Tag Archive: The Vig

You might be surprised at how many sports bettors think that sportsbooks make their money from losing bets alone. They are completely unaware that the winners also pay. This is the Vig. You can look upon it as the sportsbook's commission. And furthermore, you'll pay it on every wager you make. What's even more sneaky, is that the bookmakers actually control the odds you're betting on. In some ways, this is a form of market manipulation. It ensures that the sportsbook always ends up the winner.

If you are a sports bettor, then there are some important factors about sportsbooks you should know. Subjects concerning the "Vig" and the odds or lines that sportsbooks set at the start of betting. Not that these are going to stop you from betting. But they will give you a better understanding of the whole betting process. And the more you understand both the why and the how of the way sportsbooks operate, then the more focused you'll be able to make your bets.