Hold Percentage...
The hold percentage (or sometimes called house margin) is simply the amount you are charging as a bookmaker to take the bets based on the implied probability of an outcome. Bookmakers frequently adjust the implied probability of an outcome in order to obtain a larger hold percentage, usually as a result of the size of the market. For example the standard -110/-110 line in the US equates to a hold percentage for the bookmaker of 4.76%. Now days a lot of books will offer -105 on major markets which equates to a hold percentage of 2.44% and then most books on minor markets will put up a line of -115 (6.97%) or -120 (9.09%). Feel free to use our calculator below to play around and find the line best suited for your players for each market.
Wagers with 3+ contestants frequently have much higher hold percentages. There are several reasons for this. One, they are usually smaller markets in the US (NHL regulation lines, soccer moneylines, or contests) so by virtue of that alone they will usually have a larger hold percentage. Two, most bettors are unfamiliar with how to even gauge what the hold percentage would be. It’s easier with just two options, you can “feel” the difference between say -110 on each side and -120 on each side, but with 3+ options it’s frequently not obvious and often deceiving. As a bookmaker it pays for you to understand the difference and we’ve provided an easy to use calculator below to figure up to 30 lines/contestants and your overall hold on the wager.