No single sportsbook wins every sport. The best book for NFL vig is not the best book for UFC props or soccer coverage. This is the sport-by-sport breakdown — which book to use for what, backed by vig data from the AgentBet Vig Index and prop audits across 16 sportsbooks.
The vig-by-sport rankings answer “who has the lowest juice?” This guide answers the harder question: which book should you actually use for each sport when you factor in prop depth, live betting quality, alt line availability, same-game parlay rules, and betting limits?
The Sport × Book Recommendation Matrix
| Sport | Best Vig | Best Regulated US | Best Offshore | Best Props | Best Live Betting |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| NFL | Circa (2.2%) | FanDuel (4.2%) | BetOnline | DraftKings | FanDuel |
| NBA | Circa (2.3%) | DK/FD tied (4.2%) | BetOnline | DraftKings | FanDuel |
| MLB | Circa (2.1%) | DK/FD tied (4.2%) | BetOnline | DraftKings | FanDuel |
| NHL | Circa (2.4%) | DK/FD tied (4.6%) | BetOnline | DraftKings | FanDuel |
| Soccer | Pinnacle | Bet365 | BetOnline | Bet365 | Bet365 |
| UFC/MMA | Pinnacle | DraftKings | BetOnline | BetOnline/Bovada | BetOnline |
| CFB | Circa (2.8%) | DraftKings (4.8%) | BetOnline | Offshore books | FanDuel |
| Tennis | Pinnacle | Bet365 | BetOnline | Bet365 | Bet365 |
| Boxing | Pinnacle | DraftKings | BetOnline/Bovada | BetOnline/Bovada | BetOnline |
Patterns jump out immediately. Circa and Pinnacle win on vig for everything. DraftKings dominates US-sport props. FanDuel wins live betting across major US sports. BetOnline is the best offshore option for almost every sport due to limits, coverage breadth, and no account restrictions on winners. Bet365 runs away with soccer and tennis.
NFL: The Deepest, Most Competitive Market
The NFL generates more handle than any other sport in the US, and that competition drives vig down. This is the cheapest sport to bet — and the one where sportsbook choice makes the least difference on base pricing, because every book prices NFL aggressively.
Where it still matters:
Spread and moneyline vig. Circa and Pinnacle at 2.2% remain roughly half the juice of regulated books. Among regulated options, FanDuel (4.2%) has a slight edge over DraftKings (4.3%), driven by better moneyline pricing. See the full NFL vig rankings for the complete leaderboard.
Player props. DraftKings has the widest NFL prop menu — more player stat lines, more alt lines, more granular totals — and the lowest prop vig among regulated books at roughly 8.5%. FanDuel is close behind with 9.0% prop vig but a slightly narrower menu. BetMGM trails at 10.2%.
Alt lines and teasers. DraftKings offers the most alt spread and alt total options. FanDuel’s teaser pricing is slightly better on 6-point NFL teasers. Bovada’s teaser rules are the most permissive among offshore books (no Wong teaser restrictions).
Same-game parlays (SGP). All major regulated books offer NFL SGPs. DraftKings and FanDuel have the smoothest SGP builders with the most combinable legs. BetMGM’s SGP correlation model is more restrictive — certain prop combinations get blocked more frequently. Bovada’s SGP builder works well for NFL but with higher built-in vig per leg.
Limits. Regulated books limit winning NFL bettors aggressively. If you are sharp or showing a positive ROI, expect reduced limits at DraftKings, FanDuel, and BetMGM within weeks. Offshore books — particularly BetOnline and BookMaker — accept significantly higher NFL wagers without account restrictions. This is the primary reason serious NFL bettors maintain offshore accounts.
NFL recommendation: FanDuel for casual and moderate bettors (best regulated vig + live betting). DraftKings for prop-heavy bettors. BetOnline or BookMaker for sharps and high-volume bettors who need limits.
NBA: Props and Live Betting Define the Winner
NBA vig is tight across the top books — the difference between DraftKings and FanDuel is negligible on spreads and moneylines. The real separation is in prop depth and live betting.
Vig. Circa and Pinnacle lead at 2.3%. DraftKings and FanDuel are tied at 4.2% among regulated books. BetMGM trails at 4.9%. Full NBA vig rankings here.
Player props. DraftKings has the deepest NBA player prop menu — more stat categories (points, rebounds, assists, steals, blocks, turnovers, three-pointers, double-doubles, triple-doubles), more alt lines per stat, and the fastest prop posting times for late-breaking lineup news. FanDuel is close on selection but slightly slower to post alt lines. PrizePicks and Underdog are not sportsbooks but pull heavy NBA prop volume from traditional books.
Live betting. FanDuel is the best regulated option for NBA live betting. Line updates are faster, in-play spreads are tighter, and the live bet slip is more responsive during fast-paced NBA possessions. DraftKings live betting has improved but still lags FanDuel on update speed. BetOnline has the most aggressive live limits among offshore books.
SGP. Bovada’s NBA SGP builder is underrated — it allows more leg combinations than BetMGM and the built-in SGP vig, while high, is transparent. DraftKings and FanDuel both have strong NBA SGP products with frequent SGP-specific boosts.
Playoff vig. During NBA playoff games, vig tightens slightly at all books as handle volume increases. High-profile series (conference finals, Finals) approach NFL-level pricing efficiency.
NBA recommendation: DraftKings for prop bettors. FanDuel for live betting and casual use. Circa or a reduced-juice offshore book for serious spread and total bettors.
MLB: Dime Lines Are the Dividing Line
MLB is structurally different from other sports because moneyline-heavy betting means vig variance between books is enormous. The difference between a dime line and a 20-cent line on a -150 favorite is real money over a 162-game season.
What is a dime line? A dime line has 10 cents of total vig built into the moneyline. If the true fair price is -135/+135, a dime line posts -140/+130. A 20-cent line posts -145/+125. Over hundreds of bets, this adds up fast.
Dime line availability. Circa, Pinnacle, and BetAnySports consistently offer dime lines on MLB. DraftKings and FanDuel run 15-20 cent lines on most MLB games. BetMGM and Caesars are typically 20+ cents. Bovada runs 20-25 cent lines. The difference between Circa’s dime line and Bovada’s 25-cent line on a -150 favorite is roughly 0.7% per bet — which is $700 on $100,000 of annual MLB handle.
Vig rankings. Circa leads at 2.1% average MLB vig — the lowest number in the entire Vig Index for any sport at any book. Pinnacle sits at 2.3%. Among regulated books, DraftKings and FanDuel are tied at 4.2%.
| Category | Books | Typical MLB ML Vig |
|---|---|---|
| Sharp / dime line | Circa, Pinnacle, BetAnySports | 2.0-2.4% |
| Reduced juice offshore | LowVig.ag, BookMaker, Heritage | 2.7-3.3% |
| Regulated US | DraftKings, FanDuel | 3.8-4.2% |
| Standard offshore | BetOnline, Bovada | 4.5-5.0% |
Run line and totals. Run line (-1.5) and game totals pricing varies more than moneylines. DraftKings tends to price run lines slightly better than FanDuel. BetOnline offers competitive run line pricing among offshore books.
Player props. DraftKings leads on MLB player props — strikeouts, hits, total bases, home runs, RBIs, and pitcher-specific lines. FanDuel is solid but with fewer alt lines. Bovada has a decent MLB prop menu but higher vig per prop.
MLB recommendation: If you bet MLB regularly, a dime-line book is non-negotiable. Circa or Pinnacle for moneylines. DraftKings for props. BetOnline for offshore MLB bettors who want decent pricing with higher limits.
NHL: The Forgotten Vig Premium
NHL carries a quiet vig premium that most bettors overlook. Lower betting volume means books charge more — NHL vig runs 0.2-0.5% higher than NFL and NBA at every book.
Vig. Circa (2.4%) and Pinnacle (2.5%) lead. DraftKings and FanDuel are tied at 4.6%. BetMGM is 5.1%. Bovada charges 5.4%. Full NHL vig rankings here.
Puck line. The puck line (-1.5/+1.5) is the NHL equivalent of the run line. Pricing varies significantly — DraftKings tends to offer better puck line value than FanDuel, particularly on favorites. Pinnacle’s puck line pricing is the tightest in the market.
Period props. First-period and period-specific betting is where books differentiate on NHL. DraftKings has the widest regulated period prop menu. BetOnline offers period spreads, totals, and moneylines with competitive pricing. Bovada has decent period betting but with higher built-in vig.
Live betting. NHL live betting is less mature than NBA or NFL at most books. FanDuel is the best regulated option — faster updates during stoppages, tighter live spreads. BetOnline’s NHL live product is the strongest offshore option. Period-level live betting is available at DraftKings and FanDuel but with wider spreads than pregame equivalents.
Player props. NHL player props lag behind NFL and NBA in both depth and pricing efficiency. DraftKings leads on shots on goal, points, assists, and saves lines. Prop vig on NHL is higher than other major sports — roughly 10-12% at regulated books versus 8-9% on NFL and NBA props.
NHL recommendation: DraftKings for overall NHL package (best regulated puck line pricing, widest period and player props). Circa or Pinnacle for moneylines and totals. BetOnline for offshore NHL betting with higher limits and decent period props.
Soccer / EPL: Coverage Depth Is the Real Differentiator
For soccer, vig matters less than league coverage and market depth. A book with 3% vig on Premier League matches but no Bundesliga 2 coverage is useless to a bettor who follows German second-division football.
League coverage depth.
| Book | Leagues Covered | Asian Handicap | Draw No Bet | Live Betting Quality |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bet365 | 60+ | Full | Yes | Best in class |
| Pinnacle | 50+ | Full | Yes | Good |
| BetOnline | 40+ | Partial | Yes | Decent |
| DraftKings | 25-30 | Limited | Yes | Moderate |
| FanDuel | 25-30 | Limited | Yes | Moderate |
| BetMGM | 20-25 | Rare | Yes | Moderate |
| Bovada | 20-25 | No | Limited | Basic |
Bet365 is the clear winner for soccer. It covers more leagues, offers Asian handicap on more matches, posts lines earlier, and has the best soccer live betting product on the market. Pinnacle is the vig leader with the tightest soccer pricing.
Asian handicap. If you bet Asian handicaps (and serious soccer bettors do), your options narrow to Bet365, Pinnacle, and BetOnline. Regulated US books have limited AH availability. Bovada does not offer Asian handicap.
Props. Soccer prop depth at US-regulated books is thin compared to NFL or NBA. Goalscorer markets, corners, cards, and match specials are the standard menu. Bet365 goes deeper — player shots, passes, and cross markets on major leagues. BetOnline has decent prop coverage on Premier League, Champions League, and World Cup qualifying.
Live betting. Soccer live betting is arguably more important than pregame for the sport, given how much information emerges after kickoff. Bet365 dominates — line updates are fast, in-play markets are deep, and cash-out availability is the broadest. FanDuel and DraftKings are improving but remain second-tier for soccer live betting.
Soccer recommendation: Bet365 for the complete soccer package — coverage, live betting, Asian handicap. Pinnacle for lowest vig on major leagues. BetOnline for offshore soccer with decent coverage and no account restrictions.
UFC / MMA: The Prop Depth War
MMA is one of the few sports where offshore books genuinely outperform regulated books on product depth. The prop menus at BetOnline and Bovada for UFC main cards are significantly deeper than what DraftKings or FanDuel offer.
Prop depth by book.
| Market | BetOnline | Bovada | DraftKings | FanDuel | BetMGM |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Round betting | Full card | Full card | Main card only | Main card only | Select fights |
| Method of victory | Full card | Full card | Main/co-main | Main/co-main | Limited |
| Round group (1-2, 3-5) | Yes | Yes | Select fights | No | No |
| Fight specials | Yes | Yes | Limited | Limited | Rare |
| Goes the distance | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Fighter total strikes | Limited | Limited | Select fights | Select fights | No |
BetOnline and Bovada offer round betting and method of victory on prelim fights that regulated books do not even list. For a UFC card with 12 fights, BetOnline might offer 100+ individual prop markets while DraftKings offers 40-50.
Vig. UFC vig is generally higher than team sports due to lower liquidity and wider information asymmetry. Pinnacle has the tightest MMA pricing. Among regulated books, DraftKings leads. Bovada’s UFC moneyline vig runs 5-7% on main card fights and higher on prelims.
Live betting. MMA live betting is inherently volatile — fights can end in seconds. BetOnline has the fastest UFC live lines among offshore books. FanDuel and DraftKings both offer live UFC betting but with wider spreads and slower updates between rounds.
BetUS boost specials. BetUS frequently runs UFC-specific odds boosts on main event outcomes and method of victory. These are worth checking against de-vigged fair prices — some are genuinely +EV, others are just marketing.
UFC recommendation: BetOnline for the complete MMA package — deepest props, highest limits, best live product among offshore books. Bovada for SGP-style MMA parlays. DraftKings as the best regulated option.
College Football: The Offshore Prop Advantage
College football is where the gap between offshore and regulated books is widest — not on vig, but on what you can bet.
The prop restriction problem. Many states prohibit regulated sportsbooks from offering player props on college sports. If you live in a state with this restriction, DraftKings and FanDuel simply do not list college football player props. Offshore books — BetOnline, Bovada, and BookMaker — face no such restriction.
| Market | Regulated (Restricted States) | Regulated (Unrestricted States) | Offshore |
|---|---|---|---|
| Game spreads/totals | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Game moneylines | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Team totals | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Player props (passing, rushing, receiving) | No | Yes | Yes |
| Player alt lines | No | Limited | Yes |
| First TD scorer | No | Yes | Yes |
| Halftime/quarter props | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Team prop specials | Limited | Yes | Yes |
This is the single biggest practical reason to maintain an offshore account if you bet college football seriously. The regulated restriction applies to most states — check your state’s rules, but the majority prohibit college player props.
Vig. College football vig runs 0.5-1.0% higher than NFL at every book. Circa (2.8%) and Pinnacle (3.0%) lead. DraftKings (4.8%) edges FanDuel (4.9%) among regulated books. During College Football Playoff games, vig tightens and approaches NFL levels as betting volume surges.
CFB recommendation: BetOnline or Bovada for player props (in restricted states, this is your only option). DraftKings for the best regulated experience in unrestricted states. Circa for the lowest vig on sides and totals.
Tennis: Pinnacle and Bet365 Run This Sport
Tennis betting is a niche where book selection matters more than most sports because coverage variance is extreme. Some books post lines for ATP 250 and WTA 125 events; others only cover Grand Slams and Masters.
Coverage. Bet365 and Pinnacle cover the deepest tennis calendar — ATP, WTA, Challengers, and ITF events. BetOnline has decent coverage of major tours. DraftKings and FanDuel cover ATP and WTA main tours but thin out below that.
Set and game betting. Bet365 has the widest set betting and game handicap markets. Pinnacle offers set betting with the lowest vig. DraftKings has improved its tennis prop menu but remains behind Bet365 on depth.
Live betting. Tennis is one of the most actively live-bet sports. Bet365 has the best tennis live product — point-by-point updates, live set and game markets, and smooth cash-out. Pinnacle’s live tennis pricing is the tightest but with fewer in-play market types.
Futures. BetOnline posts Grand Slam and Masters futures earlier than most books. Pinnacle and Bet365 have the deepest futures markets with the most players listed.
Tennis recommendation: Bet365 for the complete package. Pinnacle for best pricing. BetOnline for offshore futures and no account restrictions on winning tennis bettors.
Boxing: Round Betting Depth Is the Key
Boxing is another niche where offshore books outperform regulated options on market depth. The critical markets — round betting and method of victory — are significantly deeper at BetOnline and Bovada.
Round betting. BetOnline and Bovada offer individual round betting (fighter to win in round X) for major and mid-tier fights. DraftKings offers round group betting on major fights but rarely individual round markets. FanDuel and BetMGM offer even less.
Method of victory. KO/TKO, decision, and draw markets are available at most books for major fights. BetOnline and Bovada break this down further — KO/TKO in specific round groups, split decision vs unanimous decision.
Live betting. Boxing live betting is limited everywhere compared to team sports. BetOnline offers between-round live lines on major fights. Regulated books pull live lines faster during boxing.
Boxing recommendation: BetOnline for the deepest round and method markets. Bovada as an alternative. DraftKings for the best regulated option on major fights.
World Cup 2026 Preview: Markets Are Already Open
The 2026 FIFA World Cup — hosted across the US, Canada, and Mexico — is the biggest global betting event of the year. Futures and group-stage markets are already live at most major books.
Futures depth. Bet365 and Pinnacle have the deepest outright winner futures with the most teams listed and the tightest pricing. BetOnline has strong futures pricing among offshore books. DraftKings and FanDuel have standard outright markets but with higher vig on longshot teams.
Group betting. Group winner, group stage points, and team to qualify from group markets are where coverage diverges. Bet365 has the most group-level props. BetOnline posts group betting markets earlier than most offshore competitors.
Prop markets. Top goalscorer, team total goals, golden boot, and match-level props will expand as the tournament approaches. Based on 2022 World Cup patterns, expect Bet365, Pinnacle, and BetOnline to have the deepest prop menus. DraftKings will likely have the best regulated prop selection.
Live betting. For a tournament of this scale, live betting quality matters enormously. Bet365’s soccer live product is the benchmark. FanDuel and DraftKings will both invest heavily in World Cup live markets given the US hosting.
World Cup recommendation: Bet365 for the most complete World Cup betting experience — futures, groups, match props, live betting. BetOnline for offshore access with strong group and futures markets. Lock in futures early at Pinnacle for the best outright pricing.
The Vig-by-Sport-by-Book Table
This table consolidates average vig data across the main US sports from the AgentBet Vig Index:
| Book | NFL | NBA | MLB | NHL | CFB | CBB |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Circa | 2.2% | 2.3% | 2.1% | 2.4% | 2.8% | 3.0% |
| Pinnacle | 2.2% | 2.3% | 2.3% | 2.5% | 3.0% | 3.2% |
| BetAnySports | 2.7% | 2.7% | 2.4% | 2.9% | — | — |
| LowVig.ag | 2.9% | 2.8% | 2.7% | 3.1% | — | — |
| BookMaker / CRIS | 2.9% | 3.0% | 2.8% | 3.2% | 3.4% | 3.6% |
| Heritage Sports | 3.3% | 3.4% | 3.1% | 3.5% | — | — |
| DraftKings | 4.3% | 4.2% | 4.2% | 4.6% | 4.8% | 5.0% |
| FanDuel | 4.2% | 4.2% | 4.2% | 4.6% | 4.9% | 5.1% |
| Bet365 | 4.4% | 4.6% | 4.5% | 4.8% | — | — |
| BetMGM | 4.7% | 4.9% | 4.8% | 5.1% | 5.2% | 5.5% |
| Caesars | 4.8% | 4.9% | 4.9% | 5.0% | 5.3% | 5.6% |
| BetOnline | 5.2% | 5.1% | 4.9% | 5.2% | 5.0% | 5.3% |
| Bovada | 5.1% | 5.3% | 5.0% | 5.4% | 5.5% | 5.8% |
The pattern is consistent across all sports: sharp books lead, then reduced-juice offshore, then DraftKings/FanDuel, then BetMGM/Caesars, then standard offshore. The sport changes the magnitude but not the rank order.
Prop Depth Audit: Who Offers What
Player props are where the vig variance between books is largest and where product quality diverges most.
| Sport | DraftKings | FanDuel | BetMGM | BetOnline | Bovada |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| NFL player props | Deepest, lowest vig (8.5%) | Wide, 9.0% vig | Wide, 10.2% vig | Decent, higher vig | Moderate |
| NBA player props | Deepest, fastest posting | Wide | Moderate | Decent | Moderate |
| MLB player props | Deep (K’s, hits, HR, TB) | Moderate | Limited | Decent | Limited |
| NHL player props | Best regulated | Moderate | Limited | Decent period props | Limited |
| UFC round/method | Main card only | Main card only | Limited | Full card | Full card |
| CFB player props | State-dependent | State-dependent | State-dependent | Yes (all states) | Yes (all states) |
| Soccer props | Basic | Basic | Thin | Decent | Thin |
| Tennis set betting | Moderate | Limited | Limited | Moderate | Limited |
The two boldest takeaways: DraftKings dominates props for US team sports. Offshore books dominate props for combat sports and college football (in restricted states).
College Prop Availability: Offshore vs Legal
This is the single most impactful product gap between offshore and regulated sportsbooks for many bettors.
| State Restriction Status | DraftKings/FanDuel CFB Props | BetOnline/Bovada CFB Props |
|---|---|---|
| Restricted (majority of states) | Game lines only — no player props | Full player props, alt lines, first TD, game/player SGP |
| Unrestricted | Player props available | Player props available |
If you bet college football player props and live in a restricted state, offshore books are your only legal-gray-area option. This single use case justifies maintaining a BetOnline or Bovada account for many bettors, even if they prefer regulated books for everything else.
Building a Multi-Book Strategy by Sport
The optimal approach is not picking one sportsbook — it is picking 2-4 books and routing bets by sport. Here is a practical framework:
Minimum viable setup (2 books): One regulated book (DraftKings or FanDuel) for props, promos, live betting, and convenience. One offshore book (BetOnline or BookMaker) for limits, college props, and no account restrictions.
Optimized setup (3-4 books): Add Circa or a reduced-juice book for base vig savings on sides and totals. Add Bet365 if you bet soccer or tennis seriously. Add Bovada if you bet UFC heavily and want the SGP builder.
What this saves. Routing NFL and NBA sides to a reduced-juice book instead of a regulated book saves roughly 2% per bet. On $50,000 of annual handle, that is $1,000. Add odds shopping across 3 books and the savings compound further. The Vig Index tracks this in real time.
What’s Next
- AgentBet Vig Index — Live vig rankings across 16 books
- Best Sportsbook Odds by Sport — The pure vig breakdown with full tables
- Odds Comparison — Real-time line shopping across books
- Sportsbook Comparison Tool — Head-to-head matchups
- Offshore Sportsbooks — Full reviews of BetOnline, Bovada, BookMaker, and more
- Sharp Betting Guides — Vig shopping, CLV tracking, and bankroll strategy