GENERAL
SPORTSBOOK TERMINOLOGY
ACTION
A bet
B. R. Bankroll
BAD BEAT Tough loss
BREAD Messenger bettor
BEEF Dispute
BUCK $100
CHALK Favorite
CHALKEATER Favorite bettor
CHURN The effect of betting and rebetting and rebetting money
CIRCLE GAME Game where action is limited due to uncertainties about
weather, Injuries etc.
COVER Win by more than the point spread
DEGENERATE Compulsive gambler
DIME $1,000
DOG Underdog in a game
DOLLAR $100
EARN Practical hold percentage
EDGE Advantage
EXOTIC BET Action other than straight bet or parlay
EXPOSURE The amount of money the house stands to lose on a game or race
EXTENSION The amount of money the house theoretically will risk losing on
a game
FIGURE Amount owed by or to a bookmaker
FIRING Betting a lot i.e. wagering large sums of money
FLEA An annoying human parasite who wants something for nothing: a $2
bettor who expects to be comped for his action
FORM What performance is to be expected according to how a team looks on
paper
GET DOWN Make a bet
GROSS WIN Win before expenses
HANDICAPPER One who studies sports and predicts outcome
HANDLE Total amount of bets
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 point spreads, as in 'lost by the hook'
HOME FIELD ADVANTAGE The edge the home team is expected to have as a
result of familiarity with the playing area, favorable demographics and the
effect of travel on the visiting team.
HOOPS Basketball
HOT TIPS Information the bookmaker is not yet privy to
JUICE Bookmaker's commission, most often refers to the 11 to 10 football
bettors lay on straight wagers. Vigorish
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 reduce his risk on one side or one horse
LIMIT Maximum bet accepted by the house before the price will be changed
LONGSHOT Large underdog
MIDDLE To win both sides of a game. Eg bet the underdog at +3 1/2 and the
favorite at -2 1/2 and the favorite wins by three. The book is middle
NEUTRAL SITE Field, court or arena where neither side has a home field
advantage
NICKEL $500
OFF THE BOARD A 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
PARLAY A bet with two or more teams where all 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
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 Messenger bettor i.e. beard
SCALPER One who attemps 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. Eg lay 2 1/2 and take 3 on the same game and the
favoite wins by 3. The book is 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
TAKE A PRICE Bet the underdog, take the points
TAPPED OUT Broke, busted due to pressing
THEORETICAL HOLD The edge the bookmaker would have if the odds guaranteed
him a constant commission regardless of outcome
TOKE A tip or gratuity
TOSS UP Game where the line is close to pick'em
TOUT SERVICE A Business that sells opinion on sporting events
TRIPLE SHARP The sharpest of the sharp. (there is no such term as double
sharp)
UNDERLAY When the odds on a proposition are in favor of the house
VALUE An overlay
WISE GUY Established and successful sports bettor
VIG Bookmakers commission; juice
