The juice (also called vig or margin) on a prop bet is usually higher than on game lines. Understanding how much you're paying is the first step to finding value.
Standard Game Juice vs. Prop Juice
- NFL spread/total: Typically -110/-110 (4.5% hold)
- Major player props: Often -115/-115 or -120/-115
- Minor props: Can reach -130/-130 or worse
At -130 on both sides, the implied hold is ~8-9%. That's nearly double what you pay on a standard spread bet.
Calculating the Hold
Add the implied probabilities of both sides:
- -120: 120/220 = 54.5%
- +100: 100/200 = 50.0%
- Total: 104.5% = 4.5% hold
- -130/-130: 56.5% + 56.5% = 113% = 11.5% hold
The higher the hold, the more the book makes on every dollar wagered, and the more you need to overcome just to break even.
What Fair Juice Looks Like
Sharp offshore books typically offer props at -105/-105 or even -103/-103 on major markets. When you see a US retail book at -130, you're paying 3-4x more in margin.
[See the juice you're paying on every prop with Oddible's bet grading →]
