vig

plural vigs

1. countableslanguncountableSynonym of vigorish (“charge taken on bets”).

   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%.

   2009, Wayne L. Winston, Mathletics: How Gamblers, Managers, and Sports Enthusiasts Use Mathematics, page 256

   2 more examples

   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.

   1984, John Patrick, Craps, →ISBN, page 11

   The vig is like your "tax" paid on a bet which goes to the bookie. For example, every $100 I would bet, I had a vig of $10. So if I bet $500 and lost that bet, I would owe $550. Trust me, when you don't win, the vigs add up quick!

   2016, Mark Andersch, By an Addict, for an Addict, →ISBN

   Synonyms: vigorish

2. UScountableslanguncountablecrimeSynonym of vigorish (“interest from a loan, as from a loan shark”).

   The guy was probably professional muscle, a leg breaker who collects vig for a loan shark. (Vig is a mob term for interest on loans to a loan shark.)

   2005, F. P. Lione, The Crossroads (Midtown Blue Book; 2), page 100

   2 more examples

   1973, Martin Scorsese, Mardik Martin (screenplay), Mean Streets, quoted in 2009, Ellis Cashmore, Martin Scorsese's America, page 118, “You charged a guy from the neighborhood $1800 vig?” he asks incredulously (“vig” is short for vigorish, meaning a rate of interest from a loan from an illegal moneylender).

   "Look, I know I owe you and I know I'm late but I'm good for it. I am. In fact I'll pay you triple what I owe. Triple! Plus the missing vigs, but I need some help first."

   2009, Davinia Bostick, The Match, →ISBN, page 91

   Synonyms: vigorish

3. countableuncountableSynonym of vigorish (“commission, finder's fee, or similar extra charge”).

   1 more example

   “Charlie, sign here, here and here.” “So, you're giving me all your money.” “Charlie, for the 500th time, I'm not giving it to you. It's not yours. I'm just setting up a temporary account in your name. What my wife can't find, she can't get.” “Right. That's-- This is good. This is shady, Frank. I like this kind of stuff.” “But you will be handsomely rewarded if you just keep your hands off of this money.” “Right, right. So what's the vig?” “The vig?” “Yeah, man. Like. You know, that's-- what's the vig on this action here?” “Do you even know what "vig" means?”

   2006 July 6, Charlie Day & Glenn Howerton & Rob McElhenney, “Dennis and Dee Go on Welfare” (5:41 from the start), in It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia, season 2, episode 3, spoken by Charlie Kelly (Charlie Day)

   Synonyms: vigorish

plural Vigs

1. A surname.

plural VIGs

1. abbreviationinitialismgovernmentInitialism of voter information guide.

   Elections officials aim to send out the VIGs before voters get their ballots. By law, all elections officials must mail the VIG no sooner than 40 days or later than 21 days before an election, or no later than 10 days if the voter was registered later on in the process. Elec. Code §§ 9094, 13303.

   2025 October 3 (last accessed), “Get Your County Voter Information Guide and Sample Ballot Online”, in Nevada County, California, archived from the original on 04 Oct 2025