↓ 7-day trend: Average vig has improved by 0.12 percentage points over the past week (from 5.71% to 5.59%). Sportsbooks are tightening their lines — a good sign for bettors.
888sport leads with 5.44% vig (C+), followed by theScore Bet (ESPN Bet) at 5.74%.
The Swedish Hockey League offers a distinct betting landscape compared to the NHL. With 14 teams playing a 52-game regular season running from mid-September through March, followed by a playoff bracket extending into May, the SHL provides a concentrated schedule that rewards bettors who commit to studying the league closely. Scoring tends to run slightly lower than the NHL, with tighter defensive structures and fewer blowouts, which makes the moneyline and puck line markets particularly interesting. Market depth is narrower than what bettors find in North American hockey — expect robust moneyline, totals, and puck line offerings from major international books, but prop markets and in-game options can be limited depending on the sportsbook.
Vig on SHL markets tends to run wider than on NHL games, which is typical for European leagues that attract less overall betting volume. Books price in additional margin to protect themselves against sharper action in a league where information asymmetry can be significant — bettors with access to Swedish-language injury reports, lineup confirmations, and prospect call-up news often have an edge that sportsbooks account for through higher holds. Margins on moneylines commonly sit in the 5–7% range, though totals can be slightly tighter at books that specialize in European hockey.
Seasonal patterns matter. Early-season lines tend to carry the widest margins as books establish their models and handle sizes are low. Vig typically compresses as the season progresses and volume increases, with the SHL playoffs representing the tightest markets of the year due to heightened public and sharp interest. Home-ice advantage is a meaningful factor — SHL home teams win at a notably higher rate than in the NHL, partly driven by travel logistics and passionate arena atmospheres. Injuries to starting goaltenders are arguably the single most impactful variable on SHL odds, given the relatively thin roster depth compared to top-tier North American leagues. Monitoring CHL (Champions Hockey League) scheduling is also worthwhile, as midweek European commitments can leave clubs fatigued for weekend domestic fixtures.
Analysis updated September 6, 2026. Odds data above refreshes hourly.
SHL Sportsbook Vig Rankings
| # | Sportsbook | Avg Vig | Grade | 24h | Moneyline | Spreads | Totals | Events |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 888sport | 5.44% | C+ | — | 5.45% | 5.51% | 5.36% | 6 |
| 2 | theScore Bet (ESPN Bet) | 5.74% | C+ | — | 5.85% | 5.56% | 5.89% | 7 |
Upcoming Events
| Matchup | Time | Coverage |
|---|---|---|
| Brynäs IF @ Skellefteå AIK | Sep 19, 1:15 PM | 2 books |
| Växjö Lakers @ Frölunda HC | Sep 19, 1:15 PM | 2 books |
| Malmö Redhawks @ HV71 | Sep 19, 1:15 PM | 2 books |
| Timrå IK @ Linköping HC | Sep 19, 1:15 PM | 2 books |
| IF Björklöven @ Djurgårdens IF | Sep 19, 4:00 PM | 1 books |
Best Line Leaders
Which sportsbook offers the best odds most often across 6 events:
| # | Sportsbook | Best Lines |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | theScore Bet (ESPN Bet) | 15 |
| 2 | 888sport | 15 |
Frequently Asked Questions
Which sportsbook has the lowest vig for SHL?
888sport currently has the lowest average vig for SHL at 5.44%, earning a grade of C+.
How do sportsbook odds compare for SHL?
We compare 2 sportsbooks for SHL. The vig ranges from 5.44% (888sport) to 5.74% (theScore Bet (ESPN Bet)).
When do small vig differences matter for SHL?
The top two books (888sport and theScore Bet (ESPN Bet)) are separated by just 0.30%. While small, this adds up over volume — a bettor placing $1,000/week saves roughly $3 per week by choosing the lower-vig book.
Why do only 2 sportsbooks cover SHL?
SHL is a niche market compared to major sports like NFL or NBA. Fewer sportsbooks offer lines because betting volume is lower. The 2 books that do cover it are 888sport, theScore Bet (ESPN Bet).
What is vig (vigorish) in sports betting?
Vig — short for vigorish, also called juice or overround — is the margin a sportsbook builds into its odds. It's the difference between the true probability of an outcome and what the odds imply. Lower vig means you keep more of your winnings on every bet. For example, a standard -110/-110 line has about 4.76% vig.
How often is this data updated?
We pull fresh odds from The Odds API every hour, on the hour (UTC). Each snapshot captures the latest lines from every sportsbook that has posted odds. The timestamp at the top of the page shows the most recent refresh.
How is the vig grade calculated?
Each sportsbook is graded on average vig: A+ (under 2%) is exchange-level pricing, A (2–3%) very competitive, B+ (3–4%) above average, B (4–5%) the industry standard, C+ (5–6%) slightly below average, C (6–7%) below average, D (7–8%) high vig, D− (8–10%) very high, F (10%+) predatory.
Why does lower vig matter for bettors?
Lower vig directly impacts your long-term returns. A bettor placing $1,000 per week at a book with 4% vig loses roughly $40/week to the house edge. At 2% vig, that drops to $20/week — a $1,040 difference over a year. For serious bettors, shopping for lower vig is one of the most reliable ways to improve profitability.
What sportsbooks do you track?
We track both regulated US sportsbooks (DraftKings, FanDuel, BetMGM, Caesars) and offshore books (Bovada, BetOnline, MyBookie, BetUS, LowVig.ag, BetAnything). Data comes from The Odds API, which aggregates real-time lines from licensed sources.
How We Calculate These Numbers
- Data Source
- All odds on this page come from The Odds API, which aggregates real-time lines from licensed US and offshore sportsbooks. We track moneyline, spread, and totals markets across every sport with active betting lines.
- Update Frequency
- We pull a fresh snapshot of every tracked market every hour, on the hour (UTC). Each snapshot captures the latest lines from every sportsbook that has posted odds for a given event. The timestamp at the top of each page tells you exactly when the data was last refreshed.
- Vig Calculation
- Vig (short for vigorish, also called juice or overround) measures the margin a sportsbook builds into its odds. We calculate it by converting the odds on each side of a market to implied probabilities, summing those probabilities, and subtracting 100%. For example, a market priced at -110/-110 implies 52.38% on each side — a total of 104.76%, meaning a vig of 4.76%. Lower vig means better value for bettors because you keep more of your winnings.
- Per-Market Breakdown
- We compute vig separately for each market type: moneyline (h2h), point spreads, and totals (over/under). The "average vig" shown for each sportsbook is the mean across all market types weighted by the number of events sampled in each market.
- Grading Scale
- Every sportsbook receives a letter grade based on its average vig: A+ (under 2%) is exchange-level pricing. A (2–3%) is very competitive. B+ (3–4%) is above average. B (4–5%) is the industry standard — a -110/-110 line is 4.76%. C+ (5–6%) is slightly below average. C (6–7%) is below average. D (7–8%) is high vig. D− (8–10%) is very high vig. F (10%+) is predatory pricing. See the full Vig Index Methodology for formulas, worked examples, and known limitations.
- Trend Tracking
- We store daily snapshots for 30 days, allowing us to show 24-hour and 7-day vig trends. A downward trend (improving) means sportsbooks are tightening their lines — often in response to increased competition or higher betting volume as a season heats up.