Sports Betting Terms

A few terms that would make Frank Sinatra proud!

A

ACTION: A type of baseball bet

ATS: Against the spread

B

B.R.: Bankroll

BAD BEAT: Tough loss

BEARD: Messenger bettor

BEEF: Dispute

BUCK: $100

C

CHALK: Favorite

CHALK EATER: Favorite bettor

CHURN: The effect of betting and re-betting money

CIRCLE GAME: Game where action is limited due to uncertainties about weather, injuries, etc.

COVER: Win by more than the point spread

D

DEGENERATE: Compulsive gambler

DIME: $1,000

DOLLAR: $100

E

EARN: Practical hold percentage

EDGE: Advantage

EXOTIC BET: Action other than a straight bet or parlay.

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.

F

FIGURE: Amount owed by or to a bookmaker.

FIRING: Betting a lot. A player who is “firing” is wagering large sums.

FLEA: An annoying human parasite who wants something for nothing; a $2 bettor who expects to be rewarded for his action.

FORM: What performance is to be expected according to how a team looks on paper.

G

GET DOWN: Make a bet

GROSS WIN: Win before expenses

H

HANDICAPPER: One who studies sports and predicts outcomes.

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 pointspreads, 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.

J

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

L

LAY A PRICE: Bet a favorite, lay the points.

LAYOFF BET: A wager made by one bookmaker with another to help balance his action and reduces his risk on one side or one horse.

LIMIT: Maximum bet accepted by the house before the price will be changed.

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

LONGSHOT: Large underdog

M

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.

N

NEUTRAL SITE: Arena, court or field where neither side has a home field advantage.

NICKEL: $500

O

OFF THE BOARD: Game where no bets are being accepted.

OUT: Bookmaker, usually refers to an illegal bookmaker.

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

P

PARLAY: A bet with two or more teams where all the teams must win for the bettor to be successful.

PAST POST: To make a bet after an event has started.

PICK OR PICK’EM: A game where neither team is favored.

PLAYER: Bettor, gambler.

PRACTICAL HOLD PERCENTAGE: The amount won by a bookmaker divided by the total amount booked.

PRESS: To bet a larger amount than usual.

PRICE : Line

PUPPY: Underdog

PUSH: Tie

R

RACE TO THE OUTHOUSE: A close, down to the wire finish.

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

RUNNER: See Beard

S

SCALPER: One who attempts to profit from the differences in odds from book to book by betting both sides of the same game at different prices.

SCORE: To win a lot of money.

SCRATCH: Withdraw; cancel

SHARP: Wise guy

SHORTSTOP: A small bettor.

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.

SQUARE: Unsophisticated gambler.

STEAM: Heavy action on one side.

STRAIGHT BET: A bet on just one team.

SUCKER BET: Bet with a large house edge.

T

TAKE A PRICE: Bet the underdog, take the points.

TAPPED OUT: Broke, busted, common result of pressing.

THEORETICAL HOLD PERCENTAGE: The edge the bookmaker would have IF the odds guaranteed him a constant commission regardless of the outcome.

TOKE: A tip or gratuity.

TOSS UP: Game where the line is close to pick-em.

TOUT SERVICE: A business that sells opinions on sporting events.

TRIPLE SHARP: The sharpest of the sharp. (Note: There is no such term as “Double Sharp”).

U

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

V

VALUE: An overlay

VIGORISH: See Juice

W

WISE GUY: Established and successful sports bettor.