Sports Gambling Terms

1. Sports Betting Terms
2. Why Is Sports Gambling Illegal
3. What Are Some Gambling Terms
4. Betting Terms
5. Sports Betting Terms And Definitions
6. Sports Gambling Terms

Responsible Gambling. SportsBetting.com is restricted to people 21 years old and over; Is Gambling a Problem? Call 1-800-522-4700. Phrases and terms connected with gambling.There is more gambling terminology in the other subcategories of Category:Gambling. This category has the following 4. Sports Betting terms can be confusing on your first sportsbook visit. Learn the meaning to many common sports betting terms you will find at sports books. Unit/s: Amount bet on a game. Win Totals: A future wager that allows bettors to handicap the number of victories and losses of a team during the course of a regular season. Underdog: The team in a sports betting matchup that is not expected to win.

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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.

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.

Like many other industries, the sports betting world has its own jargon and many terms, lingo can be confusing. Our Sports Betting 101 Glossary provides a quick and simple definition of often-used terms that you may read on VegasInsider.com or hear at your local sportsbook.

Sports Betting Resources and Terms

Action: Any bet.

Added Game: A matchup that is not part of the daily betting rotation. 'Added Games' are often make-up or rescheduled games that were expected to be played on a previous date. In pro baseball, it's likely Game 2 of an unscheduled double-header from a rainout.

Alternate lines: Some sportsbooks may offer different (or alternate) point spreads that pay different odds for the same game. These provide bettors more options to wager on certain games.

ATS: Against the spread

Arbitrage: Savvy bettors who try to scalp the market by playing both sides of a particular matchup, with hopes of cashing a middle. The hope is to guarantee getting money back regardless of the outcome.

Bankroll: The total amount of money a bettor can spend on a betting app.

Beard: Messenger bettor, used at brick and mortar casinos and sportsbooks if the real bettor wishes to remain anonymous.

Beef: Dispute

Betting Trends: Stats that show the total amount of money wagered on a game

Buck: $100

Buying Points: Paying additional money to move the point-spread in a direction of your preference. Often used in football, bettors will buy 'on' or 'off' key numbers to avoid losing by a point or two.

Chalk: Favorite in a game by a large margin

Chalk Eater:Bettor who is known for betting on the favorites consistently

Churn: The effect of betting and rebetting money, similar to Arbitrage

Circle Game: Game where action is limited due to uncertainties about weather, injuries, etc

Cover: Win by more than the point-spread

Dime: $1,000

Dollar: $100

Dog: Abbreviation for Underdog, team expected to lose the game

Draw: A tie, used often in Soccer and sometimes in Boxing or Mixed Martial Arts

Earn: Practical hold percentage

Edge: Advantage

Even Money: When a selection has no juice or vig involved. A $100 wager will win $100, while normal wagers would make bettors lay $110 to win $100.

Exotic Bet: Action other than a straight bet or parlay, often unusual bets you won't see in many places. Can be listed under prop bets in sportsbooks.

Sports Betting Terms

Exposure: The amount of money the house actually stands to lose on a game or a race.

Extension: The amount of money the house theoretically will risk losing on a game or a race.

Favorite: The team in a sports betting matchup that is expected to win. In football and basketball, the favorite gives points while in moneyline sports, the favorite has to lay a higher price in order to cash a ticket.

Figure: Amount owed by or to a bookmaker

Firing: Betting a lot. A player who is 'firing' is wagering large sums

Fractional Odds: Not used commonly in the United States. These are odds used mainly in Europe. Odds are listed in fraction form (1/10) instead of as a moneyline (-100).

Futures: Wagers where bettors can invest in the future outcome of a team to win a particular event, even if it isn't in the near future. Example – bettors often choose a team to win the World Series or Super Bowl and receive higher payouts based on the numbers from the oddsmakers depending on how far out the event is.

Grand Salami: A popular NHL wager where bettors handicap the total number of goals scored in all games for one day. Some sportsbooks may offer alternate versions for home, away, or periods of games during the day. Some sportsbooks may offer a similar bet for runs in Major League Baseball but this is mostly used in hockey.

Gross Win: Win before expenses

Handicapper: One who studies sports and predicts outcomes of teams and players.

Handle: Total amount of bets taken

Hedge: Bet the opposite of your original wager in order to reduce the amount of action you have on a game

Hold: The percentage the house wins

Hook: Half point in point-spreads, as in 'lost by the hook'

Home Field Advantage: Edge the home team is expected to have as a result of familiarity with the playing area, favorable demographics and effect of travel on the visiting team

Hoops: Basketball

Hot Tip: Information the bookmaker is not yet privy to

In-Game Wagering: The ability to bet on a sporting event after the game has already started and until it concludes.Also known as live betting.

juice: Bookmaker's commission, most often refers to the 11 to 10 football bettors lay on straight wagers; vigorish

Key Numbers: Most often heard in pro football, the key numbers are the most common margins of the final outcome. The key numbers in the NFL are 3, 7 and 10 points.

Layoff Bet: A wager made by one bookmaker with another to help balance his action and reduce his potential risk or losses

Limit: Bet the opposite of your original wager in order to reduce the amount of action you have on a game

Line: The betting proposition on a game and/or payoff odds on the bet

Live Betting: See In-Game Wagering. Becoming more popular as most betting apps seem to have this feature now.

Lock: An easy betting win.

Long Shot: Large underdog

L3, L5, L10: Last Three, Last Five, Last 10

Marker: Credit offered at Casinos.

Moneyline: Used often in sports like baseball, hockey and soccer -- these odds are set on the straight up winner of the matchup. There is no point-spread with moneylines. Just pick the winner!

Middle: To win both sides of a game. For example, if you bet the underdog +3 1/2 and the favorite - 2 1/2 and the favorite wins by 3, you've MIDDLED the book. The book has BEEN MIDDLED.

Neutral Site: Arena, court or field where neither side has a home field advantage. For example the Super Bowl most years.

Nickel: $500

Odds: Numbers used to determine the favorite and underdog of a sporting match. Unless the game is a pick 'em, there is always a favorite or underdog.

O/U: Over/Under

Off the Board: Game where bets are no longer being accepted. This often happens when there is unknown about a key player's injury status.

Overlay: When the odds on a proposition are in favor of the bettor rather than the house

Parlay: A bet with two or more teams where all the teams must win for the bettor to be successful. The more events in a parlay, the more money there is to cash in on but the harder it becomes to win the wager.

Past Post: To make a bet after an event has started

Pick or Pick'em: A game where neither team is favored

Point-Spread: A number or line set by oddsmakers to provide an advantage or disadvantage based on the margin of victory or defeat for the teams in the matchup. There is always a favorite (-) and an underdog (+). The most popular type of betting in the United States, mainly used in both football and basketball.

Practical Hold Percentage: The amount won by a bookmaker divided by the total amount booked

Press: To bet a larger amount than usual

Public Dog: When betting trends lean heavily to an underdog

Public Trends: Betting Percentages showing money and ticket count for games

Puppy: Underdog

Why Is Sports Gambling Illegal

Push: Tie. The bettor doesn't win or lose money, almost as if the bet didn't happen (Parlays not included).

(ROI): Return on Investment.The amount of money you win on a wager, or your return on your investment or stake.

Reverse-Line Movement: When a line (point-spread) moves in the opposite direction of the betting percentages. Some pundits believe you can follow sharp money with reverse-line movement, especially when the trends and lines differ drastically.

Round Robin: A series of parlays. A three-team round robin consists of one three-team parlay and three two-team parlays

Rundown: Line update

Run-Line: A popular pro baseball wager where the favorite (-1.5) must win by two plus runs to win or the underdog (+1.5) must win or lose by less than two runs to win.

Runner: See Beard

Score: To win a lot of money

What Are Some Gambling Terms

Scratch: Withdraw or cancel

Sharp bettors: Money wagered by bettors be that a sportsbook operator respects. Sharp money often comes from large wagers placed by professional bettors. It should be noted that not all large wagers are considered Sharp.

Betting Terms

Side: To win one side and tie the other. For example, if you lay -2 1/2 and take 3 on the same game and the favorite wins by 3 you have SIDED the book. The book has been SIDED

Steam: When the odds change because of the money wagered on a game or participant is primarily one-sided for a team. Some bettors will chase the steam thinking the other bettors know something they may not but instead they are just mostly all following the trend.

Straight Bet: A bet on just one team

Sucker Bet: Bet with a large house edge

Sports Betting Terms And Definitions

system: When bettors and handicappers develop angles based on historical or seasonal stats.

Sports Gambling Terms

Take a Price: Bet the underdog, take the points

Tapped Out: Broke, busted, common result of pressing

Teaser: A wager used in football and basketball that allows bettors to combine two or more selections together while adjusting the points on those selections.

Tissue Price: The initial odds offered by the sportsbook. This price is usually considered a much fairer deal for the bettor.

Toke: A tip or gratuity

Toss Up: Game where the line is close to a pick-em and either side is expected to win.

Tout Service: A business that sells opinions on sporting events

Trend: Daily, Weekly and Seasonal angles that bettors and handicappers often follow or fade in their wagers.

Triple Sharp: The sharpest of the sharp, (Note: There is no such term as 'Double Sharp')

Unit/s:Amount bet on a game.

Wager: A bet

Win Totals: A future wager that allows bettors to handicap the number of victories and losses of a team during the course of a regular season.

Underdog: The team in a sports betting matchup that is not expected to win. In football and basketball, the underdog receives points while in moneyline sports, the 'dog can net a positive return if it wins.

Underlay: When the odds on a proposition are in favor of the house

Value: An overlay

Wire-to-Wire Commonly seen in the NBA, a bet where a team will lead after every quarter for the entire game.