Market Hold Calculator

Every betting market has a hidden fee called the 'Vig' or 'Hold'. Use this tool to find out exactly how much the sportsbook is charging you to play.

Wes Frank
Wes FrankFounder, EdgeSlip Analytics
Updated Dec 25, 2025
Fact Checked

Market Hold Calculator

Check The Book's Margin

Enter odds for every possible outcome in the market (e.g. both teams for Moneyline, or all teams for a Championship Future).
#1
#2

Margin Analysis

Total Market Hold (Vig)
4.55%
Rating: STANDARD
Implied Probability Sum104.76%

In a fair market, these odds would sum to exactly 100%. The extra 4.55% represents the sportsbook's fee.

Find Low Vig Markets: Why pay 8% tax? Our +EV dashboard highlights markets where the book's edge is lowest, or even negative (Player Edge).

Find Low Hold Lines

What is this tool?

The Market Hold (also known as 'The Vig', 'Juice', or 'Overround') is the profit margin a sportsbook builds into their odds. In a perfectly fair market, the probabilities of all outcomes would sum to 100%. In reality, sportsbooks inflate these probabilities (e.g., to 105%), guaranteeing them a mathematical edge. This calculator reveals that hidden percentage.

How to use it

Enter the odds for every possible outcome in the market. For a standard NFL game, this would be the Home Team odds and Away Team odds. For a Futures market (e.g., 'Super Bowl Winner'), you would enter the odds for every team in the league. The calculator effectively sums the implied probabilities to determine the 'Total Market Hold'.

The Cost of Doing Business

Think of the "Hold" as the tax you pay on every bet. Professional bettors refuse to pay high taxes. They shop for lines with the lowest hold to maximize their long-term ROI.

Great (< 3%)

Found in high-liquidity markets like NFL Spreads or EPL Moneyline on exchanges.

Standard (4-5%)

The industry standard -110 lines used by FanDuel/DraftKings equate to ~4.76%.

Rip-Off (> 8%)

Common in Same Game Parlays and Futures. Avoid these markets.

Vig vs. Hold vs. Overround

These terms are often used interchangeably, but there are subtle differences in how they are calculated mathematically.

Hold % = 1 - (1 / Overround)
The Overround is the sum of all implied probabilities (e.g. 104.5%). The Hold converts that sum into the percentage of the total handle the book expects to keep (e.g. 4.3%).

The Futures Market Trap

The most dangerous place for new bettors is the Futures market (e.g., "Who will win the NBA Championship?"). Because there are 30 different teams, sportsbooks can hide small margins in each price that add up to a massive total hold.

Example: NBA Championship Futures

Bad Value
Celtics +300 (25.0%)
Nuggets +400 (20.0%)
...28 other teams... (80.0%)
Total Implied Prob: 125.0%

In this scenario, the bookmaker is keeping 20% (1 - 1/1.25) of every dollar wagered. It is mathematically very difficult to overcome a 20% tax.

How to Beat the Hold

The only way to overcome the market hold is to find "Synthetic Hold" that is low or negative. You do this by Line Shopping.

If you take the best odds for Team A from DraftKings and the best odds for Team B from FanDuel, the combined market might have a hold of only 1%—or even negative. When the hold is negative, it is called an Arbitrage Opportunity, guaranteeing a profit.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is a 'good' hold percentage?▼
For major markets (NFL Spreads, NBA Totals), look for a hold under 4.8% (standard -110 lines). For Moneyline markets, anything under 4% is good. If you see a hold over 7%, you are likely overpaying and should look for a better line elsewhere.
How do I calculate hold for 3-way markets?▼
The process is the same. Convert the odds for all three outcomes (Home, Draw, Away) to implied probability percentages and sum them up. For example, if the sum is 106%, the hold is roughly 5.6%.
Can the market hold ever be negative?▼
Yes! If the sum of implied probabilities is less than 100%, the market hold is negative. This is called an Arbitrage opportunity. It means the payouts are mathematically generous enough that you can bet on every outcome and guarantee a profit.
Why is the hold higher on player props?▼
Sportsbooks charge a higher premium (vig) on player props because they are more volatile and harder to model accurately. While an NFL spread might have 4.5% hold, a 'First Touchdown Scorer' market might have a 15% or 20% hold to protect the book from variance.
Does the hold affect my win probability?▼
No, the hold doesn't change the actual outcome of the game. However, it affects your 'Break Even' percentage. A higher hold means you need to win a higher percentage of your bets just to break even financially.
Get Started Today

Ready to find your Edge?

Join thousands of smart bettors who have stopped guessing and started calculating. Access institutional-grade tools for the price of a standard wager.

Start Free Trial Explore Features
No credit card requiredCancel Anytime