Vigorish

Quick meaning: Vigorish is a noun meaning (uncountable, slang) A charge taken on bets, as by a bookie or gambling establishment.

Meaning

(uncountable, slang) A charge taken on bets, as by a bookie or gambling establishment.

More Meanings

1. (uncountable, slang) The interest on a loan of money, especially for loans made by a usurer or loan shark.
2. (countable, slang) An amount owed on account of or payment of a bookie's charge or of interest.
3. (slang) A commission or similar extra charge.

Example Sentences

They lend you a thousand and call it a bone. It cost a hundred a week vigorish to borrow the bone.

The bookmaker's mean profit per dollar bet is called vigorish or “the vig.” In our example, 11 + 11 = $22 is bet, and the bookmaker wins $1 so the vig is 1/22 = 4.5%.

The house sets vigs on any game they allow you to bet on. It is your responsibility to play only those games where the vig is not prohibitive. Let's take one more look at how vigorish works for the house.

I was asking a man who had never bent a rule in his entire life to do it once. This wasn't Italy or France, where such miracles are possible with a little political vigorish. This was Switzerland, where nothing like this ever happens.

Word Forms

• vigorishes
• viggerish

Synonyms for vigorish

Depending on context, synonyms include cut, juice, overround, rake, rake-off, vig.

Related Words

Related dictionary entries include flutter, bustle, bust-out, gambol, hustle, plunge.

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