Accountant:A term used by some players for bookmaker (bookie).
Accumulator: A cumulative bet where the bettor designates a selection in several races or events and bets on the first one; if he wins, the winnings become his bet on the next; and so on (also see fold bets).
Across the Board: Where (particularly US horse racing) win, place and show pools are offered, this is a bet of equal stakes on each outcome. A method of wagering on a horse to win, place and show.
Action: A wager of any kind, a bet. A sports betting wager of any kind. A bet or wager on an event. Betting a wager of any kind and/or the total amount of money being wagered on any game. In baseball betting, this means placing a bet regardless of the listed pitchers. A bet or wager of any kind is deemed Action if valid. Different rules apply in different sports in determining if a bet is action or no action (e.g. baseball bets are action when the game gets beyond 41/2 innings).
Added Game: For sports betting, a game not part of Las Vegas regular rotation posted as an accommodation to customers.
Agent: A go-between of the player and the bookmaker. A middleman who places players into a sports book for a commission.
Ajax: UK Slang term for Betting Tax
Alpo: A dog, puppy or underdog, i.e., the team, side or contestant in any given event considered to be the least likely to win.
Angles: Using key factors from previous events to predict the results for future outcomes.
Ante-Post: Ante-post prices are those on major sporting events, usually prior to the day of the event itself. In return for the chance of better odds, punters risk the fact that stakes are not returned if their selection pulls out.
Any To Come (ATC): Term used to describe when the whole or part of returns from one wager are automatically reinvested on a subsequent bet.
Arbitrage: Where a variation in odds available allows a bettro to back both sides and guarantee a win.
ATS: Short for "Against The Spread". An abbreviation for "Against the Spread." "Against the spread," taking points rather than betting with the spread and laying points in sports betting. "Against the Spread". The outcome of using a point spread. Ex. The Ravens were a -7.5 favorite to win and actually won the game by 8. This means they won "against the spread".
Back Door Cover: When a team comes back to cover the spread when it seemed unlikely. Meaningless points scored to cover the spread, by a team that is likely to lose.
Bad Beat: When you lose a wager that you thought you had won . A tough loss, e.g., when unwanted points are scored against your wager in the dying seconds of an event, or your horse loses by a nose, after leading all the way. Bagman: An intermediary who picks up and delivers money.
Bank: The financial backer of a gambling operation.
Bankroll: Your available gambling money. Your wagering budget. The total amount of money the bettor plans to gamble with.
Beard: A messenger player, i.e., a player who plays on behalf of someone else. In sports betting a beard is a friend or acquaintance who is used to place bets as to conceal the true identity of the real bettor. A proxy bettor, a front man. A person who places bets for another person.
Beef: A dispute or claim involving a player and his/her bookmaker
Bet: A wager. Any wager that is risked on the outcome of any sporting event or any event for that matter. To risk something based on the outcome of an event.
Betting cards: A system of betting in which gamblers must pick between three to twenty winners from a list of upcoming games.
Betting line: The posted list of upcoming games and their point spreads.
Big Dance: a term that refers to the 64 team, post season, college basketball championship tournament.
"Black Book": The list of undesirable people who are forbidden to enter any casino in Nevada.
Blind Bet: A bet made by a racetrack bookmaker to draw other bookmakers' attention away from his sizeable betting on another horse, and thus to avoid a shortening of the odds on the other horse.
Blue box: A device used by some bookmakers to make illegal long distance calls.
Book: A bookmaker's tally of amounts bet on each competitor, and odds necessary to assure him of profit. In sports gambling a Book is an establishment that accepts bets on the outcome of horse racing and other sporting events. Also commonly referred to as a bookie (person), bookmaker or sports book. A sports book or betting establishment that sets odds and accepts wagers on the outcome of sporting events.
Bookie: In sports wagering a person who accepts bets. A shortened term for the Bookmaker. Also known as the House. A person, house or organization that takes players bets.
Bookmaker: See "bookie". A broker who accepts wagers from gamblers, usually taking a commission on losing bets booked. A person or company who accepts bets from the public, usually on racing or sports events (also known as a "bookie").
Bottom sheet: A bookmaker's accounting of gambling debts.
BR: A bankroll.
Buck: Sports betting term for a $100 wager. A $100 bet or wager.
Buy (Points): In sports betting, a player pays an additional price to receive half a point or more in his favor on a point spread game. "Buy Points" means that you can move the point spread so that you give away less points with the favorite or get more points with the underdog.
Canadian Line: In sports betting the Canadian line is a combination point spread and money line in hockey.
Chalk: The favorite. A team or player that is favored to win. A term used to describe a point spread favorite. The favored team, side, contestant, or horse in a sports event.
Chalk-Eater/Chalk-Player: A player who tends to wager only on the favorites, rarely on the underdogs. In sports gambling this person is someone who usually only plays the favored teams, rarely betting on the underdogs. Choke Job: Losing a wager you thought you had won.
Circle/Circled Game: A game where the maximum bet is reduced and cannot be included in parlays or teasers. Betting action is limited due to uncertainties of key injuries, weather conditions or rumors regarding a team. An event where the wagering limit (the action) is severely limited, i.e., where the sports book lowers its normal wagering limits due to uncertain weather, significant injuries, or unconfirmed rumors regarding a contestant or team. In sports wagering this is a game in which the betting action is reduced; usually occurs in added games, games with injuries, bad weather, propositions, or halves of games. These games cannot be included in parlays or teasers. A contest in which only limited action is accepted.
Client: Purchaser of betting information from Handicapper or other tipster.
Clocker: Person who times horse racing workouts, usually for betting information.
Clone Joint: A sports book that moves its lines to conform with other sports books.
Close: Final odds on a horse (e.g. "closed at 5 to 1"). Confusingly equates to "Starting Price" in the UK.
Closing line: The final list of point spreads offered before game time.
Cover/Covering The Spread: To beat the spread by the required number of points. If such occurs you have "covered the spread." In sports betting this term means a point spread win. Winning a point spread wager. Beating the posted point spread. To win a bet against the point spread.
Daily Double: A horse racing wager where a player must pick the horses to win in each of two designated races.
Data Mining: Searching through a large volume of statistics to find profitable situations to bet on in the future.
Dead Heat: When two or more horses finish in a tie.
Degenerate: A term for a compulsive gambler or "gambleholic."
Dime: One thousand dollars. Betting lingo for $1000.
Dime Bet: A $1000 wager. $1000.00 sports betting wager.
Dime Line: In sports betting a Dime line is a line where the juice is 10%. A slang term used to indicate the money line in which the bookmaker's vigorish/vig/commission amounts to ten percent. Also, it refers to the money line difference of ten cents that the player would lay with the favorite, or take back with the underdog (dog).
Dip: Another term for a Teaser wager
Dog: The team or player predicted to likely lose a game or matchup. The dog always has a + sign on lines and point spreads. Also known as the underdog. In sports betting, the team perceived to be most likely to lose. Short for a point spread Underdog. The underdog in any betting proposition. A term for underdog. (Also: Alpo or puppy) i.e.: The contestant or team that gets the points.
Dog Player: In sports gambling this term refers to one who mostly plays the underdog. - - A bettor who usually bets on underdogs. A player who plays the dog, puppy, Alpo or underdog as a rule.
Dollar/Dollar Bet: $100 in sports wagering. Betting lingo for $100. A $100 wager.
Double/Double Action: Equivalent to a 2 team parlay. An "if bet" in sports betting that is processed if the precedent bet wins, ties or cancels.
Double Bet: In sports betting a double bet is a wager for twice the size of one's usual wager; also known as "double pop" or "doubling up." A wager that is twice the amount of the player's usual wager.
Due For: A term referring to a contestant or team that is considered to be overdue for a win or loss in their next contest or sports event. The due for wager is a favorite strategy of many players.
East Coast Line: A term used mainly in ice hockey, which has a split-goal line, e.g., Detroit Red Wings favored over Vancouver Canucks (1-1.5) as opposed to a spread plus money line (-0.5 -180). Mainly used in hockey, which has a split-goal line e.g. - Philadelphia Flyers (1 - 1.5) favorite over the LA Kings as opposed to goal spread plus money line (-1/2 -180).
Earn: Practical hold percentage, i.e., the total amount won by a bookmaker divided by the total amount booked.
Edge: An advantage. The advantage in any wager. An advantage that one believes might improve one's ability to predict the outcome of a game. A person's advantage when it comes to sports betting.
11-10: The traditional bet with a bookmaker in which the gambler puts up $11 to win $10.
Even Money: A wager where you win your stake and no commission is taken. Sports betting term for a bet whose odds are 1/1; a wager in which no vigorish or juice is paid. A wager on which neither side lays any juice or vigorish. The odds are even for both teams.
Exacta: Horse betting terms referring to the method of betting on a horse race in which the first and second place horses (two or more) are picked to cross the finish line in any order. The first two horses to place in a race.
Exotic/Exotic Wager: In sports gambling the term Exotic is any wager other than a straight bet or parlay - also called a prop or proposition. A bet such as first half, second half, futures, run lines or money line wagers. Any bet other than a straight bet, i.e., parlays, teasers, if bets, reverses, round robin, round robin box reverses, etc. Action other than a straight wager, e.g., teasers, futures, round robins, etc.
Exposure: The maximum amount of money a sports book stands to lose on a game. The amount of money the bookmaker will risk losing on a game or race. The amount of money the player or book stands to lose on any action.
Extension: The amount of money the book, theoretically, risks losing on an event.
Fall guy: A guilty or innocent person who accepts the full blame for a crime in order to protect others.
Favorite: The predicted winner a particular contest. The team or player expected to win an event. The odds reflect the extent to which the choice is favored. The team, side, horse or contestant, competing in any given event that is considered to be the most talented or, otherwise, has the best chance to win. In sports betting, this is the team expected to win an event. The quoted odds reflect the extent to which the choice is favored.
Fifty Cents: $50.00 of sports betting action.
Figure: An amount owed by, or to, a bookmaker, based on a player's wins or losses. For sports betting, Figure is the amount owed to or by a bookmaker. How much you are owed or you owe the book maker.
Final 4: The remaining four teams in the NCAA basketball tournament.
Firing: The wagering of large sums of money, i.e., a player who does so is said to be firing.
First Half Bet/Wager: In sports betting this is 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. A slang term referring to the outcome of a race, contest or game that has been illegally pre-determined. No one in the mainstream sports betting world, on either side of a wager, cares for this term.
Flea: A derogatory term describing the wanna-be players who wager little, and expect something for nothing.
Foots: A slang term sometimes used to refer to the game of football.
Form: The expected performance of contestants or teams according to how well they look on paper.
Form Player: A bettor who makes selections from past-performance records.
Front Man: One who has a facade of legitimacy but secretly represents the interests of his underworld backers.
Furlong: A unit of distance used in horse racing equal to 1/8 of a mile or 220 yards.
Futures: Odds posted on the winners of various major sport championships in advance of the event, including the Super Bowl, the World Series, the Stanley Cup and the NBA championship. In sports gambling 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. A type of wager made, or lines/odds posted, on an event, or outcome, that will be determined sometime in the future, e.g., betting during the season on which team will win the Super Bowl, World Series, NBA Championship or Stanley Cup etc. While all sports wagers are by definition on future events, bets listed as "futures" generally have a long-term horizon measured in weeks or months; for example, a bet that a certain NFL team will win the Super Bowl for the upcoming season. Such a bet must be made before the season starts in September, and winning bets will not pay off until the conclusion of the Super Bowl.
Gamble: To risk money betting on the outcome of an event.
Get Down: Losing a wager, or series of wagers.
Getting Down: Make a wager. Sports wagering meaning making a bet.
Goliath: A multiple consisting of 247 bets (28 doubles, 56 trebles, 70 4-folds, 56 5-folds, 28 6-folds, 8 7-folds and 1 8-fold) involving 8 selections in different events.
Grand Salami: The grand total of goals scored in all hockey games of the day. It can be wagered to go Over or Under the total.
Grease: A bribe.
Gross Win: The amount of winnings before subtracting the expenses. Winnings before expenses.
Hack: A sportswriter who provides extraordinary loyalty to a particular team or sport in order to maintain his access and sources.
Half a Dollar: $50.00 in sports betting action.
Half Time Bet: A bet placed only on the second half of the game. (Includes Overtime).
Handicapper: A person who offers betting advice for fee. One who determines the conditions and sets the odds that will equalize two teams in an upcoming game. When it comes to sports betting a handicapper is one who studies, rates, and wagers on sporting events and/or races. One who handicaps, studies, rates and wagers on sporting events or horse races.
Handicapping: Studying and predicting the outcome of sporting events. In sports gambling this is the attempt to predict the outcome of sporting events.
Handle: The total amount of bets taken. A sports wagering term that means the total amount of bets taken. The sum of all wagers collected for a particular event or over a specific time period by a bookmaker. The total amount of money bet on a particular game or series of contests.
Head-to-Head: In these bets, the bettor predicts competitors' results against each other and not on the overall result of the event. One example is Formula One, where you bet on two or three drivers and their placement among the others. Sometimes you can also bet on a "tie", in which one or both drivers either have the same time, drop out, or get disqualified.
Hedge/Hedging: Placing bets on the opposite side in order to cut losses or guarantee winning a minimal amount of money. (Also see 'middling') A sports betting term that means placing wagers on the opposite side in order to cut losses or guarantee a minimum amount of winnings. Placing a bet on the opposite side in order to cut losses or guarantee a profit from the same previous wager. The covering of a bet with a second bet; a layoff.
High roller: A high-stakes gambler.
Hold: The percentage the house wins.
Holding Your Own: Neither winning or losing, just breaking even. The result of breaking even, i.e., neither winning nor losing, during a wager, or series of wagers.
Home Field Advantage: The edge the home team is expected to have as a result of playing on home turf. For example, it would normally be more familiar with the playing area, enjoy greater fan support, and avoid the effects of travel endured by the visiting team.
Hook: A half point added to football and basketball betting lines. In sports betting a Hook is a half point added to football and basketball betting lines.
Hooked: The loss of a wager by exactly a half point.
Hot game: A game that draws a significant amount of action on one side by professional handicappers. Sports betting term for a game that is drawing a lot of action on one side by knowledgeable handicappers. A game which is attracting a good deal of action, on one side, by skilled handicappers.
Hot Tip: Wagering information/data not yet in the hands of the bookmaker.
House: The operator of any gambling business.
IBF: An abbreviation for International Boxing Federation.
If bets: An "if bet" consists of at least two straight bets joined together by an "if" clause which determines the wager process. If the player's first selection complies with the condition (clause), then the second selection will have action; if the second selection complies with the condition, then the third selection will have action and so on.
Injury report: A description of the status of an injured player, which is frequently used as a variable in betting equations.
Inside information: The data obtained on a particular team or its players and/or staff that may have an impact upon the final outcome of a game.
In the Money: Describes the horses in a race that finish 1st, 2nd and 3rd (and sometimes 4th) or the horses on which money will be paid to bettors, depending on the place terms.
Joint Favorites: (jt-fav) When bookmakers cannot separate two horses or teams for favoritism, they are made joint favorites.
Jolly: The favorite.
Juice: The commission paid to the book maker on a losing bet The bookmaker's commission on a losing bet, also known as "vigorish." Another name for vigorish, or the tax that bookmakers charge for each wager. Some books may offer 'no juice' or free sports betting offers to entice potential bettors to join their company. The bookmaker's commission, also known as vigorish.
Juice collector: One who collects the juice.
Lay: To bet.
Laying the Points: Betting the favorite by giving up points. A wager on a favorite in a point spread event
Laying the price: Betting on the favorite by laying money line odds. In sports wagering, laying the price means betting the favorite by laying money odds. A wager on a favorite in a money line event
Layoff Wager/Bet: A bookmaker's bet with another bookmaker made in order to help equalize the excess action he has accepted from his customers. Sports betting term for money bet by a house with another bookmaker to reduce its liability. A wager made by one bookmaker with another bookmaker to help him to balance his action, and reduce his risk, on a horse, contestant or team.
Limit: The minimum or maximum wager a book maker will accept. In sports betting limit is the maximum amount a bookmaker will allow you to bet before he changes the odds and/ or the points. The maximum amount a bookmaker will allow you to bet before he changes the odds and/or the points. The maximum wager accepted by the house, or bookmaker before the odds, points or price will be changed. In a sense it is a cap on the amount the player will be allowed to wager.
Line: The posted list of games and their point spreads. In sports betting, the current odds or point spread on a particular event. The listed odds on a game (points or money line). The current odds or point spread on any particular sporting event.
Linemaker: The person who establishes the original and subsequent betting lines for an event. In the sports betting industry this is the person who establishes the original and subsequent betting lines.
Listed Pitchers: When betting on baseball, a wager placed that pitchers scheduled to start a game, actually start. If they don't, the bet is voided. The pitcher, or pitchers, listed by the Las Vegas odds makers as probable starting pitchers for a scheduled baseball game. - - In sports gambling a listed pitcher is 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: A sure winner. An easy winner, or a clear no lose situation. A term used for a wager that seemingly can't lose.
Loan Shark: One, usually mob-connected, who loans money at a high weekly interest rate.
Longshot: A team or horse that is unlikely to win. A team or horse unlikely to win or have a chance at winning. (E.g. 100 to 1) In sports wagering this is a team or horse perceived to be unlikely to win. An extreme underdog.
Man-to-man betting: Gambling without either party taking a commission for the bet made.
Marker: An IOU.
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. To win both sides of the same betting proposition; betting the favorite team at - 1.5 with one bookmaker then taking +3.5 with another bookmaker; the game ends up with the favorite winning by exactly 3 points, you have then "middled the game." A favorite betting method of "wise guys."
Middler: A player who tends to middle his/her bets.
Middling: Betting on both teams in a game at different point spreads, in the hope that the final score comes in between so that both bets can be won. Placing wagers on opposite sides of the same game to ensure a profit regardless of outcome. Also know as a scalp.
MLB: An abbreviation for Major League Baseball.
Money Line: Odds expressed in terms of money. The amount you must bet to win 100 in favorites or the amount you win on underdogs. Whenever there is a (-) minus you lay that amount to win a hundred dollars, where there is a plus (+) you receive that amount for every hundred dollars wagered. This type of bet is also known as a straight-up bet. It is used in sports such as hockey and baseball where scores are closer due to the scoring systems. These bets use base amounts to determine payoffs, such as the amount needed to win $100 or the amount paid for a $100 amount (the latter applying to the underdog, and the former to the favorite). A dime line is factored in in order to determine the bookie's vig. Odds expressed in terms of money. With money odds, whenever there is a minus (-) you lay that amount to win a hundred dollars, where there is a plus (+) you get that amount for every hundred dollars wagered. A money line 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. The minus sign (e.g.-130) always indicates the favorite and the amount you must bet to win 100. The plus sign (e.g.+110) always indicates the underdog and the amount you win for every 100 bet. Therefore based on the above money line, you bet 130 to win 100 on the favorite. For the underdog, you win 110 for every 100 bet.
Morning Line: Forecast of probable odds.
Move the Line: A player pays an additional price to receive half a point or more in his favor on a point spread game. Making alterations in the line based on the volume of betting or other factors, such as injuries.
Mutual Pool: Total amount bet to win, place or show in a race. Also total amount bet on daily double, exacta, quinella, etc...
MVP: An abbreviation for Most Valuable Player. The leagues give MVP awards to the best of the regular-season, and to the outstanding player in championship games or series.
NBA: an abbreviation for National Basketball Association.
NCAA: An abbreviation for National Collegiate Athletic Association.
Neutral Site: An arena, court, ring, rink, or field where neither side has a home field advantage.
Newspaper Line: The betting line which quite often appears in the daily newspapers. The lines are only approximate and are quite often inaccurate and misleading.
NFL: An abbreviation for National Football League.
NHL: An abbreviation for National Hockey League.
Nickel: A $500 wager. Betting lingo for $500. A $500.00 sports gambling wager.
Nickel Line: A line where the juice is 5%. A sports wagering line where the juice is 5%.
NIT: An abbreviation for National Invitational Tournament.
No Action: A bet in which no money is won or lost. A cancelled or voided wager. A wager in sports betting in which no money is lost or won.
Odds: The ratio of money that may be won versus the amount of money bet. The likelihood of the outcome occurring stated in numbers form. Odds are the bookmaker's view of the chance of a competitor winning (adjusted to include a profit).
Odds-Against: Where the odds are greater than evens (e.g. "5 to 2").
Odds Compiler: The person working for the bookmaker who sets the odds following research and his own feelings.
Oddsmaker: Same as the linemaker, i.e., the person who establishes the original and subsequent betting lines for an event. A person who sets the line.
Odds-On Favorite: A horse, team or contestant so favored by the public that the odds for the event are less than even.
Official Line: The line that a sports books 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." Many smart players compare the Las Vegas official line to that of their local bookmaker to ensure they get every possible edge.
Off Lines: The amount the Las Vegas point spread differs from the lines of other sports betting sites, which have derived their data from various computer software systems.
Off the Board: A contest in which there is no betting line available. In sports betting this is a game on which the bookmaker will not accept action. A situation in which bookmakers will accept no further action. A game on which bets are no longer accepted.
Off-Track: Betting conducted away from the track or sporting event.
One Dollar: $100.00 in sports betting action.
Opening Line: The earliest line posted for a particular sporting event. The initial list of point spreads for upcoming games.
Out: A bookie (bookmaker). Could also refer to an illegal bookmaker.
Outlaw Line: The early, private line set by professional gamblers, which is financed, distributed, and enforced by the organized crime syndicate. An early line which is not an official line. Often, linemakers will invite specially selected players to wager into the outlaw line, before entering the line to the public. The linemakers respect these experts and use their input to create a final opening number. This process is called ironing or flattening the line.
Over: In sports gambling 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.
Overlay: When the odds of a given proposition are more in favor of the bettor than the house.
Overplay: An advantage for the bettor in which the price on a given wager is greater than the real probability of its success. The odds of a particular wager are higher than they should be, and tend to favor the player rather than the house.
Overtime: The continuation of a game that is tied at the end of regulation time until a winner is determined, or the maximum specified overtime periods have expired.
Over/Under the total: Betting that the combined score of two teams in a particular game will be over/under a predicted number. A wager for the total score by both teams will be more or less than the total posted by the sports book. The combined scores of both teams competing in a game being wagered on. Betting whether the total score will be over or under the expected posted total.
Parimutuel Betting: A means of gambling on races in which all bets are pooled and winners are paid according to size of pool and the number of other winners. Often shortened in US to mutuel. A betting system in which the amount of money paid out to winners is based upon the total pool of bets.
Parlay: A single wager in which two are more teams are bet. In order for the wager to win, all the teams need to cover their point spreads. In sports wagering, a bet with two or more teams in which all teams must win or cover for the bettor to win and receive higher payouts. Parlays involve multiple bets (usually up to 12) and will reward a successful bettor with a large payout. For example, a bettor could include four different wagers in a four-team parlay, whereby he is wagering that all four bets will win. If any of the four bets fails to cover, the bettor loses the parlay, but if all four bets win, the bettor receives a substantially higher payout (usually 10-1 in the case of a four-teamer) than if he made the four wagers separately.
Parlay Cards: Wagers on a minimum of 3 and up to 15 propositions; the more you pick, the higher the payoff.
Past Performance: An accurate record of the performance of specific teams, horses or contestants when participating in sports events similar to those scheduled.
Past Post: A wager made after an event has begun. Placing a wager after an event has already begun.
Pen Register: A device attached to a telephone line that maintains a record of each number dialed.
Penny Line: A money line which is adjusted in increments of a penny, that is, one cent at a time.
Perfecta: In horse racing, a wager in which the player selects the two horses in a race to finish in 1st and 2nd places in exact order.
Pick: Occasionally, there will be no favorite on a game. In this instance the game is said to be a "pick" and you can have a bet of 10/11 (bet 110 to win 100) on either team.
Pick 'em: When neither team is favored. Also called a "pick" in sports betting terms. A game in which neither team or betting option is the favorite. Also called a "pick".
Pigeon: An uneducated, naive, or unsophisticated gambler.
Player: A gambler. A bettor.
Place: A horse racing wager in which a horse finishes first or second.
Pleasers: A pleaser is a group of NFL side straight bets combined into one bet. A bet on two or more teams where the line on each team is adjusted against the favor of the player but with a higher payout, just like a parlay, all selections must be correct for the pleaser wager to payoff.
Point Spread: The betting lines a book maker assigns to an event. In sports betting this is the predicted scoring differential between two opponents as quoted by a sports book. A form of handicapping in which oddsmakers predict how many points one team needs against another in order to even out the public betting on a particular game. A margin, in points or goals, given to an underdog taking part in an event, in order to handicap the favorite team, or give the underdog a head start. This margin, or point spread, is intended for betting purposes only. The point spread, which is really the predicted scoring differential between the contestants or teams concerned, is often referred to as the line.
Power Ratings: A number created by a handicapper on the basis of the strength of a particular team. The strength of a team in comparison to another team.
Post Time: The scheduled starting time.
Press: To increase one's bet. In sports betting this means to wager a larger amount than usual. To bet or wager a larger amount than usual.
Price: The money line odds or point spread on the favorite of a sports event. Sports betting term for the odds or point spread. The odds or pointspread.
Pricemaker: An oddsmaker.
Progressive Parlays: A progressive parlay involves multiple bets (usually up to 12) and rewards successful bettors with a large payout, though not as large as normal parlays. However in a progressive parlay, unlike a regular parlay, a reduced payout will still be made even should some of the bets lose.
Prop Bet: (proposition bet)These are wagers made on a very specific outcome of a match. Examples include betting whether a player will score in a football game or wagering that a baseball on one team will accumulate more hits than another player on the opposing team. In sports gambling this is a special wager offered by the sports book on unique and various topics. These wagers can be on sporting events, politics, and even trial outcomes. The wagers use the money line format of pay off odds and might included who scores the first touchdown in the super bowl, who will win the next presidential election, or whether or not O. J. will be found guilty.
Puckline: A wager on ice hockey that combines both a handicap/spread and odds. - - Hockey combines both a handicap/spread and odds. This is called the puck line. A puckline for sports wagering is giving odds of a goal spread instead of using a Canadian Line in hockey, where both a goal spread and money line are played.
Pucks: Slang term for the game of ice hockey.
Puppy: The underdog in an event. (An underdog, Alpo or dog.)
Push: Neither a win or a loss. A tie. A tie between the player and the bookmaker where the final score of a game is exactly the same as the point spread, or the total points (combined scores of both teams). When the contest ends with no winner or loser for wagering purposes. A bet that falls right on the point spread; a tie in terms of a money decision.
Quinella: In horse racing, a wager in which the player selects the two horses in a race to finish in 1st and 2nd places in any order. Horse betting terms referring to the method of betting on a horse race in which the first and second place horses (two or more) are picked to cross the finish line in any order.
Rain Out: an event canceled because of bad weather.
Reverse: In horse racing, to ask for a second exacta wager which specifies two horses in reverse order of the first exacta wager.
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. In sports betting this a series of three or more teams in 2-team parlays. A series of parlays, for example, a three team round robin. consists of one three team parlay, and three two team parlays. A series of three or more teams in 2-team parlays.
Run Down: A line update. All the lines for a specific date, sport, time, etc. In sports gambling this is all the lines for an specific date, sport, time, etc.
Run Line: (puck line or goal line bets) These are wagers offered as alternatives to straight-up/money line prices in baseball, hockey or soccer, respectively. These bets feature a fixed point spread that (usually) offers a higher payout for the favorite and a lower payout for the underdog (both in comparison to the money line).
Runner: A person who places bets for another person. One who places bets for another when it comes to sports betting. A messenger player (beard).
Ryder Cup: a golf tournament between American and European golfers that takes place every two years.
Scalp: Placing wagers on opposite sides of the same game to ensure a profit regardless of outcome. Also know as a "middle." One who attempts to profit from the differences in odds, from book to book, by wagering both sides of the same game at different set prices.
Scalping: Selling tickets to a contest at a price above their face value.
Score: To win a great amount of money due to successful wagering.
Scout(s): A person who studies the performance and potential of teams, horses or contestants, in or out of play, and reports the pertinent findings to handicapper(s). Person(s) who waits for what he thinks is an unusually strong wager. AKA. Sports Player.
Scratch: In horse racing, a horse that has been withdrawn from a race before the start. Wagers on this horse are voided. To withdraw, cancel or call off a wager.
Sharp: A successful or professional bettor. A wise guy. When it comes to sports betting a sharp is a sophisticated or professional gambler.
Shaving points: The act of one or more participants in a contest manipulating the outcome of a game so that the final score does not cover the spread.
Shortstop: A term that refers to people who make small wagers.
Show: A horse racing bet in which you collect if the horse finishes first, second or third.
Sided: When one side of a wager wins and the other side ties. When one side of a betting proposition wins and opposite side ties. To win one side of a wagering proposition and tie the other. For example, if the player lays -2 and takes +3 on the same game, and the favorite wins by 3, he/she has sided the book, that is the book has been sided.
Sides: The names of the two teams playing: the underdog and the favorite.
Single: A bet on a single result or outcome.
Single Action: An "if bet" that is processed only if the precedent bet wins.
Skim: The cash siphoned off from an operation before it is reported.
Slip: A typical receipt of a wager or wagers placed at a land-based sports book.
Smart Money: Money wagered on sides by knowledgeable handicappers.
Soft Line: A wagering line that is not current with the true posted line, that is, a line that has been adjusted, or moved, as a result of action, but does not reflect the true line as posted.
Spike Mike: An illegal electronic surveillance device.
Sports book: A legal sports bookmaking business. A person or company that accepts bets.
Sport Player: A player who waits for unusually strong wagers, at times, in error.
Spread: A spread in sports wagering is the predicted scoring differential between two opponents as quoted by a sports book. See "point spread." An abbreviated form or another word for a point spread.
Square: Unsophisticated or unknowledgeable gambler. A novice when it comes to sports betting. An amateur bettor. An unsophisticated player.
Stake: Money used to wager on the success or failure of a particular event.
Stand-off a Bet: To tie or push.
Stanley Cup: Cup given to the winner of the North American Hockey League championship series.
Star: A rating given to certain high performers.
Steam: When a betting line starts to move quite rapidly. Most 'steam games' do not necessarily reflect the 'right side', but are games that the mass of bettors somehow decide to key on. In sports betting steam is when a line starts to move rapidly. Most "steam games" do not necessarily reflect objective circumstances, but are games that a mass of bettors is drawn to for some reason. When large sums are wagered on a specific bet in a short period of time.
Store: A bookie or sports betting establishment.
Straight Bet/Wager: A bet on one team or player. A single straightforward wager on a selected side, or over/under. The team wagered on must win by the point spread given at the time of the wager. The straight bet is simple: it pays 11/10 and you place one by simply picking a team, also known as a "side" or the over/under for points in game, also known as the "total." So you would bet $55 to win $50, $110 to win $100, and so on. In sports betting this is a wager on just one team or horse.
Straight-up: Winning the game without any regards to the point spread.
Straw-man: A front man.
Streak: A consecutive string of winning bets, usually several, or winning hands as in playing poker online.
Stuck: A depressing condition experienced by players who feel behind, buried, losing or down for the week.
Sucker Bet: A wager that overwhelmingly favors the bookmaker or house.
Sudden Death: An overtime period of play where the first contestant to score is declared the winner of the event.
Super Bowl: NFL championship game.
Systems: Using trends for the past that are consistent to predict future outcomes.
Taking a lead: An early bet with a favorable price in anticipation of a subsequent movement in the line.
Taking the points: Wagering on the underdog; taking the odds. Betting on the underdog and taking the advantage in the point spread.
Taking the price: A wager on the underdog in a money line event. In sports wagering this means betting the underdog and accepting money odds. Betting an underdog and accepting money odds.
Tapped Out: A condition experienced by players who are broke (busted). It is a common result of pressing.
Teaser: A bet on two or more teams where the line on each team is adjusted in the favor of the bettor by a fixed number of additional points. Like a parlay bet, all selections must be correct for the teaser to win. A teaser is a special type of parlay in sports betting in which you adjust the point spread or total of each individual play. The price of moving the point spread (teasing) is lower pay off odds winning wagers. A single wager on multiple teams where you are given added points to adjust the odds of an event based on the number of teams involved. The teaser is so named because it, too, looks tempting, but if you allow yourself to get too seduced; you'll usually end up on the losing end. The teaser bet gives or takes away extra points from the team you back. A teaser allows the bettor to combine his bets on two or more different games. The bettor can adjust the point spreads for the two games, but realizes a lower return on the bets in the event of a win.
Ten (10) Cent Line: The money line difference (10 cents) between what a players lays with the favorite, or takes back with the underdog.
Thrown game: A game lost intentionally by one or more participants.
Ticket: Receipt given for any wager. A sports betting wager.
Tie: In sports betting a tie is 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.
Toke: A tip or gratuity.
Toss Up: a game where the line is close to pick / pick 'em, that is, a game where no team, or betting option, is a clear favorite.
Total: The combined number of points scored by both teams during a game, including overtime. Total combined point/runs/goals scored in a game. In baseball, if either of the two listed starting pitchers don't go the distance, the bet is automatically canceled. The combined amount of runs, points or goals scored by both teams during the game, including the overtime.
Totalizators: In "totalizators" (sometimes called flexible-rate bets) the odds are changing in real-time according to the share of total exchange each of the possible outcomes have received taking into account the return rate of the bookmaker offering the bet. For example: If the bookmakers return percentage is 90%, 90% of the amount placed on the winning result will be given back to bettors and 10% goes to the bookmaker. Naturally the more money bet on a certain result, the smaller the odds on that outcome become. This is similar to pari-mutuel wagering in horse racing and dog racing.
Totals Bet: A bet in which the bettor speculates that the total score of both teams will be more or less than the line posted. In sports gambling this is 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 sports book.
Tote board: A device that posts teams, contests, and either the odds or the line.
Tout: A person who either sells or gives away his selections on games, races or contests. An individual of questionable credentials who sells his predictions of the outcomes of games. Someone who sells their expertise on sports wagering.
Tout Service: A business that sells opinions on sporting events.
Treble: An equivalent to a 3 team parlay
Trends: Using the past to predict the future focusing in on only one team.
Trifecta: A horse racing bet in which a player selects three horses in one race to finish first, second and third in exact order. Horse race betting term referring to a method of betting where the player must select the first, second and third place horses to cross the finish line, in a specified order.
Trifecta Box: Horse race betting term referring to a method of betting where the player selects the first, second and third place horses to cross the finish line, in any order. Triple Sharp: A sharp who is the sharpest of the sharps.
Twenty (20) Cent Line: The money line difference (20 cents) between what a player lays with the favorite, or takes back with the underdog.
Tweener: A book that derives its numbers by taking the middle point between the numbers calculated by all other books.
Under: A bet in which the total points scored by two teams will be under a certain amount. When it comes to sports betting a under is a wager in which the bettor guesses that the total points scored by two teams will be under a certain figure. Underdog: The predicted losing team in a particular contest. The team perceived to be most likely to lose. Also known as the "dog" in sports betting terminology. The team perceived to likely end up losing. The team given points in a point spread.
Underlay: the odds of a particular wagering proposition are lower than they should be, that is, they favor the house.
Unnatural Money: Large wagers that suddenly appear against the conventional wisdom of the odds makers and handicappers.
Value: Getting the best available odds on a betting proposition. In sports betting value means getting the best odds on a wagering proposition; the highest possible edge.
Vig or Vigorish: The house's commission on a wager. The bookmaker's commission on a losing bet; also known as juice in sports betting. The commission a bookmaker earns when taking a bet. Vigs are usually carefully calculated so that the bookie will make a certain amount of money no matter what the outcome of the game is. Win or lose, anyone who places a bet will pay this commission, which is also known as an "overround". Bookies make sure that they receive a commission by adjusting the money line so that there are the same number of bets placed on both sides of a match; this is usually done by making a payoff much larger if the underdog comes out on top so that people are tempted to wager on the chance of a big pay day. The commission paid to the Sport books, bookmaker, or bookie.
Wager: Another term for a Bet. To risk money on the outcome of an event. Any bet.
Wagering Stamp: A federal occupational tax for gamblers.
WBA: An abbreviation for World Boxing Association.
WBC: An abbreviation for World Boxing Council.
Welch: To refuse to pay off a bet already made and lost.
Win: The term used to describe a 1st place finish.
Winning Margin: A bet to predict the winning margin of one team over another.
Wise guy:A wise guy is the sports gambling term for a well-informed or knowledgeable handicapper or bettor. Another term for a Sharp or professional bettor. A well-informed and knowledgeable handicapper or bettor.
With the Field: Having one horse linked with all the other horses in an event. It can apply to forecasts or in doubles.
WNBA: An abbreviation for Women's National Basketball Association.
World Series: A best of seven games, baseball championship playoff series, to determine the best team in Major League Baseball.