Glossary

Sports betting glossary

Every term that matters, defined in plain English with real numbers. 41 entries, each one linking to a full explainer rather than a one-line gloss.

A

ActionBasics

Having a bet on a game. If you have action on a matchup, you have money riding on it.

B

Backdoor coverSlang

A late score that has no effect on who wins the game but flips the point spread.

Bad beatSlang

A bet that loses in an unlikely or brutal way after looking won.

BankrollMoney

The total money you have set aside for betting, separate from everything else.

C

ChalkSlang

The favorite. Betting chalk means backing the side expected to win.

Closing lineMarket moves

The final price a market trades at before the event starts.

Closing line valuealso CLVMarket moves

The gap between the price you took and the price the market closed at.

CoverBasics

Beating the point spread, as opposed to simply winning the game.

D

DimeMoney

A $1,000 bet.

F

FadeBasics

To bet against something: a team, a trend, or another bettor's pick.

FavoriteBasics

The side the market expects to win, shown with a minus sign.

Futures betBet types

A bet on an outcome decided later in a season, like a championship winner.

G

Garbage timeSlang

The end of a decided game, when the result is settled but the spread is not.

H

HandleMoney

The total amount of money bet on an event, market or sportsbook.

HoldMoney

The share of all money wagered that a sportsbook keeps.

HookSlang

The half point on a spread or total.

J

Juicealso Vig, VigorishOdds & prices

The sportsbook's built-in margin on a bet. Also called vig or vigorish.

K

Key numbersOdds & prices

The margins football games land on most often, above all 3 and 7.

L

LimitMoney

The most a book will accept on a bet or market.

Line movementMarket moves

A change in the price or number on a market between opening and close.

LiquidityMoney

How much money is available to bet against at a given price.

M

Market makerMarket moves

A book or trader that posts the original prices others follow.

MiddleBet types

Betting both sides at different numbers so both can win if the result lands between them.

MoneylineBet types

A bet on who wins outright, with no spread involved.

O

Off the boardMarket moves

A game with no betting available, usually because of uncertainty.

P

ParlayBet types

One bet combining multiple legs, where every leg must win.

Pick'emBasics

A game with no spread, where you simply choose the winner.

Point spreadBet types

A handicap that levels two unequal teams by adding or removing points.

Prop betBet types

A bet on something inside a game rather than on the result.

Public moneyMarket moves

Bets from casual bettors, usually concentrated on favorites and overs.

PushBasics

A tie against the number, where your stake is returned.

R

Reverse line movementMarket moves

A line moving against the side most bets are on.

Round robinBet types

A set of smaller parlays built automatically from a list of picks.

S

SharpSlang

A winning, professional bettor, or the money they bet.

SquareSlang

A casual or inexperienced bettor. The opposite of a sharp.

SteamMarket moves

A fast, sharp line move across many books at once.

T

TeaserBet types

A multi-leg bet where every spread moves in your favour for a shorter price.

TotalBet types

A bet on the combined score of both teams, over or under a number.

U

UnderdogBasics

The side expected to lose, shown with a plus sign.

UnitMoney

A standard bet size, used so results can be compared regardless of bankroll.

V

Vigalso Vigorish, JuiceOdds & prices

The margin a sportsbook builds into its prices. Also called juice.

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