Betting Terminology Explained
In a perfect world the bookie would have 50 percent of the handle come in on the underdog and 50 percent on the favorite. This ensures that the sports books are guaranteed a profit because of the 10 percent commission or "vigorish" charged on most sports wagers. If one side on a game is being bet more heavily, the bookie must move the number in order to attract interest on the other side in order to balance action.