Every time you place a bet, the sportsbook takes a cut. The hold percentage tells you exactly how much. It’s the single most important number for understanding how much the house is charging you — and it varies wildly between books.
What is Hold Percentage?
Hold percentage (also called margin or overround) is the sportsbook’s built-in profit margin on a market. It’s the amount the book expects to keep from total wagering on both sides.
A standard NFL spread at -110/-110 has a hold of about 4.5%. That means for every $100 wagered on the market, the sportsbook expects to keep $4.55 in profit.
How to Calculate Hold
Hold is the total implied probability minus 100%.
Formula
Calculate implied probability for each side
Add them together
Subtract 100%
Example: NFL Spread
| Side | Odds | Implied Probability |
|---|---|---|
| Team A -3 | -110 | 52.38% |
| Team B +3 | -110 | 52.38% |
| Total | 104.76% |
Hold = 104.76% - 100% = 4.76%
Example: NBA Moneyline
| Side | Odds | Implied Probability |
|---|---|---|
| Lakers | -250 | 71.43% |
| Celtics | +200 | 33.33% |
| Total | 104.76% |
Same hold, different odds structure. The -110/-110 and -250/+200 examples both have identical hold despite looking very different.
Why Hold Matters
It Directly Affects Your Bottom Line
Lower hold means more of your money goes toward potential winnings rather than the sportsbook’s pocket.
Over 1,000 bets at $100 each:
2% hold book: ~$2,000 lost to vig
5% hold book: ~$5,000 lost to vig
8% hold book: ~$8,000 lost to vig
That’s a $6,000 difference between the best and worst book — on the same bets with the same outcomes.
Not All Books Are Equal
Hold varies significantly across sportsbooks:
| Book Type | Typical Hold | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Sharp/Exchange | 1.5-3% | Pinnacle, Circa |
| Standard US | 4-5% | DraftKings, FanDuel |
| High-margin props | 6-10%+ | Player prop markets |
| Boosts/Promos | 0% or negative | Loss leaders |
Sharp books charge less because their volume is higher and their customers are more price-sensitive. Consumer-facing US books charge more because recreational bettors are less price-sensitive.
Prop Markets Are Expensive
Player prop markets typically have much higher hold than spreads and totals. A prop priced at -120/+100 has about 5.5% hold, while some multi-way markets (like first touchdown scorer) can have 15-25% hold.
This is why finding +EV player props is so valuable — the high vig means there’s more room for the sportsbook to misprice a line.
Hold vs. Vig
These terms are related but technically different:
Vig (juice): The premium charged on a specific side of a bet. At -110, the vig is the extra $10 you risk beyond the potential $100 payout.
Hold: The total margin across both sides of the market. It’s the aggregate vig.
A -110/-110 market has vig on both sides. The combined hold is what the book expects to profit.
Practical Tips
Compare hold across books before betting. Don’t just look at one side’s odds — calculate the total hold.
Avoid high-hold markets unless you have a strong reason to believe you have an edge.
Main lines have less hold than alternate lines and props.
Shop around. If one book has 6% hold and another has 3% on the same market, you’re paying double the vig at the first book.
Key Takeaways
Hold percentage is the sportsbook’s profit margin on a market
Lower hold means better value for bettors
Hold varies from ~2% at sharp books to 10%+ on exotic props
Always compare hold across books — it directly affects your long-term results
