Sport Wager Terms
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 gam
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.