1. the commission or percentage charged by a bookmaker or gambling house on bets
Usage: gambling; informal
2. excessive interest charged on a loan, especially by a loan shark
Usage: informal; slang

Examples

• The bookie takes a 10% vigorish on all bets.
• Sports betting sites make their money from the vigorish built into the odds.
• He couldn’t pay back the loan plus the steep vigorish demanded.
• The casino’s vigorish ensures they profit regardless of who wins.
• Street lenders often charge outrageous vigorish rates.
• Understanding the vigorish helps explain why the house always wins.