Across the Board: A method of wagering on a horse to win, place and show.
Action: A baseball wager where no pitcher is specified. Also refers to the number of wagers being placed on a certain event.
ATS (Against the Spread): A method of referring to the result of an event that takes the point spread into Account. Also, the act of taking points rather than wagering with the spread, or "laying" points.
Bad Beat: A wager that loses unexpectedly. Football General Rules.
Beard: A friend or acquaintance used to place wagers, to conceal the true identity of the real wagerer. Book: An establishment that accepts wagers on the outcome of sporting events.
Buck: $100 (as in a "buck" wager).
Buy Points: An additional price to receive half a point or more in his/her favor on a point spread game. Canadian Line: A combination point spread and moneyline in hockey.
Chalk: The favored team, athlete or horse.
Chalk Player: Someone who usually only plays the favored teams, rarely wagering on the underdogs. Also known as a "chalkeater."
Circled Game: A game where the limits are lowered, or wagering options are restricted, usually due to injuries.
Cover: To beat the point spread by the required number of points. When you win, you have "covered the spread."
Dead Heat: When two or more horses finish in a tie.
Dime: $1,000.
Dime Line: A line where the juice is 10 percent.
Dog: Short for "underdog."
Dog Player: A wagerer who mostly plays the underdog.
Dollar: $100.
Double Action: An "if-bet" that is processed when the precedent wager wins, ties or cancels.
Double Bet: A wager for twice the size of one's usual wager; also known as "double pop" or "doubling up."
Edge: A person's advantage when it comes to sports wagering.
Even Money: A wager on which neither side lays any odds or vigorish.
Exotic: Any wager other than a straight bet or parlay, also called a prop or proposition.
Exposure: The maximum amount of money a sportsbook stands to lose on a game.
Favorite: The team expected to win an event. The quoted odds reflect the extent to which the choice is favored.
Fifty Cents: $50.
Final Four: The remaining four teams in the NCAA basketball tournament.
First Half Bet: A wager placed only on the first half of the game.
Futures: Wagers placed on an event or outcome taking place sometime in the future (e.g. wagering during the season on the Super Bowl winner.)
Getting Down: Making a wager.
Grand Salami: The grand total of goals scored in all the hockey games of the day. It can be wagered to go over/under.
Half-A-Dollar: $50
Half Time Bet: A wager placed only on the second half of the game.
Handicapper: One who studies and rates sporting events.
Handicapping: The attempt to predict the outcome of sporting events. Usually involves research.
Handle: The total amount of money wagered on an event or group of events.
Hedging: Placing wagers on the opposite side in order to cut losses or guarantee a minimum amount of winnings.
Hook: A half-point.
Hot Game: A game that is drawing a lot of "action" on one side from knowledgeable handicappers.
Juice: Commission earned by the office.
Laying the Points: Wagering on the favorite by giving up points.
Laying the Price: Wagering on the favorite by laying money odds.
Layoff: Money wagered by an office, with another office, to reduce liability.
Limit: The maximum amount an office will allow to be wagered before changing the odds and/or the points.
Lines: Another word for odds.
Linemaker: The person who establishes the original and subsequent wagering lines. Also known as "oddsmaker."
Listed Pitchers: A baseball wager which will be placed only if both pitchers scheduled to start a game actually start. If they don't, the wager is can- celled.
Lock: An easy winner.
Longshot: A team, athlete or horse perceived to be unlikely to win.
Middle: To win both sides of the same contest. Wagering on the underdog at one-point spread, and the favorite at a different point spread, to win both sides.
Moneyline: A wager where no point spread is involved.
Move the Line: A player pays an additional price to receive half a point or more in his/her favor on a point spread game.
Nickel: $500.
Nickel Line: A sports wagering line where the juice is five percent.
No Action: A wager in which no money is lost or won.
Off the Board: A game that offers no "action."
Outlaw Line: The earliest line in wagering. A limited overnight line.
Over/Under: A wager on whether the combined total of the points/goals scored by two teams exceeds, or be less than, a specified number.
Parlay: A wager on two or more teams, or outcomes, where the original stake and winnings are reinvested on the next wager. All selections must be correct for the parlay to win. In the event of a "push" or a game cancellation, the parlay reverts to the next lower number (e.g. a 4-team parlay becomes a 3-team parlay).
Pick 'em: A game where neither team is favored.
Point Spread: The handicap that the favorite gives to the underdog for wagering purposes.
Press: To wager a larger amount than usual.
Prop (Proposition): A special wager offered on unique and various topics.
Price: The odds or point spread.
Puckline: Odds of a goal spread in hockey instead of using a Canadian Line, where both a goal spread and moneyline are played. Puppy: The underdog.
Push: When a contest ends with no winner or loser for wagering purposes.
Round Robin: A series of 3 or more teams in 2-team parlays.
Run Down: All the lines for a specific date, sport, time, etc.
Runline: In baseball, a spread used instead of the moneyline.
Sharp: A sophisticated or professional wagerer.
Sides: The two teams or athletes playing: the underdog and the favorite.
Single Action: An "if-bet" that's processed only if the first wager wins.
Spread: An abbreviated form of "point spread."
Square: A novice when it comes to sports wagering.
Steam: When a line starts to move rapidly.
Store: A sports wagering establishment.
Straight Bet: A wager on just one team, athlete or horse.
Taking the Points: Wagering the underdog.
Taking the Price: Wagering the underdog and accepting money odds.
Teaser: A wager on 2 or more teams where the line is adjusted. Like a parlay, all selections must be correct for the teaser to win. Ticket: A sports wager.
Tie: A wager in which no money is lost or won because the teams' scores were equal to the number of points in the given line. Total: The combined number of runs, points, or goals scored by both teams during a game, including overtime (see over/under). Totals: A proposition in which the wagerer speculates that the total score in a game will be more or less than the line posted. Tout: Someone who sells his/her expertise on sports wagering.
Under: A wager in which total points scored by 2 teams will be under a certain figure.
Underdog: The team perceived to be most likely to lose. Also known as the "dog" for short.
Value: Getting the best odds on a wagering proposition; the highest possible edge.
Vigorish: Commission on a losing wager; also known as "juice" or "vig" for short.
Wiseguy: A well-informed or knowledgeable handicapper or wagerer.