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countable and uncountable, plural vigs
(slang) Synonym of vigorish (“charge taken on bets”) quotations
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, page 11
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
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
(US slang, crime) Synonym of vigorish (“interest from a loan, as from a loan shark”) quotations
“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).
1973, Martin Scorsese, Mardik Martin (screenplay), Mean Streets, quoted in 2009, Ellis Cashmore, Martin Scorsese's America, page 118
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
"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, page 91
Synonym of vigorish (“commission, finder's fee, or similar extra charge”) examples