| 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 re-betting money |
| CIRCLE GAME - Game where action is limited due to uncertainties about weather, injuries, etc. |
| COVER - Win by more than the point spread |
| DEGENERATE - Compulsive gambler |
| 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 rewarded for his action. |
| FORM - What performance is to be expected according to how a team looks on paper. |
| GET DOWN - Make a bet 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 reduces 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. |
| 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. |
| 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. |
| UNDERLAY - When the odds on a proposition are in favor of the house. |
| VALUE - An overlay |
| VIGORISH - See Juice |
| WISE GUY - Established and successful sports bettor. |
