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Action: A wager of any kind on a game.

 

Against the Spread (ATS): A team's record against the point spread.

 

Arbitrage: Betting different sides of a game at different markets in order to lock in a profit.

 

Backdoor Cover: When a team scores unexpectedly at the end of the game to cover the spread.

 

Bankroll: Funds to bet with.

 

Book: A person or place that takes bets; short for "sportsbook" or "bookmaker".

 

Bookie: A person that takes bets and charges vig (usually an illegal enterprise).

 

Bookmaker: A person who sets lines and takes bets.

 

Buying Points: Additional points offered by a sportsbook in correlation to the posted line which the bettor can purchase through increased vigorish.

 

Chalk: The favorite in the game.

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Circle Game: A game with lower betting limits.

 

Closing Line: The last line offered by a sportsbook before the game begins.

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Consensus Pick: The majority percentage of wagered plays in a given game.

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Contrarian Betting: Betting against the public.

 

Cover: An outcome of a game in which the team won or loss less than the point spread.

 

Dime: $1,000 bet

 

Dog: Short for underdog.

 

Dollar: $100 bet

 

Draw: When the result of a game lands on the spread and all wagers are refunded; also known as a "draw".

 

Edge: An advantage.

 

Even Money: Odds offered without vigorish. +/-100 odds.

 

Exotic: Not a straight or parlay bet; also known as a "proposition" or "prop" wager.

 

Favorite: The team expected to win a game based upon the point spread/odds.

 

Field: Teams or players not listed in a proposition bet.

 

Futures Bet: A long term wager, usually season long.

 

Grand Salami: The total runs/goals that will be accumulated across an entire league on a given day.

 

Handicapper: A bettor who attempts to predict the winner of a game.

 

Handle: All the money wagered on a game at a sportsbook.

 

Hedging: Placing a wager opposite a previously placed bet in order to cut losses or guarantee profit.

 

Hook: Half-point

 

In-game Wager: Odds offered during a game by a sportsbook.

 

Juice: Commission taken by the bookmaker; also known as "vig" or "vigorish".

 

Key Numbers: Margins in a game that occur most often.

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Laying Points: Betting the favorite.

 

Limit: Maximum bet permitted by a sportsbook.

 

Lines: Odds

 

Lock: A guaranteed winner.

 

Middle: When a bettor tries to bet before and after a line move in an attempt to win both sides with limited risk.

 

Moneyline: A bet which can be won if the team wins irrespective of the point spread.

 

Mush: A bettor who is bad luck.

 

Nickel: A $500 bet.

 

Oddsmaker: A person who sets the lines; also known as a linemaker and bookmaker.

 

Off the Board: Odds that are no longer offered by a bookmaker.

 

Over/Under: The cumulative amount of points that both teams score in a game; also known as the "total".

 

Parlay: A wager in which multiple teams are bet simultaneously with increased odds.

 

Pick 'Em: A game that does not have a favorite or underdog.

 

Point Spread: The number of points a favorite is expected to beat the underdog; also known as the "spread".

 

Proposition (Prop) Bet: A nontraditional bet on a game or a player; also known as "exotic".

 

Puck Line: Additional goals added to a hockey game with increased or diminished odds.

 

Push: When the result of a game lands on the spread and all wagers are refunded; also known as a "draw".

 

Return on Investment (ROI): Gains or losses on a wager(s).

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Reverse Line Movement: A line move opposite of the higher betting percentage.

 

Run Line: Additional runs added to a baseball game with increased or diminished odds.

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Runner: A person who places bets for another person; also known as a "beard".

 

Sharp: A professional sports bettor.

 

Square: An amateur, uninformed bettor.

 

Straight Up: The anticipated winner of a game, a moneyline wager.

 

Steam: Line movement in reaction to a syndicate of bettors wagers.

 

Stick: 1 million dollars

 

Teaser: Betting multiple teams simultaneously with adjusted point spreads and diminished odds.

 

Total: The accumulated score between teams in a given game; also known as "over/under".

 

Tout: Someone who sells picks.

 

Underdog: The team expected to lose a game based upon the point spread; also known as a "dog".

 

Units: A standard denomination of a wager usually 1-5% of a bettor's bankroll.

 

Vig/Vigorish: Commission taking by a bookmaker; also known as the "juice".

 

Wager: A bet

 

Wiseguy: A professional bettor; also known as a "sharp".