Gaming Terms

ACTION
A bet
ATS
Against the spread
B.R.
Bankroll
BAD BEAT
Tough loss
BEARD
Messenger bettor
BEEF
Dispute
BUCK
$100
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
DEGENERATE
Compulsive gambler
DIME
$1,000
DOLLAR
$100
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.

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.
GET DOWN
Make a bet
GOY
Game of the Year
GROSS WIN
Win before expenses
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.

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.
LINE
The betting proposition on a game and/or payoff odds on the bet.
LN
Last Night
LONGSHOT
Large underdog

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.
ML
Moneyline


NEUTRAL SITE
Arena, court or field where neither side has a home field advantage.
NICKEL
$500

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.
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

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

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.

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").
TY
This Year

UNDERLAY
When the odds on a proposition are in favor of the house.


VALUE
An overlay
VIGORISH


WISE GUY
Established and successful sports bettor.