What this reference covers
- Vig, juice, hold, margin, overround — one idea, five names
- Theoretical margin vs realised hold, and why they differ
- Two-way and three-way margin worked examples
- Break-even win rate at any price, with a reference table
- What widening juice does to required accuracy
- How to compare margin across books on the same market
Download
Two formats, same content. The PDF opens a print-ready reference with a branded cover page; the Word file is editable if you want to annotate or extract formulas into your own notes.
// not an app download
This is an educational reference document (PDF and Word), not a betting app, software, account, or picks service. Nothing here is installed and nothing places a bet. To run these calculations interactively, use the calculators; to read the same material as articles, see the guides.
FAQ
Is this an app or betting product?
No. It is an educational PDF and Word reference on how sportsbooks price their margin and how to measure it. There is nothing to install and nothing that places a bet.
What is the difference between margin and hold, as the handbook explains it?
Margin is the theoretical cut computed from the prices — how far the summed implied probabilities exceed 100 percent. Hold is the realised cut, the share of staked money the book actually keeps, which depends on how bets landed. The handbook works both and shows when they agree and diverge.
Does it cover break-even win rates?
Yes. It includes the break-even win rate at any price (1 divided by the decimal odds), a reference table across common juice levels, and what widening juice from −110 toward −120 does to the accuracy a bettor needs just to stay level.