Sportsbook hold: what the book keeps from handle
Hold is the share of total bets a sportsbook keeps after paying winners. A -110 market on both sides gives a theoretical hold of 4.55%. Real hold swings with results and the bet mix, and parlays push it higher.
Reviewed Oct 15, 2026
Answer first
90s- 01Hold = (handle − payouts) ÷ handle.
- 02A balanced -110 market holds 4.55% in theory.
- 03State reports often show higher hold due to parlays.
Key numbers
Hold in numbers
In short
Key takeaways
- Hold is the book’s actual result, not a fixed price.
- Vig sets the theoretical hold.
- Parlays and props usually hold more.
- Monthly hold swings with game results.
Progress
From handle to hold
- 1
Handle
All money bet
- 2
Payouts
Paid to winners
- 3
Gross revenue
Handle − payouts
- 4
Hold
Revenue ÷ handle
States publish handle and revenue each month.
Theoretical hold by price
| Both sides | Implied total | Theoretical hold |
|---|---|---|
| -105 / -105 | 102.4% | 2.38% |
| -110 / -110 | 104.8% | 4.55% |
| -115 / -115 | 107.0% | 6.52% |
| -120 / -120 | 109.1% | 8.33% |
Our own calculations for balanced action.
Hold vs vig
Vig is the price built into the odds. Hold is the result after games are played. If a book takes $110 on each side of a -110 game, it holds $220 and pays the winner $210. It keeps $10, which is 4.55% of $220.
If action is lopsided, the result depends on who wins. A book with most money on the losing side holds far more than 4.55%. If the public wins, hold can go negative for that game or even a month.
Over many games, results tend to settle near the theoretical figure for each bet type, plus extra from bets with bigger margins.
Example hold calculation
| Handle | Payouts | Revenue | Hold |
|---|---|---|---|
| $1,000,000 | $950,000 | $50,000 | 5.0% |
| $1,000,000 | $910,000 | $90,000 | 9.0% |
| $1,000,000 | $1,020,000 | −$20,000 | −2.0% |
| $5,000,000 | $4,600,000 | $400,000 | 8.0% |
Our own sums.
Why parlays raise hold
Each leg of a parlay carries its own margin, and the margins multiply. A four-team parlay of -110 legs has a house edge of about 17%, far above the 4.55% of a single bet. As parlays become a bigger share of betting, overall hold rises.
That is why online books in many states report hold near or above 9% in recent years, while Nevada, with more straight bets, has often held around 5% to 7%.
Sequence
Reading a state hold report
Step 01
Find handle
Total money bet that month.
Step 02
Find revenue
Gross gaming revenue.
Step 03
Divide
Revenue ÷ handle.
Step 04
Check promos
Some states deduct free bets.
Step 05
Compare months
Look at trends, not one month.
What hold means for you
Hold is a mirror of what bettors lose as a group. A 9% hold means bettors keep 91 cents of each dollar on average. Straight bets at fair prices keep more of your money than parlays.
Lower-margin markets such as main spreads and totals at -105 or -108 usually give the best value.
If you bet often, small margin gaps matter. Moving from -110 to -105 on the same bet cuts the theoretical hold on that market from 4.55% to 2.38%, which is almost half the cost over a season of bets.
Floor rules
Hold terms
Know before you sit
- Handle
- Total amount wagered.
- Hold
- Share of handle kept.
- Gross gaming revenue
- Handle minus payouts.
- Theoretical hold
- Expected hold from the prices.
Common mistakes
- Mixing up vig and hold
- One is a price, one a result.
- Reading one month
- Results swing.
- Ignoring parlays
- They lift hold.
- Forgetting promos
- Free bets change reports.
Keep reading
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01Basics
What is sportsbook hold?
The share of total bets a book keeps after paying winners: revenue divided by handle.
How is hold different from vig?
Vig is the margin in the odds. Hold is the real result after games are decided. Rules differ between licensed sportsbooks, so read the house rules.
What is hold on a -110 market?
With equal action on both sides, 4.55% in theory. Rules differ between licensed sportsbooks, so read the house rules.
02Numbers
Why is online hold higher than Nevada?
Online bettors place more parlays and props, which have higher margins. Rules differ between licensed sportsbooks, so read the house rules.
Can hold be negative?
Yes, for a game or a month, if bettors win more than they lose. Rules differ between licensed sportsbooks, so read the house rules.
How much does a parlay hold?
A four-team parlay at -110 legs has an edge of about 17%, much higher than a straight bet.
03Reports
Where can I find hold data?
Most regulated states publish monthly sports wagering reports with handle and revenue.
Do promos affect hold?
Some states let books deduct free bets, which changes reported revenue. Rules differ between licensed sportsbooks, so read the house rules.
Is a low-hold book better?
Lower margins on the bets you make are better for you, whatever the book’s overall hold.
Sources
- New Jersey Division of Gaming Enforcement · accessed Oct 15, 2026Gaming and sports wagering rules
- American Gaming Association — Sports betting Not from a registry (Reference source, not an official registry) · accessed Oct 15, 2026US legal sports betting data
- Wizard of Odds — Sports betting Not from a registry (Reference source, not an official registry)The gaming industry’s standard reference for casino-game math, by actuary Michael Shackleford. Not an official registry; our calculators compute these numbers independently. · accessed Oct 15, 2026Sports betting math
- Nevada Gaming Control Board · accessed Oct 15, 2026Approved games and gaming revenue reports
- National Council on Problem Gambling — Help and resources Not from a registry (Reference source, not an official registry) · accessed Oct 15, 2026Free, confidential help: call or text 1-800-GAMBLER