Reference
Betting Glossary
Every term you need to know, from accumulator to zebras. The complete A-Z dictionary for sports bettors.
A
Acca
A common abbreviation for an accumulator.
Accumulator
Another term for a parlay; a bet that contains multiple selections. Every selection must come in for the bet to win.
Across the board
A collection of three horse racing bets covering a horse to show, place, and win.
Action
Any wagering option that a bookmaker offers. A bookmaker will accept action on all posted odds.
Added game
A game that appears on the betting board after the main list has been posted. Common in college football where a match is added due to popular demand.
AET odds
After extra time odds posted for soccer matches where extra time is added. Commonly found in cup competitions as live betting options.
Agent
A person who refers a customer to a sportsbook. Also known as an affiliate.
Also ran
A horse, greyhound, or athlete that does not finish in a paid position during a race.
Alternate lines
Odds posted by a bookmaker that are higher or lower than the main line. Commonly seen with point spreads and game totals in football and basketball.
American odds
One of the three main odds systems. Uses positive and negative numbers such as +300 and -150. A positive number shows profit on a $100 bet; a negative number shows how much to bet to win $100.
Ante-post
Futures bets on greyhounds and horse races posted at least one day before the start of a race. Commonly found in Triple Crown races.
Arbing
Short for arbitrage betting.
Arbitrage
A betting style where a player bets on all sides of a game to guarantee a profit, relying on different sportsbooks offering different odds.
Asian Handicap
Most commonly found in soccer, starts as low as 0.25 goals and eliminates the draw, making a game a two-way bet.
ATS
Against the spread. Bets designed to create equal action on both sides of a game using a point spread.
B
Backdoor cover
When an underdog scores meaningless late points to cover the spread in a game they are losing by more than the spread.
Bad beat
When a player is on the verge of winning a bet but a late event causes it to lose.
Bankroll
The amount of money set aside specifically for betting.
Bankroll management
The practice of managing betting funds, including setting limits and only betting what you can afford to lose.
Beard
A person who makes bets on behalf of a professional bettor to conceal their identity.
Bet
Any wager placed at a sportsbook.
Betting exchange
A platform that facilitates betting between two people on a sporting event.
Betting strategy
A plan or method a bettor uses to try and win, such as researching events or managing stakes.
Bettor
A person making a bet.
Book
Short for bookmaker or sportsbook.
Bookie
Short for bookmaker.
Bookmaker
A licensed individual or organization that sets and accepts bets on sporting events.
BR
Short for bankroll.
BTTS
Both teams to score. A betting option common in soccer and hockey where you bet yes or no on whether both teams will score.
Buy points
An option allowing the bettor to increase the point spread for a reduced payout price.
C
Chalk
A common term for a favorite.
Chalk bettor
A player who usually backs favorites.
Circled game
A game with a betting limit enforced by the bookmaker, usually due to weather, injuries, or other unknowns.
Closing line
The last betting odds posted before the start of an event.
Co-favorite
Two or more teams or athletes with identical odds to win, usually found in futures bets.
Commission
Another term for juice or vigorish, the margin a bookmaker takes on a bet.
Correct score
A bet on the exact final score of a game. Commonly found in soccer.
Cover
When a favorite wins by more than the point spread, or an underdog loses by less than the spread.
D
Decimal odds
One of the three main odds systems. Shows the return from a $1 bet as a decimal. Odds of 3.5 return $3.50 on a $1 stake.
Dime Line
A betting line with a 10% vig.
Dog
Short for underdog.
Dog Player
A bettor who commonly backs underdogs.
Double action
Another term for an if bet, winnings from one bet are automatically placed on the next.
Double bet
A bet amount that is twice the bettor's normal wager.
Double result
A bet combining the half-time and full-time result of a single game.
Double-header
Two games played consecutively on the same day.
Draw
A tie result. In soccer, draws are common and often available as a betting option.
Drift
Describes odds that lengthen after the initial line is posted. A line moving from +250 to +275 has drifted.
E
Each-way
A horse racing bet that splits the wager between the horse finishing first and second.
Edge
An advantage held by either the bookmaker or the bettor.
Even money
A bet that returns exactly the amount wagered. Displayed as +100 in American odds, 2.0 in decimal, 1/1 in fractional.
Exotic Bet
Any bet beyond a standard game total, point spread, or moneyline. Many prop bets qualify as exotic bets.
Expected Value
The theoretical value of a wager if played out thousands of times, accounting for the bookmaker's edge.
Exposure
The amount of money a bookmaker or bettor stands to lose on a wager.
F
Favorite
The team or athlete more likely to win. Favorites are priced at less than even money.
Field
All possible selections in a betting market.
First-half bet
A bet on the result of just the first half of a game.
Fixed odds
Odds that do not change after a wager is placed, regardless of subsequent line movement.
Form
The recent run of results for a team or athlete, used to predict future performance.
Fractional odds
One of the three main odds systems. Uses fractions like 7/2, where 7 is the profit and 2 is the stake.
Futures bet
A bet on the outcome of an event in the future, such as a Super Bowl or Stanley Cup winner.
G
Game total bet
A bet on the total number of points, goals, or runs scored in a game. Also called over/under.
Graded Bet
A bet officially classified after an event ends as a win, loss, or push.
Grand Salami
A bet covering the total points or goals for all games in a specific league on a given day.
H
Half-ball handicap
A soccer betting handicap of ±0.5 goals that eliminates the draw and creates a two-way bet.
Half-time bet
A bet placed on the second half of a game after the first half is finished.
Handicap
Odds designed to level the playing field by giving one team a virtual head start.
Handicapper
A bettor who researches matchups before wagering, or a person who posts predictions.
Handle
The total amount of money a sportsbook accepts on a single game.
Hedge
A bet placed on the opposite side of an original wager to guarantee a return or reduce risk.
Holding your own
A break-even stretch, not winning, not losing.
Home-field advantage
The perceived benefit teams receive from playing in their home stadium.
Hook
A half-point added to point spreads or totals to prevent a push.
I
If bet
A bet where winnings from one wager are automatically placed on a second bet if the first wins.
Implied Probability
The theoretical likelihood of an outcome based on the odds posted. +100 odds imply a 50% probability.
In-play betting
Also called live betting, bets placed after an event has started.
J
Joint favorite
Another term for co-favorite, two or more teams with identical odds.
Juice
The margin sportsbooks build into odds to ensure profit. Also called vig or vigorish.
L
Lay
Taking the other side of a bet; sportsbooks lay bets to their customers.
Laying points
Making a point spread bet on the favorite.
Laying the price
Making a moneyline bet on the favorite.
Layoff
When a bookmaker bets with another book to reduce exposure on a heavily backed side.
Lengthening Odds
Odds that are increasing, offering a higher return to the bettor.
Limit
The minimum and maximum bet a sportsbook will accept on a single event.
Line
Odds posted by a sportsbook.
Linemaker
The person or group that sets betting lines.
Live betting
Bets placed after an event has started. Also called in-play betting.
Lock
Slang for a bet considered almost certain to win. There are no true locks.
Longshot
A bet with very little chance of winning, carrying high odds.
M
Middle
Betting both sides of a game at different numbers to potentially win both bets if the result lands between them.
Moneyline Bet
A straight-up bet on the winner of an event with no spread.
Moneyline Odds
Another term for American odds using the +/- system.
Moving the line
Paying for extra points on a point spread to move it in your favor.
Multiple bets
Another term for a parlay, a single bet with two or more selections on one ticket.
MVP
Most Valuable Player. A popular futures bet across multiple sports.
N
Nap
A tipster's best bet of the day, the one they think has the highest chance of winning.
Nickel
Slang for a $500 bet.
No action
When betting options are canceled and all stakes are returned to bettors.
Novelty bets
Another term for exotic or prop bets that go beyond standard markets.
O
Odds
A betting line set by a bookmaker showing the implied probability of an outcome and potential payout.
Odds formats
Different ways of displaying odds. The three most common are American (+100), fractional (1/1), and decimal (2.0).
Odds on favorite
A team or athlete so heavily favored that their odds are less than even money.
Odds shopping
Comparing odds for the same event across multiple sportsbooks to find the best price.
Oddsmaker
The person or group that sets betting lines.
Off the board
Games displayed without odds, usually due to injuries, weather, or other significant variables.
Opening Line
The initial odds set by a bookmaker for an event.
Outright betting
Predicting the overall winner of a tournament or competition.
Over/Under
A bet on the total number of points, goals, or other stats in an event. You bet whether the total will be over or under the posted line.
P
Parlay
A single bet with multiple selections. All selections must win for the bet to pay out, but the odds multiply with each leg.
Parlay banker
The strongest selection in a parlay, usually an odds-on favorite, to which more speculative picks are added.
Payout
The total amount returned from a winning wager, including the original stake.
Pick'em
A game with equal odds on both sides, with no clear favorite.
Point Spread
Odds that level the field by giving the underdog a virtual head start. The favorite must win by more than the spread.
Post time
The scheduled start time of a horse or greyhound race.
Power rankings
A ranking system that grades teams within a league from best to worst using various criteria.
Price
Another term for the odds set by a bookmaker.
Proposition bet
Often called a prop bet, a wager on specific in-game events beyond the final result, such as who scores first.
Public money
The side of a bet that the majority of bettors are backing.
Puck line
The point spread equivalent for ice hockey.
Push
When the result exactly matches the spread or total, resulting in a refund of the original stake.
R
Recreational Bettor
A person who bets for fun rather than profit.
Return
The amount of money received from a winning bet, including the original stake.
Rotation Number
A number assigned by a sportsbook to each betting option on the board for easy identification.
ROY
Rookie of the Year. A popular futures betting option in multiple sports.
Run Line
The point spread equivalent for baseball.
S
Second-half bet
A bet focused on the outcome of just the second half of a match.
Sell points
Reducing the point spread for an improved payout price.
Sharp
A skilled, experienced, or professional bettor.
Single
A bet with only one selection.
Sportsbook
A licensed individual or organization that accepts bets on sporting events.
Spread
Short for point spread.
Square
Slang for an inexperienced bettor who frequently loses money.
Stake
The amount of money risked on a bet.
Staking method
A system for determining how much to bet, such as a fixed percentage of bankroll or a flat unit size.
Steam
A sudden and significant line movement caused by large sharp betting action on one side.
Straight bet
A single wager on a moneyline, spread, or total.
Sucker Bet
A bet that heavily favors the bookmaker. Only inexperienced bettors take these.
Syndicate
A group of bettors who pool funds and combine expertise to beat the bookmaker.
T
Taking Points
Betting on an underdog using the point spread.
Teaser Card
A daily list of games with adjusted odds designed to attract bettors.
Three-way odds
Betting options including home win, away win, and draw. Common in soccer.
Ticket
The receipt issued by a sportsbook confirming a bet has been placed and accepted.
Tip
Advice from an experienced bettor on which side to back.
Tipster
An experienced bettor or analyst who offers betting advice.
Totals Bet
A bet on the total number of points, goals, or other stats in an event.
Two-way odds
Betting options with only two outcomes, home or away. Ties result in a push.
U
Under
Betting that the total will be below the posted line.
Underdog
The team or athlete considered less likely to win, priced at greater than even money.
V
Value Bet
A bet where the true probability of an outcome is higher than what the odds suggest, giving the bettor an edge.
Vig
Short for vigorish.
Vigorish
The margin built into odds by sportsbooks to guarantee profit regardless of the outcome.
W
Wager
The act of placing a bet at a sportsbook.
Welch
To refuse to pay off a losing bet.
Wiseguy
A professional bettor. Another term for a sharp.
X
X-sport prop
A prop bet that includes results from two different sports. Most common during major events like the Super Bowl.
Y
Yankee tax
An extra buffer added by oddsmakers for popular or public teams, knowing they will draw heavy betting action.
Z
Zebras
Slang for referees.