Meaning of vigorish | Babel Free

Definitions

1. A charge taken on bets, as by a bookie or gambling establishment.
   slang, uncountable
2. The interest on a loan of money, especially for loans made by a usurer or loan shark.
   slang, uncountable
3. An amount owed on account of or payment of a bookie's charge or of interest.
   countable, slang
4. A commission or similar extra charge.
   countable, slang, uncountable

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.”

“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%.”

“His clients included wealthy women who possessed jewelry of great value, a fact which did not escape⟳ the loan shark. When it became apparent that the hairdresser could not meet⟳ his substantial vigorish payments, he was pressed into service as a "fingerman" for a burglary ring⟳.”

“They lend⟳ you a thousand and call⟳ it a bone. It cost⟳ a hundred a week vigorish to borrow the bone.”

“I was asking a man who had never bent a rule⟳ in his entire life to do it once. This wasn't Italy or France, where such miracles are possible with a little political vigorish. This was Switzerland, where nothing like⟳ this ever happens.”

CEFR level