Sports Betting: Glossary of Terms

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Action - A baseball wager where no pitcher is specified. Also refers to the number of bets being placed on a certain event.

All Bets Action: Certain proposition wagers will state that they are (All Bets Action). This means that even if the player does not play the bet is valid and will have action. If the player does not start/play the bet is valid and will be graded as a loss, due to the (All Bets Action) clause. 

ATS (Against The Spread) - A method of referring to the result of an event that takes the pointspread into account. Also, the act of taking points rather than betting with the spread, or "laying" points.

Buck - $100 (as in a "buck" bet).

Buy (Points) - When a player pays an additional price to receive half a point or more in his favor on a pointspread game.

Canadian Line - A combination pointspread and moneyline in hockey.

Circled Game - A game where the limits are lowered, or betting options are restricted, usually due to injuries.

Cover - To beat the pointspread 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."

Dollar - $100.

Double Bet - A wager for twice the size of one's usual wager; also known as "double pop" or "doubling up."

DQ (Boxing) means disqualification through persistent rule breaking and foul play.

Even Money - A wager on which neither side lays any odds or vigorish.

Favorite - The team expected to win an event. The quoted odds reflect the extent to which the choice is favored.

Field: A bet on Field (any other player) means that you are placing a bet on any player/team not included in the list shown for the bet.

Final Four - The remaining four teams in the NCAA basketball tournament.

Futures - Bets placed on an event or outcome taking place some time in the future (e.g. betting during the season on the Super Bowl winner).

Grand Salami - The grand total of goals scored in all the hockey games of the day. It can be wagered to go Over/Under.

Handicapper - One who studies and rates sporting events.

Handicapping - The attempt to predict the outcome of sporting events. Usually involves research.

Juice - The commission the bookie earns.

KO (Boxing) means knockout and is when a fighter falls to the ground and is unable to get up within 10 seconds.

Lines - Another word for odds.

Listed (Baseball): The two pitchers listed as the pitchers of the game must start the game, or the bet will be no-actioned and your stake will be returned to your balance.

Matchup Wagers: Matchups are odds based on how one person/team will compare with another in the same or a similar event.  The two selections do not necessarily have to play each other in a win/lose situation, the grading is determined by one selections relative performance to the other.

For sport-specific matchup information please check our sport-specific rules section.

Moneyline - A wager where no pointspread is involved.

Nickel - $500.

Nickel Line - A sports wagering line where the juice is five percent.

No Action - A wager in which no money is lost nor won.

Off the Board - A game that the bookmaker is not offering action on at that moment.

Opposing (Baseball):  The pitcher for the opposing team against which you are betting must start the game.  If he doesn’t start your wager will be no-actioned your stake will be returned to your balance.

Over/Under - A bet on whether the combined total of the points/goals scored by the two teams will exceed or be less than a specified number.

Pick 'em - A game where neither team is favored.

Pointspread - The handicap, or head start, which the favorite gives to the underdog for betting purposes.

Prop (Proposition) Bet - A special wager offered by the sportsbook on unique and various topics. These wagers can be on sporting events, politics, and even trial outcomes. The wagers use the moneyline format of payoff odds and might include who scores the first touchdown in the Super Bowl, who will win the next presidential election, or whether or not someone on trial will be found guilty.

Puckline - Giving odds of a goal spread in hockey instead of using a Canadian Line, where both a goal spread and moneyline are played.

Push - When a contest ends with no winner or loser for wagering purposes.

Runline - In baseball, a spread used instead of the moneyline.

Selected (Baseball):  The pitcher for the team on which you are betting must start the game.  If he doesn’t start your wager will be no-actioned your stake will be returned to your balance.

Sides - The two teams or athletes playing - the underdog and the favorite.

Single Action - An "if bet" that's processed only if the precedent bet wins.

Spread - An abbreviated form of "pointspread."

Straight Bet - A wager on just one team, athlete or horse.

Ticket - A sports betting wager.

Tie - A wager in which no money is lost nor won because the teams' scores were equal to the number of points in the given line.

TKO (Boxing) means technical knockout and is when the referee considers a fighter to be too injured to continue.  

Total - The combined amount of runs, points or goals scored by both teams during the game, including the overtime (see Over/Under).

Totals Bet - A proposition bet in which the bettor speculates that the total score by both teams in a game will be more or less than the line posted by the sportsbook.

Underdog - The team perceived to be most likely to lose. Also known as the "dog" for short.