Sports Betting 101 Glossary Terms Gambling

Glossary Index

• A
• B
• C
• D
• E
• F
• G
• H
• I
• J
• K
• L
• M
• N
• O
• P
• Q
• R
• S
• T
• U
• V
• W
• X
• Y
• Z

101 Sports Betting Gambling Terms Starting with 'A'

Accumulator:  A parlay bet in North America, accumulator wagers consist of two or more selections and each side must win (or push) to create a winning ticket.

Across The Board: Three horse racing bets that cover a horse to win, place and show.

Action: Any bet. Any live wagering option or the total amount wagered on a specific event.

Added Game: Appear on sports betting boards after main lists are posted. They are common in college football and mainly appear due to public demand. An added game may also be a postponed match, like a rainout in baseball, from the previous day. A matchup that is not part of the daily sports betting rotation. 'Added Games' are often make-up or rescheduled games that were expected to be played on a previous date. In pro baseball, it's likely Game 2 of an unscheduled double-header from a rainout.

Aet Odds: After extra time (AET) odds are posted primarily on soccer matches when extra time is added at the end of regulation time due to in-game stoppages. AET odds are offered as live sports betting options.

Against The Spread (Ats): Sports betting against the point spread; the team bet must win or lose by a specified number of points.

Also Ran: An athlete, horse, or greyhound that doesn’t finish in a paying position during a race.

Alternate Lines: Different odds and spreads offered by bookmakers to provide varied sports betting options. Some sportsbooks may offer different (or alternate) point spreads that pay different odds for the same game. These provide bettors more options to wager on certain games.

American Odds: American odds are in a “big three” group that also includes fractional and decimal odds. American money lines posted at (-110) are the same as 1.91 decimal odds and 10/11 fractional pricing. All three formats return a $100 profit on a winning $110 wager. Odds expressed in terms of money with underdogs shown by the amount you would win for a $100 bet, and favorites showing how much you need to bet to win $100.

Ante-Post: Futures odds on horse races posted at least one day before a race.

101 Sports Betting Gambling Terms Starting with 'B'

Backdoor Cover: Occurs when a score helps bettors cover a spread bet but doesn’t affect the game winner. If Baltimore is up 35-21, as a -10-point favorite, Cleveland bettors earn a backdoor cover if the Browns score a late touchdown to make the final score 35-28 in favor of the Ravens.

Bad Beat: Players experience a bad beat when a wager is on the verge of winning but then becomes a losing ticket. A bad beat will often occur when points are scored late in a match. Players who bet on game totals, point spreads, and money lines will experience a bad beat from time to time.

Bankroll: The total amount of money a bettor must place wagers.

Bankroll Management: The process of managing one’s gambling funds in a manner that minimizes risk and maximizes potential return.

Beard: Messenger bettor, used at brick-and-mortar casinos and sportsbooks if the real bettor wishes to remain anonymous.

Beef: Dispute.

Belmont Stakes: Third jewel in the Triple Crown of thoroughbred racing. Race day is the first or second Saturday in June (three weeks after the Preakness Stakes) at Belmont Park in Elmont, New York.

Bet: Any wager involving money wagered at a sportsbook, casino, race book, or poker room.

Betting Exchange: A middleman that isn’t a sportsbook or a bettor. An exchange posts bets with two sides and the sports betting option remains listed until both sides are bet on. Betting exchanges profit by taking a small commission (juice) from winning tickets.

Betting Strategy: Various plans that bettors use to get a leg-up on bookmakers. Primary sports betting strategies should include proper bankroll management and performing extensive research prior to placing wagers.

Betting Trends: Stats that show the total amount of money wagered on a game.

Betting Units: A measure used to standardize bets regardless of the total bankroll, often represented as percentages.

Book: A book is a short-term for sportsbook or bookmaker, who offers odds and accepts wagers. Short for a bookmaker or sportsbook that posts odds and accepts bets.

Bookie: Short for a bookmaker.

Bookmaker: A licensed individual who sets daily sports betting odds and accepts bets. Also known as a linemaker.

Bookmaker (Bookie): A person or company that accepts and pays out bets on sporting and other events.

Breeders’ Cup: An annual series of Grade I Thoroughbred horse races.

Buck: $100.

Buy Points: Bettors can buy points, using alternate point spreads and game totals, to gain a more favorable line. If a spread is set at +2.5 points a player can buy one point to move the line up to +3.5 points. Juice attached to the odds increases with each point purchased.

Buying 'The Hook': Paying extra to move the point spread by half a point, often in football sports betting, to make a line more favorable.

Buying Points: Paying additional money to move the point-spread in the direction of your preference. Often used in football, bettors will buy 'on' or 'off' key numbers to avoid losing by a point or two.

101 Sports Betting Gambling Terms Starting with 'C'

Calder Cup: Awarded to the top-performing rookie player during the NHL regular season.

CFP: College Football Playoffs, which determine the NCAA football National Champion.

Chalk: Favorite in a game by a large margin. Another term that bookies use to refer to a sports betting favorite.

Chalk Bettor: A player that bets on favorites with most of their wagers.

Chalk Eater: Bettor who is known for sports betting on the favorites consistently.

Churn: The effect of sports betting and sports betting money, like Arbitrage.

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

Circled Game: A game with lowered sports betting limits due to factors like injuries or uncertain weather. Matches that have set sports betting maximums, which are capped at low amounts. Games are usually circled when bookmakers face unknowns such as player injuries, weather, or rumors that surface prior to a match. Opening odds and prop options are often circled as well.

Closing Line: The final sports betting odds posted prior to the start of a competition.

Closing Lines: These refer to the posted final sports betting odds before the actual start of the game.

Co-Favorite: Two or more sides with identical odds to win. Common with futures odds, bookmakers may post co-favorites to win the NBA Finals championship.

Combine: A series of fitness tests that help scouts from professional teams evaluate amateur athletes. The NFL Scouting Combine is a highly anticipated prelude to the annual NFL draft.

Commission: Another term for vigorish and juice, commission is the bookmakers' take on any bet. It is also the amount a sports betting exchange takes from winning wagers.

Commissioner’s Trophy: Awarded annually to the Major League Baseball (MLB) team that wins the World Series.

Correct Score: Bettors are offered a list of possible final scores on a match. In soccer, players can bet on a match ending as low as 0-0 or as high as 5-0 plus all scores in between. The most likely result is the favorite and the least likely result is the underdog.

Cover: Win by more than the point-spread.

Cover The Spread: A sports betting term that refers to the favorite wins and the match score is more than the point spread.

101 Sports Betting Gambling Terms Starting with 'D'

Decimal Odds: A simple reflection of the return you will receive per unit wagered. Common in Europe, decimal odds are in a “big three” group that also includes fractional and American odds. A 1.91 decimal line equals -110 in American odds and 10/11 in fractional pricing. All three formats return a $100 profit on a winning $110 wager.

Dime: $1,000.

Dog: A dog (short for the underdog) is considered as the side that would be least likely to win and tagged with extra pricing. Abbreviation for Underdog, team expected to lose the game.

Dollar: $100.

Double: Single parlay ticket with two sides.

Double Action: Also known as an “If bet,” a double action bet automatically takes the stakes and/or winnings from a successful wager and places that amount on a second sports betting option.

Double Bet: A sports betting amount that is double a bettor’s normal wager. Bettors often double their bet when they feel one side is vastly superior to another.

Double Result: A single sports betting option that combines the score of a game at halftime and the score at the end of the same game.

Double-Header: Two games that are played back-to-back on the same day. Most common in baseball, a double-header will often take place if a game from the previous day was rained out.

Draw: A tie, used often in Soccer and sometimes in Boxing or Mixed Martial Arts. Any match or contest that would end up having the same final score. This would result as a PUSH and shall return the original amount of bets to the bettors.

Draw No Bet: A sports betting option where the stake is returned to the bettor if the game ends in a draw. This type of bet removes the draw possibility from the outcome, effectively turning it into a two-way bet instead of a three-way. If the team you bet on wins, you win the bet; if the game draws, your stake is returned; if the team loses, you lose your bet.

Drift: Betting odds that grow longer after the opening line is posted. A moneyline that moves from +220 to +225 to +230 is said to be drifting. Betting odds that increase upon posting the opening line. Drifting is a Moneyline that increases from +220 to +225 to +230.

101 Sports Betting Gambling Terms Starting with 'E'

Each-Way: Common in horse racing, each-way sports betting takes a single amount and splits it on a horse to finish first or second. Both bets pay if the horse finishes first while just one bet pays if the horse finishes second. The return on a first place win is always higher than the return on a second place win.

Each-Way Bet: A bet placed on a team or player to win or place in an event.

Earn: Practical hold percentage.

Edge: Advantage.

EPL (English Premier League): The top-ranked football association in the United Kingdom.

Even Money: When a selection has no juice or vig involved. A $100 wager will win $100, while normal wagers would make bettors lay $110 to win $100. Odds that give back the exact amount of the bet. A $100 bet on American (+100), Decimal (2.0), or Fractional (1/1) odds will give back a profit of $100. Odds that return the exact amount of the original bet. A $100 bet on Fractional (1/1) American (+100) or Decimal (2.0) odds would return a $100 profit.

Exotic Bet: Action other than a straight bet or parlay, often unusual bets you won't see in many places. Can be listed under prop bets in sportsbooks. Exotic bets are money lines, game totals, and point spreads sports betting options.

Exposure: The amount of money the house stands to lose in a game or a race. Exposure is the money that a bookmaker or a better can afford to lose on any bet.

Extension: The amount of money the house theoretically will risk losing in a game or a race.

101 Sports Betting Gambling Terms Starting with 'F'

Favorite: Any side of the competition that has a negative number price. The team in a sports betting matchup is expected to win. In sports where points are given, the favorite gives points, while in moneyline sports, the favorite lays a higher price to cash a ticket.

Fifa World Cup: Played every four years, the World Cup championship is the most watched soccer tournament on the planet. The World Cup is slated to be played in the US, Canada, and Mexico in 2026.

Figure: Amount owed by or to a bookmaker.

Final Four: Most commonly refers to the last four teams remaining in the NCAA March Madness basketball tournament. Two Final Four games are played prior to the National Championship game.

Firing: Betting a lot. A player who is "firing" is wagering large sums.

First Half Bet: A bet concentrated on the first half results of games like soccer, football, or basketball. The most popular first half sports betting odds are spread, moneyline, and game total options. A variety of team and player props are also offered as first half bets.

Fixed Odds: Odds that don’t change after the bet is placed. Once a bet is placed, and the bookmaker accepts it, the sports betting line becomes fixed. If a bet is placed on a team at +3.5 odds and the line moves down to +3.0 before the game, players who purchased at +3.5 retain those odds.

Fractional Odds: Common in the UK, fractional odds are part of the "big three" group that also includes Decimal and American odds. A fractional line of 10/11 equals -110 in American odds and 1.91 decimal pricing. They return a $90.91 profit on a winning $100 bet. These are mainly used in Europe and are listed in fraction form (e.g., 1/10) instead of as a money line (-100).

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French Open: Second of four men's and women's Grand Slam tennis tournaments that are played over two weeks in late May and early June.

Futures: Wagers where bettors invest in the future outcome of a team to win a particular event, often with higher payouts based on the odds depending on how far out the event is.

Futures Bet: A bet placed on an event scheduled in the future. This option is available for events like the Stanley Cup, NBA Finals, World Series, and Super Bowl, as well as major horse races, golf tournaments, tennis tournaments, and soccer.

Futures Betting: Future bets typically take place before the season begins but can also be placed during the season. They often involve season-long markets, such as division winners, championship winners, or season-long award markets like MVP.

101 Sports Betting Gambling Terms Starting with 'G'

Game Total Bet: Over/Under sports betting on how many goals/points/runs will be scored in a game. For example, if a baseball game total is set at 7.5 runs, bettors need to decide if the combined total runs in that contest will be over or under eight runs. It involves sports betting on the number of points, runs, or goals that will be recorded in a match or game.

Graded Bet: A wager that bookmakers officially mark as a winner, a loser, or a push, once a competition has ended. Winnings, or push refunds, are paid out after a bet has been graded.

Grand Salami: A popular wager where bettors handicap the total number of goals scored in all games for one day, commonly used in hockey. Some sportsbooks may offer alternate versions for home, away, or periods of games during the day. It is also occasionally offered for runs in Major League Baseball.

Gross Win: The amount won before any expenses are deducted.

 

101 Sports Betting Gambling Terms Starting with 'H'

Half Ball Handicap: Soccer sports betting odds where 0.5 goals, plus or minus, is the point spread.

Half Time Bet: Wagers placed on the outcome of just the second half of a competition. Half time bets can be placed during intermission or as live wagers once the second half begins.

Handicap: Betting odds set by a bookmaker that are designed to level the playing field. For example, New Orleans may have a -7.5 point handicap when they play a perceived weaker Atlanta squad. If the Saints win by eight or more points, they cover the handicap and produce winning wagers.

Handicapper: One who studies sports and predicts outcomes of teams and players. Find active handicappers here.

Handle: Total amount of bets taken.

Hart Trophy: Awarded to the most valuable player during the NHL regular season.

Heavy Juice: Hedge is a strategy used to reduce the risk of a losing bet by placing a second bet on the opposing outcome.

Hedge: A risk management tool consisting of placing wagers on the opposite side of a preliminary wager to create a guaranteed return or to reduce the chances of losing a wager.

Hedging: Placing bets on the opposite side to cut losses or guarantee a profit regardless of the outcome.

Hedging A Bet: A hedge wager is made by placing a bet opposite of the originally placed wager, guaranteeing a smaller profit than originally offered.

Hold: The percentage of the total bets that the house wins.

Holding Your Own: Refers to a bettor who is neither winning nor losing significant amounts but rather just breaking even on a series of bets.

Home Field Advantage: The perceived benefit a team gains when playing in familiar settings at their home stadium. This edge is expected due to familiarity with the playing area, favorable demographics, and the effect of travel on the visiting team.

Hook: Half point in point spreads, as in "lost by the hook."

Hoops: Slang for basketball.

Hot Tip: Information that the bookmaker is not yet privy to. Get hot tips here.

101 Sports Betting Gambling Terms Starting with 'I'

If Bet: A member of the parlay family, and If Bet consists of two or more wagers. On a two-team if bet, a player applies the stake and/or profit of a winning wager as a bet on a second game if the initial wager is successful.

In Play Betting: Wagers placed after an event has started. Also known as LIVE sports betting, bookmakers post multiple in-play sports betting options throughout most major sporting events.

In-Game Wagering: The ability to bet on a sporting event after the game has already started and until it concludes. Also known as live sports betting.

In-Play Betting: Bettors can place their wagers after the start of the event. It is also known as LIVE sports betting, where bookmakers post several in-play sports betting options during major sporting events. Wagering on an event while it is in progress.

101 Sports Betting Gambling Terms Starting with 'J'

Joint Favorite: Two or more sides posted with the same sports betting odds on the same event.

Juice: Also known as vigorish, juice is set by bookmakers and is attached to spread and total sports betting options. For example, if Minnesota -3.5 (-110) versus Green Bay +3.5 (-110) has $110K wagered on both sides, bookmakers earn $10K profit from the juice on the losing bets. It's also a bookmaker's commission, most often referring to the 11 to 10 bettors lay on straight wagers.

101 Sports Betting Gambling Terms Starting with 'K'

Kentucky Derby: First jewel in the Triple Crown of thoroughbred racing. Race day is the first Saturday in May at Churchill Downs in Louisville, Kentucky.

Key Number: In sports like football, certain numbers (e.g., 3, 7) represent common margins of victory and are important for spread sports betting.

101 Sports Betting Gambling Terms Starting with 'L'

Lay The Points: sports betting on the favorite to win by more than the set point spread.

Laying Points: Betting on a favorite. For example, a wager on Dallas, as a -2.5-point favorite over the LA Rams, means Dallas needs to win by at least 3 points.

Layoff: Used by bookmakers and players to reduce risk in a certain market. Parlay bettors may have an option to place a layoff wager on both sides of the last open bet on a ticket to set up a guaranteed profit.

Limit: The maximum bet taken by a bookmaker.

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

Linemaker: Same as a bookmaker, a person or group that sets daily sports betting lines and prices.

Listed Pitchers: A bet in baseball that is placed only if the pitchers scheduled to start the game actually start. If either pitcher doesn't start, the bet is canceled.

Live Betting: Live sports betting or in-play sports betting refers to the ability to place bets on ongoing events. Live sports betting lines are updated in real-time, allowing bettors to place wagers as the action unfolds.

Lock: A lock is a term used to describe a sure bet, confidence in the outcome, or a guaranteed win.

Longshot: A competitor or team that is considered unlikely to win, often associated with high odds.

Lucky 15: A type of bet consisting of 15 bets involving 4 selections in different events. The bet includes 4 singles, 6 doubles, 4 trebles, and a fourfold accumulator.

Lucky 31: A bet involving 31 bets on 5 selections in different events. It includes 5 singles, 10 doubles, 10 trebles, 5 fourfold, and a fivefold accumulator.

101 Sports Betting Gambling Terms Starting with 'M'

March Madness: The NCAA college basketball National Championship tournament held annually from mid-March to early April.

Marker: Credit offered at casinos.

Masters Tournament: First of four major Grand Slam golf tournaments. Held annually in mid-April at the Augusta National Golf Club in Georgia.

Middle: To win both sides of a game. For example, if you bet on the underdog +3 1/2 and the favorite -2 1/2 and the favorite wins by 3, you've middled the book.

MLB (Major League Baseball): The world’s top-ranked baseball league, consisting of teams based in the United States and Canada.

MLB Draft: Held every June, MLB teams select prospects from colleges, amateur baseball teams, and high schools. The MLB draft is five rounds and most of the players selected will be assigned to minor league teams.

MLS (Major League Soccer): The top-ranked soccer league in North America, consisting of teams based in the United States and Canada.

Money Line: A bet on which team will win the game outright, without any point spread.

Multiple Bets: Same as a parlay, multiple bets are a single wager that consists of at least two sides on a single ticket. All sides must win (or push) to cash winning multiple bets.

MVP (Most Valuable Player): Player honored as most valuable to their team during the regular season or playoffs. Wagering on who will be named the Most Valuable Player is a popular futures sports betting option in professional sports.

101 Sports Betting Gambling Terms Starting with 'N'

Nap: Like a lock, a nap is a handicapper's suggested best bet on a daily sports betting card.

NASCAR: National Association for Stock Car Auto Racing, the governing body of stock car racing.

NBA: National Basketball Association, the top-ranked basketball league consisting of teams based in the United States and Canada.

NBA Draft: Held every June, NBA teams select amateur players during a two-round draft.

NCAA: Governing body for all USA college sports.

Neutral Site: An arena, court, or field where neither side has a home field advantage, e.g., the Super Bowl most years.

NFL: National Football League, the top-ranked gridiron football league consisting of teams based in the United States.

NFL Draft: A seven-round event held every April where NFL teams select top college football prospects.

NHL: National Hockey League, the top-ranked hockey league consisting of teams based in the United States and Canada.

NHL Draft: Held every June, NHL teams select college players, plus pro European prospects, during a seven-round draft.

Nickel: $500.

No Action: A wager that is cancelled with money refunded to bettors.

101 Sports Betting Gambling Terms Starting with 'O'

Odds: Betting lines for a variety of events offered by bookmakers, used to determine the favorite and underdog of a sporting match. A multiple or accumulator bet that combines two or more sides into a single wager. Each selection must win for the parlay to be successful. A voided selection results in a voided parlay.

Odds Formats: American (+100), Decimal (2.00), and Fractional (1/1) are the three main odds formats. Get live odds here

Odds On Favorite: One side that is viewed as far superior to the other and is priced with odds that offer very little value.

Off The Board: A game or event that is off the board means that it is not currently available for sports betting.

Over/Under: The over/under is a bet on whether the total combined score of the game will be above or below a certain number set by oddsmakers. For example, if the over/under is set at 45, a bet on the over would win if the combined score is 46 or higher, while a bet on the under would win if the combined score is 44 or lower.

101 Sports Betting Gambling Terms Starting with 'P'

Parlay: A single bet that links two or more individual wagers; all selections must win for the parlay to pay out.

Parlay Banker: A favorite side used as the base of a parlay wager, to which other sides are added.

Past Post: Making a bet after an event has started.

Patent: A type of bet involving three selections, forming three single bets, three double bets, and one treble bet.

Payout: The total amount paid by a bookmaker to a winning bettor.

Pga Tour: Professional Golfers' Association Tour, a series of events where golfers compete.

PGA Championship: The second major Grand Slam golf tournament of the PGA season, held in late May at various courses across the United States.

Pick'em: A pick'em game refers to a game where both teams are considered even and there is no point spread.

Pimlico Race Course: Home of the Preakness Stakes, which is the second jewel of the Triple Crown in horse racing.

Point Spread: The number of points by which the favored team is expected to beat the underdog, designed to attract equal sports betting on both sides.

Press: To bet a larger amount than usual.

Price: Another term for sports betting odds and/or juice set by a bookmaker.

Power Rating A power rating in sports betting is a numerical value assigned to a team or player that quantifies their overall strength and performance level. These ratings are used by bettors and oddsmakers to compare the relative strengths of teams or players in a given sport, helping to predict outcomes and set betting lines.

Prop Bet: Short for proposition bet, these are wagers based on specific outcomes within a game that may not necessarily relate to the final score.

Proposition Bet: Exotic or special wagers offered on most sporting events, often involving NFL Super Bowl prop sports betting options.

Proxy: An individual or group who places bets for others, often used for non-residents involved in season-long sports pools like the Westgate Las Vegas Super Contest.

Public Dog: An underdog that receives a significant amount of sports betting interest from the public.

Public Money: The amount wagered by the general public on any sports betting option.

Public Trends: Betting percentages showing money and ticket count for games.

Puck Line: Point spread pricing in hockey; typically, the favorite is posted at -1.5 goals and the underdog receives +1.5 goals.

Puppy: Slang for underdog.

Push: A bet that results in a tie, where the original wagers are returned to the bettors. A bet result where neither the bettor nor the bookmaker wins or loses, and all stakes are returned.

101 Sports Betting Gambling Terms Starting with 'Q'

Quarter Bet: Any wager placed prior to or during any quarter of a sporting event. For example, before an NBA game, Boston may be a -1.5-point favorite to win the first quarter against Philadelphia, who would then be +1.5 underdogs. LIVE sports betting odds will change often as the first 12 minutes of the match play out.

101 Sports Betting Gambling Terms Starting with 'R'

Recreational Bettor: A player that bets infrequently or only on major sporting events. Recreational bets are counted as public money, the opposite of a sharp or professional bettor.

Reverse-Line Movement: Occurs when a sports betting line moves in the opposite direction of the sports betting percentages, suggesting sharp money may be influencing the line despite most public bets.

Rotation Number: A unique number assigned by bookmakers to every sports betting option on the board. Bettors use the rotation number when placing a bet, rather than team names, especially at land-based sportsbooks.

Round Robin: A series of parlays. For example, a three-team round robin consists of one three-team parlay and three two-team parlays.

ROY (Rookie of the Year): Honors the top first-year player in most professional sports leagues. Betting on which player will be named Rookie of the Year is a popular futures sports betting option.

Run Line: In baseball, a form of point spread sports betting where the favorite is typically posted at -1.5 runs and the underdogs at +1.5 runs before the game starts. The run line adjusts during live sports betting based on the game's score.

Run-Line: A common baseball wager where the favorite (-1.5) must win by at least two runs, or the underdog (+1.5) must win or lose by less than two runs to win.

Rundown: An update on sports betting lines.

Runner: Also known as a Beard, a person who places bets for others to conceal their identity.

101 Sports Betting Gambling Terms Starting with 'S'

Same Game Parlay: A type of sports bet that allows customers to combine multiple outcomes from a single game into one wager.

Score: To win a lot of money.

Scratch: Withdraw or cancel.

Second Half Bet: Any bet placed on the result of the second half of a game. Bets can be placed before the second half begins or live during the second half.

Selke Trophy: Awarded annually to the NHL forward with the best defensive skills during the regular season.

Sell Points: Bettors can adjust the point spread or game total to more favorable conditions, often at less favorable odds.

Sharp: A professional sports gambler who uses vast resources to determine their wagers.

Sharp Bettors: Experienced bettors whose money is respected by sportsbook operators.

Side: Refers to winning one part of a bet and tying another.

Spread Betting: Betting on a team to cover a specified point spread.

Square: A novice or recreational player, opposite of a sharp.

Stake: The amount of money a bettor risks on a single bet.

Staking Method: The strategy used by a bettor to determine the amount wagered on each bet.

Stanley Cup Trophy: Awarded annually to the NHL's championship-winning team.

Steam: A sudden movement in sports betting lines due to heavy sports betting on one side.

Straight Bet: A bet on a single team or outcome within a game.

Sucker Bet: A bet that is more likely to benefit the bookmaker than the bettor.

Syndicate: A group of bettors that pool their funds to place large bets.

101 Sports Betting Gambling Terms Starting with 'T'

Take A Price: Bet the underdog, take the points.

Taking Points: A bet placed on an underdog side. For example, bettors who wager on Washington with a +1.5-run line are taking points.

Tail: Tail refers to sports betting on the underdog team.

Tapped Out: Broke, busted; common result of pressing.

Teaser: A wager used in football and basketball that allows bettors to combine two or more selections together while adjusting the points on those selections.

Teaser Card: A daily list of all games, from one specific sport, where the odds are higher or lower than the prices posted on the main sports betting board.

Teaser Odds: Any line moved up or down by a bookmaker to entice (tease) bettors.

Ted Lindsay Award: Award given to the most valuable NHL player as voted on by active hockey players only.

The Open Championship: Fourth and final major Grand Slam golf tournament, also known as The Open or the British Open.

Three-Way Lines: Betting option used in sports like soccer and hockey where three possible outcomes include each team winning or a tie.

Three-Way Odds: Wagering options that include three possible outcomes including a tie.

Ticket: A receipt issued by a bookmaker to confirm a wager has been accepted.

Tip: Advice from handicappers or tipsters suggesting the most likely outcome of an event.

Tipster: A person or group that offers sports betting advice, some for free and others for a fee.

Tissue Price: The initial odds offered by the sportsbook, usually considered fairer for the bettor.

Toke: A tip or gratuity given to service providers, like dealers or servers.

Toss Up: A game where the line is close to a pick-em and either side is expected to win.

Total Bet: A bet on the total points, goals, or runs scored in a game.

Tout Service: A business that sells opinions on sporting events. Find professional bettors here 

Treble: A single parlay ticket with three sides.

Trend: Daily, weekly, and seasonal patterns that bettors and handicappers often follow or fade.

Triple Crown: The series of three major horse races, which includes the Kentucky Derby, Preakness Stakes, and Belmont Stakes.

Triple Sharp: The sharpest of the sharp, a term indicating extremely savvy or informed bettors.

Trixie: A bet consisting of three doubles and one treble, involving three selections in different events.

Two-Way Lines: Betting options used in sports where there are only two possible outcomes, such as tennis or basketball.

Two-Way Odds: Wagering options that only include two outcomes and do not account for a tie.

101 Sports Betting Gambling Terms Starting with 'U'

Under: Opposite of over in game total sports betting. For instance, if the total on a Lakers vs. Clippers match is set at 238, players who place under bets need the combined final score to be 237 points or less.

Underdog: The team or competitor in a sports betting matchup that is not expected to win. In point spread sports like football and basketball, the underdog receives points to level the playing field, whereas in moneyline sports, betting on the underdog can yield a higher return if they win.

Underlay: A situation where the odds on a proposition are in favor of the house, making it less attractive for sports betting as it offers lower returns.

Unit: A measurement of the size of a sports bet, typically represented as a percentage of the bettor's total bankroll. For example, a 1-unit bet might be 1% of a $10,000 bankroll, or $100.

Upset: When the underdog wins the match outright.

US Open: The final major Grand Slam tennis tournament, held annually in New York City in late August and early September.

101 Sports Betting Gambling Terms Starting with 'V'

Value: When the odds on a particular outcome are higher than the actual probability of that outcome occurring, making it a favorable bet.

Vigorish: Also known as juice, this is the commission the bookmaker charges for taking a bet.

Vig: Short for vigorish, another term for the commission or house edge set by the bookmaker on a wager.

101 Sports Betting Gambling Terms Starting with 'W'

Wager: A bet placed on any event offered by a racebook, casino, or sportsbook.

Welcher: A person who does not pay off their bets.

Westgate SuperContest: Established in 1988, this contest at Westgate Las Vegas is considered the ultimate football handicapping challenge. It focuses on the NFL regular season and offers three contest options: the SuperContest, SuperContest Gold, and SuperContest Reboot. Find a contest here 

White Card: Term used to describe an event where one athlete is vastly superior to their opponent. Bookmakers often give the favorite very low odds, making them a 'white card' selection.

Wimbledon: The third of four major Grand Slam tennis tournaments, played over two weeks in late June or early July at the All-England Lawn Tennis & Croquet Club in London.

Win Bet: A bet placed on a team or individual to win an event outright.

Win Totals: A futures wager that allows bettors to predict the total number of wins and losses for a team during the regular season.

Wise Guy: A sports bettor who is considered to be sharp and knowledgeable. Often used to describe someone who consistently wins and is respected by bookmakers.

Wood: Refers to the price, usually with a negative figure, that a bettor must lay in order to win on the favorite. For example, laying wood on a team might require betting $120 to win $100.

World Cup: The most prestigious soccer tournament, held every four years, featuring national teams from around the globe. The 2026 World Cup will be hosted by the US, Canada, and Mexico.

World Series: The championship series of Major League Baseball (MLB), held annually in October.

WTA (Women's Tennis Association): The governing body of women's professional tennis.

101 Sports Betting Gambling Terms Starting with 'X'

X-Bet: A term used to describe any bet that a bettor finds particularly appealing, usually due to favorable odds or a strong belief in the outcome.

101 Sports Betting Gambling Terms Starting with 'Y'

Yankee: A multiple bet consisting of 11 separate wagers involving four selections in different events: six doubles, four trebles, and one fourfold accumulator.

Yard: Slang for $100.

Yellow Card: A caution issued to a player by a referee for unsporting behavior in soccer and other sports.

101 Sports Betting Gambling Terms Starting with 'Z'

Zamboni: A machine used to clean and smooth the surface of an ice rink between periods in hockey games.

Zebra: Slang for an official or referee in sports like football and basketball, due to their black-and-white striped uniforms.

Zone Defense: A defensive strategy in sports where each player is responsible for defending a specific area of the field or court, rather than marking a specific opponent.