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| 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 rebetting money |
| CIRCLE GAME |
Game where action is limited due to uncertainties about weather, injuries, etc. |
| COVER |
Win by more than the pointspread |
| 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 comped for his action. |
| FORM |
What performance is to be expected according to how a team looks on paper. |
| 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 reduce 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. |
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