Sports Betting Terms Every Bettor Needs to Know

Updated October 4th, 2019

Estimated Read Time: 5 minutes

Published March 20, 2018

sports betting tablet

You don’t have to be a sports betting expert to figure out what terms the “sharps” are using. Use this handy page as a catch-all reference for the language of sports betting.

Term	Definition
Across the Board	A way to bet on a horse to place, show, or win
Action	A sports bet of any kind. Can also refer to the number of bets being placed on a certain event or line.
Angles	Using historical factors from previous events
ATS (Against the Spread)	Taking the spread into account when referring to the outcome of an event. Or, taking the points, instead of betting with the spread, or “laying” points.
Bad Beat	When a sports bet fails unexpectedly.
Beard	A friend/acquaintance/colleague who places sports bets in an effort to shield the identity of the real bettor.
Book	Short for sportsbook. The establishment that accepts bets, and subsequently pays out winnings. Short
Bookmaker/Bookie	Originally referred to the person that would accept bets on behalf of a larger organization. Now, this is just a different colloquialism for sportsbook.
Buck	A $100 bet.
Buy (points)	When a bettor pays extra to receive a half point or more extra, in his/her favor, on a point spread event.
Chalk	The favorite.
Chalk Player	A bettor who frequently bets on the favored outcome. They rarely place bets on the underdog.
Circled Game	Refers to a game where the betting action is reduced. This usually happens in added games, bad weather, games with lots of injuries, propositions, or halves of games. Often, circled games cannot be included in parlays or teasers. Betting options will be restricted, as will limits.
Cover	Winning a bet on the point spread, covering the required amount of points.
Dead Heat	When two horses finish in a tie.
Dime	$1,000
Dime Line	A line where the “juice” or “vigorish” is 10%.
Dog	Short for “underdog”
Dog Player	A bettor who mostly bets on the underdog.
Dollar	$100
Double Action	A sports bet that is processed if the precedent bet wins, ties, or cancels.
Double Bet	A bet that is twice the size of what the bettor normally wagers.
Edge	Any advantage a bettor has in sports betting.
Even Money	When neither side of an outcome lays any odds, or any “juice.”
Exotic	A bet other than a straight bet (moneyline, spread, totals) or a parlay bet. Also referred to as “prop” or “propositional” bets.
Exposure	The largest amount of money a sports book stands to lose on a game.
Favorite	The team/outcome that is expected to win. Odds will always reflect the favorite.
Fifty Cents	$50.00
Figure	The amount a bettor owes to their sportsbook, or the amount the sportsbook owes to a bettor.
Final Four	The four remaining teams in the NCAA’s March Madness tournament.
First Half Bet	A bet placed on the winner of the first half of an NBA game.
Futures	Bets placed on an event/outcome taking place at some point in the future. For example, if one was to bet on the prospective winner of the NBA championship at the start of the season.
Getting Down	Placing a bet.
Grand Salami	The cumulative total of goals scored in all the hockey games taking place on one day. The over/under is a frequently available betting option for the grand salami.
Half-A-Dollar	$50
Handicapper	Someone who rates, bets, and studies sporting events in order to predict future outcomes.
Handicapping	An effort for a bettor to predict the outcome of an event/futures bet. Frequently involves data mining.
Hedging	Placing wager on the opposite side of an outcome in order to minimize losses, or guarantee a minimum amount of winnings.
Hook	A half point added to the spread or totals, in order to make sure that there are no ties.
Hot Game	A game that is seeing a lot of action on one side because of handicappers.
Juice	The commission that a bookmaker receives on bets. The juice is reflected in available odds.
Laying the Points	Betting on the favorite by giving up points.
Laying the Price	Betting the favorite by laying money odds.
Layoff	A money bet placed by a book, at another bookmaker, in order to reduce its monetary liability.
Limit	The highest amount a bookmaker will accept for a bet.
Lines	An alternate term for odds.
Linemaker	The person who works at a bookmaker, who is responsible for establishing betting lines. Also known as an “oddsmaker.”
Listed Pitchers	A baseball bet that will only be fulfilled if both schedule pitchers actually start. If they do not, the bet is canceled.
Lock	A sure thing.
Longshot	The outcome perceived to be highly unlikely.
Middle	To win a bet on both sides of the same event. Placing a bet on the underdog at one point spread, and the favorite at a different point spread, and then winning both sides.
Moneyline	Betting on the outright winner of an event. No pointspread is involved.
Move the Line	When a bettor pays a fee to get half a point (or more) in either direction on a point spread.
Nickel	$500
Nickel Line	A line at a sportsbook where the “juice” is 5% instead of the regular 10%.
No Action	A wager in which money is neither lost or won.
Odds	The likelihood of an event taking placing assigned by a sportsbook, indicated in numbers form. Odds are expressed with fractions, decimals, or through the American style.
Off the Board	A game or outcome that a sportsbook will not accept a bet on.
Outlaw Line	The earliest line on an event offered. Often an overnight line that only a small group of bettors are allowed to bet on.
Over/Under	Betting either above, or below, the combined point total of two teams during a game.
Parlay	Any bet in which at least two outcomes must succeed for the bettor to win. In a parlay, all selections must be correct in order to receive a payout on a parlay.
Pick ‘em	A game in which neither team is favored.
Pointspread	When a sportsbook predicts the scoring differential between two opponents.
Press	Betting a larger amount than usual.
Price	The odds, line, or point spread.
Prop Bet	Known as a proposition bet, these special bets offered by sportsbooks on the outcome of various events. Can take the form of unique events within sporting events, politics, and entertainment. An example of a prop bet would be the winner of the opening coin toss at the Superbowl.
Puckline	A nickname for the goal spread a sportsbook assigns to a hockey game.
Puppy	The underdog.
Push	A tie. There is neither a winner or a loser for wagering purposes.
Rollover	The amount bettors must wager before their bonus money can be withdrawn. It is always expressed as a multiple of either the bonus amount or the amount of the bonus + your deposit.
Round Robin	A bet involving three or more teams in 2-team parlays.
Run Down	All of the lines available for a specific date, sport, or time.
Runline	A nickname referring to the run spread on a baseball event.
Runner	A friend, acquaintance, or colleague who places bets for another person.
Scouts	A person who waits for what he or she perceives to be highly favourable odds.
Sharp	A highly calculating, professional sports bettor.
Sides	Refers to both the underdog and the favorite.
Spread	Short for “point spread”
Square	A novice sports bettor, someone who bets with their heart instead of their head.
Steam	When the line starts to move rapidly.
Store	A sports betting establishment.
Straight Bet	Wagering on one single team.
Straight up	Winning a game, disregarding any spread.
Systems	Using trends from the past to calculate future outcome.
Taking the Points	Betting the underdog and its advantage in the point spread
Taking the Price	Betting the underdog and accepting the money odds.
Teaser	A special type of parlay in which the bettor is allowed to modify the point spread or total of each individual event. The price of “teasing” is in lower payoffs.
Ticket	A sports bet.
Total	The total number of points, runs, or goals, scored during one particular game.
Totals Bet	A type of propositional bet
Trends	Using historical trends to predict future outcomes of sporting events.
Underdog	The team with lower odds of winning the game. Also known as the “dog.”
Unit	The percentage of your overall bankroll that you wager on a given sporting event.
Value	Used to describe odds which are favorable to bettors. Specifically, value is found when the odds are better than the actual probability an outcome will occur. For example, if odds suggest a team has a 40% chance of winning but their chances are actually closer to 60%, the line presents value to bettors.
Vigorish	The bookmakers’ commission on a bet. Also referred to as the “vig.” Also known as the “juice.”
Wise Guy	A well-informed or knowledgeable handicapper or bettor.

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