The time has come. Circa is soon opening the largest sportsbook in Vegas history, a sportsbook so big that the casino is built around it. And with the upcoming opening, it’s time to get back to basics and make sure you know everything there is to know about sports betting. Whether you’re a beginner who needs sports betting explained or a veteran who just wants to brush up on sports betting terms and sports betting terminology, this is the ultimate guide to bringing in the big bucks from betting on sports.
There is a lot of sports betting terminology to go through, but below are 40 of the basic definitions you should know.
Runner – An individual who places a bet on behalf of another person. Steam Move – A sudden, drastic and uniform line movement across the entire sports betting marketplace. Teaser – A special bet in which you are able to adjust the point spread or total for a game. Betting syndicates are groups of sports bettors, usually skilled handicappers, who combine their knowledge, resources, bankrolls, systems and strategies to bet as much money as they can. Your ideal goal in sports betting should be to become a sharp. Spread: This is an abbreviated term for point spread. Square: This is the term given to casual bettors who are not using extensive research or predictive models/formulas to make their wagers. Steam: This is when a sports betting line moves unusually fast. A lot of times, this is a result of several big bets (maybe from a betting syndicate) coming in at once or a heavily-followed bettor publishing their pick and their followers.
Sports Betting Terms and Definitions
A | B | C | D | E | F | G | H | J | L | M | O | P | R | S | T | U | W
A
Action: This refers to any wager of any kind.
Against the Spread: Betting on the point spread in a particular matchup as opposed to the moneyline. Instead of focusing on who wins, this bet focuses on how teams play against a given spread.
Alternate Lines: Odds that are either higher or lower than the main posted line.
B
Bankroll: This is simply the number of available funds you have to bet with.
Bookmaker: The person or organization who is properly licensed to create the lines you bet on, as well as take bets.
C
Chalk: Betting on the favorite.
Closing Line: Where the point spread is at the start of the game.
Cover: A term related to betting against the spread. You win when you “cover” the point spread. If you bet on a three-point favorite and they win by seven, the spread has been covered.
D
Draw: This is when a game falls exactly on the spread, not over or under. No one wins in this scenario.
Drift: Moneylines that grow longer after the opening line is posted.
E
Edge: A betting advantage gained through research or having insights that are not known publicly.
Even Money: A wager that returns the same amount as was risked. For example, wagering $100 would win $100.
F
Favorite: The expected winner in a game or event.
Field: In many prop bets, you can bet on something that isn’t listed. This means you can pick a team or player to win that’s not specifically listed on the betting form.
Fixed Odds: Set odds in which once a wager is placed, the odds don’t change.
Future: You don’t necessarily have to bet on a game or event right before it starts. Many betters place a wager on a team to win the Super Bowl before the season even starts.
G
Grand Salami: Over/Under odds that are placed on the total goals/runs/points scored in all of the games, from a specific league, on any given day.
H
Handicapper: An analyst who observes sports events to predict the winning team or player.
Hedging: A tactic that allows you to bet on the opposite side of the wager you already place. This can help stem your losses a bit.
J
Juice: A small commission attached to the odds set by bookmakers. Another term for vigorish.
L
Laying Points: The act of placing your bet on a favorite.
Lines: Another way to refer to betting odds.
M
Middle: Cashing tickets on both sides of a betting option when a point spread moves up or down prior to a match.
Moneyline: A term mostly for sports like baseball and hockey. Because there’s so few runs or goals scored, this allows you to bet on whether a team is going to win or not.
O
Off the Board: An event you can’t bet on. Sometimes, sportsbooks will take an event out of the betting possibility because there’s something affecting the game, like the weather.
Opening Line: The first point spread available for a game.
Over/Under: The total amount of points or runs scored in the game. A number will be given. Let’s say it’s a baseball game and the over/under is six. If you bet the under, you’re banking on the two teams scoring a combined total of fewer than six runs.
P
Parlay: A bet where bettors aren’t necessarily restricted to just one bet. You can tie at least two together and all the events need to happen to get the payoff. It’s hard to pull off, but it comes with a potentially massive payday.
Pick ‘Em: A bet that takes place when the teams are so close, no individual one is favored. This just means the line is zero.
Point Spread: Odds posted on a game to help indicate favorites indicated with – odds, and underdogs indicated with + odds.
Proposition Bet: Better known as a prop bet, this is a wager on something other than the outcome. It can be something related to the game, like the over/under on rushing yards, or something silly, like how long the national anthem will take to be sung.
Proxy: An individual or group who places bets for non-local bettors who may be unable to place bets in person.
Push: This is when there’s no winner at the end of a contest, usually when the favorite wins by the exact spread.
R
Real-Time Odds: Odds aren’t stagnant. They move back and forth based on new information. These are the live lines that reflect that movement.
S
Sharp: Professional sports bettor who uses vast resources to determine wagers.
Stake: The amount of money a gambler risks when placing a bet.
T
Tip: Betting advice offered by tipsters and handicappers to predict the most likely outcome of an event.
Tipster: A person or group who offers sports betting advice.
U
Underdog: Sometimes referred to as the “dog,” this is who bookmakers think will lose.
W
Wager: This refers to any type of bet.
Applying the Sports Betting Terminology
Now you’ve got the basics down, you’re ready to start wagering. Circa | Sports is the ultimate sportsbook in Las Vegas for sports betting. It’s the largest of its kind and the best place to be if you’re a sports fan. Stop by Golden Gate, the D, or soon at Circa Resort in Downtown Las Vegas to place your bets in person. Can’t make it into the sportsbook? Download the Circa | Sports app on iOS or Android to have your bookie right in your pocket and bet wherever you are in Nevada.
Whether in person or on the app, join Circa | Sports for your premier place to bet on all sports in Vegas.
Internet sports betting will use a lot of gambling terms that you may not be familiar with as a lot of the language comes from the 'street' language of old school bookies. The following is a Glossary of Gambling Terms for: NFL betting, College Football betting, NCAA Football betting, Baseball Betting, MMA Betting, UFC betting, Boxing wagering, NHL betting, NBA betting, NCAA Basketball betting, College Basketball Betting and other major sports. You will find all the major terms that Internet sportsbooks use in posting their betting lines.
Gambling Terminology
Slang for gambling is hard, but we’re here to help! Gambling terms vary far and wide, but we have assembled a gambling terminology glossary here. All the gambling terminology and gambler slang you could ever find will be made clear here. You’ll be speaking the gambling vocabulary after a quick review of this page in no time, including betting terms, and slang for gambling itself. Most of these are specific to sports betting, but still find their way to other areas online. Whether you’re into NCAA Football betting, NFL betting, NCAA Basketball betting, College Basketball Betting, College Football betting, Baseball Betting, MMA Betting, UFC betting, Boxing wagering, NHL betting, NBA betting, or all other major sports, you’ll be speaking gambler lingo in no time! This can be particularly challenging without help, as sports betting lingo, bet slang, betting jargon, betting lingo, betting acronyms, sports betting terminology, and specifically basketball betting terms all have very specific sports betting terms that need to be mastered to even make a bet! Football betting terms and football betting terminology in particular can be challenging, but we’ve got you covered there too:
Action
- Any time you make a bet, this counts as an action.
Added Game
- Any betting line not typically part of the usual pool of games to bet on in the Las Vegas rotation, but is included to benefit those making wagers with a bookie.
ATS
- The ATS betting term means Against The Spread. This is when you’re betting on the underdog team to win by a wide margin, and along with it, ample winnings.
Bet
- Any time you put down money on the outcome of a sporting event, you’re betting.
Book
- Originally, bookies were the ones that took bets on sporting events. Book is short for any sportsbook or related group that takes these bets.
Bookie
- The original term that started them all, a bookie is someone that takes bets on sporting events.
Bookmaker
- Another term referencing a bookie that takes bets on sporting events.
Buck
- A $100 bet, being an example of a sports betting slang term.
Buy (Points)
- If you are willing to pay more for it, you can get a half point or more in your favor on any point spread you bet on.
Canadian Line
- Alternatively called a Puck Line, this is a mixture of a Point Spread and Moneyline.
Chalk
- Another slang term, this one meaning the favored side to win.
Chalk Player
- Anyone that typically bets on the favored side and never on underdogs.
Circled Game
- Events of this kind have lower betting limits and limitations on how many people can get so a bookie won’t carry as much risk. Sometimes called a Red Circle box. This happens when unintended circumstances may adversely effect the outcome of an event, such as player injuries, unusual weather conditions, and games being unexpectedly added. Doesn’t include parlays and teaser wagers.
Cover
- Any time a point spread is won.
Dime Bet
- Another betting slang term that means a $1000 bet is placed.
Dimeline
- When the favored party and the underdog only differ on their moneyline by 10 cents, such as the Yankees and Red Socks. This is used in baseball to attract eager gamblings looking for a decent risk to reward ratio.
Dog
- The underdog not favored to win in an event.
Dog Player
- A gambler that typically bets on the underdog.
Dollar Bet
- Another betting slang term, here meaning $100. It’s the same as “Buck,” and they are used interchangeably just like the terms are outside of gambling.
Even Money
- Any wager with 1:1 odds, meaning there is no juice or vigorish.
Exotic Wager
- Wagers that aren’t Straight Bets or Parlays count as exotic wagers, such as Teasers, Sweetheart Teasers, IF bet, Reverses, and Prop bets.
Favorite
- Any side expected to win an event. The opposite of the dog or underdog.
Fifth Inning Line (5 Inn.)
- Any bet placed on only the initial 5 innings of any baseball game.
Fifty Cents
- Another betting slang term that means a $50 bet.
First Half Bet (1H)
- Bets placed on a football or basketball game that only account for the score up to halftime.
Future
- The betting odds calculated in advanced on future sporting events.
Getting Value
- Gambling vocabulary for the best odds on betting line.
Grand Salami
- The Total of goals scored in all hockey games played on the same day.
Grading
- After you bet and the event has been decided, this is when the amount is put into your account.
Half a Dollar
- Another piece of gambling slang for a $50 wager.
Half Time Bet (2H)
- The opposite of a First Half Bet, this is any bet placed on the second half of a football or basketball game.
Handicapper
- These are the people that look at all available information on a sporting event, and calculate the odds of the outcome.
Handicapping
- This is the act of the above when calculating the outcome of an event.
Handle
- The gross total of bets taken by a bookie on a sporting event.
Hedging
- Betting on both sides of an event to keep losses at a minimum or guarantee a bare minimum amount of winnings. Considered to be a safe betting strategy that sacrifices maximum winnings for protection from losses.
Hook
- When half a point is added to football or basketball betting through gamblers buying points. Also referred to as buying the “hook”.
Hot Game
- Any game attracting the attention of many professional handicappers.
Juice
- A bookie’s commission on the bets made, which is referred to as the “vigorish” as well. A standard juice is typically 10%.
Laying the Points
- Betting on the favorite in any point spread betting line.
Limit
- A hard limit placed on the total betting amount for any event.
Line
- The present betting odds on any event. Lines like these are always updated in real time.
Linemaker
- Someone at a bookmaker that establishes an original betting line and all subsequent betting lines stemming from it.
Longshot
- Any side of a sporting event unlikely to win, similar to the underdog.
Middle
- A strategy of betting on both sides of an event at different amounts. Called the “middle the game” someone wins, and similar to Hedging.
MMA
- Stands for Mixed Martial Arts.
Moneyline
- Any betting odds where the wager is settled when one side of an event wins. An example would be a -120 team requiring $120 to win $100 when that team won.
Nickel Line
- This is when the commission a bookie receives on a betting line is 5%. Also called reduced juice.
Nickel
- A betting slang term for a $500 wager.
No Action
- When a bet is cancelled because the event did not happen (i.e. rain out in MLB). All money is returned to bettor.
Odds
- How likely different outcomes of a sporting event are, which largely tends to determine the winnings potential.
Off The Board
- When a bookie closes open betting for an event.
Oddsmaker
- The one that determines the odds of a sporting event.
One Dollar
- Another gambling betting slang term for wagering $100.
Opening Line
- The initial betting line made public by a bookie for a sporting event.
Over
- A bet placed on the total scores of both teams in a sporting event combined. Typically, bets are made that it will be above a specified total amount.
Parlay
- Betting on two or more teams at a time. All teams must win in order to receive the highest payout. If one team loses, it is considered a loss.
Pick ‘em
- An event where no side of a sporting event is favored to win. Sometimes called a ‘Pick’.
Point Spread
- Using the handicap chosen by the bookmakers, this determines how much will be awarded to winning bets.
Press
- Betting in an amount that is far higher than a typical wager.
Price
- Determined by the point spread or the odds given on a moneyline.
Prop (Proposition) Bet
- Betting on two or more outcomes that have nothing to do with an event’s final score or winning team. They tend to be placed on specific players, an entire sport, political occurrences, celebrity gossip, and related things.
Push
- This occurs when no one wins a wager. Wagers in this case are returned.
Quarter Line (1Q, 2Q, 3Q, 4Q)
- Any bet placed on a specific quarter in a basketball or football game.
Reverse Bet
- This occurs when two IF bets are placed.
Risk
- The amount that is bet on a particular sporting event.
Round Robin
- A style of tournament that allows many parlays to occur at the same time.
Run Down
- A summary of the betting lines determined for a specific date, sport, or time.
Run Line
- Particular to Baseball, this is their version of a Point Spread.
Sharp
- A gambling term for professional or highly experienced bettors.
Sides
- The teams in a sporting event.
Single
- A simple wager.
Sportsbook
- Much like a bookie, any company accepting bets, in this case on sporting events.
Spread
- A short reference used in the same fashion as a Point Spread. Usually posted by the line maker, this is determined by the odds of the outcomes of a sporting event.
Square
- Someone new to betting on sports.
Standard Line
- When a betting line is -110 for all sides. Standard lines have 10% juice.
Steam
- When a betting line changes and is reposted because of how popular it is among bettors.
Stake
- The specific amount of a placed bet.
Staight Bet
- A bet placed on a single sporting event.
Straight Up (SU) Bet
- When a bet is won despite the point spread. This is commonly known as a moneyline wager as well.
Sweetheart Teaser
- A teaser which brings together 3 or 4 football or basketball bets and allows for gamblers to adjust their total and point spread in their favor.
Sports Betting Terminology
Taking The Points
- Wagering on the underdog in the Point Spread.
Taking The Price
- Wagering on the underdog in the Moneyline.
Teaser
- A parlay that allows for an increased point spread or total in exchange for reduced payout odds.
Ticket
- Used interchangeably with wager because real world sports betting used to involve giving tickets as proof of a wager. Many still do, such as horse races!
Tie
- Also known as a Push. Risk amount of wager is returned to the bettor.
Total
- The score of both teams in an event combined, including any overtime.
Totals Bet
- A bet made on the total score of both teams added together.
Tout
- Someone selling services as a sports handicapper.
Under
- A bet on the sum score of all teams in a sporting event with the Total amount being under a certain value. The opposite of an Over.
Underdog
- Any team expected to lose an event. Also called the “dog”.
Value
- Getting the best possible odds on a wager.
Vig or Vigorish
- A bookmaker’s commission. Also called the “juice,” which is assumed to be at least 10% on a losing wager.
Wager
- Risking money on the outcome of an event. Also called a bet.
Wise Guy
Understanding Sports Betting Terminology
- A highly successful sports bettor.
You’re Now a Sports Betting Terms Definition Master!
Sports Betting Terminology Wikipedia
With the knowledge you’ve gained here on gambling terms for sports, slang for gamblers, and betting terminology, you’re now fully equipped to bet like a Wise Guy, beat the Spread, and walk away a winner with any Bookie you happen to Wager with. Best of luck in your Sports Betting!