Sports Betting Terms

• Sports Betting Terms Explained
• World Sports Betting Terms And Conditions
• Sports Betting Terms And Phrases
• Sports Betting Terms
• Sports Gambling Terms
• Sports Betting Terms Explained

The following is a Glossary of Gambling Terms for: NFL betting, College Football betting, NCAA Football betting, Baseball Betting, MMA Betting, UFC betting, Boxing wagering, NHL betting, NBA betting, NCAA Basketball betting, College Basketball Betting and other major sports. The sports betting glossary provides a list of terms and phrases that are used in the sports betting industry. This terminology is used throughout our site. If we left something out, then don't hesitate to shoot us a message here so that we can add the term. Sports Betting Terms and Glossary.

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Action - A sports betting wager of any kind, a bet.
Added Game - For sports betting, a game not part of Las Vegas regular rotation posted as an accommodation to customers.

Angles – Using key factors from previous events to predict the results for future outcomes.
ATS - 'Against the spread,' taking points rather than betting with the spread and laying points in sports betting.
Beard - 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.

Bet – To risk something on the outcome of an event
Book - In sports gambling a Book is an establishment that accepts bets on the outcome of horse racing and sporting events.
Bookie - In sports wagering a person who accepts bets.

Bookmaker – see ‘bookie'

Buck - Sports betting term for a $100 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.
Canadian Line - In sports betting the Canadian line is a combination point spread and money line in hockey.
Chalk - The favorite.
Chalk Player - In sports gambling this person is someone who usually only plays the favored teams, rarely betting on the underdogs.
Circled game - 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
Cover - In sports betting this term means a pointspread win.

Data Mining- Searching through a large volume of statistics to find profitable situations to bet on in the future.
Dime - $1000.00 sports betting wager.
Dime Line - In sports betting a Dime line is a line where the juice is 10%.
Dog - In sports betting, the team perceived to be most likely to lose.
Dog Player - In sports gambling this term refers to one who mostly plays the underdog.
Dollar - $100, in sports wagering.
Double action - 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.'
Edge - A persons Advantage when it comes to sports betting.
Even Money - Sports betting term 'Even money' is a bet whose odds are 1/1; a wager in which no vigorish or juice is laid.
Exotic - In sports gambling the term Exotic is any wager other than a straight bet or parlay - also called a prop or proposition.
Exposure - The maximum amount of money a sports book stands to lose on a game.
Favorite - In sports betting this it 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 - For sports betting, Figure is the amount owed to or by a bookmaker.
First half bet - In sports betting this is a bet placed only on the first half of the game.
Future - 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.

Sports Betting Terms Explained

Gamble- To risk money on the outcome of an event.
Getting Down - Sports wagering meaning making a bet.
Grand Salami - A sports betting term meaning the grand total of goals scored in all the hockey games of the day. It can be wagered to go Over/Under.
Half a dollar - $50.00 in sports betting action.
Half time bet - In sports betting this is a bet placed only on the second half of the game.
Handicapper - When it comes to sports betting a handicapper is one who studies, rates and wagers on sporting events and/or races.
Handicapping - In sports gambling this is the attempt to predict the outcome of sporting events.
Handle - A sports wagering term that means the total amount of bets taken.
Hedging - A sports betting term that means placing wagers on the opposite side in order to cut losses or guarantee a minimum amount of winnings.
Hook - In sports betting a Hook is a half point added to football and basketball betting lines.
Hot game - Sports betting term for a game that is drawing a lot of action on one side by knowledgeable handicappers.
Juice - The bookmaker's commission on a losing bet, also known as 'vigorish.'
Laying the points - Betting the favorite by giving up points.
Laying the price - In sports wagering, laying the price means betting the favorite by laying money odds.
Layoff - sports betting term for money bet by a house with another bookmaker to reduce its liability.
Limit - In sports betting limit is the maximum amount a bookmaker will allow you to bet before he changes the odds and/or the points.
Line - In sports betting, the current odds or point spread on a particular event.
Linemaker - In the sports betting industry this is the person who establishes the original and subsequent betting lines.
Listed Pitchers - 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.
Longshot - In sports wagering this is a team or horse perceived to be unlikely to win.
Middle - To win both sides of the same contest in sports betting event. Wagering on the underdog at one point spread and the favorite at a different point spread and winning both sides.
Money line - 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.
Move the line - A player pays an additional price to receive half a point or more in his favor on a point spread game.
Nickel - $500.00, in on a sports gambling wager.
Nickel line - A sports wagering line where the juice is 5%.
No action - A wager in sports betting in which no money is lost nor won.

Odds- The likelihood of the outcome occurring, stated in numbers form.
Off the board - In sports betting this is a game on which the bookmaker will not accept action.
One dollar - $100.00 in sports betting action.

Opening Line- The earliest line posted for a particular sporting event.
Outlaw Line - Term for the earliest line in sports betting. This is an overnight line that only a handful of players are allowed to bet into.
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.
Parlay - 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.
Pick 'em - When neither team is favored. Also called a 'pick' in sports betting terms.
Point spread - In sports betting this is the predicted scoring differential between two opponents as quoted by a sports book.

Power Ratings- The strength of a team in comparison to another team.
Press - In sports betting this means to wager a larger amount than usual.
Price - Sports betting term for the odds or point spread.
Prop (Proposition) Bet - 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 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.
Puppy - The underdog in an event.
Push - When the contest ends with no winner or loser for wagering purposes.
Round Robin - In sports betting this a series of three or more teams in 2-team parlays.
Run down - In sports gambling this is all the lines for an specific date, sport, time, etc.
Run line - In baseball a spread used instead of the money line.
Runner - One who places bets for another when it comes to sports betting.
Scouts - person(s) who waits for what he thinks is an unusually strong wager. AKA. Sports Player.
Sharp - When it comes to sports betting a sharp is a sophisticated or professional gambler.
Sides - In sports betting, the names of the two teams playing: the underdog and the favorite.
Single action - An 'if bet' in sports gambling that is processed only if the precedent bet wins.

Sportsbook- a person or company that accepts bets.
Spread - A spread in sports wagering is the predicted scoring differential between two opponents as quoted by a sports book. See 'point spread.'
Square - A novice when it comes to sports betting.
Steam - 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.
Store - A bookie or sports betting establishment.
Straight bet - In sports betting this is a wager on just one team or horse.

Straight-up- Winning the game without any regards to the pointspread.

Systems- Using trends for the past that you are consistent with to predict future outcomes.

Taking the points - When it comes to sports gambling this means betting the underdog and its advantage in the point spread.
Taking the price - In sports wagering this means betting the underdog and accepting money odds.
Teaser - 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.
Ticket - 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.
Total - The combined amount of runs, points or goals scored by both teams during the game, including the overtime.
Totals Bet - 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.
Tout - Someone who sells their expertise on sports wagering.

Trends- Using the past to predict the future focusing in on only one team.
Under - 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 team perceived to be most likely to lose. Also known as the 'dog' in sports betting terminology.
Value - In sports betting value means getting the best odds on a wagering proposition; the highest possible edge.
Vigorish - The bookmaker's commission on a losing bet; also known as juice in sports betting.

Wager- To risk money on the outcome of an event.
Wise guy - A wise guy is the sports gambling term for a well-informed or knowledgeable handicapper or bettor.

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If you are new to sports wagering or simply looking to learn more about certain phrases and terminology, here you will find some common sports betting terms and definitions.

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World Sports Betting Terms And Conditions

Action
A wager of any kind.

Sports Betting Terms And Phrases

ATS
'Against the spread' refers to a team or player's usually recent or longer history (record) of covering the odds (spread bet) when listed as favorite or underdog. Example: the Grizzlies are 7-1 ATS in their last 8 after scoring 100+ points in their previous game.

Book
An establishment that accepts wagers on the outcome of horse racing and sporting events. Also commonly referred to as a bookie (person), bookmaker or sportsbook.

Bankroll
Your available gambling money.

Buy Points
Buy Points means that you can move the point spread so that you give away fewer points with the favorite or get more points with the underdog, for both american football and basketball. To do this you must pay an extra 10% for each ½ point you buy in your favor. For NFL football and NCAA football, you would pay an additional 15% to buy on or off of 3 points - also know as Key Points. And if you buy through 3 points, you would pay an additional 20%. NOTE: There are usually no Key Points for basketball. You would pay a flat 10% for each 1/2 point you buy. An example of how to buy off of 3 points: the Baltimore Ravens (-3) are 3 point favorites. To buy 1/2 point and make them a 2.5 point favorite, you would need to lay 125 to win 100.

Buy Point Chart (Football Key Points)

Cover
To bet the spread by the required number of points. If such occurs you have 'covered the spread'.

Dime
One thousand dollars.

Dog
The underdog in any betting proposition.

East Coast Line
Mainly used in hockey, which has a split-goal line e.g. - Philadelphia Flyers (1 - 1 ½) favorite over the LA Kings as opposed to goal spread plus moneyline (-1/2 -180).

Edge
Advantage

Exotic Wager
Any bet other than a straight bet, i.e., parlays, teasers, if bets, reverses, round robin, round robin box reverses, etc.

Futures
Odds posted on the winners of various major sport championships in advance of the event, including the Super Bowl for NFL Football, the World Series for Major League Baseball, the Stanley Cup for NHL Hockey, the NBA Championship for NBA Basketball, and the World Cup for international soccer betting.

Handle
The sum of all wagers collected for a particular event or over a specific time period by a bookmaker.

Hedging
Placing bets on the opposite side in order to cut losses or guarantee winning a minimal amount of money. (also see 'middling')

Holding Your Own
Neither winning or losing, just breaking even.

Hook
A half point added to football and basketball betting lines.

Juice
Another name for vigorish, or the tax that a bookmaker charges for each wager. Some books may offer 'no juice' or free sports betting offers as incentives for potential bettors to join their company.

Line
The listed odds on a game (points or money line).

Lock
Easy winner, can not lose.

Longshot
A team or horse that is unlikely to win.

Middles (or Middling)
To win both sides of the same betting proposition; betting the favorite team at -1.5 with one bookmaker and 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'.

Money Line
A moneyline is offered when no handicap is given, such as a point spread or run line, and the odds are not therefore fixed. Payouts are then based on true odds rather than fixed odds. The favorite and underdog are given odds to win a game or fight.

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 moneyline, you bet 130 to win 100 on the favorite. For the underdog, you win 110 for every 100 bet.

Newspaper Line
The betting line which quite often appears in the daily newspapers. The lines are only approximate and are sometimes inaccurate and misleading. We recommend browsing a sports odds comparison for the most up-to-date odds in online sports betting.

Odds On Favorite
A horse, team, or individual so favored by the public that the odds are less than even.

Official Line
The line that the bookmaker uses for wagering purposes. The line which comes from Las Vegas is quite often referred to as the official line; however, the line that your bookie offers you is actually your 'official line'.

Overplay
An advantage for the bettor in which the price on a given wager is greater than the real probability of its success.

Over
A wager that the total combined score by two teams will be more than the total posted by the sportsbook.

Parlay
A multi-part bet, usually involving three or more teams, in which each team in must win or the parlay loses. Payouts for parlay bets are are incrementally higher than for single wagers.

Parlay Cards
Wagers on a minimum of 3 and up to 15 propositions; the more you pick, the higher the payoff.

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.

Pointspread
The pointspread - also called 'the line' - is used as a margin to handicap the favorite team. The oddsmaker - also called the handicapper - 'gives' points (or goals) to the underdog - for betting purposes only. The bettor must take either the favorite or the underdog. The favorite is always indicated by a minus sign (e.g. -8.5) and the underdog by a plus sign (e.g.+8.5). For betting purposes, the outcome of the game is determined by taking the actual game score and finding the difference between the scores of the two teams playing (called the pointspread or just the 'spread').

For example - the Detroit Lions are 8 point favorites over the New York Giants (an 8 point spread shown as -8 beside Detroit on our NFL lines page). If the final score is Detroit 20, New York 13, then the actual game score 'spread' is 7 points (20 minus 13). In our example, if you took New York (called the 'dog'), you would win the bet since Detroit had to win by 9 points or more to 'cover the spread'. Detroit needed 2 more points to 'cover' since if the game landed right on the 'spread' of 8 points it would be called a 'push' (similar in concept to a tie in Moneyline wagering, which is also called a push) and it would be 'no action' (no bet and money held in your account to cover the wager is released back into your available balance). If the 'spread' is put in at a half point (e.g. -8.5 for the favorite Detroit) by the sportsbook handicappers then there can be no 'push'. In this case, there is 'action' at any final game score pointspread. In a pointspread, you must wager 11 to win 10 (21 is returned to the winner). 10/11 is the standard for pointspread bets on most sports.

Sports Betting Terms

Post Time
The scheduled starting time.

Proposition Bet
A wager on a particular aspect of the game such as how many field goals will be made.

Puckline
Hockey combines both a handicap/spread and odds. This is called the puck line.

sample line:
Boston +1 (-110)
Detroit -1.5 (-110)

The favorites are the Detroit Red Wings, who are giving the Boston Bruins 1.5 goals. To win the bet, Detroit would have to win the game by 2 goals. When placing this bet you are getting even money, which means that for every 110 you wager, you will win 100. If you are betting on Boston, you will receive a 1.0 goal handicap, meaning that if Detroit wins by 1 goal the game is a push. If the game ends in a tie or Boston wins, then you win the bet. The odds again are at -110.

Push
If the result of a game lands exactly on the pointspread or is a tie in the case of betting a moneyline, or if the exact score of the game matches exactly the sportsbook's posted game total (Total), then the game is a 'Push' or 'No Action' and all wagers are normally released.

Round Robin
A form of parlay betting in which we wager various combining team wagers. A three-team robin is team 1 to 2, 1 to 3, and 2 to 3. A four-team robin is team 1 to 2, 1 to 3, 1 to 4, 2 to 3, 2 to 4, and 3 to 4. Five-team, etc.

Run Line
A line used when wagering on baseball.

Side
When one side of a wager wins and the other side ties.

Sports Gambling Terms

Slip
A typical receipt of a wager or wagers placed at a land-based sportsbook.

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.

Streak
A consecutive string - usually at least several - of winning bets.

Sports Betting Terms Explained

SU
'Straight up' refers to a team or player's history (or record) against an opponent regardless of odds or being favorite / underdog. Example: the Bears are a mere 4-12 against the spread in their last 16 off a SU win.

Taking
Wagering on the underdog; taking the odds.

Totals
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.

Under
A bet that the total combined score for two teams will fall below a posted total.

Value
Getting the best odds on a betting proposition; the highest possible edge.

Vig
The house's commission on a wager. Formally known as 'vigorish'.

Wager
Any bet.

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