HANDICAPPER
|
A
person who studies sports and predicts its outcome. |
HEDGING |
Betting
on the opposite side in order to cut losses or guarantee winning
a minimal amount of money. |
HOLD |
The
percentage the house wins. |
HOLDING YOUR OWN |
Neither winning or losing, just breaking even. |
HOOK |
A
half point in pointspreads. |
HOOKED |
Losing
a bet by exactly one-half a point. |
HOME FIELD ADVANTAGE |
The
edge the home team is expected to have as a result of familiarity
with the playing area, fan support, and the effect of travel
on the visiting team. |
JUICE
|
Bookmaker's commission, also known as the vig or vigorish. |
LAYING THE POINTS |
Betting on the favorite. A.K.A. lay a price |
LAYOFF BET |
A bet made by one bookmaker with another in order to balance
the action and reduce the risk on one side. |
LIMIT |
The maximum bet accepted by a house or bookmaker before he changes
odds and/or the points. |
LINE
|
The listed odds on a game and/or payoff odds on the bet. |
LINEMAKER |
The person who establishes the original and subsequent betting
lines. |
LOCK |
A sure winner. |
LONGSHOT |
A large underdog where the odds of winning is quite steep. Hence
the term "Not by a longshot". |
"THE MAN"
|
The Bookmaker. |
MIDDLES |
To win both sides of a game. |
MONEY LINE |
The odds expressed in terms of money. |
NEUTRAL SITE |
Venue of a sporting event where neither side has a home field
advantage. |
NEWSPAPER LINE |
The betting lines appearing in the daily newspapers. |
NICKEL |
A $500 wager. |
ODDSMAKER
|
The same as a linemaker. |
ODDS ON FAVORITE |
A horse, team or individual so favored by the public that the
odds are less than even. |
OFF THE BOARD |
A game on which no bets are accepted. |
OFF LINES |
The difference of amount the Las Vegas pointspread has compared
with the computerized mathematical line. |
OFFICIAL LINE |
The line that the bookmaker uses for wagering purposes. |
OUT |
An illegal bookmaker |
OUTLAW LINE |
An early line which is not an official line |
OVERLAY |
When the odds of a given proposition are more in favor of the
bettor than the house. |
OVER & UNDER |
A wager for the total score by both teams will more or less
than the total posted by the sports book. |
PARLAY
|
A
bet with two or more teams where all the teams beat on must
win in order for the bettor to win the wager. |
PAST PERFORMANCE
|
What has occurred previously to the forthcoming games. |
PAST POST |
To make a bet after the event has begun. |
PICK'EM GAME |
A game where team is favored. |
PLAYER |
A bettor, or gambler |
POINTSPREAD |
The amount of points the bettor must give to take on any given
game. |
POST TIME |
The scheduled starting time. |
PRACTICAL HOLD PERCENTAGE |
The amount won by a bookmaker divided by the total amount booked.
|
PRESS |
Betting a larger amount than usual. |
PRICE |
The odds or pointspread. |
PROPOSITION BET |
A wager on a particular aspect of the game such as how many
field goals will be made. |
PUPPY |
The underdog. |
PUSH |
Where neither team wins and all money is returned to the bettors. |
ROUND ROBIN
|
A form of parlay betting in which we wager various combining
team wagers. A 3-team robin is team 1 to 2, 1 to 3, and 2 to
3. 4-team robin is team 1 to 2, 1 to 3, 1 to 4, 2 to 3, 2 to
4, and 3 to 4. 5-team, etc. |
RUN DOWN |
A line update. |
RUNNER |
A.K.A. Beard |
SCALPER |
A person 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 big. |
SCRATCH |
To withdraw or cancel a wager. |
SCOUTS |
Person(s) who study team plays and/or practice and report findings
to handicappers. |
SIDE |
Winning one side of a wager and tie-ing the other side. |
SMART MONEY
|
Sides that are bet on by the more knowledgeable handicappers.
|
SPORT PLAYER |
A person who waits for what he thinks is an unusually strong
wager. |
SQUARE |
Unsophisticated gambler. |
STAR |
Rating. |
STEAM |
When heavy action occurs on one side. |
STRAIGHT BET |
A bet on just one team. |
THE STORE |
Bookie. |
STUCK |
Behind, losing, buried, down for the week. |
SUCKER BET |
Betting on the underdog. |
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 bonus. |
TOSS UP |
A game where the line is close to pick-em. |
TOUT SERVICE |
A business that sells opinions on sports or horse wagers. |
TRIPLE SHARP |
The sharpest of the sharp. |
UNDERLAY |
Having the odds of a proposition lean in favor of the house. |
VALUE |
Getting the best available odds on a betting proposition. |
VIRGORISH |
The commission the bookmaker receives. |
WAGER |
Any Bet. |
WISE
GUY
|
A sophisticated and successful sports bettor. |