Sports betting terms
Accumulator – (Also, Parlay) A multiple bet. Making simultaneous selections on two or more games with the intent of pressing the winnings of the first win on the bet of the following game selected, and so on. All the selections made must win for you to win the accumulator.
Action – A sports betting wager of any kind, a bet.
Ajax – UK slang term for ‘Betting Tax’.
All-In – With all-in betting there are no refunds given for scratched or withdrawn competitors or teams in an event where a bet is placed. Should an event be cancelled then the amount bet will be refunded.
Arbitrage – Where a variation in odds available allows a punter to back both sides and guarantee a win.
Backed – A ‘backed’ team is one on which lots of bets have been placed.
Banker – Highly expected to win. The strongest in a multiple selection in a parlay or accumulator. In permutation bets the banker is a selection that must win to guarantee any returns.
Bankroll – Your available gambling money.
Bar Price – Refers to the odds of the selections at the last quoted price and bigger. The bar price is the minimum odds for any of those selections not quoted. For example, in a large field, the Premiership outright markets may read Manchester United 3/1, Chelsea 7/2, Liverpool 5/1, Arsenal 7/1, 11/1 Bar – meaning every other side is quoted at 11/1 or bigger.
Beard (US) – A contact (friend or acquaintance) who places bets for a bettor who wants to hide their identity from bookmakers. Many top handicappers and persons occupying sensitive positions use this method of wagering.
Bet – Any wager.
Bettor (US) – Someone who places or has a bet. A ‘Punter’ in the UK.
Book - an establishment that accepts bets on the outcome of sporting events and horse racing.
Bookie (Bookmaker) - a person who accepts bets.
Bottle – UK slang, odds of 2 to 1.
Buck (US) – A bet of US$ 100 (also known as a ‘dollar bet’). Beef – A dispute or claim involving a player and his bookmaker or a casino dealer. A dispute over the outcome of a bet. A problematic situation involving a bet.
Canadian Line - the Canadian line is a combination point spread and money line in hockey.
Carpet – UK slang for Odds of 3 to 1 (also known as ‘Tres’ or ‘Gimmel’).
Chalk - The favorite.
Chalk Player – In sports gambling this person is someone who usually only plays the favored teams, rarely betting on the underdogs.
Circled Game – A game where the maximum bet is limited. The sportsbook or bookmaker puts a limit on the amount of action they are prepared to take on the game. This is most often due to doubts about key players, in games that feature key injuries, inclement weather, or unsubstantiated rumors regarding a team.
Closing Line – The final list of point spreads offered before game time.
Combination Bet – Selecting any number of teams/horses to finish first and second in either order.
Cover - When a favorite wins by more than the required number of points.
Credit Betting – Betting using credit with a bookmaker.
Dime - $1000 sports betting wager.
Dime Line - a line where the juice is 10%.
Dog - the team perceived to be most likely to lose
Dog Player - refers to one who mostly plays the underdog.
Dollar - $100.
Double(s) – A twin bet on two separate specified events or two parts of the same event. A form of parlay or accumulator.
Double Carpet – UK slang for Odds of 33 to 1, based on ‘Carpet’.
Double Header – Two separate games played by the same teams on the same day.
Double or Nothing – An even-money bet, a bet that pays off exactly the amount wagered.
Draw - Where competitors in an event finish evenly. Where there is a draw and this is not offered as a betting option, the return will be divided by the number of joint winners. Note that some sports have processes such as extra-time or play-offs to determine an event winner that are included as part of the bet where others are not. This may affect some bets and you should always be sure how an event would be decided in this instance.
Each Way – UK term for betting on a team or individual to win and/or ‘Place’. The bet is automatically split into two, 50:50 and the odds for each bet are different. If your selection wins, the Place bet wins automatically. Therefore, you could win either both bets or Place only.
East Coast Line – Mainly used in hockey, which has a split-goal line e.g. – Philadelphia Flyers (1 – 1 ½) favorite over the LA Kings as opposed to goal spread plus moneyline (-1/2 -180).
Edge - A persons Advantage when it comes to sports betting.
Even Money - A 1:1 odds bet. A 1€ stake would return 2€ dividend (1€ win plus 1€ staked).
Exotic - any wager other than a straight bet or parlay – also called a prop or proposition.
Exposure - The maximum amount of money a sports book stands to lose on a game.
Favorite - the team expected to win an event. The quoted odds reflect the extent to which the choice is favored.
Figure - the amount owed to or by a bookmaker.
First half bet - a bet placed only on the first half of the game.
Fixed Game – A game in which one or more participants willfully manipulate the final outcome of a game.
Fixed Odds – Your dividend is fixed at the odds when you placed your bet. No matter how much the odds fluctuate the odds at the time you placed your bet are fixed and written on the ticket. Your dividend for winning is paid at the value stated on your ticket, no matter what happens after you have placed your bet.
Flag – A bet consisting of 23 bets (a ‘Yankee’ plus 6 ‘Single Stakes About’ bets in pairs) on 4 selections in different event.
Flea – An annoying person who wants something for nothing. One who expects to be comped for a small wager.
Future - odds are posted in advance on the winners of various major events including the Super Bowl, the World Series, the Stanley Cup, and the NBA Championship this is called a Future bet.
Getting Down - making a bet.
Grand Salami - A sports betting term meaning the grand total of goals scored in all the hockey games of the day. It can be wagered to go Over/Under.
Grand Slam – The four major tennis tournaments Wimbledon, Australian Open, French Open, U.S. Open. Also the four major golf tournaments The Masters, U.S. Open, British Open, PGA Championship (Professional Golf Association). Also in baseball, a homerun with the bases loaded, scoring four runs.
Half a dollar – $50.00 in sports betting action.
Handicapper - one who studies, rates and wagers on sporting events and/or races.
Handicapping - the attempt to predict the outcome of sporting events.
Handle - the total amount of bets taken.
Hang Cheng – The Asian equivalent for ‘Point Spread’.
Hedging - A sports betting term that means placing wagers on the opposite side in order to cut losses or guarantee a minimum amount of winnings.
Handicap – Spread.
Heinz – A Heinz is a multiple bet consisting of 57 bets involving 6 selections in different events. The multiple bet breakdown is 15 doubles, 20 trebles, 15×4-folds, 6×5-folds and one 6-fold.
Holding Your Own – Neither winning or losing, just breaking even.
Home Field Advantage – Edge the home team is expected to have as a result of familiarity with the playing area, favorable demographics and effect of travel on the visiting team.
Hook - a half point added to football and basketball betting lines.
Hoops – Slang word used to indicate the game of basketball.
Hot game - a game which is drawing a lot of action on one side by knowledgeable handicappers.
Index Betting – Spread betting.
Joint Favorites – When a sportsbook or bookmaker cannot split two teams for favoritism, they may both be joint favorites.
Jolly – Bookmakers slang for ‘Favorite/Favourite’.
Juice – The bookmaker’s commission.
Kite – UK slang for a cheque (’Check’ in the US).
Laying the points - betting the favorite by giving up points.
Laying the price - betting the favorite by laying money odds.
Layoff - money bet by a house with another bookmaker to reduce its liability.
Limit - the maximum amount a bookmaker will allow you to bet before he changes the odds and/or the points.
Line - the current odds or point spread on a particular event.
Linemaker - One who compiles or sets the original or subsequent betting lines.
Listed Pitchers - a baseball bet which will be placed only if both of the pitchers scheduled to start a game actually start. If they don’t, the bet is cancelled.
Lock – Easy winner, can not lose.
Longshot - a team or horse perceived to be unlikely to win (Odds 10,00 or more).
Lucky 15 – A Lucky 15 consists of 15 bets involving 4 selections in different events, i.e. 4 singles, 6 doubles, 4 trebles, and 1 fourfold. As a consolation if you only have one winner it will be paid at double the odds. If you get all four winners, a 10% bonus will be added to your returns.
Lucky 31 – A Lucky 31 consists of 31 bets involving 5 selections in different events, i.e. 5 singles, 10 doubles, 10 trebles, 5 four-folds plus 1 five-fold. . As a consolation if you only have one winner it will be paid at double the odds. If you get all five winners, a 20% bonus will be added to your returns.
Lucky 63 – A Lucky 63 consists of 63 bets involving 6 selections in different events, i.e. 6 singles, 15 doubles, 20 trebles, 15 four-folds, 6 five-folds and 1 six-fold. As a consolation if you only have one winner it will be paid at double the odds. If you get all six winners, a 25% bonus will be added to your returns.
Margin – The amount a competitor in an event finishes in front of another competitor.
Martingale Betting system based on doubling-up.
Middle - to win both sides of the same contest in sports betting event. Wagering on the underdog at one point spread and the favorite at a different point spread and winning both sides.
Money Line -a moneyline is offered when no handicap is given, such as a point spread or run line, and the odds are not therefore fixed. Payouts are then based on true odds rather than fixed odds. The favorite and underdog are given odds to win a game or fight.
Move the line - a player pays an additional price to receive half a point or more in his favor on a point spread game.
Newspaper Line - the betting line which quite often appears in the daily newspapers. The lines are only approximate and quiet often totally inaccurate and misleading.
Nickel - $500.
Nickel line - A sports wagering line where the juice is 5%.
No action - A wager in sports betting in which no money is lost nor won.
Odds – The sportsbook’s or bookmaker’s view of the chance of a competitor winning (adjusted to include a profit).
Odds On Favorite – A team, horse, or individual so favored by the public that the odds are less than even.
Oddsmaker – A person who sets the betting odds.
Off the board - a game on which the bookmaker will not accept action.
Official Line – The line that the bookmaker uses for wagering purposes. The line which comes from Las Vegas is quite often referred to as the official line; however, the line that your bookie offers you is actually your “official line.”
One dollar - $100.
Outsiders – Those contestants that are not expected to win. The opposite to the favorite, usually offered at lengthy odds.
Outlaw Line - term for the earliest line in sports betting. This is an overnight line which only a handful of players are allowed to bet into.
Over - the “over” is a sports bet in which the bettor guesses that the combined point total of two teams will be above a specified total.
Overplay – An advantage for the bettor in which the price on a given wager is greater than the real probability of its success.
Parlay - a bet with two or more teams in which all teams must win or cover for the bettor to win and receive higher payouts.
Patent – A Patent consists of 7 bets involving 3 selections in different events, i.e. a single on each selection, plus 3 doubles and 1 treble.
Picks The selections chosen by an expert to bet on (also known as “tips”).
Pick ‘em - When neither team is favored. Also called a “pick” in sports betting terms.
Place – Finish in the top three, top four and sometimes also top five in a competition or event. A Place bet will win if the selection you bet on is among those placed. Different sportsbooks have different Place terms and you should check their rules before placing a bet.
Point Spread (Handicap) - The pointspread – also called “the line” – is used as a margin to handicap the favorite team. The oddsmaker – also called the handicapper – “gives” points (or goals) to the underdog – for betting purposes only. The bettor must take either the favorite or the underdog. The favorite is always indicated by a minus sign (e.g. -7.5) and the underdog by a plus sign (e.g.+7.5). For betting purposes, the outcome of the game is determined by taking the actual game score and finding the difference between the scores of the two teams playing (called the pointspread or just the “spread”).
Post Time – The Schedule starting time.
Press - to wager a larger amount than usual.
Price - Sports betting term for the odds or point spread.
Proposition Bet
A wager on a particular aspect of the game such as how many field goals will be made.
Puckline - giving odds of a goal spread instead of using a Canadian Line in hockey, where both a goal spread and money line are played.
Punter – Bettor.
Puppy - The underdog
Push – A game that is tied when the point spread is factored in.
Return – Your total winnings on a bet.
Round Robin - a series of three or more teams in 2-team parlays.
Run down - all the lines for an specific date, sport, time, etc.
Run line - In baseball a spread used instead of the money line.
Runner - One who places bets for another when it comes to sports betting.
Scalper – One who attempts to profit from the differences in odds from book to book by betting both sides of the same game at different prices.
Sharp - a sophisticated or professional gambler.
Sides - the names of the two teams playing: the underdog and the favorite.
Single – A Straight bet on one selection to win one race or event, also known as a straight-up bet.
Sportsbook – The person, shop or website who accepts bets.
Spread (hendicep)- A spread in sports wagering is the predicted scoring differential between two opponents as quoted by a sports book.
Square - A novice when it comes to sports betting.
Steam - when a line starts to move rapidly. Most “steam games” do not necessarily reflect objective circumstances, but are games that a mass of bettors are drawn to for some reason.
Store - A bookie or sports betting establishment.
Super Heinz – A Super Heinz consists of 120 bets involving 7 selections in different events, i.e. 21 doubles, 35 trebles, 35 four-folds, 21 five-folds, 7 six-folds and 1 seven-fold.
Super Yankee – Alternative name for a multiple bet known as Canadian, a Super Yankee is a Yankee type bet with five selections instead of four.
System – A method of betting, usually mathematically based, used by a punter or bettor to try to get an advantage.
Taking the points - betting the underdog and its advantage in the point spread.
Taking the price - betting the underdog and accepting money odds.
Teaser - A bet on two or more teams where the bettor can add or subtract points from the spread to make their bets stronger in return for reduced odds. All results must match the selections to win the teaser.
Ticket - A sports betting wager.
Tic-Tac The code of hand signals by which UK oncourse bookmakers’ employees relay information on current odds and betting around the course (e.g. “top of the head”= 9 to 4, “up the arm”= 11 to 8).
Tie - a wager in which no money is lost nor won because the teams’ scores were equal to the number of points in the given line.
Tips (Picks) – The selections and predictions of competitors performance for an event from an expert or observer.
Total - The combined amount of runs, points or goals scored by both teams during the game.
Totals Bet - a proposition bet in which the bettor speculates that the total score by both teams in a game will be more or less than the line posted by the sportsbook.
Tout - Someone who sells their expertise on sports wagering.
Trebles – A triple bet on three events. A form of parlay or accumulator.
Trixie – A Trixie consists of 4 bets involving 3 selections in different events, i.e. 3 doubles plus 1 treble.
True Odds – The real odds of something happening as opposed to what the bookies offer.
Two and Three Balls Betting – A golfing bet that involves predicting which player from either a group of two or three will shoot the lowest score over 18 holes.
Under - the “under” is a sports bet in which the bettor guesses that the combined point total of two teams will be under a specified total.
Underdog - The team perceived to be most likely to lose. Also known as the “dog”. The team that receives a point start in a handicap.
Value - getting the best odds on a wagering proposition; the highest possible edge.
Vigorish - The bookmaker’s commission on a losing bet; also known as juice in sports betting.
Wager- To risk money on the outcome of an event.
Wise Guy – A knowledgeable handicapper or bettor.
Yankee – The term used for a bet that consists of four selections, combining them into six doubles, four trebles and one fourfold – i.e. eleven bets.
