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A |
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ACROSS THE
BOARD |
The games put up on a Sports Book Board for
gaming purposes. This term is also used when
betting a horse for WIN, PLACE, and SHOW. |
|
ACTION |
A
wager of any kind, a bet (or aggregate of
bets). In baseball, placing the bet no
matter who pitches. |
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APPLE |
A
derisive term used by bookmakers to describe
those customers (gamblers) that they can
beat and/or take advantage of by sometimes
dealing them a soft number when they know
which side the bettor will be coming in on. |
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ATS |
Against the spread |
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AWAY
FAVORITE |
A
road team favored by the pointspread |
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B |
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B.R. |
Bankroll |
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BACK DOOR |
In football especially, when a team scores a
meaningless touchdown late in the game to
tighten the score. While it doesn't affect
the outcome, it kills the pointspread. |
|
BACK DOOR
COVER |
To cover a bet in the waning minutes or
seconds of game |
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BAD BEAT |
Tough betting loss |
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BANKROLL |
Amount of money one has to wager |
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BEARD |
One who places bets for another person who
does not want his identity known. Also known
as a runner. |
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BEEF |
A
dispute (usually over a wager). |
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BET IT
'TILL YOUR HANDS FALL OFF |
This means a wager is a sure thing, a lock. |
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BOAT
|
Many people on one side of a wager, with
little or nobody on the other side. |
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BONE
|
$100 |
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BONED |
To lose what appeared to be a sure winner
late in the game (a bad beat). |
|
BOOK |
An establishment that accepts wagers on the
outcome of horse-racing and sporting events. |
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BOOKIE |
Person who takes clients' bets. |
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BREAK-EVEN
POINT |
The point at which you need to win to break
even. In football and basketball, one
betting an equal amount of money on each
game must win 52.38 percent of the time to
breakeven. |
|
BREAK THE
BOOK |
When 2 or more people knowingly bet alike or
very similarly with a common bookie and they
all win big. |
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BUCK |
$100 (see Bone) |
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BUST-OUT
NUMBER |
Amount of money both bookmaker and bettor
agree to in advance that the bettor will be
permitted to lose in a set time frame. When
a bettor reaches that point, he must put up
cash for additional bets. |
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C |
|
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CANADIAN
LINE |
A
combination point line and moneyline in
hockey. |
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CAPTAIN |
Same as boat. |
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CHALK |
Favorite |
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CHALK
EATER |
Someone who usually only plays the favored
teams, rarely betting on the underdogs. |
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CHALK
PLAYER |
Another name for a Chalk Eater. |
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CHASE
|
After losing most (or all) early bets, a
player bets more than he normally would on
the later games to recoup his losses. |
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CHURN |
To use winnings to make a new play on a
game. |
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CIRCLE
GAME |
The effect of betting and rebetting money. |
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CIRCLED
GAME |
A
game in which the betting action is severely
limited; this usually occurs in games that
feature key injuries, inclement weather or
unsubstantiated rumors regarding a team; for
example, most bookies "circle" all Ivy
League games. |
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CLEAR THE
BOARD |
To win all the day's wagers. |
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COLLAR |
Losing every bet you make in one day. |
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COMPS |
Gifts of things such as free hotel rooms,
meals and beverages for big players. |
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COUNTING
YOUR MONEY WITH YOUR TONGUE |
Winning all of your bets on a given day. |
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COVER |
Win by more than the pointspread To win
against the pointspread, i.e. you "covered". |
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CRUSHED |
To lose all the games you bet on early in
the day, then double up and lose all the
games you bet on later that day. This often
happens after you "chase" (see above) your
losses. |
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D |
|
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DEGENERATE |
An addicted, compulsive gambler |
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DIME OR
DIME BET |
$1,000 wager. |
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DOG |
Underdog in a game. |
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DOG PLAYER |
A
gambler who usually bets the underdog. |
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DOLLAR BET
OR BUCK |
$100 wager. |
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DOUBLE BET |
A
wager for twice the size of one's usual
wager; also known as "double pop" or
"doubling up". |
|
DUE FOR
|
A
team that's "due for" whether it is a win or
a loss; many bettors like to play "due for"
situations. |
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E |
|
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EARN |
Percentage the bookmaker holds, or keeps
after paying off all winning wagers. |
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EAST COAST
LINE |
Mainly used in hockey, which has a split
goal line e.g. - NY Rangers (1 - 1 1/2)
favorite over the Vancouver Canucks as
opposed to goal spread plus moneyline (-1/2
-180). |
|
EDGE |
Anything that would help a bettor win a
wager, an advantage. |
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EVEN MONEY |
A
wager in which no vigorish or juice is laid. |
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EXOTIC BET |
Action other than a straight bet i.e.
parlays, teasers, if bets, reverses, round
robins, round robin box reverses, etc. |
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EXPOSURE |
The amount of money the house actually
stands to lose on a game or a race. |
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EXTENSION |
The amount of money the house theoretically
will risk losing on a game or a race. |
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F |
|
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FACTOR |
Condition altering, or potentially altering,
the outcome of the game. |
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FIGURE
|
The total a bettor owes his bookmaker, or
vice versa. |
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FIRING |
Betting a lot. A player who is "firing" is
wagering large sums. |
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FLEA |
An annoying human parasite who wants
something for nothing; a $2 bettor who
expects to be comped for his action. |
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FORM |
What performance is to be expected according
to how a team looks on paper. |
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FUTURES
BET |
Odds posted on the winners of various major
sporting championships in advance of the
event, including the Super Bowl, the World
Series, the Stanley Cup and the NBA
championship. |
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G |
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GAK |
Changing your bet at the last minute and
subsequently losing. |
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GET DOWN |
Make a bet |
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GO BUST |
Losing all one's money. |
|
GO WITH |
Place a wager (Also "get down") |
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GOMER |
An unsophisticated bettor. |
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GRIND |
A
gradual increase in the bankroll of a gamer. |
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GROSS WIN |
Win before expenses are taken into account. |
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H |
|
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HALF STICK |
Synonym for half point (or hook) |
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HALF-TIME
LINE |
Line posted at half-time of a game which
permits betting on second half as if it were
a separate game. Lines are posted on both
sides and totals. |
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HANDICAPPER |
One who studies sports and predicts
outcomes. |
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HANDLE |
The gross amount of money wagers taken by a
gambling establishment in a day. |
|
HARVEY |
Same as a half point. |
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HEDGE |
Making a wager on the opposite side or your
original bet in order to insure a guaranteed
winning wager, or to limit exposure to
potential losses. |
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HIGH
ROLLER |
A
player who bets large sums of money. A high
roller is not in the same league as the
"whale" (see below). |
|
HOLD |
The percentage the house wins. |
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HOLDING
YOUR OWN |
Neither winning nor losing, just breaking
even. |
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HOME DOG
|
A
home team listed as the underdog on the
gaming line. (Some bettors prefer to play
such teams) |
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HOME
FAVORITE |
A
home team listed as the favorite on the
gaming line. |
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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. |
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HOOK |
Half point in pointspreads (see Half Stick
and Harvey) |
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HOOKED |
Losing by half a point. |
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HOOPS |
Basketball |
|
HOUDINI |
A
term used when a bettor is down a bundle and
makes it back with a parlay or double up
bet. |
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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. |
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I |
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IF BETTING |
A
bet that combines more than one team in a
wager, but only "if" a designated team or
teams win. |
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INTELLIGENCE |
Information on a game that can help the
gambler choose the winner. |
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J |
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JOCK |
An athlete |
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JUICE |
Bookmaker's commission, most often refers to
the 11 to 10 football bettors lay on
straight wagers; vigorish. |
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JUNKIE |
An addicted gamer. |
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L |
|
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LAY A
PRICE |
To bet a favorite, lay the points. |
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LAYING
11-TO-10 |
Betting $11 to win $10. |
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LAYING THE
POINTS OR PRICE |
Betting on the favorite in a game. |
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LAYOFF BET
(or LAYOFF) |
A
wager made by one bookmaker with another to
help balance his action and reduce his risk
on one side or one horse. |
|
LIMIT |
The maximum amount a bookmaker will allow
you to bet before he changes the odds and/or
the points; also the "cap"on what you can
personally wager. Some casinos allow favored
players to exceed this "cap". |
|
LINE |
The pointspread or odds on a game. |
|
LINEMAKER |
The person who establishes (and sometimes
adjusts) the original betting lines. |
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LISTED
PITCHERS |
Stating that you will place your 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. |
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LOCK
|
A
bet one cannot lose (but sometimes does). |
|
LONGSHOT |
A
team or horse that is unlikely to win. |
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M |
|
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MATADOR |
A
back door cover. |
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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. |
|
MINIMUM
BET |
Smallest bet a bookmaker will take. |
|
MINUS POOL |
In pari-mutuel gaming, when there is not
enough money to pay winners the minimum
play. The track itself then has to make up
the difference. |
|
MONEY LINE |
A
bet made on a team to win a game outright,
but with no pointspread involved in the
calculation. |
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MUSH |
A
bettor who is considered bad luck. |
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MUSHED |
When the above bad luck bettor gets in on a
game that many think is a lock and the game
crumbles. |
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MUTUAL |
Price paid on a winning para-mutuel wager. |
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N |
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NEUTRAL
SITE |
Arena, court or field which is not the home
of either teaam. |
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NEWSPAPER
LINE |
The betting line which appears in the daily
newspapers; these lines are only approximate
and quite often totally inaccurate and
misleading. |
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NICKEL |
$500 (or $550 to win $500) |
|
NO ACTION |
Bet is canceled for any number of reasons,
such as a time, a game is rained out etc. |
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NUTZ |
A
sure thing (a lock). |
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O |
|
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ODDS |
A
ratio given by the oddsmaker representing
the the amount of payoff compared to the
amount bet. |
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ODDSMAKER |
The person who establishes (and sometimes
adjusts) the original betting lines. (Same
as linemaker) |
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O'FER |
Losing every bet you make in one day. |
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OFF THE
BOARD |
Game where no bets are being accepted. |
|
ON THE
BOARD |
A
game for which a gaming line has been
established. |
|
ON FIRE |
A
gambler on a winning streak |
|
OPENING
LINE |
The first line established for any game.
(Players always want to know this line so
they can see which way the action is going) |
|
OUT |
A
bookmaker, usually refers to an illegal
bookmaker. |
|
OUTLAW
LINE |
An overnight line not used by casinos or
offshore establishments. |
|
OVER &
UNDER |
A
play contingent on a game's total points. |
|
OVERLAY |
When the odds on a proposition are in favor
of the bettor rather than the house. |
|
P |
|
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PARI-MUTUEL |
A
system where by all money wagered is put
into a pool and then distributed equally to
one or more winning players, with a
percentage taken out of the pool to cover
expenses. |
|
PARLAY |
Bet on two or more teams or propositions,
with all having to win for the bettor to
win. In most cases ties do not lose, but the
bet is reduced to the next lower pay out.
For instance, a three-team parlay in which
one game ends in a tie is now a two-team
parlay. |
|
PARLAY
CARD |
One of the most popular forms of football
wagering in which bettors can wager as
little as $1 on as few as three teams or as
many as 20 teams on the card. The more teams
one plays and wins, the higher the payoff.
All teams must win for the bettor to
collect. |
|
PAST
PERFORMANCE |
What has occurred prior to the forthcoming
games. |
|
PAST POST |
To make a bet after an event has started.
(Obviously this is illegal) |
|
PERSONAL
LINE |
A
gamer's own opinion on what the pointspread
should be. |
|
PICK or
PICK'EM |
A
game where neither team is favored. |
|
PICK-MINUS
ONE |
Illegitimate bet in which bookmaker takes a
pick'em game and makes bettor lay a single
point, regardless of which side he or she
takes. |
|
PIDGEON |
Somebody who is in a bookie's (or sports
book's) hip pocket because he loses all the
time. |
|
PLAY |
Another word for bet or betting. |
|
PLAYER |
Bettor, gambler. In some settings a "player"
is a respected bettor. |
|
POINTSPREAD |
The "line"; the handicap, or head start that
the favorite gives to the underdog for
betting purposes. |
|
POLISHED
MIDDLE |
This happens when you bet on a game by the
time the line opens. Soon after you feel
you've placed your bet on the wrong side,
but the line has moved, so you bet back on
the original, but on a lower number. |
|
PRACTICAL
HOLD PERCENTAGE |
The amount won by a bookmaker divided by the
total amount booked. |
|
PRESS |
To bet a larger amount than usual. |
|
PRICE |
The odds or pointspread. |
|
PUCKLINE |
Mainly used on the East Coast with hockey,
giving odds of a goal spread instead of the
Canadian Line where both a goal spread and a
moneyline are used. (See East Coast Line) |
|
PUNT |
To not play or "pass" a specific game or
event. |
|
PUPPY |
Underdog |
|
PUSH |
A
game that ends with the favorite winning by
the exact pointspread or in a tie in the
case of no pointspread. In any event, all
bets are refunded. |
|
R |
|
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ROUND
ROBIN |
Multiple team bet involving parlays using up
to all possible combinations that exist
within the number of teams involved. A three
team round robin would include one 3-team
parlay and three 2-team parlays. |
|
RUNDOWN |
Line or score update. |
|
RUNNER |
Someone who places bets for another person
who does not want his identity known (see
Beard) |
|
RUN LINE |
A
line used when wagering on baseball. |
|
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. |
|
SCOUTS |
Person (s) who study team plays and/or
practices and report findings to
handicappers. |
|
SCRATCH |
Cancel or withdraw. |
|
SHARK |
Wise guy |
|
SHARP |
Wise guy |
|
SHORTSTOP |
A
small bettor. |
|
SHYLOCK |
A
bookmaker who changes the pointspread or
odds to his advantage. |
|
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. |
|
SMART
MONEY |
Sides that are bet on by the more
knowledgable bettors. |
|
SPORT
PLAYER |
A
person who waits for what he thinks is an
unusually strong wager. |
|
SPORTS
SERVICE |
An organization that offers "expert advice"
on outcomes of games and events. |
|
SQUARE |
Unsophisticated gambler. |
|
STEAM |
When a betting line starts to move quite
rapidly. Most "steam games" do not
necessarily reflect the "right side," but
are games that the mass of bettors somehow
decide to key on. |
|
STERN |
Heavy action on the side |
|
STIFF
ARTIST |
A
gamer. |
|
STORE |
A
bookie or betting establishment. |
|
STRAIGHT
BET |
A
bet on just one team or horse. |
|
SUCKER BET |
Bet with a large house edge. |
|
T |
|
|
TAKE A
PRICE |
To make a play on the underdog (take the
points). |
|
TAKING |
Wagering on the underdog, taking the odds. |
|
TAPPED OUT |
Broke, busted, common result of pressing. |
|
TEASER |
A
play involving multiple games in which the
pointspreads are adjusted in the player's
favor. To balance this, the payouts are
correspondingly reduced. |
|
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
|
Someone who sells his "expertise" on sports
or horse wagers. |
|
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 |
|
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UNDERDOG |
The team that is not favored to win.
|
|
UNDERLAY |
When the odds on a proposition are in favor
of the house. |
|
V |
|
|
VALUE |
An overlay |
|
VIGORISH |
See Juice |
|
W |
|
|
WISE GUY |
A
well-informed or knowledgeable handicapper
or bettor. |
|
WITH THE
SPREAD |
A
play made on the favored team |
|
WOOD |
Laying Points (laying lumber) |
|
WINDOW |
What some players say after winning a bet. |
|
WHALE |
A
bettor who makes huge bets (much larger than
your everyday high roller bets). Gaming
establishments compete for their business. |
