Sportsbook Hold Percentage
Sportsbook hold percentage is the share of total wagered money that a sportsbook retains as revenue after paying out winning bets, typically ranging from 5% to 10%.
What it means in practice
Sportsbook hold percentage represents the portion of total bets wagered (the betting handle) that the sportsbook keeps as revenue after settling all winning payouts. If bettors wager $1 million on a given day and the sportsbook pays out $930,000 in winnings, the hold percentage is 7%. This metric is the sportsbook equivalent of casino hold percentage and is the primary measure of operator revenue efficiency.
Hold percentage is influenced by the betting margin built into the odds (the overround or vig), but it is not the same thing. The theoretical margin is what the sportsbook expects to earn based on the odds offered. The actual hold can vary significantly based on betting outcomes, how well the book is balanced, and the mix of bet types. Parlay bets and accumulator bets typically produce higher hold percentages than single-event wagers.
For affiliate programs, sportsbook hold percentage matters because it determines the revenue base for RevShare deals. A sportsbook with higher hold generates more GGR, which means higher RevShare payouts for affiliates — assuming the deduction formula is transparent. Affiliates should understand how hold percentage interacts with their commission structure when evaluating sportsbook partner programs.
How Sportsbook Hold Percentage works across industries
See how sportsbook hold percentage is applied in the verticals Track360 supports, from qualification logic and payout structure to the operational context behind each model.
How Track360 handles this
Track360 enables sportsbook operators to track revenue metrics including hold-based calculations within their affiliate commission structures. Operators can configure RevShare deals that reference actual sportsbook revenue, with transparent real-time reporting that shows affiliates how their referred bettors contribute to program revenue.
Frequently Asked Questions
Common questions about sportsbook hold percentage, how it works in affiliate programs, and where it shows up across Track360's supported verticals.
Sportsbook hold percentage is the share of total wagered money that the sportsbook retains as revenue after paying out all winning bets. It is the sportsbook's effective take rate on all bets placed.
Related Terms
Betting Margin
The betting margin (also called overround, vigorish, or juice) is the built-in profit margin a sportsbook applies to its odds, representing the difference between the true probability of outcomes and the implied probability reflected in the offered odds.
Betting Handle
Betting handle is the total amount of money wagered on a sportsbook over a given period, before any payouts, and serves as the base metric for turnover-based affiliate commissions.
Casino Hold Percentage
The casino hold percentage is the proportion of player wagers that the casino retains as revenue over time. It reflects the mathematical advantage built into casino games and directly determines how much GGR an operator generates from player betting activity.
Sportsbook RevShare
Sportsbook RevShare is a commission model where affiliates earn an ongoing percentage of the net revenue generated by their referred bettors from sports betting activity, typically calculated on net sportsbook revenue after payouts and adjustments.
GGR (Gross Gaming Revenue)
GGR is the total amount wagered by players minus the total amount paid out as winnings. It represents the raw revenue an iGaming operator earns from player activity before any deductions for bonuses, taxes, or operational costs.
Parlay
A parlay (also called an accumulator or multi-bet) is a single wager that combines multiple selections into one bet. All selections must win for the bet to pay out, with combined odds producing higher potential returns and higher risk.
Betting Odds
Betting odds represent the probability of an outcome in a sporting event and determine the potential payout for a winning bet. They are displayed in decimal, fractional, or American (moneyline) formats depending on the market.
Sportsbook Affiliate
A sportsbook affiliate is a marketing partner who drives bettors to a sportsbook operator in exchange for commissions, typically through CPA, RevShare, or hybrid deals tied to referred player activity.
Continue Learning
Free structured courses that cover this topic and more.
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