For European sports bet terms, check out our sports bet glossary now.
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ACTION
The amount of money being wagered on a game.
ALL OUT
A betting term that describes any player or team putting maximum effort to win.
ALTERNATE LINES
Odds or prices that differ from the main line. It is often found in point spread and totals betting in football and basketball.
BACKDOOR COVER
This happens when a team scores late in the game, allowing betters to cover the point spread without affecting the overall outcome.
BAD BEAT
A hard loss.
BOOKIE
A person or organization that sets the lines and books the bets in sports.
BANKROLL
The amount of money the player plans to gamble.
BEARD
A messenger bettor. Someone who places bets on behalf of another person so that the bookmakers will not know the identity of the actual bettor.
BEEF
A dispute.
BUCK
A $100 wager.
CHALK
The team favored to win.
CHALK PLAYER
A person who usually wagers on the favored teams. A.K.A Favorite Freddie, chalk eater.
CHEETAH
A high-roller or a person who consistently places large bets.
CIRCLE GAME
A game where the betting action is severely limited due to uncertainties about key injuries, inclement weather conditions, or unsubstantiated rumors regarding a team.
CLOSING LINE
The final betting odds posted before the competition or match starts.
CORRELATED PARLAY
A multiple bet where the selections are interconnected to each other.
COVER
To win by more than the point spread.
DEGENERATE
A compulsive gambler.
DIME BET
A $1,000 wager.
DOG
The underdog in any betting proposition. A.K.A. Puppy
DOG PLAYER
A person who usually bets on the underdog.
DOLLAR BET
A $100 wager.
DOUBLE BET
A wager twice the amount of one's normal wager.
EARN
The practical hold percentage.
EDGE
An advantage.
EVEN MONEY
A wager on which the odds are 1-1.
EXOTIC BET
A bet other than a straight bet or parlay.
EXPOSURE
The amount of money the house will risk losing on a game or race.
EXTENSION
The amount of money the house theoretically stands to lose on a game or race.
FIGURE
Amount of money owed to or by a bookmaker.
FIRING
Wagering huge sums of money.
FLEA
An annoying person who wants something for nothing. One who expects to be comped for a $2 wager.
FORM
The performance expected of a team according to how they look on paper.
FUTURE BET
Bets accepted well in advance of the events.
GETTING DOWN
Making a bet.
GOING DOWN
Losing a bet or bets.
GROSS WIN
The amount of winnings before subtracting the expenses.
HANDICAPPER
A person who studies sports and predicts its outcome.
HEDGING
Betting on the opposite side in order to cut losses or guarantee winning a minimal amount of money.
HOLD
The percentage the house wins
HOLDING YOUR OWN
Neither winning or losing, just breaking even.
HOOK
A half point in pointspreads.
HOOKED
Losing a bet by exactly one-half a point.
HOME FIELD ADVANTAGE
The edge the home team is expected to have as a result of familiarity with the playing area, fan support, and the effect of travel on the visiting team.
HOOPS
Another term for Basketball.
HOT GAME
A game that draws a significant amount of action on one side by knowledgeable handicappers.
HOT TIP
Insider information that the bookmaker cannot divulge.
JUICE
Bookmaker's commission, also known as the vig or vigorish.
LAYING THE POINTS
Betting on the favorite. A.K.A. lay a price
LAYOFF BET
A bet made by one bookmaker with another in order to balance the action and reduce the risk on one side.
LIMIT
The maximum bet accepted by a house or bookmaker before he changes odds and/or the points.
LINE
The listed odds on a game and/or payoff odds on the bet.
LINEMAKER
The person who establishes the original and subsequent betting lines.
LOCK
A sure winner.
LONGSHOT
A large underdog where the odds of winning is quite steep. Hence the term "Not by a longshot".
MAN
The Bookmaker.
MIDDLES
To win both sides of a game.
MONEY LINE
The odds expressed in terms of money.
MUSH
A bettor who has been on a losing streak and is regarded as unlucky.
NEUTRAL SITE
Venue of a sporting event where neither side has a home field advantage.
NEWSPAPER LINE
The betting lines appearing in the daily newspapers.
NICKEL
A $500 wager.
NO ACTION
A betting term used when a bookmaker voids the bets and refunds the original stakes to the bettors.
ODDSMAKER
The same as a lines maker.
ODDS ON FAVORITE
A horse, team or individual so favored by the public that the odds are less than even.
OFF THE BOARD
A game on which no bets are accepted.
OFF LINES
The difference of amount the Las Vegas pointspread has compared with the computerized mathematical line.
OFFICIAL LINE
The line that the bookmaker uses for wagering purposes.
OUT
An illegal bookmaker.
OUTLAW LINE
An early line which is not an official line.
OVERLAY
When the odds of a given proposition are more in favor of the bettor than the house.
OVER & UNDER
A wager for the total score by both teams will more or less than the total posted by the sportsbook.
PARLAY
A bet with two or more teams where all the teams beat on must win in order for the bettor to win the wager.
PAST PERFORMANCE
What has occurred previously to the forthcoming games.
PAST POST
To make a bet after the event has begun.
PAYOUT
The amount of money a bettor receives from a winning bet.
PICK'EM GAME
A game where team is favored.
PLAYER
A bettor, or gambler.
POINTSPREAD
The amount of points the bettor must give to take on any given game.
POST TIME
The scheduled starting time.
PRACTICAL HOLD PERCENTAGE
The amount won by a bookmaker divided by the total amount booked.
PRESS
Betting a larger amount than usual.
PRICE
The odds or pointspread.
PROPOSITION BET
A wager on a particular aspect of the game such as how many field goals will be made.
PUPPY
The underdog.
PUSH
Where neither team wins and all money is returned to the bettors.
QUARTER BET
A bet place either before or during a quarter in a sports event.
ROUND ROBIN
A form of parlay betting in which we wager various combining team wagers. A 3-team robin is team 1 to 2, 1 to 3, and 2 to 3. 4-team robin is team 1 to 2, 1 to 3, 1 to 4, 2 to 3, 2 to 4, and 3 to 4. 5-team, etc.
RUN DOWN
A line update.
RUNNER
A.K.A. Beard.
SCALPER
A person who attempts to profit from the differences in odds from book to book by betting both sides of the same game at different prices.
SCORE
To win big.
SCOUTS
Person(s) who study team plays and/or practice and report findings to handicappers.
SCRATCH
To withdraw or cancel a wager.
SHARP
A professional sports bettor who conducts thorough research and analysis to secure wins.
SIDE
Winning one side of a wager and tying the other side.
SMART MONEY
Sides that are bet on by the more knowledgeable handicappers.
SPORT PLAYER
A person who waits for what he thinks is an unusually strong wager.
SQUARE
Unsophisticated gambler.
STAR
Rating.
STEAM
When heavy action occurs on one side.
STRAIGHT BET
A bet on just one team.
STORE
Bookie.
STUCK
Behind, losing, buried, down for the week
SUCKER BET
Betting on the underdog.
TAKE A PRICE
Bet the underdog, take the points.
TAPPED OUT
Broke, busted, common result of pressing.
THEORETICAL HOLD PERCENTAGE
The edge the bookmaker would have if the odds guaranteed him a constant commission regardless of the outcome.
TOKE
A tip or bonus.
TOSS UP
A game where the line is close to pick-em.
TOUT SERVICE
A business that sells opinions on sports or horse wagers.
TRIPLE SHARP
The sharpest of the sharp.
UNDERLAY
Having the odds of a proposition lean in favor of the house.
VALUE
Getting the best available odds on a betting proposition
VIGORISH
The commission the bookmaker receives.
WAGER
Any Bet.
WISE GUY
A sophisticated and successful sports bettor.
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