, they would have no consistent way to profit from the bets they accept. The amount of juice varies between sportsbooks, bet types, and individual markets, but no legal sportsbook operates at zero margin. Some books offer reduced juice as a competitive advantage, and occasional promotions may temporarily remove juice from specific bets, but the standard business model always includes some level of built-in commission.