| JUICE |
Bookmaker's commission, also known as the vig or vigorish. |
| LAYING THE POINTS |
Betting on the favorite. A.K.A. lay a price |
| LAYOFF BET |
A bet made by one bookmaker with another in order to balance the action and reduce the risk on one side. |
| LIMIT |
The maximum bet accepted by a house or bookmaker before he changes odds and/or the points. |
| LINE |
The listed odds on a game and/or payoff odds on the bet. |
| LINEMAKER |
The person who establishes the original and subsequent betting lines. |
| LOCK |
A sure winner. |
| LONGSHOT |
A large underdog where the odds of winning is quite steep. Hence the term "Not by a longshot". |
| "THE MAN" |
The Bookmaker. |
| MIDDLES |
To win both sides of a game. |
| MONEY LINE |
The odds expressed in terms of money. |
| NEUTRAL SITE |
Venue of a sporting event where neither side has a home field advantage. |
| NEWSPAPER LINE |
The betting lines appearing in the daily newspapers. |
| NICKEL |
A $500 wager. |
| ODDSMAKER |
The same as a linemaker. |
| ODDS ON FAVORITE |
A horse, team or individual so favored by the public that the odds are less than even. |
| OFF THE BOARD |
A game on which no bets are accepted. |
| OFF LINES |
The difference of amount the Las Vegas pointspread has compared with the computerized mathematical line. |
| OFFICIAL LINE |
The line that the bookmaker uses for wagering purposes. |
| OUT |
An illegal bookmaker |
| OUTLAW LINE |
An early line which is not an official line |
| OVERLAY |
When the odds of a given proposition are more in favor of the bettor than the house. |
| OVER & UNDER |
A wager for the total score by both teams will more or less than the total posted by the sports book. |
| PARLAY |
A bet with two or more teams where all the teams beat on must win in order for the bettor to win the wager. |
| PAST PERFORMANCE |
What has occurred previously to the forthcoming games. |
| PAST POST |
To make a bet after the event has begun. |
| PICK'EM GAME |
A game where team is favored. |
| PLAYER |
A bettor, or gambler |
| POINTSPREAD |
The amount of points the bettor must give to take on any given game. |
| POST TIME |
The scheduled starting time. |
| PRACTICAL HOLD PERCENTAGE |
The amount won by a bookmaker divided by the total amount booked. |
| PRESS |
Betting a larger amount than usual. |
| PRICE |
The odds or pointspread. |
| PROPOSITION BET |
A wager on a particular aspect of the game such as how many field goals will be made. |
| PUPPY |
The underdog. |
| PUSH |
Where neither team wins and all money is returned to the bettors. |
| ROUND ROBIN |
A form of parlay betting in which we wager various combining team wagers. A 3-team robin is team 1 to 2, 1 to 3, and 2 to 3. 4-team robin is team 1 to 2, 1 to 3, 1 to 4, 2 to 3, 2 to 4, and 3 to 4. 5-team, etc. |
| RUN DOWN |
A line update. |
| RUNNER |
A.K.A. Beard |
| SCALPER |
A person 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 big. |
| SCRATCH |
To withdraw or cancel a wager. |
| SCOUTS |
Person(s) who study team plays and/or practice and report findings to handicappers. |
| SIDE |
Winning one side of a wager and tieing the other side. |
| SMART MONEY |
Sides that are bet on by the more knowledgeable handicappers. |
| SPORT PLAYER |
A person who waits for what he thinks is an unusually strong wager. |
| SQUARE |
Unsophisticated gambler. |
| STAR |
Rating. |
| STEAM |
When heavy action occurs on one side. |
| STRAIGHT BET |
A bet on just one team. |
| THE STORE |
Bookie. |
| STUCK |
Behind, losing, buried, down for the week. |
| SUCKER BET |
Betting on the underdog. |
| 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 bonus. |
| TOSS UP |
A game where the line is close to pick-em. |
| TOUT SERVICE |
A business that sells opinions on sports or horse wagers. |
| TRIPLE SHARP |
The sharpest of the sharp. |
| UNDERLAY |
Having the odds of a proposition lean in favor of the house. |
| VALUE |
Getting the best available odds on a betting proposition. |
| VIRGORISH |
The commission the bookmaker receives. |
| WAGER |
Any Bet. |
| WISE GUY |
A sophisticated and successful sports bettor. |
