Accumulator A bet in which a single stake is used to generate two or more bets in succession on different markets. The odds of each individual selection are multiplied with each other thereby generating very high accumulated odds. If any one selection is incorrect the entire accumulator bet has lost

Action A bet, a wager

All Bets Are Action Refers to the fact that all bets are valid regardless of changes in venue and entrants prior to an event

Air Move A house changing its odds neglecting its own exposure and instead purely following the competition

Angle Forming an opinion and placing a bet based on historical results

Ante Post Betting on an outcome days, weeks, months and sometimes even years (for example Football World Cup) prior to the day of the event. Odds tend to have a better value but the bet is lost if the selected entrant does not start for whatever reason (for example if the selected team does not qualify for the World Cup)

Arbitrage Two bets on the same market resulting in a negative theoretical hold percentage for the house by taking advantage of strong odds fluctuations

Asian Handicap A handicap bet particular to Football eliminating the draw option by using half-goal handicaps

Asian Lines US term for Asian Handicap



Bad Beat A tough, very unlucky loss

Back To bet on an Outcome

Bar Price Odds on the so called Field

Beard A messenger placing bets for someone who is banned from wagering.

Best Book The house with the lowest theoretical hold percentage

Bet To risk money on the outcome of a Market; a Bet is placed

Bettor US term for Punter

Board All the odds on offer at a bookmaker

Bookie Short for Bookmaker

Bookmaker A person laying (offering) odds and taking (accepting) bets

Both Halves A bet on a team winning both halftimes in a football game

Buck A bet in the amount of $100

Buying Points A single wager while decreasing the handicap on the favorites and increasing the handicap on the outsiders in favor of the odds



Canadian Line Similar to DNB in Asian Handicap this is a handicap on Ice Hockey eliminating the draw

Chalk US term for Favorite

Chalk Eater A person mostly backing favorites

Circled A game with very low betting limits due to weather and injury reports

Clean Sheet A bet on a team not to concede a goal

Co-Favorites Two or more participants favored to win an event with the same odds

Combi Originally German, term for Accumulator

Correct Score A bet on the exact result of a game

Covered A bet on the handicap is won when the spread is covered; for example if a team originally favored by 4 points ends up winning by 5 or more points



DNB Short for Draw No Bet

Dead Heat Two or more entrants finishing an event in first place

Dead Heat Rule The stake is divided by the number of winning selections before settling the bet

Decimal Odds The European odds format, for example 1.50 and 2.50

Dime A bet in the amount of $1,000

Dime Line A market with a theoretical hold percentage of around 4.5%

Dog Short for Underdog

Dog Player A person mostly backing outsiders

Double Accumulator consisting of two selections

Double Chance Covering two outcomes of the same market with one bet

Double Header Two games played by the same two teams within one day

Double Up A wager for twice the amount of a person’s usual bet size. Often used when chasing a loss

Draw The scores of the two teams are level at the end of the game

Draw No Bet Particular to Asian Handicap; instead of half a goal the line is actually quoted as DNB meaning that in the event of a draw all bets are refunded

Due For Opposite of Trend; the perception that a team on a losing streak is due for a win and vice a versa



EV Short for Evens

Each Way Two bets with equal stake amounts on the selection winning and being placed second, third or fourth depending on the total number of entrants

Early Price The first odds posted on a game

Earn US term for Hold

Edge A bettor’s advantage over the house

Entrant A participant of an event; athlete, dog, driver, horse, player, rider, team and groups

Even Money US term for Evens

Evens Odds of 2.00 meaning the win amount is equal to the stake amount

Event Any race, game or match a bet can be placed on

Exact Score Correct Score

Exotic A side market of an event, for example First Goal Scorer



Face-Off The start of an Ice Hockey game

Fade To bet against public and expert’s opinion

Favorite The entrant perceived to most likely win an event

Field A group of entrants whose odds are not individually listed. The field is bar priced quoting only one price for the entire Field

First Goal Scorer A bet on the player to score the first goal in a game

Fixed Odds Opposite of Totalisator Board; a punter knows what his potential return is at the time he places a bet

Flea A punter who wagers small amounts but wants a lot in return

Fold Preceded by the number 4 or higher it indicates the number of selections in an accumulator with four or more selections

Forecast A bet on the correct score combined with the first goal scorer of a football game

Four Ball A Group Matchup particular to Golf involving four players

Fractional Odds The UK odds format, for example 1/2 and 3/2

Front Running Observing odds changes at several books and beating slow books to the change

Futures US term for Ante Post



Goliath A form of a system bet consisting of 247 bets on eight selections in different events: 28 doubles, 56 trebles, 70 4-folds, 56 5-folds, 28 6-folds, 8 7-folds and 1 8-fold.

Grand Salami A bet on the over or under combined total number of goals scored in all Ice Hockey games on the same day

Group Matchup Three or more entrants of an event are grouped together, for betting purposes only, in order to diversify the bet offer



Half Dollar A bet in the amount of $50

Halftime A bet on the outcome of the first half only

Halftime/Fulltime A bet on the outcome of the first half combined with the outcome of the second half

Handicap An entrant is given a head start prior to the start of a game, for betting purposes only, in order to price both entrants at equal odds. For example, team A is
-7 and team B is +7. Team A must win by 8 points or more for the bet to win while team B is allowed to lose by 6 points or less for the bet to win. If team A wins by exactly 7 points the game pushes and all bets are refunded

Handicapper A person studying teams and successfully predicting outcomes of events often sharing his knowledge on so called handicapping sites

Head-to-head UK term for Matchup

Hedging Betting on the opposite side in order to cut losses or guarantee winning a relatively small amount of money

Heinz A form of a system bet consisting of 57 bets on six selections in different events: 15 doubles, 20 trebles, 14 4-folds, 6 5-folds and 1 6-fold.

Home/Draw/Away A bet offer on a three-way outcome

Hook Half points in a handicap to avoid a push



If Bet Two bets on two different events whereby the second bet is only placed if the first bet was successful

In-Running UK term for Live Betting

Injury Time In a Football game the time added at the end of 45 and 90 minutes of play respectively. Injury time always counts for betting purposes


Juice US Punter’s term for Theoretical Hold Percentage


Kick-Off The start of American Football and Football games and a bet on which team will kick off



Last Goal Scorer A bet on the player to score the last goal in a game

Line The odds and handicap offered on an event

Line Maker US term for Odds Compiler

Live Betting Taking bets while a game is in progress. The odds change when goals are scored and as the clock ticks away

Longshot The outsider in Ante Post

Lucky 15 A form of a system bet consisting of 15 bets on four selections in different events: 4 singles, 6 doubles, 4 trebles and 1 4-fold.

Lucky 31 A form of a system bet consisting of 31 bets on five selections in different events: 5 singles, 10 doubles, 10 trebles, 5 4-folds and 1 5-fold.

Lucky 63 A form of a system bet consisting of 63 bets on six selections in different events: 6 singles, 15 doubles, 20 trebles, 15 4-folds, 6 5-folds and 1 6-fold.



Market An Event consists of one or several Markets

Matchup Two entrants of an event are paired together, for betting purposes only, in order to diversify the bet offer

Match Goals Similar to Over/Under but with more outcomes to bet on

Middle To win on both teams in the same game by taking advantage of strong handicap fluctuations. For example a bet on -6.5 and another on +7.5 with the favorite winning by exactly 7 points

Midweek Action All the bets accepted on events taking place on Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday

Money Line The US odds format, for example -200 and +150

Moving Line Handicap particular to American Football and Basketball



Neutral Ground A game played with neither team having home field advantage, for example the Super Bowl

Nickel A bet in the amount of $500

No Action Opposite of All Bets Are Action

Novelty Bets Odds on non sporting events such as Reality TV Shows, Academy Awards, etc


1/1 UK term for Evens

1-0-2 German term for 1-X-2

1-X-2 Home/Draw/Away



OT Short for Overtime

Odds The price reflecting the probability of a team winning and the amount of money that is returned if the bet wins

Odds Against Odds greater than Evens

Odds On Odds lower than Evens

Off The start of a Horse Race

Off The Board The house’s decision to longer accept bets on a certain event prior to the actual start for whatever reason

Open Results still pending on selections in an accumulator that already shows one or more winning selections

Opening Line US term for Early Price

Outcome A Market consists of two or more Outcomes, very rarely one

Outright Odds on the winner of an event

Outsider The entrant perceived to least likely win an event.

Over/Under A bet on the over or under combined total number of goals, points or runs scored in one game

Overtime Extra playing time added in the event of a draw at the end of regular time in order to determine a winner. Overtime always counts for betting purposes in American sports but never in Football unless otherwise stipulated



PK Short for Pick’em

Parlay US term for Accumulator

Patent A form of a system bet consisting of 7 bets on three selections in different events: 3 singles, 3 doubles and 1 treble

Penalty Shootout Particular to Ice Hockey and Football and only in the event of a draw at the end of overtime; Penalty Shootout never counts for betting purposes unless otherwise stipulated

Perm Different Singles are combined to include all possible Doubles

Permutation A permed bet

Pick A bet recommended by a handicapper

Pick’em Neither team is favorite resulting in equal odds of typically 1.90 on each team

Placed An entrant coming second, third or fourth depending on the total number of entrants in the event

Pointspread Moving Line

Pool Betting US term for Totalisator Board

Postponed A cancelled event rescheduled for a later date

Power Rating Teams are rated by handicappers in order to get an edge over the house

Press Betting at stake amounts higher than Double Up

Price Odds

Prop Short for Proposition Bet

Proposition Bet A bet on an exotic side market of an event

Public Money All the bets placed by Squares

Puck Line Handicap particular to Ice Hockey, almost always at 0.5

Punter A person placing a bet, making a wager

Puppy Outsider

Push When the final result lands exactly on the handicap; in the event of a push all stakes are refunded



Rained Out A game cancelled due to bad weather, typically in Baseball

Reverse Teaser Accumulator whereby the odds are increased in favor of the handicap

Round Robin US term for System Bet

Rule 4 Particular to Horse Racing; money deducted from the winning selection if prior to the race another horse withdraws on short notice. The amount deducted is always in relation to the odds of the non-running horse

Run Line Handicap particular to Baseball, always at 1.5

Runner Beard



SP Short for Starting Price

Scalping A Sure Bet via Arbitrage or Middle

Score To win a lot of money

Score/No Score A bet on whether or not a team will score a goal in a game

Scratch An entrant that has withdrawn from an event

Scout A person collecting inside information for Sharps and Wiseguys

Selection The outcome of a market a punter has predicted to be the correct result and therefore placed a bet on

Show Particular to Horse Racing; a horse coming first, second or third
Sharp A very sophisticated punter with an edge over the house

Side A single bet on a team to cover the handicap

Sides The two teams playing against each other

Smart Money Opposite of Public Money; all the bets placed by Sharps and Wiseguys

Spread US term for Handicap

Spread Betting Based on statistics the house assigns spreads to certain markets allowing the punter to back or lay the outcome. The more right the punter is the more he wins and the more wrong he is the more he loses

Square Punter who typically bets on what the newspapers predict


Stake The amount of money wagered and what a punter ultimately risks to lose if his bet is unsuccessful

Starting Price Particular to Horse Racing; the odds on the entrants are determined directly at the racecourse at the start of the race and, until such time, the punter places his bets without knowing his potential return

Stewards Enquiry Particular to Horse Racing; an on-course steward will investigate any suspected fraudulent activities surrounding a horse race. Pending the investigation all bets are on hold and no winnings are paid out

Straight Up A single bet on a team to win the game

Sucker Bet A bet on an event with a very high over-round and extremely little chance of actually winning the bet

Super Heinz A form of a system bet consisting of 120 bets on seven selections in different events: 21 doubles, 35 trebles, 35 4-folds, 21 5-folds, 7 6-folds and 1
7-fold

Super Yankee A form of a system bet consisting of 26 bets on five selections in different events: 10 doubles, 10 trebles, 5 4-folds and 1 5-fold

Sure Bet The Punter’s “balanced book”; a winning bet irrespective of the outcome

Syndicate A group of Sharps pooling their knowledge and money together in an effort to strip the house off its profits

System Bet An Accumulator consisting of several sub-accumulators and often singles with the chance of winning money even if one or more selections are incorrect


Teaser Accumulator whereby the handicap on favorites is decreased and the handicap on outsiders increased, all in favor of the odds

Theoretical Hold Percentage The calculated hold for the house if the book is balanced and what punters often incorrectly refer to as commission, juice or vigorish

Tic-Tac The sign language on-course bookies use to communicate with each other

Time of First Goal A bet on the time of the first goal being scored

Three Ball A Group Matchup particular to Golf involving three players

Tie US term for Draw; UK term for Game

Tip-Off The start of a Basketball game

Tipster UK term for Tout and Tout Service

Tissue Prices The forecast of Early Prices

Tote Short for Totalisator Board

Totalisator Board The total combined stake amount of all bets is pooled together and after a deduction of the house’s commission equally shared amongst all winners after the event. How much each punter wins depends on how many bets are placed in total on the winning selection which means the actual amount is not known until the end of the race

Totals Over/Under

Tout A person selling his picks to handicappers and sharps

Tout Service A business selling picks; open for everyone for a weekly or monthly sign-up fee

Treble Accumulator consisting of three selections

Trend Opposite of Due For; the perception that a team on a winning streak will continue to win


Tricast A bet on the top three entrants in correct order

Triple Sharp The sharpest of the sharp

Trixie A form of a system bet consisting of 4 bets on three selections in different events: 3 doubles and 1 treble.

Two Ball A Matchup particular to Golf



Underdog US term for Outsider

Upset Occurs when the outsider wins a game. The house usually needs a few upsets in a week in order to offset the Public Money


Value Getting the highest possible odds on a selection in relation to the true odds and often in connection with over-broke



Wager US term for Bet; a Wager is made

Weekend Action All the bets accepted on events taking place on Friday, Saturday, Sunday and Monday

Will Pay Particular to the Totalisator Board; the amount of money a punter will win provided his selection is correct and no other wager on this selection is accepted after his bet

Win Bet An outright bet

Win And Place Similar to Each Way but the stake being higher on the selection to win

Winning Margin Similar to Correct Score but particular to American Football and with wider ranges

Wiseguy Well established and very successful Sharp

Withdraw An entrant withdraws from an event prior to the start


Yankee A form of a system bet consisting of 11 bets on four selections in different events: 6 doubles, 4 trebles and 1 4-fold.