Also known as "vig", vigorish is a term used by gamblers to describe the casino's cut, or "take". It is this advantage that allows the casino to always make money in the long run.

In sports gambling, this also often referred to as the "juice". The standard vigorish on a sports bet is 10/11, so for every $1.00 bet on a team, you win (1 * (10/11)) = $0.91 back. In order to win a full $1.00 back, you would have to wager $1.10 ($1.10 * (10/11))= $1.00. This number varies between different sportsbooks, but generally speaking anything better than 10/11 is a good deal and anything worse is a ripoff.

• Keno 25%-29%
• Blackjack 0.2%-0.6% (with perfect strategy)
• Craps 0.02%-0.85% (depending on house rules)
• Baccarat 1.36%
• Roulette 2.70%-5.36% (depending on single-zero or double-zero wheel)
• Video Poker
5% (varies based on rules)

Everything in the original writeup is correct, but it gives only part of the story. The term 'vigorish' (which is essentially always shortened to 'vig'), comes from the Yiddish term vyigrysh, which means "profit or winnings."

The term is used in many settings, especially financial and gaming settings, to describe the cut taken by an intermediary. An inter-dealer broker who charges a fee of 1/2 of 1% for arranging a swap transaction would be described as "taking a 50 basis point vig".

The term is also used to describe the fee paid at the door to enter an illegal gambling hall, or the interest paid to a loan shark, or the service fee paid to a software company or ECN in exchange for use of its network.