Hold Calculator
Calculate a sportsbook's hold percentage and overround for any market.
What is Hold?
Hold (or overround) is the sportsbook's built-in margin on a market. It represents how much more than 100% the implied probabilities of all outcomes add up to. A standard NFL spread at -110/-110 has about a 4.5% hold. Lower hold means the odds are closer to fair value, which is better for bettors. Sharp sportsbooks like Pinnacle typically have holds under 3%, while recreational books may charge 6-10%. For three-way markets like soccer (win/draw/loss), the hold is usually higher because there are more outcomes for the book to embed margin into.
Frequently Asked Questions
What's the difference between vig and hold?
Vig is the per-bet commission; hold is the total market margin (sum of implied probabilities minus 100%). On a balanced 2-way market they're equivalent; on multi-way markets hold > effective vig.
Why is hold higher on 3-way markets?
More outcomes mean more places for the book to embed margin. A typical soccer 1X2 market runs 4-7% hold vs 4.5% on a 2-way NFL spread.
What's a "low-hold" book?
A sportsbook that runs slimmer margins to attract sharp action. Pinnacle and Circa are the textbook examples - both are sharp books that welcome winners.
How does hold affect my long-term ROI?
Directly. Every bet you place subsidizes the book's hold. Lower hold = better long-term ROI for everyone, sharp and recreational alike.