Sports Betting Hold Calculator

Sportsbook hold and overround

Hold, often called overround or vig in a quoted market, is the amount by which the implied probabilities across outcomes exceed 100%. Convert each side’s odds into implied probability and add them. A 104% total indicates a 4% overround estimate for that market.

This is a price-based estimate. A sportsbook’s realized hold over a period depends on the bets it accepts, customer outcomes, bonuses, and limits. It is not necessarily the book’s final profit margin.

Remove the margin to compare fair probabilities

A proportional no-vig estimate divides each outcome’s implied probability by the total implied probability. If +100 is offered on both sides, each side implies 50% and the market has no overround. At -110 on both sides, each side implies about 52.38%, for a combined 104.76%.

After removing that margin proportionally, each side’s estimated fair probability is 50%. Other margin-removal methods exist, particularly in multi-outcome markets, so state the method when comparing prices.

Use hold to compare prices

Lower overround markets generally make it less expensive to take a position, though the best price on each side can come from different books. Compare equivalent markets, including regulation time, overtime, and tie rules. A low hold does not indicate which side is more likely to win.