Devig (No-Vig Odds)
Removing the sportsbook's margin from a set of odds to estimate the fair probability of each side.
To devig (or "remove the vig") means taking a sportsbook's odds and stripping out its built-in margin to find the fair, no-vig probability of each outcome. Bettors use no-vig odds as an estimate of the true chances, then look for prices elsewhere that beat them.
Why Devigging Matters
Posted odds always include the book's cut, so the implied probabilities add up to more than 100%. You can't compare your own estimate with those raw numbers fairly. Removing the vig gives a cleaner benchmark.
How to Devig (Multiplicative Method)
- Convert each side's odds to implied probability.
- Add them up.
- Divide each side's probability by the total.
Team A -150 = 60.0% | Team B +130 = 43.5% | total 103.5%
Team A: 60.0 / 103.5 = 58.0% | Team B: 43.5 / 103.5 = 42.0%
No-vig odds: about -138 / +138
Other Devig Methods
The multiplicative method splits the margin in proportion to each side's probability. Other methods spread it differently:
- Additive: subtracts an equal share of the margin from each side.
- Power method: shifts more of the margin onto long shots.
- Shin method: a model built around the idea that books protect themselves against informed bettors.
For two closely matched sides, the methods give almost the same answer. For big favorites and long shots, they can differ more.
Using No-Vig Odds to Find Value
Many sharp bettors devig the odds at a sharp, high-limit book and compare them with prices at other books. If the no-vig line says a side wins 58% of the time and another book offers +105 (48.8%), that is a large gap worth investigating.
Key Takeaways
- Devigging removes the sportsbook's margin to estimate fair probabilities.
- The simplest method divides each side's implied probability by the total.
- -150 / +130 devigs to about 58% / 42%, or -138 / +138.
- No-vig odds from sharp books are a common benchmark for finding value.
Examples
- A total priced -115 / -105 devigs to about 51.1% / 48.9%.
- No-vig odds of -138 on one book versus +105 on another flags a possible value bet.
Test Your Knowledge
1 / 5Do you know what Juice / Vig means?
The commission charged by a sportsbook on every bet, built into the odds.
Frequently Asked Questions
What does no-vig mean?
No-vig odds are the fair odds left after removing the sportsbook's built-in margin. They estimate the true chance of each outcome.
Which devig method is best?
For evenly matched sides, they give nearly the same answer. For heavy favorites and long shots, the power or Shin methods are often considered more accurate than simple multiplication.