Contents
The margin (also called "vig" or "juice") is how bookmakers guarantee profit. Understanding it helps you find better value.
What is Bookmaker Margin?
In a fair market:
- Team A at 2.00 (50%) + Team B at 2.00 (50%) = 100%
But bookmakers offer:
- Team A at 1.91 + Team B at 1.91 = 104.7%
That extra 4.7% is the margin, the bookmaker's cut.
Calculating Margin
Margin = (1/Odds1 + 1/Odds2 + ... + 1/OddsN - 1) × 100%
Two-Way Market (Tennis)
- Player A: 1.85
- Player B: 2.00
Margin = (1/1.85 + 1/2.00 - 1) × 100% = 4.05%
Three-Way Market (Football)
- Home: 2.10
- Draw: 3.40
- Away: 3.50
Margin = (1/2.10 + 1/3.40 + 1/3.50 - 1) × 100% = 5.9%
Use our Margin Calculator for instant results.
Why Margin Matters
Long-Term Cost
With 4% margin and $1,000 monthly turnover:
- Monthly "tax": ~$40
- Yearly: ~$480
Finding Value
Lower margin = closer to true odds = easier to find value bets.
Margin by Bookmaker
| Bookmaker | Typical Margin | Best For |
|---|---|---|
| Pinnacle | 2-3% | Professionals |
| Bet365 | 4-6% | All-round |
| 1xBet | 3-5% | Variety |
| Average | 5-8% | , |
Margin by Sport/Market
| Market | Typical Margin |
|---|---|
| Top football leagues | 3-5% |
| Tennis Grand Slams | 3-4% |
| Lower leagues | 6-10% |
| Exotic markets | 8-15% |
Beating the Margin
Line Shopping
Compare odds across 5+ bookmakers. Take the best odds every time.
Bet Exchanges
Betfair has ~2% commission instead of margin.
Focus on Low-Margin Markets
Stick to major events where competition drives margins down.
Related Tools
Track and compare bookmaker margins over time with the Bookmaker Tracker.
Conclusion
Margin is the price you pay to bet. Minimize it by shopping for best odds and choosing low-margin bookmakers like Pinnacle.
Evgeniy Volkov
Verified ExpertFullstack developer with a background in mathematics. I build the calculators and game-style tools on ToolsGambling with Pixi.js and modern web tech, and every result uses transparent probability formulas you can verify yourself.