The following is a comprehensive list of the terms commonly used in betting.
A
Accumulator – This term is used to refer to multiple bets or let-it-ride bets. It involves several selections made simultaneously with the objective of pressing the winnings for the initial bet to the succeeding games that are selected.
Action – This refers to any kind of wager and is considered as such when it is deemed valid. There are different rules that are applied in various sporting events in the determination of whether a bet is declared an action or not.
Ajax – This is the UK slang word for betting tax.
All-in – This is the type of betting where no refunds are provided for withdrawn or scratched teams or competitors.
All Up – This refers to the act of picking the winners of 2 or more sporting events. This is where a single wager amount covers 2 or more outcomes, and where the stakes, as well as the winnings for the initial selection, is rolled over to the succeeding selections.
Angles – These are the trends or results of past games that are used to predict the outcome of future events. There are possibly hundreds of angles that can be considered when handicapping a game.
Ante-Post – This refers to the bets that are placed by sports bettors in advance and predicts the outcome of a specific event sometime in the future.
Arbitrage – This term refers to the act of making bets on all the possible outcomes for a sporting event so that you are able to lock in a sure profit at the close of the sporting event.
Asian Handicapp – A type of bet, named after its origins which involves spread betting in football. The wager eliminates the draw as a possible outcome, increasing your chances to win to 50%/50%. The number that you would see next to each team will be abbreviated with either a positive “+” or a negative “-” sign.
ATS or Against the Spread – This term is generally used to refer to describe how often the point spread is covered by a team. When a person bets “against the spread” or ATS, they are actually making a wager that the team will either win or lose within a specified range of points, which is basically the spread.
B
Backed – This refers to a team that receives a lot of bets.
Bad Beat – This refers to the event where a sports bettor loses a wager at the very last second due to a fluke or “hail-Mary” shot or any other scoring play that results in losing your bet.
Banker – This is the selection in a permutation of bets that must win to guarantee any profits for the sports bettor. The selection is usually the strongest among the multiples of selections in an accumulator or parlay.
Bankroll – This refers to the available money for sports betting.
Bar Price – This term is the odds associated with the selections at the price which was last quoted and the next bigger price. It is also the minimum odds for any of the selections that were not quoted.
Beard – This refers to an acquaintance or friend or any other contact by the sports bettor who is proficient and skilled in placing bets so the bookmakers will have no way of knowing the real identity of the person making the bet.
Beef – This is a claim or dispute that involves a bettor and the bookmaker or the dealer in a casino. It also refers to a problematic situation involving a bet or disagreement over the result of a bet placed by a sports bettor.
Beeswax – This is the term used for betting tax. Other slang terms for betting tax are “ajax” and “bees.”
Bet – The act of staking or risking your money or other things of significant value on the result of a sporting event.
Bet Limit – This term refers to the upper limit or maximum amount of bet that a sportsbook is willing to take on a particular event.
Betting Tax – This is the form of tax levied on the turnover of the bookmaker. In the UK, this tax is known as “Duty” and is levied on each unit of Pound that is wagered.
Bettor – This refers to the person that places a bet. In the UK, this person is known as a “punter.”
Board – This term refers to the place where all the available bets are listed for all sporting events covered by the sportsbook.
Book – This is the tally or list of wagering amounts of the bookmaker on each contestant and the odds that are required in order for them to gain a profit. An entity or person that runs a “book” quotes odds and accepts bets on a particular event or set of events and such entity or person is known as the bookmaker or sportsbook.
Bookie – This refers to the person or establishment that accepts bets. It is the shortened term for bookmaker.
Bookmaker – This refers to the person or establishment who is licensed to receipts on the possible outcomes or results of an event based on the established odds to sports bettors. In the US, this person or entity is referred to as sportsbook.
Bottle – This is the slang term for 2 to 1 odds.
Bridge-Jumper – This refers to a sports bettor that specializes in hefty show bets made on odds-on favorites.
Buck – This refers to a $100 bet. It is also referred to as dollar bet.
Burlington Bertie – This refers to the odds 100- 30.
Buy Points – This term refers to the instance where the sports bettor can move the point spread in order to limit the point that you give away to the favorite or obtain more points when betting on the underdog.
Buy Price – This is the higher figure that is quoted by the Index bookmaker in an index or spread betting.
Buy the Rack -This refers to the act of purchasing each of the possible daily-doubles or the other combination tickets.
C
Canadian – This term, which is also referred to as Super Yankee, refers to the combination bet that consists of 26 bets with five selections covering several events. The combination is composed of up to a maximum of ten trebles, ten doubles, 5 four-folds, and 1 five-fold.
Carpet – This is the slang term for the 3 to 1 odds. It is also known as “Gimmel” or “Tres.”
Century – This is equivalent to GBP 100 and it is also referred to as a “Ton.”
Chalk – This refers to the favored team.
Circled Game – This term is used to refer to a game where the max bet is limited. Bookmakers or sportsbooks apply a cap on the amount of action that they can handle on a particular game or event. This limitation takes into account issues or doubts concerning key players and games with injuries to key players, inside information or rumors and even the inclement weather.
Closing Line – This refers to the final list or roster of point spreads that are offered before the start of the game.
Combination Bet – This refers to the type of bet made by choosing any number of horses or teams that will take first and second places in any order.
Correlated Parlay – This is the type of bet that is essentially tied into another bet in a positive sense, in that when one of the bets wins, the odds of winning the other bet also increases.
Cover – This refers to the act of betting on the spread by the number of points that are required.
Credit Betting – This is referred to act of placing a bet with a sportsbook or bookmaker using credit.
Cherry Pick – This refers to the act of betting only in games where you believe you enjoy a significant advantage.
D
Dead Hit – This refers to the end result where the participants finish equal or both win.
Deposit Betting – This term refers to the betting using money that was deposition in advance with the bookmaker or sportsbook.
Dime – This is equivalent to $1000.
Dime Bet – This refers to the $1000 wager.
Dividend – This term refers to the agreed return or payout for a particular bet.
Dog – This is the shortened version of the word “underdog” and used in any betting proposition to refer to the person or team that is expected to lose.
Dog Player – This is the sports bettor who only bets on the underdog.
Dollar Bet – This refers to a $1000 wager.
Doubles – This is a twin bet that is placed on 2 separate events that are specified or 2 parts of a single event. It is a form of accumulator or parlay.
Double Carpet – This is the slang term for 33 to 1 odds.
Double Chance – This is a type of bet that usually bookmakers offer, pairing the possible outcomes. Example: Team A or Draw, Team B or Draw, Team A or Team B.
Double or Nothing – This refers to evens, which is the type of bet with a payout which is exactly equal to the amount wagered.
Draw – This is an end result where all the competitors or participants finish evenly. The return will be divided by the joint winners where there is a draw and such is not one of the betting options.
Drift – This refers to the odds that “gets longer” or considered to have “drifted.”
E
Each Way – This term is used to describe the act of placing a bet on an individual or team to “place” or win. This is the type of bet which is automatically divided into 2 (50:50) and the odds for each bet are not the same. In the event that the selection is declared the winner, the Place bet automatically wins. Thus, a sports bettor could win both bets or win just the Place bet.
Early Line – This refers to the first line that is posted for a particular game.
Early Money – This refers to the bets that are placed immediately after the lines are released.
East Coast Line – This sports betting term is mainly generally encountered in hockey games, where there is a split-goal line.
Edge – This refers to the individual or team that has the advantage.
Even Money – This term is used to describe no vig or no odds.
Exacta – This term is used to refer to the wager in dog or horse racing where the sport bettor must pick the first and second placers in the exact order or sequence.
Exotic Wager – This term is used to refer to a prop wager.
Exposure – This refers to the wagering amount that you stand to lose in the event that your bet does not win.
F
Fade – The act betting against a particular person or handicapper.
Favorite – This refers to the team/dog/horse which has the greatest chance of winning.
Field – This collective term that refers to all the competitors or participants in a sporting event. It can also mean the odds that are offered on players or teams that are non-listed (outsiders).
Firing – This term is used to refer to a big bet.
First Half Bet – As the term implies, this is the bet that is placed on the scores at halftime.
Fixed Game – This refers to a sporting event where one or more players or participants willfully manipulate the final result.
Fixed Odds – This term is used to denote a dividend that is locked on the odds when the bet has been placed and no matter how much the odds dip and peak, your dividend will be paid out on the value that is stated on the ticket.
Flag – This is the bet that is made up of 23 bets on 4 selections covering different events.
Flea – This refers to an annoying 2-dollar bettor who expects a reward for their action.
Fold – This denotes the number of selections in a parlay or accumulator when it is preceded by a number.
Form – This is the tabloid that is commonly used in horse racing.
Forecast – This refers to the wager which requires a precise prediction of the first and second for a particular sporting event.
Full Cover – This collectively refers to all the accumulators, trebles and doubles that are involved in a number of selections.
Futures – This is the wager where the sports bettor is gambling on the performance of a team relative to season standings, wins, playoff position, etc.
G
Gamble – The act of risking money or any other object with value on the result of a particular sporting event.
Getting Down – The act of placing a bet or wager.
Goliath – This term is used to refer to multiple bets which consist of some 247 bets of 8 selections from different sporting events. It is broken down in one 8-fold, eight 7-folds, twenty eight 6-folds, fifty six 5-folds, seventy 4-folds, fifty six trebles and 28 doubles.
Grand – This is equivalent to GBP�1,000.
Grand Salami – This is the slang term for Over/Under total of the combined scores for all hickey games that are scheduled for the day.
Grand Slam – This term refers to the 4 major tennis tournaments – US Open, French Open, Wimbledon and Australian Open. This term is also used to refer to the 4 major golf tournaments – PGA Open, British Open, US Open and the Masters.
H
Halftime Bet – As the term implies, it refers to the act of placing a bet during the halftime of a particular sporting event. For such games, new lines specifically for the second half are posted once the first half is over.
Halftime Line – This term refers to the line only for the first half or only for the second half of a sporting event.
Handicap – The act of researching and analyzing a sporting event with the consideration of placing a bet on an individual, team or event.
Handicapper – This is the person or entity that researches and analyzes sporting events with the consideration of placing a bet on an individual, team or event.
Handle – This term refers to the sum total of the money that is taken by the bookmaker or sportbook from all the bets that have been placed.
Hang Cheng – This is the Asian term for the term “Point Spread.”
Hedge – This is the act of betting the opposite of what should have been your original bet in order to guarantee a profit or offset of a possible loss.
Heinz – This term refers to the multiple bet which is composed of 57 bets of 6 selections in various sporting events and broken down into one 6-fold, six 5-folds, fifteen 4-folds, 20 trebles and 15 doubles.
Home Field Advantage – This refers to the edge that the home team enjoys as a result of their familiarity of the playing venue, effect of travel on the guest team and favorable demographics.
Hook – This refers to the point spread’s half a point.
Hoops – This is the slang term for the game of basketball.
Holding your Own – This refers to the condition of breaking even and it is neither a win nor a loss.
House – Commonly used to refer to bookmakers.
I
IBAS – An acronym that stands for Independent Arbitration Betting Service. They will help to resolve a dispute between a bettor and its bookmaker, if everything else fails.
IBF – Acronym for International Boxing Federation.
If Bet – This refers to the act of linking a pair or more bets. It is the bet that is made only when the outcome of another bet has been achieved.
In and Out Teaser – This refers to a situation where the sports bettor picks the over and under, underdog and the favorite of the same sporting event.
In the Red – This term has the same meaning as Odds On.
Index betting – A synonym of spread betting
J
Juice – This term refers to the amount that is charged by sportsbooks or bookmakers on losing bets. This is basically the commission of bookmakers or sportsbooks.
Joint Favorites – This term refers to the two teams that sportsbooks or bookmakers cannot split for purposes of favoritism.
Jolly – This is the slang term for “favorite.”
K
Kite – This is the slang term for a “check” or “cheque.”
L
Lay a Bet – This term describes a bookie that is accepting a bet.
Layer – This is another term used to refer to a bookie.
Laying – This refers to the act of placing a bet on the favorite in a particular sporting event.
Layoff – This term refers to the bet of a bookmaker with another bookmaker. This bet is made in order to equalize whatever excess action that they may have accepted from sports bettors.
LBO – This is the acronym for UK’s Licensed Betting Office.
Lengthen – This term refers to the odds that are getting longer, which is more attractive for sports bettors.
Line – This term also refers to the point spread.
Linesmaker – This refers to the person or entity that sets the odds or point spread for a sporting event.
Listed Pitcher – This term describes the act of making bet on a baseball game only when the expected starting pitcher of the team begins the game. There is no action in the event that the listed pitcher does not start.
Lock – This term refers to an easy winner or a selection that cannot lose.
Long Odds – This refers to odds that are generally greater than 10 to 1.
Longshot – This term refers to a large underdog that has a slim chance of winning.
Lucky 15 – This term collectively refers to 15 bets on 4 selections in various sporting events. It consists of one 4-fold, 4 trebles, 6 doubles and 4 singles.
Lucky 31 – This term collectively refers to 31 bets on 5 selections in various sporting events. It consists of one 5-fold, five 4-folds, 10 trebles, 10 doubles and 5 singles.
Lucky 63 – This term collectively refers to 63 bets on 6 selections in various sporting events. It consists of one 6-fold, six 5-folds, fifteen 4-folds, 20 trebles, 15 doubles and 6 singles.
M
Match Betting – Known as 1X2 betting, is a type of a regular bet where you can back the home team, the away team or the draw. Home teams is the number 1 , the draw by an X and the away team is the number 2.
Margin – This term refers to the amount that a competitor in a sporting event finishes ahead of another competitor.
Middle – This term refers to the act of betting on the same game but placing bets on both teams and gaining the possibility of winning the bets that were placed on both teams.
Middler – This is the term used to refer to the sport bettor that bets on both sides hoping to get results that would land them in the middle.
MLB – This is the acronym for “Major League Baseball”
Money Line – This refers to the act of betting on the straight winner of a sporting event instead of against the spread.
Monkey – Refers to a bet of the amount £500 GBP.
Mush – This refers to the sports bettor who is considered a definite loser.
MVP – Acronym for the term “Most Valuable Player.”
N
Nap – This term refers to a newspaper correspondent’s best bet for the day and is believed to be the shortened form of the word “Napoleon.”
NBA – This is the acronym for the “National Basketball Association.”
NCAA – This is the acronym for the “National Collegiate Athletic Association.”
NFL – This is the acronym for the “National Football League.”
NHL – This is the acronym for the “National Hockey League.”
Nickel – This term is used by sports bettor when referring to $500.
Newspaper Line – This refers to the betting line that usually appears in daily newspapers. These lines are only the approximate representations and at times can be misleading and inaccurate.
Neutral Site – This term refers to the game that played where neither team possesses a home-field advantage.
No Action – A type of wager that produces no profit nor loss.
O
Odds – This term refers to money lines, point spreads, lines, etc. for sporting events.
Odds-Against – This term describes a situation where the evens are lesser than the odds.
Odds Compiler – This is another term for “oddsmaker.”
Odds on – This refers to a bet that features a “-” sign and is handled in reverse.
Odds on Favorite – This term refers to the individual, team or horse that is so favored that the odds are tilted in their favor.
Oddsmaker – This refers to the person or entity that sets the odds or point spreads for sporting events.
Off the Board – This term refers to the game where the best will no longer be accepted. This could be due to the injury of a key player or inclement weather.
Official Line – This refers to the line that is used by sportsbooks for wagering purposes.
Online Sportsbooks – This refers to an Internet-based entity that accepts bets on sporting events.
Opening Line – This is the first line that is offered by a bookmaker or sportsbook.
OTB – This is the acronym for “Off the Board.”
Outsiders – This is the term used when referring to contenders that are not likely to win. This is the direct opposite of favorite.
Over – This refers to the act of betting the opening line in anticipation for a possible movement towards the opposite direction from what the sports bettor had originally wanted.
Overplay – This term is used to refer to the advantage of a sports bettor where the price on a particular wager is more than the real probability of success.
Over/Under – This term refers to the bet that is made on the total points or combined score of the competing teams or individuals.
Overtime – This term refers to the situation of a tied game at the close of regulation and the teams play for extra time until a winner emerges.
P
Parlay – This term refers to the combination of at least 2 bets which are linked together. The parlay bet wins only when all the bets that comprise it win.
Parlay Cards – This refers to the wagers made on a 3 and up to a maximum 15 propositions.
Past Post – This is the act of placing a bet after the race or game has already started. This type of bet is common in horse racing.
Patent – This is the collective term that refers to the 7 bets in 3 selections on different sporting events. It consists of one treble, 3 doubles and a single for each of the 3 selections.
Payout – Your winnings of a given game or event.
Pick – This term is used to describe an instance where there is no favorite in a sporting event. It is considered a pick or PK when the individuals or teams involved in a game are evenly matched.
Picks – This term is used to refer to the betting selections which is usually made by an expert.
Pick’em – This term refers to a game where neither of the teams is favored to win.
Picking your Sports – This term describes the practice of sport bettors of making plays only when the value is heavily tilted in their favor.
Place – This refers to the finish in the Top 3, Top 4 or sometimes in the Top 5 in a sporting event or competition.
Point Spread – This refers to the line that is made on a sporting event from a sportsbook.
Post Time – This term refers to the starting time of a particular sporting event.
Power Rating – This is the number that is assigned by a sports handicapper to individuals and teams in order to determine how good or how bad they are. These can be used by sports bettors in determining who has the better chances of winning and by how many points.
Press – This refers to the act of wagering more than you would normally do in the hope that you will be able to recoup your losses.
Price – This is the term used in referring to the money line or odds that are placed on a particular sporting event.
Progressive Parlays – This refers to the instance where the sport bettor doesn’t need to win in order to obtain a payout.
Proposition or Prop Bet – These are basically the exotic bets which are placed on specific events that occur during a game, and these include the first team to score, the first team to attempt a field goal, the first team to score a touchdown, etc.
Public Money – This term refers to the bets made by unknowledgeable sports bettors and the general public.
Punter – This is another term used to refer to a sports bettor.
Pucks – This is the slang term which refers to the game of hockey.
Puckline – This refers to the instance where the hockey combines the odds and spreads or handicap.
Puppy – This refers to the team or individual that is expected to lose. It is another term for “underdog.”
Push – This term refers to the wager where you don’t win or lose.
Q
Quinella – This refers to the wager made in dog or horse racing where the 2 selections are required to come in the right order or sequence – first and second places.
R
Reduced Vig – This refers to the wager where the sports bettor lays lesser than the standard line of 10 cents.
Revenge Game – This term is used to refer to the team that is playing an opposing team that has beaten them in their previous match.
Reverse – This refers to 2 separate and distinct bets on the same 2 teams.
Reverse Teaser – This refers to the bet in which the line is moved to the disadvantage of the sports bettors in exchange for a bigger payout.
Return – This refers to the total winnings obtained by a sports bettor from a bet made.
Round Robin – This refers to the series of parlay bets.
Rundown – This is an update or list of the lines or odds for all the scheduled games.
Runner – Refers to a person who places bets for another.
Run Line – This term is used to refer to the betting in a baseball game where the sports bettor takes the underdog at +1.5 or takes the favorite at -1.5.
S
Scalper – This refers to the person who attempts to make profit from the variances in the odds from one book to another by placing bets on both sides at different prices.
Scratch – This refers to the act of withdrawing or canceling.
Service – This refers to the sports handicappers that sell sports picks, analysis, and opinions.
Sharp – This refers to a knowledgeable and intelligent sports bettor.
Shill – This refers to an individual who is tasked with the promotion of a sportsbook or sports betting service in exchange for compensation.
Shortstop – This term refers to a small sports bettor.
Show – This term refers to the wager on dog or horse racing where the selection must come take at least the 3rd place in order for the sports bettor to be entitled to a payout.
Shorten – This is the direct opposite of “Lengthen.” It refers to the odds that are getting shorter, which is less attractive to sports bettors.
Shut Out – This term is used to describe the event that happens when a sports bettor who is late in getting on the betting line and is still waiting for their turn when the window closes.
Side – This term describes the act of making a bet on an individual or team in order to win the game against the point spread.
Single – This refers to a straight bet made on one selection in order to win one sporting event or race.
Single Stakes About or SSA – This refers to a bet which consists of two bets made on 2 selections.
Slip – This is the typical receipt that is given to sports bettors for a wager or set of wagers made at a land-based bookmaker or sportsbook.
Smart Money – This is the term used to refer to the money bet made by sharps or smart sports bettors.
Sportsbook – This is the term used to refer to a person or establishment that receives bets on sporting events.
Square – This refers to an unsophisticated sports bettor who has the habit of using the same set of information and data as everybody else and usually ends up losing in the long term.
Spread Betting – This refers to the amount that must be wagered in order to win $100 or it may refer to the amount that can be won if one makes a $100 wager.
Store – This is another term for a bookie or sportsbook.
Steam – This refers to an instance where there is an unexpected influx of money emanating from the same total or side and which cause the movement of the line.
Straight Bet – This refers to a single wager.
Straight Up – This refers to the winner in a game without considering the point spread.
Streak – This refers to the series or string of winning bets.
Sucker Bet – This term refers to exotic, teaser or parlay bets.
Super Bowl – This is the Championship Game of the National Football League.
Super Heinz – This collective term that refers to 120 bets on 7 selections in different sporting events. It consists of a single 7-fold, seven 6-folds, twenty one 5-folds, thirty five 4-folds, 35 trebles and 21 doubles.
Super Yankee – This is the alternative term used when referring to Canadian multiple bet.
Syndicate – This refers to a group of sports bettors that makes use of their knowledge and familiarity of the game in order to win a substantial amount of money at sports betting.
Systems – This refers to the use of specific formulas or models involving past events or outcomes in order to determine the best selections or picks in the upcoming game.
T
Taking – This refers to the act of making a wager on the underdog.
Teaser – This refers to the bet where the sports bettor is wagering on 2 or more teams and all the teams are required to cover in order for the sports bettor to win their bet.
Thick’un – This term refers to a large bet.
Tie – This term refers to a stand-off, draw or push.
Tips – This refers to the sports picks or the predictions and selections on the performance of the competitors in a sporting event made by an analyst or expert.
Tipster – A person that analyses games, and offers advice on recommended bets.
Trends – This refers to the act of utilizing previous results in order to predict the outcome of future games.
Total – This term refers to the bet that is made by the sports bettor on the total points or combined score of the competing teams.
Toke – This term refers to the gratuity or top given to the dealer.
Tote – This is the shortened form of the word “Totalisator.”
Touts – This refers to a person who is engaged in the sale of sports picks.
Trebles – This term refers to a triple bet made on 3 sporting events. This is a form of accumulator or parlay.
Trend – A flow in a certain direction. Refers to a pattern than has been happening in the past.
Trifecta – This term refers to the wager on dog or horse racing where the 3 selection must come in the correct order of the top 3 finishes.
Trixie – This is the collective term for the 4 bets on 3 selections in different sporting events. It consists of one treble and 3 doubles.
True Odds – This term refers to the real odds on a future event that runs counter to what the bookmaker is offering.
U
Under – This refers to the act of placing a bet that the combined score or total points is below the total set for the sporting event.
Underdog – This refers to the individual or team that is generally expected to lose.
Underlay – This term is used to describe an event where the odds on the prop are heavily tilted in the favor of the house.
Union Jack – This term refers to the bet on 9 selections and consists of 8 trebles.
Upset – This refers to the event where a favorite is defeated by an underdog.
V
Value – This refers to the act of obtaining the best possible bet or the highest edge possible.
Vigorish or Vig – This refers to the commission of the house for every wager that is made.
W
Wager – This refers to the act of risking your money or any object of value on the outcome of sporting events.
Wise Guy – This is the term used to refer to a sharp and knowledgeable sports bettor or sports handicapper.
Welsh or Welch – This term describes an event where a person is unable to pay their gambling bet.
Whale – This refers to a person who is known to make extremely large bets, which usually can reach thousands per game.
Win – This term refers to the wager in dog or horse racing where the selection is required to win in order for the sports bettor to cash in on the selection.
WNBA – This is the acronym for “Women’s National Basketball Association.”
World Series – This is the Championship round of the MLB and it consists of the final 7 games between the 2 league champions which will ultimately determine the World Champion.
Y
Yankee – This term collectively refers to the 11 bet on 4 selections and consists of a single 4-fold, 4 trebles and 6 doubles.
Yap – Known as Lucky 15 (see also for Lucky 15)