When it comes to betting on sports there is certain terminology that gets thrown around that the novice bettor may not completely understand. One of these terms just might be "juice."

The simplest way to explain the term juice is to say that it is the percentage of the bet which the sportsbook takes as profit. All sportsbooks are iin the business to make a profit and juice is one of the ways that they make money. In essence juice, or vigorish for the old school bettor, is the amount of money or commission a sportsbook receives for taking your bet. This generally amounts to 10% but can vary from sport to sport and sportsbook to sportsbook.

Sportsbook juice is a numerical value added to the line on the favored team so that the sportsbook can make money off a particular bet. Juice is applied to the favorite in sports betting since it is considered a safe bet to bet on the favorite. As a result, the sportsbook is more likely to pay out a higher number of winning bets for this particular match-up. The juice may be viewed as a service charge for the smaller risk associated with placing a wager on the favorite. On the same note, if you choose to bet on the underdog you will not be charged a fee, i.e. no juice applies. The reason behind this is because this team is not favored to win. It is a riskier bet to you and a safer bet for the house.

You might think that betting the underdog will net you more money. This may be the case initially but will likely not be profitable all season long. In some instances betting on the favorite is more profitable and safer even though you earn less than even money on your wager. By working this way you will find that you will win games and bets by not taking foolish risks.

Not being foolish includes checking the lines and odds very carefully. Lines are typically 110/90 but this is not always the case. Being aware of the odds on a particular wager allows you to bet wisely. There is nothing worse than mistakenly picking the wrong team because you don't understand the betting risk. Be aware that where there is a strong chance that the favorite will win the sportsbook is likely to alter the lines and charge more juice for the bet.

Juice is not charged on all bets. Exotic bets, such as parlays, are one such example. In a parlay bet, the odds that a bettor will be able to choose the winners of multiple games are slim to none. As a result, the sportsbook does not charge a fee for betting as it will always come out on top simply because the math favors the sportsbook everytime.

If you are new to sports betting you may want to look for "reduced juice" specials. Some sportsbooks offer reduced juice on weekdays or for special sporting events. Typically, reduced juice days will be offered on days with little or no major sporting events. Sportsbooks run this special to attract business during the week; they won't take a big loss if the favorite wins because the handle for the day will be smaller than it would be on the weekend.

Click Here to sign up for an account at BoDog Sportsbook