Hold

Definition:

In sports betting, the hold is the percentage of the total handle that a sportsbook keeps as profit after paying out winning bets. It reflects the sportsbook’s effective margin.

They serve two main purposes:

1. Measure sportsbook profitability on a market or overall.

2. Show how efficiently the vig and line setting balanced action.

Real-World Example

• A sportsbook takes in $10 million handle on an NFL Sunday.

• After paying out all winning bets, it keeps $900,000.

• Hold = $900,000 ÷ $10,000,000 × 100 = 9%.