|
|
|
| A
|
| ACTION |
A
bet |
| ATS |
Against
the spread |
|
| B
|
| B.R. |
Bankroll |
| BAD
BEAT |
Tough
loss |
| BEARD |
Messenger
bettor |
| BEEF |
Dispute |
| BUCK |
$100 |
|
| C
|
| CHALK |
Favorite |
| CHALK
EATER |
Favorite
bettor |
| CHURN |
The
effect of betting and re-betting
money |
| CIRCLE
GAME |
Game
where action is limited due to uncertainties
about weather, injuries, etc. |
| COVER |
Win
by more than the point spread |
|
| D
|
| DEGENERATE |
Compulsive
gambler |
| DIME |
$1,000 |
| DOLLAR |
$100 |
|
| E
|
| EARN |
Practical
hold percentage |
| EDGE |
Advantage |
| EXOTIC
BET |
Action
other than a straight bet or parlay. |
| EXPOSURE |
The
amount of money the house actually
stands to lose on a game or a race. |
| EXTENSION |
The
amount of money the house theoretically
will risk losing on a game or a
race. |
|
| F
|
| FIGURE |
Amount
owed by or to a bookmaker. |
| FIRING |
Betting
a lot. A player who is "firing"
is wagering large sums. |
| FLEA |
An
annoying human parasite who wants
something for nothing; a $2 bettor
who expects to be rewarded for his
action. |
| FORM |
What
performance is to be expected according
to how a team looks on paper. |
|
| G
|
| GET
DOWN |
Make
a bet |
| GROSS
WIN |
Win
before expenses |
|
| H
|
| HANDICAPPER |
One
who studies sports and predicts
outcomes. |
| HANDLE |
Total
amount of bets taken. |
| HEDGE |
Bet
the opposite of your original wager
in order to reduce the amount of
action you have on a game. |
| HOLD |
The
percentage the house wins. |
| HOOK |
Half
point in pointspreads, as in "lost
by the hook." |
| HOME
FIELD ADVANTAGE |
Edge
the home team is expected to have
as a result of familiarity with
the playing area, favorable demographics
and effect of travel on the visiting
team. |
| HOOPS |
Basketball |
| HOT
TIP |
Information
the bookmaker is not yet privy to. |
|
| J
|
| JUICE |
Bookmaker's
commission, most often refers to
the 11 to 10 football bettors lay
on straight wagers; vigorish. |
|
| L
|
| LAY
A PRICE |
Bet
a favorite, lay the points. |
| LAYOFF
BET |
A
wager made by one bookmaker with
another to help balance his action
and reduces his risk on one side
or one horse. |
| LIMIT |
Maximum
bet accepted by the house before
the price will be changed. |
| LINE |
The
betting proposition on a game and/or
payoff odds on the bet. |
| LONGSHOT |
Large
underdog |
|
| M
|
| MIDDLE |
To
win both sides of a game. For example,
if you bet the underdog +3 1/2 and
the favorite - 2 1/2 and the favorite
wins by 3, you've MIDDLED the book.
The book has BEEN MIDDLED. |
|
| N
|
| NEUTRAL
SITE |
Arena,
court or field where neither side
has a home field advantage. |
| NICKEL |
$500 |
|
| O
|
| OFF
THE BOARD |
Game
where no bets are being accepted. |
| OUT |
Bookmaker,
usually refers to an illegal bookmaker. |
| OVERLAY |
When
the odds on a proposition are in
favor of the bettor rather than
the house. |
|
| P
|
| PARLAY |
A
bet with two or more teams where
all the teams must win for the bettor
to be successful. |
| PAST
POST |
To
make a bet after an event has started. |
| PICK
or PICK'EM |
A
game where neither team is favored. |
| PLAYER |
Bettor,
gambler. |
| PRACTICAL
HOLD PERCENTAGE |
The
amount won by a bookmaker divided
by the total amount booked. |
| PRESS |
To
bet a larger amount than usual. |
| PRICE |
Line |
| PUPPY |
Underdog |
| PUSH |
Tie |
|
| R
|
| ROUND
ROBIN |
A
series of parlays. A three-team
round robin consists of one three-team
parlay and three two-team parlays. |
| RUNDOWN |
Line
update |
| RUNNER |
See
Beard |
|
| S
|
| SCALPER |
One
who attempts to profit from the
differences in odds from book to
book by betting both sides of the
same game at different prices. |
| SCORE |
To
win a lot of money. |
| SCRATCH |
Withdraw;
cancel |
| SHARP |
Wise
guy |
| SHORTSTOP |
A
small bettor. |
| SIDE |
To
win one side and tie the other.
For example, if you lay -2 1/2 and
take 3 on the same game and the
favorite wins by 3 you have SIDED
the book. The book has been SIDED. |
| SQUARE |
Unsophisticated
gambler. |
| STEAM |
Heavy
action on one side. |
| STRAIGHT
BET |
A
bet on just one team. |
| SUCKER
BET |
Bet
with a large house edge. |
|
| T
|
| TAKE
A PRICE |
Bet
the underdog, take the points. |
| TAPPED
OUT |
Broke,
busted, common result of pressing. |
| THEORETICAL
HOLD PERCENTAGE |
The
edge the bookmaker would have IF
the odds guaranteed him a constant
commission regardless of the outcome. |
| TOKE |
A
tip or gratuity. |
| TOSS
UP |
Game
where the line is close to pick-em. |
| TOUT
SERVICE |
A
business that sells opinions on
sporting events. |
| TRIPLE
SHARP |
The
sharpest of the sharp. (Note: There
is no such term as "Double Sharp"). |
|
| U
|
| UNDERLAY |
When
the odds on a proposition are in
favor of the house. |
|
| V
|
| VALUE |
An
overlay |
| VIGORISH |
See
Juice |
|
| W |
| WISE
GUY |
Established
and successful sports bettor. |
|
|
|
| |
|
|
|
| 
