Sports Betting Glossary

A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z

A

Action

A placed bet of any amount on any game.

Added Game

A betting line that is posted later than the usual rotation. This often refers to games involving lesser known schools or professional teams.

ATS or Against the Spread

Taking the points instead of betting with the spread or laying points.

B

Bet

To take a chance on a chosen result of an event. Also known as the wager.

Book

Short for sportsbook. A company that takes bets that mainly involves sporting events.

Bookie

Someone who takes bets.

Bookmaker

Commonly known as a bookie.  A bookmaker is a person or a company that takes bets.

Buck

Means a $100 wager. Also known as a Dollar Bet.

Buy or Buy Points

An option where a bettor can pay an additional amount to receive a half point or more in their favor on a point spread.

C

Canadian Line

A combination of point spread and moneyline often used in the game of hockey.

Chalk

Refers to the favorite/s.

Chalk Player

A bettor who often bets on the favorite/s. Opposite of a Dog Player.

Cover or Cover the Spread

To win by a required number of points.

D

Dime Bet

Means a $1000 wager.

Dimeline

Refers to the difference between the underdog’s price and the favorite’s price. This is often used in baseball.

Dog

Short for underdog. It refers to a team/individual that is not favored to win.

Dog Player

A bettor who often bets on underdogs. Opposite of a Chalk Player.

Dollar Bet

Means a $100 wager. Also known as a Buck.

E

Edge

Means having the advantage.

Even Money

A bet or wager where there is no juice or vigorish (vig). Its odds are +100 or 1/1.

Exotic Wager

A wager other than a Straight Bet or Parlay. This can be a Teaser, Sweetheart Teaser, If Bet, Reverse or Prop Bet.

F

Favorite or Favorites

The team or individual that is expected to win.

Fifth Inning Line or 5 Inn

Refers to a bet placed on the 1st 5 innings of a baseball game only.

Fifty Cents

Means a $50 bet. Also known as Half a Dollar.

First Half Bet (1H)

A bet placed for the first half of a game only, usually in football or basketball games. The wagers are settled after the first half of the game.

Future or Futures

A betting line posted in advance for an event that is scheduled days, weeks, months or even years ahead of the actual event.

G

 Getting Value

Getting the best odds on a betting line from a selection of multiple sportsbooks.

Grand Salami

The total of all the goals scored in hockey games played on a single day.

Grading

When the wager is settled and the amount is deposited into the bettor’s account.

H

Half a Dollar

Means a $50 bet. Also known as Fifty Cents.

Handicapper

A person who studies sporting information and creates a prediction of the event’s result.

Handicapping

Predicting an event’s outcome.

Handle

The total money amount of bets taken.

Hedging

A betting strategy where both sides of the event are betted on. This is made to either minimize losses or guarantee a smaller winning amount.

Hook

A half point added to football or basketball betting lines. Related: see Hooked.

Hooked

When a bettor loses by half a point in any wager. Also known as “getting hooked”.

Hot Game

A game or a match that is drawing a lot of action on one side by professional handicappers.

J

Juice

The bookmaker’s commission. Also known as the vig or vigorish. The standard juice is 10%.

L

Laying the Points

Picking the favorite to win in a point spread line.

Limit

The maximum amount of bet a bookmaker can accept.

Line

The current odds or point spread for a given event.

Linemaker

A person who sets the original betting line and the subsequent betting lines. Same as the oddsmaker.

Longshot

A team or individual that is deemed unlikely to win.

M

Middle

To bet on both sides in the same game or event. It is done by betting on the underdog and on the favorite each on different point spreads.

Moneyline

Betting odds where the wager is settled by which team wins. The odds are expressed in terms of money. A minus (-) sign signifies that you need to bet that amount to win a hundred dollars. A plus (+) sign means that you win that amount for every hundred dollars bet.

N

Nickel Line

A reduced juice or vigorish (vig) which is set at 5%.

Nickel

Means a $500 bet.

No Action

A wager that is neither won nor lost. Similar to a Push.

O

Odds

The likelihood of the event’s outcome as expressed in numbers form.

Off The Board or OTB

When the bookmaker is no longer accepting bets on a particular game or event.

Oddsmaker

A person who sets the original betting line and the subsequent betting lines. Same as the linemaker.

Opening Line

Refers to the first betting line released for an event.

Over

A wager where the total points of both teams combined should be more than the set Total.

P

Parlay

A wager on two or more teams where all teams must win in order to get a higher pay-out. A loss by any team means that the wager is graded a loss.

Point Spread

The margin of victory provided by the linemaker between two teams/opponents. Also known as the spread.

Press

A bet higher than the normal wager.

Price

Refers to the point spread or odds.

Proposition Bets or Prop Bets

Special wagers offered by books on various topics or particular aspects of the game. These events range from sporting events, to politics and other contests.

Push

A push refers to a wager where neither side wins. The amount wagered is returned to the  bettor in such cases.

R

Reverse Bet

A wager when two IF bets are placed.

Risk

The amount of the wager placed on a game or an event.

Run Line

Refers to baseball’s version of the point spread.

S

Second Half Bet (2H)

A bet placed for the second half of a game only, usually in football or basketball games. The wagers are settled after the game but only the second half points are considered and not the entire game’s score.

Sides

Refers to the two teams or individuals participating in an event.

Spread

The margin of victory provided by the linemaker between two teams/opponents. Also known as point spread.

Standard Line

Refers to the occurrence of a betting line that is -110 for both sides.

Straight-up or SU Bet

Refers to a wager that only considers the result of the game and not the point spread.

T

Taking the Points

Betting on the underdog on the point spread.

Taking the Price

Betting on the underdog on the moneyline.

Total

Combined score of both teams or individuals in an event.

U

Under

A wager where the total points of both teams combined should be less than the set Total.

Underdog

Refers to the team or individual that is more likely to lose in an event.

V

Vig or Vigorish

The bookmaker’s commission. Also known as the juice. The standard vig is 10%.

W

Wager

To take a chance on a chosen result of an event. Also known as the bet.

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