If you are new to the world of sports betting, sometimes it may seem that people speak a completely different language when it comes to their bets. Terms such as ATS, cover, chalk and sharpening can cross our minds if we don’t know the proper definitions.
Glossary of Important Sports Betting Terminology
If you are new to the world of sports betting, sometimes it may seem that people speak a completely different language when it comes to their bets. Terms such as ATS, cover, chalk and sharpening can cross our minds if we don’t know the proper definitions. Here at Casino Bike, we have compiled a useful list of sports betting terms that any beginner should learn with our Sportsbook Glossary. Some expressions you may already know, while others might change your mind completely, so read on and get ahead of the sports betting game. Don’t worry about not knowing the basics. Any gambler needs to start somewhere, so why not with our alphabetical list of terms below:
1,2,3, all Number
2 and 3 Ball
Golf betting that involves predicting a player from a group of 2 or 3 to shoot the lowest score.
5 Fold
When preceded by a number, a fold indicates the number of selections in a multiple bet. A 7-fold would be a multiple with 7 selections, all of which must win for the wager to be successful.
5 on 5 Also called Full strength
In ice hockey refers to when both teams have five skaters and one goaltender on the ice. The official term used by the National Hockey League (NHL) is at even strength – abbreviated EV on official score sheets and goaltenders’ individual stats. All games start with both teams at full strength. Teams that take a penalty, go on the power play, or pull the goalie are no longer at full strength.
10 Cent Line
This refers to the difference (10 cents) in a money line wager between the favorite and the underdog; see Dime Line.
20 Cent Line
A betting line with a 20-cent straddle, standard in football and basketball. (With a 20-cent line, if the favorite is minus 120, the underdog is even money.) 50-50- A betting market with no favorite, an even match-up meaning odds are the same on all selections similar to “flip of a coin”, “pick’em” and “toss up”.
Aa
Action
A wager of any kind.
Accountant
Term used by some betting fans for bookmaker (bookie).
Across the Board
Method of wagering on a horse to win, place and show.
Accumulator
Name for any accumulative bet more than three selections.
Added Game
Game that is not part of the regular rotation. Often times this will be a rescheduled game or the second game of a doubleheader.
Ante Post
Type of bet that is placed in advance of an event starting.
Against the Spread ATS
Refers to taking points (aka the spread) as opposed to taking a game straight up.
Apple Cup
American college football rivalry between the University of Washington Huskies and Washington State University Cougars. Both are members of the North Division of the Pac-12 Conference.
Arbitrage
The simultaneous purchase and sale of the same game in different markets to profit from unequal prices.
Agent
A middleman who places players into a sports book for a commission.
Albatross Golf
Albatross means three shots under par (-3). All in- A bet which will stand even in the case of scratching or withdrawal of the selection or any other circumstances which might usually warrant a refund, i.e. no refunds given.
All up
A bet that consists of 2 or more selections, the stake and winnings of 1 bet are placed on another bet and all bets must win for the wager to be successful. Similar to an “accumulator”, “multiple” bet and parlay.
American odds
American odds are either expressed as a negative number or a positive number. Negative numbers are used for bets of less than even money and show how much you would have to bet to win $100. Positive numbers are used for bets at greater than even money and show how much you will win if you bet $100. American odds have been superseded by decimal odds.
Ante Post See Future Bets
A single or a series of bets placed in advance predicting the outcome of a future event. In return for the chance of better odds, bettors take the risk of losing their bets if their selection pulls out or if the event is cancelled.
Bb
Back Door Cover
When a team comes back to cover the spread when it seemed unlikely. Te term is also used when a team usually out of the game scores meaningless points to cover the spread.
Backed Team
A team on which lots of bets have been placed.
Bad Beat
A tough (And almost unbearable) loss. A situation when a player looses a bet and that becomes hard to swallow. Example- When your horse loses by a nose after leading all the way.
Bank Roll
The available funds you have to bet with.
Banker
A bet considered to be a sure thing (Also known as a lock).
Battle of the Brothers College Football
American college football rivalry between the Utah Utes football team of the University of Utah and Utah State Aggies football team of Utah State University.
Battle for the Bell College Football
American college football rivalry game played by the Marshall Thundering Herd football team of Marshall University and the Ohio Bobcats football team of Ohio University.
Battle for the Palladium College Football
Annual college football rivalry matchup between the Middle Tennessee State Blue Raiders and Troy Trojans.
Battle on the Bayou College Football
Name of the rivalry between the Louisiana-Lafayette Ragin’ Cajuns and the Louisiana-Monroe Warhawks.
Battle of the Brazos College Football
Name given to the official collegiate sports rivalry between the Baylor Bears and Texas A&M Aggies. The rivalry is named for the Brazos River.
Bayou Bucket Classic College Football
Annual college football game between rivals, the Houston Cougars and the Rice Owls, as a part of the Houston-Rice rivalry.
Beard
A messenger bettor, i.e., a player who plays on behalf of someone else.
Bedlam Series College Football
Officially known for sponsorship purposes as The Teemco Bedlam Series, it refers to the athletics rivalry between the University of Oklahoma Sooners and the Oklahoma State University Cowboys of the Big 12 Conference.
Beef
A dispute over the outcome of a bet. A problematic situation involving a bet.
Belmont Stakes Horse Racing
Grade I stakes Thoroughbred horse race held every June at Belmont Park in Elmont, New York. The race, nicknamed The Test of the Champion, is the third and final leg of the Triple Crown and is held five weeks after the Kentucky Derby and three weeks after the Preakness Stakes, on a Saturday between June 5 and June 11.
Best of Three
A best-of-three is a head-to-head competition between two teams in which one team must win two games to win the series.
Best of Five
A best-of-three is a head-to-head competition between two teams in which one team must win three games to win the series.
Best of Seven
A best-of-three is a head-to-head competition between two teams in which one team must win five games to win the series.
Betslip
Where you put your selections and enter your stake before confirming your bet.
Bet back
Hedging to reduce risk. Example- When a bookie or betting site takes too many bets on 1 team he will have to pay out too much money if that team wins, so he will place a bet on that team himself with another betting agency.
Bet the field
To back all possible contenders except the favorite. For example “Tiger Woods or the field” means you can bet on the favorite (Tiger Woods) to win the tournament or you can bet on the field made up of every other player.
Betting exchange
Web based bookies which broker bets between their customers acting as an intermediary between people who want to bet that something will happen (backers) and people who want to bet that something won’t happen (layers).
Betting WO
Stands for betting without the favorite. Usually the market refers to the favorite but may not if the SP favorite is different to the favorite at the time that the market was established. The final position of the excluded horse is disregarded for settlement purposes.
Big Game College Football
An American college football rivalry game played by the California Golden Bears football team of the University of California, Berkeley and Stanford Cardinal football team of Stanford University.
Birdie Golf
Birdie means scoring one under par (-1).
Block Basketball
In basketball, a block or blocked shot occurs when a defensive player legally deflects a field goal attempt from an offensive player.
Body checking Ice Hockey
Using the hip or body to knock an opponent, sometimes against the boards or to the ice.
Bogey Golf
Bogey means one shot more than par (+1).
Bookmaker
A person who is licensed to create betting lines and take wagers.
Bowl Game Bowl Season
In College Football, a bowl game is one of a number of post-season college football games that are primarily played by teams belonging to the NCAA’s Division I Football Bowl Subdivision (FBS).
Boxed In
A horse that cannot overtake another horse because it is blocked by other horses.
BR
Diminutive for bankroll
Bow-wow
An underdog.
Bowl Eligibility College Football
Bowl eligibility in college football at the NCAA Division I FBS level is the standard through which teams become available for selection to participate in postseason bowl games. When a team achieves this state, it is described as “bowl-eligible”.
Breeder’s Cup Horse Racing
Breeders’ Cup World Championships is an annual series of Grade I Thoroughbred horse races, operated by Breeders’ Cup Limited, a company formed in 1982.
Buying Points
Paying an additional fee in order to increase your chances of covering the spread. Bettors usually buy points in football around key numbers such as 3 and 7.
Buy Back
The money that comes in on the underdog after a favorite is bet heavily enough to move the line.
Buy the Rack (US)
Purchase every possible daily-double or other combination ticket.
Buzzer Beater
A goal (Ice Hockey) or point (Basketball) that is scored just before a period expires.
Cc
Canadian Line
A combination point spread and moneyline in hockey.
Civil War
American college football rivalry game played annually in Oregon, between the Ducks of the University of Oregon in Eugene and the Beavers of Oregon State University in Corvallis.
Chalk
The favored team.
Chalk Eater
A player who only bets on favorites.
Check hook Boxing & MMA
A check hook is employed to prevent aggressive boxers from lunging in. There are two parts to the check hook. The first part consists of a regular hook. The second, trickier part involves the footwork.
Circle, Circled Game
A game or event where the wagering limit (the action) is severely limited, i.e., where the sports book lowers its normal wagering limits due to uncertain weather, significant injuries, or unconfirmed rumors regarding a contestant or team.
Clean, Old-Fashioned Hate College Football
Nickname given to an American college football rivalry between the Georgia Bulldogs football team of the University of Georgia and Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets football team of the Georgia Institute of Technology.
Clone Joint
A betting service or sportsbook that moves its’ lines to conform with other sports books.
Closing Line
The final list of point spreads offered before game time.
Closer (Closing Pitcher)
In baseball, a closing pitcher, more frequently referred to as a closer (abbreviated CL), is a relief pitcher who specializes in getting the final outs in a close game.
Closing price
The odds on a selection at the time the market is closed due to the event starting. This is considered the most efficient and accurate representation of the selection’s probability because it is set at the time when the most information about the event and previous bets taken is known. Opposite of “opening price”.
Coin Toss
Practice of throwing a coin in the air to choose between two alternatives, sometimes to resolve a dispute between two parties or simply to decide which team moves the ball first.
Combination Bet
A term for any wager containing more than one selection. Selecting any number of teams/horses to finish first and second in either order.
Come in
When the odds on a betting selection get lower over time. Similar to “backed in”, “firm” and “shorten”. Opposite of “drift”, “go out” and “lengthen”.
Condor Golf
Condor means scoring four under par (-4).
Consensus
Consensus refers to the betting percentage of the general betting public on each side of a game. Some people use consensus picks as a tool. There thinking is the public is always wrong. The public is wrong more times than their right.
Conversion (Football, Also known as Extra Point)
In professional and college football, the conversion try (or convert in Canadian football) occurs immediately after a touchdown during which the scoring team is allowed to attempt to score one extra point by kicking the ball through the uprights in the manner of a field goal, or two points by bringing the ball into the end zone in the manner of a touchdown; depending on league rules, one point may also be scored by manner of a safety.
Correct Score
Betting on the final score of the game.
For example: Patriots 18 Vikings 35.
Cover
To bet the point spread (spread) by the required number of points. If a wager is made in this way, the player is said to have covered the spread and stands to win an event by more points than he / she lay, or lose by fewer points than he/she had taken.
Contrarian Betting
Also known as betting against the public, contrarian betting finds value by betting on games with lopsided betting percentages.
Correlated Parlay
Correlation is the degree to which the results of two bets are related. An example of two bets that are correlated is the Giants to lead at the half and the Giants to win the game. A correlated parlay is essentially a bet that is tied into another positively, in that if one bets wins, it increases the odds of the other bet winning. A more blatant example would be parlaying the first half over to the second half over to the game over. If you win the first half over wager and the second half over bet, you’re obviously going to win the wager for the game.
Cover the Spread
To win a wager placed against the spread. In sports such as football and basketball, a bettor wins their bet if they cover the point-spread. For example, if you bet a 7-point favorite and they win by 9, you have covered the spread.
Crab Bowl Classic College Football
Also known as the Crab Bowl or the Maryland-Navy rivalry, is an American college football rivalry between the Maryland Terrapins football team of the University of Maryland and the Navy Midshipmen football team of the United States Naval Academy.
Credit Betting
Betting using credit with a betting agent or service.
Cross Boxing & MMA
A powerful, straight punch thrown with the rear hand. From the guard position, the rear hand is thrown from the chin, crossing the body and traveling towards the target in a straight line.
Dd
Daily Double Horse Racing
A betting type similar to a parlay bet. It involves two consecutive races, usually the first two races on a card and the last two races on a card. You must pick the winner of the first race and the winner of the next race.
Dead Heat
A dead heat refers to an outcome where two competitors are tied for the same position. In this instance your bet is settled under the dead heat rules for that event.
Delay of Game
An action in a sports game in which a player or team deliberately stalls the game, usually with the intention of using the delay to its advantage. In some sports, the delay of game is considered an infraction if it is longer than that permitted according to the game’s rules, in which case a penalty can be issued. Some sports that have a delay of game penalty are American football, Canadian football, ice hockey and association football.
Designated Hitter Baseball
Name given to a hitter who does not play a position, but instead fills in the batting order for the pitcher. The DH may only be used for the pitcher (and not any other position player), as stated in Rule 6.10. Use of the DH is optional, but must be determined prior to the start of the game. If a team does not begin a game with a DH, the pitcher (or a pinch-hitter) must bat for the entire game.
Dime
The sum of $1000.
Dime Bet
A $1000.00 wager.
Dime Line
Betting term used to indicate the ten cent money line. A money line in which the vig /commission amounts to ten percent. Also, it refers to the money line difference of ten cents that the player would lay with the favorite, or take back with the underdog (dog).
Dog
Short for underdog, this is the team which bookmakers assume will lose the game.
Dog Player
A player who plays the dog, puppy, Alpo or underdog as a rule.
Dollar
The sum of $100
Dollar Bet
A $100 wager.
Double
A single bet with two selections (equivalent to a 2 team parlay). The winnings from the first selection are placed on the second selection. Both selections must win to get a return.
Double Action
An “if bet” that is processed when the precedent bet wins, ties or cancels.
Double Bet
A wager that is twice the amount of the players usual wager.
Double Play Baseball
In baseball, a double play (denoted on statistics sheets by DP) for a team or a fielder is the act of making two outs during the same continuous playing action. In baseball slang, making a double play is referred to as “turning two” or a “twin killing”.
Draw
Also known as a push. If a game falls exactly on the spread, there is no winner and bettors will receive their money back.
Drifting
A term used to describe odds that are lengthening (getting higher).
Due For
A term referring to a contestant or team that is considered to be overdue for a win or loss in their next contest or sports event. The due for wager is a favorite strategy of many players.
Ee
Each Way
A two part bet, one part on the selection to win, the second part on the selection to place. The place part will be settled at the each way terms of the event, e.g. 1/4 of the odds.
Eagle Golf
Eagle means scoring two under par (-2).
Early line
The first line posted for a game.
Earn
Practical hold percentage, i.e., the total amount won by a bookmaker divided by the total amount booked.
East Coast Line
A term used mainly in ice hockey, which has a split-goal line, e.g., Detroit Red Wings favored over Vancouver Canucks (1-1.5) as opposed to a spread plus money line (-0.5 -180).
Edge
A bettors’ advantage against the house. This will typically refer to an instance where you have a positive expected value.
End Zone Football
The end zone refers to the scoring area on the field. It is the area between the end line and goal line bounded by the sidelines. There are two end zones, each being on an opposite side of the field. It is bordered on all sides by a white line indicating its beginning and end points, with orange, square pylons placed at each of the four corners as a visual aid. Canadian rule books use the terms goal area and dead line instead of end zone and end line respectively, but the latter terms are the more common in colloquial Canadian English.
Even Money
A bet on a matchup where both sides don’t show any vig (i.e., EV, +100).
Exacta or Perfecta
Horse betting terms referring to the method of betting on a horse race in which the first and second place horses are picked to cross the finish line in a specified order.
Exclusion Rule Multi Bets
A rule that states the bets you can’t combine on the bet slip into Multi Bets. This may be because the bets are related.
Exotic Wager
Betting action other than a straight wager, e.g., teasers, futures, round robins etc. Example- Prop bets.
Exposure
Amount of money the player or book stands to lose on any action.
Extension
the amount of money the book, theoretically, risks losing on an event.
Ff
Face-Off Ice Hockey
A face-off is the method used to begin play in ice hockey and some other sports. The two teams line up in opposition to each other, and the opposing skaters attempt to gain control of the puck after it is dropped between their sticks by an official. Face-offs are generally handled by centres, although some wingers handle face-offs and very rarely, some defensemen as well. One of the referees drops the puck at centre ice to start each period and following the scoring of a goal. The linesmen are responsible for all other face-offs.
Fair Ball Baseball
In baseball, a fair ball is a batted ball that entitles the batter to attempt to reach first base.
Fair Catch Football
A fair catch is a feature of American football and several other codes of football, in which a player attempting to catch a ball kicked by the opposing team either on a kickoff or punt is entitled to catch the ball without interference from any member of the kicking team.
Favorite
The team bookmakers expect will win their game. Team or individual that is expected to win a particular event.
Field
Often time in proposition (prop) bets, bettors are allowed to bet the field. This refers to an accumulation of all the teams or players that are not listed specifically.
Field Goal Football
A field goal is a means of scoring in American football and Canadian football equivalent to 3 points. To score a field goal the team in possession of the ball must place kick, or drop kick, the ball through the goal, i.e., between the uprights and over the crossbar, during a play from scrimmage.
Figure
Amount owed by or to a bookmaker.
Filly
A female horse about to the age of 4.
Firing
Wagering huge sums of money.
First Half Bet
A bet on the first half of a game.
Five Second Rule Basketball, Often referred to as the “Mark Jackson Rule”
In Professional basketball, the five-second rule, or five-second violation, is a rule that helps promote continuous play. There are multiple situations where a five-second violation may occur.
Fixed Odds Betting
Fixed odds betting is a process of placing bets on predetermined odds, meaning that you know exactly how much you stand to earn at the time of placing a bet. Regardless of how much the odds fluctuate after you have placed your bet, your potential returns will not change.
Flat Racing Horse Racing
A form of horse racing which is run over a level track at a predetermined distance.
Fly Out Baseball
In baseball, a batted ball is any ball that, after a pitch, is contacted by the batter’s bat. One or more of several terms are used to describe a batted ball, depending on how it comes off the bat and where in the field it lands.
Force Play Baseball
In baseball, a force is a situation when a baserunner is compelled (or forced) to vacate his time-of-pitch base-and thus try to advance to the next base-because the batter became a runner. A runner at first base is always forced to attempt to advance to second base when the batter becomes a runner. Runners at second or third base are forced only when all bases preceding their time-of-pitch base are occupied by other baserunners and the batter becomes a runner.
Formation Football
A formation in American football refers to the position players line up in before the start of a down. There are both offensive and defensive formations and there are many formations in both categories.
Formula One Auto Racing, also Formula 1 or F1
Highest class of single-seat auto racing that is sanctioned by the Fédération Internationale de l’Automobile (FIA).
Fourth Out
In baseball, the fourth out is a legal out made by the defense after three outs in a half-inning already have been recorded. According to the rules, the third out does not cause the ball to become dead; if the fielders make a subsequent out that prevents a run from scoring, this out will supersede the apparent third out, thus becoming the recorded third out.
Fractional odds
Popular way of expressing odds in the European and Australian betting markets. The stake is not included in the return. For example, 2/1 is equal to 3 decimal, as it only expresses the winning part of the bet.
Free Throw
In basketball, free throws or foul shots are unopposed attempts to score points from a restricted area on the court (the free throw line; informally known as the foul line or the charity stripe), and are generally awarded after a foul on the shooter by the opposing team. Each successful free throw is worth one point.
Freemont Cannon College Football
An American college football rivalry game played annually by the Nevada Wolf Pack football team of the University of Nevada, Reno (Nevada) and the UNLV Rebels football team of the University of Nevada, Las Vegas (UNLV).
Fumble Football
In American and Canadian football, a fumble occurs when a player who has possession and control of the ball loses it before being downed (tackled) or scoring. By rule, it is any act other than passing, kicking, punting, or successful handing that results in loss of player possession.
Future Bet
This refers to bets that come down in advance of an event. For example, one can bet a Super Bowl future prior to the beginning of the season by selecting who they believe will win the championship. A bettor would receive payment at the end of the season if their selection did claim the title.
Gg
Getting Down
Making a bet.
Goal
Goal refers to a method of scoring in many sports, including handball, hockey, soccer, Lacrosse). It can also refer to the physical structure or area of the playing surface where scoring occurs. In several sports, a goal is the sole method of scoring, and thus the final score is expressed in the total number of goals scored by each team. In other sports, a goal may be one of several scoring methods, and thus may be worth a different set number of points than the others.
Goaltending Basketball
A violation of interfering with the ball while it’s on its way to the basket.
Golden Boot College Football
The Golden Boot is a college football rivalry between the Arkansas Razorbacks football team of the University of Arkansas and LSU Tigers football team of Louisiana State University.
Golden Goal
Golden goal or golden point is a rule used in association football, bandy, lacrosse, field hockey, ice hockey and korfball to decide the winner of a match (typically a knock-out match) in which scores are equal at the end of normal time. It is a type of sudden death. Under this rule, the game will end when a goal or point is scored; the team that scores that goal or point during extra time will be the winner.
Grand Salami Ice Hockey
This typically refers to the over/under total for how many goals/runs will be scored across all games in a specific league. The overall total number of goals scored in all hockey games on a given day; bets can be placed to go under or over.
Grand Slam Tennis
The four major tennis tournaments Wimbledon, Australian Open, French Open, U.S. Open. Also the four major golf tournaments The Masters, U.S. Open, British Open, PGA Championship (Professional Golf Association). Also in baseball, a homerun with the bases loaded, scoring four runs.
Hh
Halftime Bet
Place a bet at halftime of a game against a new point spread posted by the bookmakers.
Handle
Total amount of bets taken.
Handicap
Analyze an event for gambling purposes.
Harness Racing Horse Racing
A form of horse racing in which the horses race at a specific gait (a trot or a pace). They usually pull a two-wheeled cart called a sulky, although in Europe racing under saddle (trot monté in French) is also conducted.
Hat-Trick Ice Hockey
When one player scores three goals in one game.
Hedging
Placing bets on the opposite side after you have already placed a wager on one side. This can be used to either cut your losses, or guarantee a profit.
High stick Ice Hockey
The act of hitting a player in the head or shoulders with a stick. A penalty (a single minor if no blood is drawn; a double minor if blood is drawn).
Hit by pitch Baseball, also known as HBP
A situation in which a batter or his clothing or equipment (other than his bat) is hit by a pitch from the pitcher; the batter is called a hit batsman (HB). A hit batsman is awarded first base, provided that (in the plate umpire’s judgment) he made an honest effort to avoid the pitch, although failure to do so is rarely called by an umpire. Being hit by a pitch is often caused by a batter standing too close to, or “crowding”, home plate.
Hole in One Golf
A hole in one or hole-in-one (also known as an ace, mostly in American English) is when a ball hit from a tee shot finishes in the cup. This awards the player a score of one for the hole.
Holy War College Football
American rivalry between the Boston College Eagles and University of Notre Dame Fighting Irish, a technical nonconference rivalry in college football, but in most sports an Atlantic Coast Conference rivalry. Holy War is also the name given to the rivalry game played annually by the University of Utah Utes and Brigham Young University Cougars.
Home advantage
It refers to the possible advantage that the home team is said to have over the visiting team as a result of playing in familiar facilities and in front of supportive fans.
Hook
In spread based sports, the hook is an extra half-point that bettors can get. Often times in football, bettors will buy the hook around key numbers like 3 to get a line of 3.5.
Hook Boxing & MMA
A semi-circular punch thrown with the lead hand to the side of the opponent’s head. From the guard position, the elbow is drawn back with a horizontal fist (knuckles pointing forward) and the elbow bent.
Hoops Basketball
NBA and NCAA basketball.
Hot game
A game which is drawing a lot of action on one side by knowledgeable handicappers.
Hot Tip
Information the bookmaker is not yet privy to.
Ii
IBF
International Boxing Federation.
Icing Ice Hockey
A type of infraction that occurs when a player shoots the puck across both the center red line and the opposing team’s goal line, and the puck remains untouched. However, it is not icing if the puck is shot from behind the halfway line into the goal, or when the shot must be played by the opposing team’s goaltender to keep it out of the net. In the former case with a shot puck crossing the goal line completely, the goal is counted.
Icing the Kicker Football
In American & Canadian football, the act of icing the kicker or freezing the kicker is a tactic employed by defending teams to disrupt the process of kicking a field goal just prior to the snap. Typically, either a player or a coach on the defending team will call time out just as the kicker is about to attempt a game-tying or game-winning field goal. This is intended to either stop the kick immediately as the kicker is mentally prepared, or allow for the kicker to kick immediately after the timeout so that the initial kick does not count, in an attempt to mentally disrupt the kicker for the actual kick.
If Bet
A bet involving from two to twelve straight play selections joined by a condition being either single action (the second and subsequent bets proceed only if the preceding one wins) or double action (the second and subsequent bets proceed only if the preceding one wins, draws or is cancelled). Any loss stops the chain of straight play selections.
InPlay Betting Also Known as In Running or Live Betting
In-play betting refers to live match betting in which it is possible to bet on the outcome or elements of a match while it is still “in play”.
Intra-divisional NFL
Games between opponents in the same NFL division.
Inter-divisional NFL
Games between opponents in different divisions but within the same conference.
Inter-conference NFL
Games between opponents in different conferences. Teams do not play a given inter-conference opponent more than once during the season unless they were to meet up in the Super Bowl.
Interleague play Baseball
It refers to regular-season baseball games played between an American League (AL) team and a National League (NL) team.
In the Money
Describes the horses in a race that finish 1st, 2nd and 3rd (and sometimes 4th) or the horses on which money will be paid to bettors, depending on the place terms.
IndiCarAuto Racing
The IndyCar Series (known as the Verizon IndyCar Series for sponsorship reasons) is the premier level of American open wheel racing.
Instant Replay Football
A method of reviewing a play using cameras at various angles to determine the accuracy of the initial call of the officials. An instant replay can take place in the event of a close or otherwise controversial call, either at the request of a team’s head coach (with limitations) or the officials themselves.
Iron Bowl College Football
The Iron Bowl is an American college football rivalry game played annually by the football teams of the two largest public universities in the U.S. state of Alabama, the Auburn University Tigers and University of Alabama Crimson Tide.
Jj
Jab Boxing & MMA
A quick, straight punch thrown with the lead hand from the guard position.
Jolly
Another term for the favorite in a race.
Juice
This is the commission that sportsbooks or bookies charge for placing a wager. Typically, books offer a dimeline (-110) which means that you need to win 52.38% of your bets to break even. Some books will offer reduced juice with lines between -104 and -107.
Kk
Kentucky Derby Horse Racing
Horse race held annually in Louisville, Kentucky, United States, on the first Saturday in May, capping the two-week-long Kentucky Derby Festival. It also known as the first leg of the annual Triple Crown.
Key Numbers
This represents the most common margins of defeat, and is used frequently in football where many games end with one team winning by a multiple of 3 or 7.
Kickoff Football
A kickoff is a type of play that occurs at the beginning of each half, overtime period (not in college), and following each touchdown, successful field goal, or safety.
Ll
Lame
When a horse is having difficulty walking or is limping.
Laying
Wagering on a favorite and thereby laying (giving) points or odds to the opposing side.
Limit
The most money a sportsbook will take on a single event. Maximum bet accepted by the house before the price will be changed.
Lines
Another term for the odds.
Line of Scrimmage Football
In American and Canadian football, a line of scrimmage is an imaginary transverse line (across the width of the football field) beyond which a team cannot cross until the next play has begun. Its location is based on the spot where the ball is placed after the end of the most recent play and following the assessment of any penalty yards.
Listed Pitchers
Stating that you will place bet only if one or both of the pitchers scheduled to start a baseball game actually start. If they don’t, the bet is cancelled.
Lock
An easy winner. A bet you have supreme confidence in.
Longshot
Heavy underdog.
Mm
Maiden
A horse or rider that has not previously won a race.
Major penalty Ice Hockey
A five-minute penalty.
Man advantage Ice Hockey
When one team is penalized, and one of its players sent to the penalty box, the second team maintains a man advantage for the duration of the penalty (Major penalty) or until a goal is scored (Minor penalty). If two penalties are called on one team there will be a two man advantage. If more than two penalties are called on one team the man advantage is limited to two men.
Margin
The amount a competitor in an event finishes in front of another competitor.
Match penalty Ice Hockey
A five-minute penalty that includes automatic expulsion from the game and, depending on the league, possibly subsequent games. Often called for attempts to deliberately injure an opponent, official or fan.
Middle
This occurs when you bet on both sides of a game and have an opportunity to win both bets. For example if you bet on Team A +10.5 and Team B -7.5, you would win both bets if Team B wins by 8-10 points.
Minor Penalty Ice Hockey
A two-minute penalty.
Misconduct Ice Hockey
A penalty where the offending player is ruled off the ice for 10 minutes, but may be substituted for on the ice. See also game misconduct, gross misconduct.
MLB
Major Baseball League (divided into two leagues: the National and the American).
Mobile Gambling
A form of gambling that allows users to play games of chance or skill for money by using a remote device such as a tablet computer, smartphone or a mobile phone with a wireless internet connection.
Money Line
In sports like baseball, soccer and hockey, there are so few goals scored that it would not make sense to offer a spread. Instead, these sports offer a moneyline in which you bet on whether or not a specific team is going to win straight up.
Money Line Bet
A wager where no point spread is involved.
Mush
A bettor who is a sure loser.
MVP
An acronym for the most valuable player. Leagues present MVP awards to the best regular-season and the most outstanding player either in championship games or series.
Nn
NASCAR Auto Racing
Founded by Bill France, Sr. in 1948; The National Association for Stock Car Auto Racing (NASCAR) is motorsport’s preeminent stock-car racing organization. The three largest racing-series sanctioned by this company are the Sprint Cup Series, the Xfinity Series, and the Camping World Truck Series. The Association also oversees NASCAR Local Racing, the Whelen Modified Tour, the Whelen All-American Series, and the NASCAR iRacing.com Series. NASCAR sanctions over 1,500 races at over 100 tracks in 39 of the 50 US states as well as in Canada.
Nickel
A bet of $500.
No Action
A bet in which no money is lost not won. A voided bet where the money staked is returned; a game that is off the board.
NBA
National Basketball Association.
NCAA
National Collegiate Athletic Association
NFC
National Football Conference
NFL
National Football League (divided into American Football Conference and National Football Conference).
NHL
National Hockey League (teams divided into Eastern Conference and Western Conference).
Novice
A horse in the early stages of its career after it has won its first race.
Oo
Off the Board Horse Racing
A game or event that is sportsbooks will not allow you to bet on. Often times a game is taken off the board if there is uncertainty surrounding a player’s injury status or the weather. (OTB)
Off-Track
Betting conducted away from the track.
Opening Line
The initial point spread or moneyline offered by the sportsbook to bettors.
Outsider
A horse with little chance of winning.
Overtime
Extension to a tied contest at the end of regulation play that lasts until a winner is determined or maximum overtime periods expire. When a game is tied at the end of regulation and they play extra time to determine a winner. (OT)
Over/Under
Also known as the total, this refers to the total amounts of points/goals/runs that will be scored in the game. If both teams combine to score more than the total, the over wins. If they combine to score less, the under wins.
Pp
Par Golf
Par means scoring even (E).
Parlay
A type of bet that allows players to place multiple bets (at least two) and ties them together, you need multiple events to all win for higher payouts. This is a risky proposition, but also a highly lucrative betting type.
Past Post
To make a bet after an event has started.
Pass Interference Football
In American and Canadian gridiron football, pass interference (PI) is a foul that occurs when a player interferes with an eligible receiver’s ability to make a fair attempt to catch a forward pass. Pass interference may include tripping, pushing, pulling, or cutting in front of the receiver, covering the receiver’s face, or pulling on the receiver’s hands or arms.
Penalty Flag Football
The penalty flag (or “flag”) is a yellow cloth used in several field sports including American football and lacrosse by game officials to identify and sometimes mark the location of penalties or infractions that occur during regular play. It is usually wrapped around a weight, such as sand or beans so it can be thrown accurately over greater distances.
PGA
Acronym for Professional Golfers Association.
Photo Finish
A close race where the use of a photograph is required to determine the result.
Pick and Roll Basketball
Also called screen and roll or shortened to screen roll, the pick and roll is an offensive play in which a player sets a screen (pick) for a teammate handling the ball and then slips behind the defender (rolls) to accept a pass.
Pick ‘Em
An instance in which neither team is favored. A game with no favorite or underdog. The point spread is zero, and the winner of the game is also the spread winner.
Pick 3 Horse Racing
Type of horse betting wager that includes picking the first place finishers of three consecutive races. If one leg of the pick 3 is a loss the entire wager will be deemed a loss.
Pick 4 Horse Racing
The first place finishers of four consecutive races must be picked in order to win this wager. The wager must be placed before post time of the first race. If one leg of the pick 4 is a loss the entire wager will be deemed a loss.
Pinch Hitter Baseball
Term referring to a substitute batter. Batters can be substituted at any time while the ball is dead (not in active play); the manager may use any player who has not yet entered the game as a substitute. Unlike basketball, American football, or ice hockey, baseball does not have a “free substitution rule” and thus the replaced player in baseball is never allowed back into that game. The pinch hitter assumes the spot in the batting order of the player they replace.
Pitch Count Baseball
In baseball statistics, pitch count is the number of pitches thrown by a pitcher in a game.
Plate Appearance Baseball
In baseball statistics, a player is credited with a plate appearance (denoted by PA) each time he completes a turn batting.
Playoffs
The playoffs, postseason and/or finals of a sports league are a competition played after the regular season by the top competitors to determine the league champion or a similar accolade.
Point Spread
The start that the favorite gives the underdog. Also known as the “line” or “handicap”.
Pole Position Auto Racing
The term “pole-position,” as used in motorsport, is the number 1 qualifying position of the vehicle and its driver, atop the starting grid. The number 1 qualifier is referred to as the pole-sitter.
Preakness Stakes Horse Racing
American flat thoroughbred horse race held on the third Saturday in May each year at Pimlico Race Course in Baltimore, Maryland. It is the second leg of the Triple Crown, held two weeks after the Kentucky Derby and three weeks before the Belmont Stakes.
Price
Betting odds.
Prop Bet Proposition Bet
A bet on something other than the outcome of a game. Common prop bets include an over/under on points scored, passing yards, or strikeouts by an individual. Type of bet on which specific sub-outcomes occur during a game in which multiple sub-outcomes normally have the same value, for example: Number of strikes, strike outs, hits, errors, etc.
Public Betting Percentage
Also referred to as public betting trends, we offer real betting percentages from seven contributing sportsbooks. These numbers represent real bets placed at real sportsbooks. These percentages are integral for our betting against the public philosophy.
Pucks
A slang word used to indicate the game of hockey.
Puck line
In hockey, if you bet against the spread, you are betting on the Puck Line.
Punt Football
A punt is a kick performed by dropping the ball from the hands and then kicking the ball before it hits the ground.
Push
When a contest ends without a winner. In a moneyline sport this would happen if the game ended in a tie. In a spread sport, this would happen if the favorite wins by the exact spread.
Quarter Betting
Type of betting that allows players to bet on whatever happens ONLY in the 1st, 2nd, 3rd or 4th quarter of a game.
Quinella Horse Racing
A bet in which the bettor predicts the horses that will finish 1st and 2nd, regardless of order (sometimes called a “quiniela”).
Rr
Rained Out Rainout, washout, rain delay, and rain stopped play
A game cancelled because of weather.
Real Time Odds
Live lines (which Sports Insights offers for over 40 available sportsbooks).
Reduced VIG Also known as reduced juice
A wager in which your laying less than the standard 10 cent line.
Reverse-Line Movement
Betting line movement that contradicts the public betting percentages. For example- if Team A is receiving 80% of the public bets as a 7 point favorite yet the line drops to -6.5, this is an example of reverse line movement. This would indicate that sharp money is taking Team B.
Return on Investment ROI
A performance measure used to evaluate the efficiency of an investment.
Ring CornerBoxing
In boxing, each fighter is given a corner of the ring where he rests in between rounds for 1 minute and where his trainers stand.
Rio Grande Rivalry College Football
Name given to the intercollegiate rivalry between The University of New Mexico and New Mexico State University.
Risk
Amount of money laid on a game or event.
Rivalry in Dixie College Football
American college football rivalry game between the Louisiana Tech Bulldogs and Southern Miss Golden Eagles.
River City Rivalry College Football
American college football played between former Big East rivals University of Pittsburgh and University of Cincinnati.
Revivalry College Football
American college football rivalry game between the Baylor Bears and TCU Horned Frogs.
Rocky Mountain Showdown College Football
American college football rivalry between the Colorado Buffaloes football team of the University of Colorado and Colorado State Rams football team of Colorado State University.
Rumble in the Rockies College Football
American college football rivalry between the Colorado Buffaloes football team of the University of Colorado and Utah Utes football team of the University of Utah.
Round Robin
A series of three or more teams into two-team wagers.
Run Down Rundown
All the lines for a specific date, sport, time, etc. Line update.
Run Line
In Baseball if you bet ATS, you are betting on the Run Line.
Runner
An individual who places a bet on behalf of another person.
Rushing Football
Action taken by the offense that means to advance the ball by running with it, as opposed to passing. The other is an action taken by the defense that means to charge towards the quarterback, kicker or punter across the line of scrimmage. When players on the defense are collectively rushing the passer (usually a quarterback), it is called the pass rush.
Ryder Cup Golf
A golf tournament in which every two years the top American and European golfers meet at venues alternating between the two continents.
Ss
Sacrifice bunt Baseball, also called a sacrifice hit
A sacrifice bunt is a batter’s act of deliberately bunting the ball, before there are two outs, in a manner that allows a runner on base to advance to another base. The batter is almost always sacrificed (and to a certain degree that is the intent of the batter) but sometimes reaches base due to an error or fielder’s choice. Sometimes the batter may safely reach base by simply outrunning the throw to first; this is not scored as a sacrifice bunt but rather a single.
Safety Football score
In professional and College football, the safety (American football) or safety touch (Canadian football) is a scoring play which results in two points being awarded to the scoring team. Safeties can be scored in a number of ways, such as when a ballcarrier is tackled in his own end zone or when a foul is committed by the offense in their own end zone.
Safety Car Auto Racing
Safety Car safety car or pace car is a car which limits the speed of competing cars on a racetrack in the case of a caution period such as an obstruction on the track or bad weather. The aim of the safety car is to enable the clearance of any obstruction under safer conditions, especially for marshals and/or await more favourable track conditions weather-wise.
Score
To win a race or a bet.
Score Sheet
The sheet, box or recording system used to display the score and game or event’s progress.
Scratch
The withdrawal of a competitor.
Second Half Bet
A bet on the second half of a game.
Sharp
A professional, savvy sports bettor.
Shula Bowl College Football
An annual college football rivalry game between the Florida Atlantic University Owls and the Florida International University Panthers.
Sharp Line
A game in which the maximum bet is raised. This is usually done only for games involving the most popular teams and that are televised. Monday Night Football games and Final Four basketball games would be good examples.
Shootout Ice Hockey
A series of penalty shots by both teams to determine the winning team after a regulation game and overtime period ends in a tie. In the NHL this occurs only during the regular season.
Short Handed Ice Hockey
A team is said to be shorthanded when they have fewer players on the ice than the opposing team as a result of a penalty or penalties.
Short Odds
An alternative term for low odds.
Shortening Odds
Odds that are getting lower.
Shot Clock
A shot clock is used in some sports to quicken the pace of the game. It is normally associated with basketball, but is also used in snooker, pro lacrosse, water polo, korfball, and ten-pin bowling. It is analogous with the play clock used in American and Canadian football.
Show
Term used to describe a 3rd place finish.
Shut Out
In sports betting, when the losing team does not score.
Side
Picking a team to win or cover a point spread (non total wager).
Sides
The names of the two teams playing: the underdog and the favorite.
Single
A “straight” bet on one selection to win one race or event.
Single Elimination
A single-elimination tournament – also called an Olympic system tournament, a knockout (or, knock-out), single penetration, or sudden death tournament – is a type of elimination tournament where the loser of each bracket is immediately eliminated from winning the championship or first prize in the event.
Slashing Ice Hockey
The act of contacting an opponent’s body or stick with one’s own as a result of a swinging motion. A penalty
SNR
Stake not returned free bet/bonus.
Spread
Point Spread.
Spread Betting Also, Action Line or Money Line
The amount that must be wagered to win $100, or the amount won for a $100 wager. A bet is won or lost according to whether you correctly predict the result of an event (also known as ‘action line’ or ‘money line’). Returns or losses are calculated in proportion to how right or wrong the bettor is, and can lead to huge returns or losses.
Square
Player that is always on favorites and overs. This player is usually on the same side as the general public and is considered as a gambling fool by the bookmaker.
Stake
Refers to the amount, which is placed as a bet.
Stanley Cup Ice Hockey
Championship of the National Hockey League (NHL).
Starting Pitcher Baseball
In baseball or softball, a starting pitcher or starter is the first pitcher in the game for each team.
Steam
When a betting line starts to move quite rapidly; most “steam but are games that the mass of bettors somehow decide to key on.
Steam Move
A sudden drastic and uniform line movement across the entire sports betting marketplace.
Stolen Base Baseball
A stolen base occurs when a runner advances to a base to which he is not entitled and the official scorer rules that the advance should be credited to the action of the runner. The umpires determine whether the runner is safe or out at the next base, but the official scorer rules on the question of credit or blame for the advance under Rule 10.
Stoppage
An unplanned time-out in sport.
Straight Bet
Another term for a bet to win (i.e. “straight, place and show”).
Submission Boxing & MMA, also referred to as a ‘tap out” or “tapping out”
A submission is a combat sports term for yielding to the opponent, and hence resulting in an immediate defeat.
Sucker Bet
A slang term for a “bad” bet, one that significantly favors the bookmaker.
Superfecta Horse Racing
A pool-based bet involving four selections from the same race. They must finish first, second, third and fourth in the predicted order to generate a return. A selection becoming a non-runner voids the bet.
Sure Thing
Any bet that has very little chance of losing.
Sweep
Winning all games in a series. Major League teams usually play each other in a 3 or 4 game series of games. A sweep is winning all of the games in a series. In the playoffs, it refers to winning the series 4 games to 0.
Tt
Tag Out Baseball
A tag out, sometimes just called a tag, is a play in which a base runner is out because he is touched by the fielder’s hand or glove holding a live ball while the runner is advancing.
Taking
Wagering on the underdog; taking the odds.
Territorial Cup College Football
The Arizona-Arizona State football rivalry, sometimes known as the Duel in the Desert, is a college football rivalry between the University of Arizona Wildcats and the Arizona State University Sun Devils.
Teaser
A special bet in which you are able to adjust the point spread or total for a game. The more you change the spread, the lower the payout becomes.
Technical Knockout Boxing & MMA, Also known as TKO or T.K.O.
A Knockout is judging decision called by the referee or official ring physician when they decide that a fighter cannot safely continue the match.
Tee Golf
In golf, a tee is normally used for the first stroke of each hole.
Textile Bowl College Football
American college football rivalry game played annually by the Clemson Tigers football team of Clemson University and the NC State Wolfpack football team of North Carolina State University.
Thompson Cup College Football, also known as Army-Navy Game
College football rivalry game between the teams of the United States Military Academy (USMA) at West Point, New York and the United States Naval Academy (USNA) at Annapolis, Maryland.
Third Saturday in October College Football
Also known as the Alabama-Tennessee rivalry, is an American college football rivalry game played annually by the Alabama Crimson Tide football team of the University of Alabama and Tennessee Volunteers football team of the University of Tennessee.
Ticket
A wager.
Tie
A push, stand-off or a draw. A bet in which no money is lost nor won because the teams’ scores were equal to the number of points in the given line.
Tie Breaker
In games and sports, a tiebreaker or tiebreak is used to determine a winner from among players or teams that are tied at the end of a contest, or a set of contests.
Time Out
In sports, a time-out is a halt in the play. This allows the coaches of either team to communicate with the team, e.g., to determine strategy or inspire morale, as well as to stop the game clock.
Tips
Picks. The selections and predictions of competitors performance for an event from an expert or observer.
Touchback Football
In American football, a touchback is a ruling which is made and signaled by an official when the ball becomes dead on or behind a team’s own goal line (i.e., in an end zone) and the opposing team gave the ball the momentum, or impetus, to travel over or across the goal line. Such impetus may be imparted by a kick, pass, fumble, or in certain instances by batting the ball. A touchback is not a play, but a result of events that may occur during a play. A touchback is the opposite of a safety with regard to impetus since a safety is scored when the defending team is responsible for the ball becoming dead on or behind its own goal line.
Touchdown
A type of scoring in American and Canadian football equivalent to 6 points. Whether running, passing, returning a kickoff or punt, or recovering a turnover, a team scores a touchdown by advancing the ball into the opponent’s end zone. (TD)
Tout
An individual who sells their picks or their sports betting expertise to others.
Totals
Sports bet on whether the total score will be over/under a given mark.
Trifecta Horse Racing
A pool-based bet involving three selections from the same race. They must finish first, second and third in the predicted order to generate a return. A selection becoming a non-runner voids the bet.
Triple Crown Horse Racing
The Triple Crown of Thoroughbred Racing, often shortened to Triple Crown, comprises three races for three-year-old Thoroughbred horses. Winning all three of these Thoroughbred horse races is considered a Thoroughbred racehorse’s greatest accomplishment. The three races that comprise the Triple Crown are the Kentucky Derby, Preakness Stakes, and Belmont Stakes.
Two Minute Warning Football
In the NFL, the two-minute warning is given when two minutes of game time remain on the game clock in each half of a game, i.e. near the end of the second and fourth quarters. There is an additional two-minute warning in the rare event only two minutes remain in an overtime period. If the football is in play when the clock reaches 2:00, the two-minute warning is called immediately after the play concludes, when the ball is declared dead. The two-minute warning stops the game clock in all cases.
Two-point Conversion Football
In American and Canadian football, a two-point conversion is a play a team attempts instead of kicking a one-point conversion immediately after it scores a touchdown. In a two-point conversion attempt, the team that just scored must run a play from close to the opponent’s goal line (3-yard line in Canadian, 3-yard line in amateur American, 2-yard line in professional American) and advance the ball across the goal line in the same manner as if they were scoring a touchdown. If the team succeeds, it earns two additional points on top of the six points for the touchdown. If the team fails, no additional points are scored. In either case, the team proceeds to a kickoff.
Uu
Underdog Alpo, dog, puppy
A team, side or contestant in any given event considered to be the least likely to win.
Units
Unit per game refers to a standard monetary measurement – typically between 2-4% of your bankroll. For example if your bankroll was $1000, one unit would be between $20 and $40. Then if you noticed a system that had won 15 units over the season, you could easily calculate your earnings by taking the units earned and multiply them by your standard betting unit (in this case, $20 x 15 units = $300).
Underlay
When the odds on a proposition are in favor of the house.
Uppercut Boxing & MMA
A vertical, rising punch thrown with the rear hand. From the guard position, the torso shifts slightly to the right, the rear hand drops below the level of the opponent’s chest and the knees are bent slightly.
Vv
Value
Getting the best odds on a wager. The highest possible edge.
Value Bet
A wager where the theoretical likelihood of winning is greater than the odds suggest.
Victory Bell Battle for Nevada
Name of the trophy awarded to the winner of the American college football rivalry game played by the Cincinnati Bearcats football team of the University of Cincinnati and the Miami RedHawks football team of Miami University.
Vigorish or vig
The commission charged by the bookmaker.
Void Bet
Void bet can occur in a number of situations and when your bet is null and the stake is returned, which means that bettors won’t win any money but they won’t lose it either. Most betting sites clearly state that any bet resulting from their own mistake when quoting the odds shall also be declared void.
Ww
Wager
Any type of bet on a game or event.
War Room
In the NHL, an office in Toronto headquarters where games are viewed and reviewed.
WBA
World Boxing Association.
WBC
World Boxing Council.
Welsh/Welch
To fail to pay a gambling bet.
Whale
A very large bettor. A regular player that bets thousands per game or event.
Win
The term used to describe a 1st place finish. Horse/Dog racing wager in which your selection must win in order to cash on your selection.
Win Only
Betting on a competitor to win an event. Also known as ‘Straight Out’ or ‘Money Line’ betting. Betting markets where no each-way betting is available.
Winnings
the amount of money collected by a customer after deducting their original associated stake.
Winning Margin
A bet to predict the winning margin of one team over another.
Wise guy
A sharp, successful, established professional sports bettor. (In terms of Las Vegas sports betting, this has nothing to do with Tony Soprano, Henry Hill & Co.) A well-informed, knowledgeable, and successful sports handicapper or player.
Wood
The price of a heavy favorite. (If you bet the Red Sox as a minus 240 favorite, you “lay the wood” with the Red Sox.)
World Series Baseball
Annual championship series of North American-based Major League Baseball (MLB), played since 1903 between the American League (AL) champion team and the National League (NL) champion. The final seven games of the baseball playoffs between the two league champions to determine the world champion.
Xx
None for the moment.
Yy
Yearling
A horse of either sex from 1 January to 31 December of the year following its birth.
Zz
Zebra
Another word for referee, especially NFL referees.
