Use this A-Z sports betting glossary to understand the most common jargon used by betting professionals and sportsbooks. A basic knowledge of common sports betting terminology is one of the first steps to becoming a savvy bettor. Our team of experts has compiled a glossary of common sports betting terms you need to know before placing your bets at our recommended betting sites.
A-Z Sports Betting Terms
Accumulator/Acca - A type of bet where you combine multiple bets into one. All your chosen bets (or selections) must win for you to win the accumulator bet. The more bets you add, the higher the potential payout.
Action - Placing a bet on a game.
American Odds - An odds style showing how much money you can win or need to bet in order to make a profit. Positive odds show how much you can win from a $100 bet, while negative odds show how much you need to bet to win $100.
Example: Positive odds (+200): If you bet $100, you can win $200 if your bet is successful., Negative odds (-150): You need to bet $150 to win $100 if your bet is successful.
Arbitrage/Arb - You place bets on all possible outcomes of an event with different bookmakers, ensuring a guaranteed profit no matter what happens. Learn more about arbitrage betting by reading our article explaining all you need to know about this popular strategy. Discover more about arbitrage betting in our post explaining everything you need to know.
Asian Handicap - A type of bet used in sports, especially football, where one team is given a head start or a disadvantage to make the game more even. Instead of just betting on which team wins, you bet on the outcome with that advantage or disadvantage applied. Check out JohnnyBet’s Asian handicap betting 101 article to learn more.
Back - Choosing the player/team/participant you believe will be the winner in a game or event.
Banker - A bet that you strongly believe will win. It's considered a safe or reliable bet, often placed in combination with other bets to increase the potential payout.
Betting Exchange - A peer-to-peer network where bettors can offer each other wagers, so customers of betting exchanges bet between themselves.
Bookie - Short for bookmaker, the person or company licensed to offer odds and accept bets from bettors.
Cash Out - A quick and easy to use tool, ‘Cash Out’ is a function which is available with most betting providers and allows the bettor to take a profit before an event has completed.
Chalk - The favorite in the game/event. People said to be “chalk” bettors typically bet for the favorite.
Clean Sheet - Occurs in a match when a team or goalkeeper prevents the opposing side from scoring.
Closing Line - The final odds or point spread for a game right before it starts. It’s the last version of the betting line after all the updates, news, and betting activity.
Dead Heat - When 2 or more competitors (like horses, teams, or players) finish in a tie in a race or event, and they are awarded the same position. If your selection is involved in a Dead Heat, your bet is usually split, and you receive a smaller payout than if your selection had won outright.
Decimal Odds - Typically the format used to express odds in Europe. Decimal odds show how much you can win for every €1 you bet, including your original bet.
For example, if the odds are 2.00, for every €1 you bet, you’ll get back €2 if you win.
Double - A "Double" bet involves two different selections bundled together in one bet. If the bettor makes two winning selections, they win and get a greater payout than they would if they have just placed two separate single bets.
Drift - The process of odds moving outwards (increasing) before the start of an event.
Dutching - A strategy where you place multiple bets on different outcomes (like different horses or teams) in the same event, so that if any of your selections win, you still make a profit.
Each Way - Typically used in horse racing, an “each-way” bet involves 2 bets in one: a win bet – the horse to win the race and a place bet – the same horse to finish in a top position. If your horse wins, you win both bets. If your horse only places (finishes 2nd, 3rd, etc.), you still win the place bet, but not the win bet. We have published an each-way betting guide for anyone still unsure about how it works.
Early Price - Odds offered in advance.
Evens - The odds are 1 to 1 (1/1), which would be 2.00 in the decimal odds format or +100 in the American odds format. A $1 stake at evens would return $2 (you win the same amount as your stake).
Exotic - A type of bet that is more complex than a standard bet. It usually involves betting on multiple outcomes or combinations of events happening at once.
Favorite - The team, horse, player, or participant that is most likely to win an event or match, according to the odds (has the lowest odds).
Form - The performance history of an athlete, player, horse, greyhound or team. The level at which the selection usually performs or has recently performed.
Fractional Odds - The standard way of writing odds in the UK. Fractional odds allow you to calculate your potential profit not including your stake. A successful bet at 6/1 with a £2 stake earns you £12, plus you get the stake back, so your ‘returns’ are £14 in that case. We have included an odds calculator in our article explaining how to compare betting odds, so you can try it out and see how fractional odds are calculated in different formats.
Futures - Bets common in the US where prices are offered in advance of an event, similar to ante-post type of bets, but futures can include bets placed shortly before, or even during an event.
Going - How the state of the ground/surface is described in horse racing. The going is good or hard or soft and so on. Different horses suit different conditions so this is crucial to prices.
Handicap (Betting) - System of virtually adding or removing points from a predicted outcome to make a one-sided event more attractive to a bettor. For example a stronger team starting with a one goal disadvantage. See our “3-way Handicap Betting Explained” guide to learn more about one of the most popular betting handicaps.
Handicap (Racing) - Common in horse racing, handicap races see horses carry different weights in order to encourage closer competition. Better horses carry heavier weights to even out the field. Check out our handicap in horse racing article to discover how it works in greater detail.
Head to Head - Head to head betting refers to a betting market with two possible outcomes, being either one of the two players/teams to win. There are some situations where head to head betting will include a third betting market, a draw/tie.
Hedging - The terms ‘Hedging Your Bets’ or “Hedge Betting”, involves placing multiple bets on the same market, taking advantage of variations in the market.
High Roller - A high-stakes gambler.
Index - Bet type where winnings and losses are not fixed but based on the accuracy of a prediction.
In-Game/In-Play - Also simply called “Live Betting”, is a process by which you place a bet once an event, race or match has already begun. In-play prices are likely to change quickly and often and will usually differ from the starting price. We recommend reading JohnnyBet’s “Live Betting Tips” post to gain some valuable insights from the experts.
Juice - The commission the sports betting site takes for itself.
Lay - To lay a bet is to back something not to happen.
Limit - The maximum amount of money taken by a company licensed to offer odds and accepting bets.
Line - A single bet (when you bet on just one outcome of an event).
Lock - A guaranteed win in the eyes of a person who put money on a bet.
Long Shot - A selection with high odds that is unlikely to win. Can also be called an “Outsider” in certain countries.
Matched Betting - The process when two bettors agree on both the amount to risk and the potential loss of a bet.
Moneyline - A bet in which your selection only needs to win.
Multiple - Bets involving more than one selection, doubles (a single combining two selections), trebles (a single bet combining three selections), etc.
Mush - A bettor or gambler who is considered to be bad luck.
Nailed On - A bet that is considered a certainty to win.
Novelty - Also called a “Special”, this refers to betting markets for unique events not from the world of sports available on sportsbooks.
Off the Board - When the company accepting a bet on sports events has taken a bet down and is no longer accepting bets to be placed on the outcome of the event.
Overround - The sum total of all the odds on the outcome of an event.
Over/Under - A bet on the total number of points (or goals, runs, etc.) that both teams will score combined. It doesn't matter who wins or loses. This is particularly popular in football/soccer betting, check out our “Football Over/Under Tips” article to learn more about the market and how to utilize this method in your bets.
Parlay - A type of bet where you combine two or more separate bets into one single bet — but you only win if all of your picks are correct. Also called an “Accumulator”.
Pick - A term for individual or multiple selections. Also called a prediction.
Point Spread - A number of points the favorite has to win by, or the underdog has to stay within, for the bet to win.
Proposition - Also called simply a “prop”, is a special bet on something that doesn’t directly relate to who wins or loses the game. It’s about betting on specific events or stats during a game — like a player scoring a touchdown, or how many points someone will get. Find out how prop bets work in our post explaining all you need to know about proposition bets.
Puck Line - This is hockey’s version of the point spread. When you bet on the puck line the favorite is given a -1.5 goal handicap, while the underdog is given a +1.5 goal advantage.
Result - Refers to the outcome or conclusion of the contest/competition/match. Predicting particular results is a popular method for bettors which you can learn more about in our “Exact Result Betting Tips” article.
Return - The total amount of money you get back if your bet wins (your winnings + your original bet).
Scalping - A strategy where you try to make small, quick profits by betting on both sides of an event, taking advantage of changes in the odds.
Sportsbook - An establishment that takes bets on sporting events and pays out winnings. Also called a bookmaker/book/bookie.
Spread Betting - Bet type where winnings and losses are not fixed but based on the accuracy of a prediction.
Stake - The amount of money wagered or bet.
Tipster - Someone who either gives or sells tips. You can play in our very own Tipsters League for free to win fantastic cash prizes and gadgets!
Treble - A bet which involves three selections on one bet, picked from three different events, and the bettor requires all three outcomes to be achieved to profit from the bet.
Tricast - A type of bet where you predict the 1st, 2nd, and 3rd place finishers in a race or event, in the exact order.
Trixie - A type of bet where you choose 3 selections, and it combines 4 smaller bets. Check out our “Trixie Betting Explained” article to learn more.
Underdog - A selection that is expected to lose, e.g. in football this may refer to a lower league club playing a higher league team.
Value - A situation where the odds offered on a bet are better than they should be. It’s when you think a bet has a higher chance of winning than the odds suggest.
Void Bet - A bet that is canceled and doesn’t count. This can happen for various reasons, like if the event is canceled, postponed, or if there’s a mistake in the bet.
Wager - A bet.
Weigh In - The process of weighing a fighter/horse to make sure they are within preassigned weight limits for the contest.
Winnings - The profit made from a bet, minus the initial stake.
Yankee - A type of bet where you make 4 selections and place 11 different bets on them.
Zoo - A mixture of very different selections or contestants in one event.
A-Z Sports Betting Glossary
Use this A-Z sports betting glossary to understand the most common jargon used by betting professionals and sportsbooks. A basic knowledge of common sports betting terminology is one of the first steps to becoming a savvy bettor. Our team of experts has compiled a glossary of common sports betting terms you need to know before placing your bets at our recommended betting sites.
A-Z Sports Betting Terms
Accumulator/Acca - A type of bet where you combine multiple bets into one. All your chosen bets (or selections) must win for you to win the accumulator bet. The more bets you add, the higher the potential payout.
Action - Placing a bet on a game.
American Odds - An odds style showing how much money you can win or need to bet in order to make a profit. Positive odds show how much you can win from a $100 bet, while negative odds show how much you need to bet to win $100.
Example: Positive odds (+200): If you bet $100, you can win $200 if your bet is successful., Negative odds (-150): You need to bet $150 to win $100 if your bet is successful.
Arbitrage/Arb - You place bets on all possible outcomes of an event with different bookmakers, ensuring a guaranteed profit no matter what happens. Learn more about arbitrage betting by reading our article explaining all you need to know about this popular strategy. Discover more about arbitrage betting in our post explaining everything you need to know.
Asian Handicap - A type of bet used in sports, especially football, where one team is given a head start or a disadvantage to make the game more even. Instead of just betting on which team wins, you bet on the outcome with that advantage or disadvantage applied. Check out JohnnyBet’s Asian handicap betting 101 article to learn more.
Back - Choosing the player/team/participant you believe will be the winner in a game or event.
Banker - A bet that you strongly believe will win. It's considered a safe or reliable bet, often placed in combination with other bets to increase the potential payout.
Betting Exchange - A peer-to-peer network where bettors can offer each other wagers, so customers of betting exchanges bet between themselves.
Bookie - Short for bookmaker, the person or company licensed to offer odds and accept bets from bettors.
Cash Out - A quick and easy to use tool, ‘Cash Out’ is a function which is available with most betting providers and allows the bettor to take a profit before an event has completed.
Chalk - The favorite in the game/event. People said to be “chalk” bettors typically bet for the favorite.
Clean Sheet - Occurs in a match when a team or goalkeeper prevents the opposing side from scoring.
Closing Line - The final odds or point spread for a game right before it starts. It’s the last version of the betting line after all the updates, news, and betting activity.
Dead Heat - When 2 or more competitors (like horses, teams, or players) finish in a tie in a race or event, and they are awarded the same position. If your selection is involved in a Dead Heat, your bet is usually split, and you receive a smaller payout than if your selection had won outright.
Decimal Odds - Typically the format used to express odds in Europe. Decimal odds show how much you can win for every €1 you bet, including your original bet.
For example, if the odds are 2.00, for every €1 you bet, you’ll get back €2 if you win.
Double - A "Double" bet involves two different selections bundled together in one bet. If the bettor makes two winning selections, they win and get a greater payout than they would if they have just placed two separate single bets.
Drift - The process of odds moving outwards (increasing) before the start of an event.
Dutching - A strategy where you place multiple bets on different outcomes (like different horses or teams) in the same event, so that if any of your selections win, you still make a profit.
Each Way - Typically used in horse racing, an “each-way” bet involves 2 bets in one: a win bet – the horse to win the race and a place bet – the same horse to finish in a top position. If your horse wins, you win both bets. If your horse only places (finishes 2nd, 3rd, etc.), you still win the place bet, but not the win bet. We have published an each-way betting guide for anyone still unsure about how it works.
Early Price - Odds offered in advance.
Evens - The odds are 1 to 1 (1/1), which would be 2.00 in the decimal odds format or +100 in the American odds format. A $1 stake at evens would return $2 (you win the same amount as your stake).
Exotic - A type of bet that is more complex than a standard bet. It usually involves betting on multiple outcomes or combinations of events happening at once.
Favorite - The team, horse, player, or participant that is most likely to win an event or match, according to the odds (has the lowest odds).
Form - The performance history of an athlete, player, horse, greyhound or team. The level at which the selection usually performs or has recently performed.
Fractional Odds - The standard way of writing odds in the UK. Fractional odds allow you to calculate your potential profit not including your stake. A successful bet at 6/1 with a £2 stake earns you £12, plus you get the stake back, so your ‘returns’ are £14 in that case. We have included an odds calculator in our article explaining how to compare betting odds, so you can try it out and see how fractional odds are calculated in different formats.
Futures - Bets common in the US where prices are offered in advance of an event, similar to ante-post type of bets, but futures can include bets placed shortly before, or even during an event.
Going - How the state of the ground/surface is described in horse racing. The going is good or hard or soft and so on. Different horses suit different conditions so this is crucial to prices.
Handicap (Betting) - System of virtually adding or removing points from a predicted outcome to make a one-sided event more attractive to a bettor. For example a stronger team starting with a one goal disadvantage. See our “3-way Handicap Betting Explained” guide to learn more about one of the most popular betting handicaps.
Handicap (Racing) - Common in horse racing, handicap races see horses carry different weights in order to encourage closer competition. Better horses carry heavier weights to even out the field. Check out our handicap in horse racing article to discover how it works in greater detail.
Head to Head - Head to head betting refers to a betting market with two possible outcomes, being either one of the two players/teams to win. There are some situations where head to head betting will include a third betting market, a draw/tie.
Hedging - The terms ‘Hedging Your Bets’ or “Hedge Betting”, involves placing multiple bets on the same market, taking advantage of variations in the market.
High Roller - A high-stakes gambler.
Index - Bet type where winnings and losses are not fixed but based on the accuracy of a prediction.
In-Game/In-Play - Also simply called “Live Betting”, is a process by which you place a bet once an event, race or match has already begun. In-play prices are likely to change quickly and often and will usually differ from the starting price. We recommend reading JohnnyBet’s “Live Betting Tips” post to gain some valuable insights from the experts.
Juice - The commission the sports betting site takes for itself.
Lay - To lay a bet is to back something not to happen.
Limit - The maximum amount of money taken by a company licensed to offer odds and accepting bets.
Line - A single bet (when you bet on just one outcome of an event).
Lock - A guaranteed win in the eyes of a person who put money on a bet.
Long Shot - A selection with high odds that is unlikely to win. Can also be called an “Outsider” in certain countries.
Matched Betting - The process when two bettors agree on both the amount to risk and the potential loss of a bet.
Moneyline - A bet in which your selection only needs to win.
Multiple - Bets involving more than one selection, doubles (a single combining two selections), trebles (a single bet combining three selections), etc.
Mush - A bettor or gambler who is considered to be bad luck.
Nailed On - A bet that is considered a certainty to win.
Novelty - Also called a “Special”, this refers to betting markets for unique events not from the world of sports available on sportsbooks.
Off the Board - When the company accepting a bet on sports events has taken a bet down and is no longer accepting bets to be placed on the outcome of the event.
Overround - The sum total of all the odds on the outcome of an event.
Over/Under - A bet on the total number of points (or goals, runs, etc.) that both teams will score combined. It doesn't matter who wins or loses. This is particularly popular in football/soccer betting, check out our “Football Over/Under Tips” article to learn more about the market and how to utilize this method in your bets.
Parlay - A type of bet where you combine two or more separate bets into one single bet — but you only win if all of your picks are correct. Also called an “Accumulator”.
Pick - A term for individual or multiple selections. Also called a prediction.
Point Spread - A number of points the favorite has to win by, or the underdog has to stay within, for the bet to win.
Proposition - Also called simply a “prop”, is a special bet on something that doesn’t directly relate to who wins or loses the game. It’s about betting on specific events or stats during a game — like a player scoring a touchdown, or how many points someone will get. Find out how prop bets work in our post explaining all you need to know about proposition bets.
Puck Line - This is hockey’s version of the point spread. When you bet on the puck line the favorite is given a -1.5 goal handicap, while the underdog is given a +1.5 goal advantage.
Result - Refers to the outcome or conclusion of the contest/competition/match. Predicting particular results is a popular method for bettors which you can learn more about in our “Exact Result Betting Tips” article.
Return - The total amount of money you get back if your bet wins (your winnings + your original bet).
Scalping - A strategy where you try to make small, quick profits by betting on both sides of an event, taking advantage of changes in the odds.
Sportsbook - An establishment that takes bets on sporting events and pays out winnings. Also called a bookmaker/book/bookie.
Spread Betting - Bet type where winnings and losses are not fixed but based on the accuracy of a prediction.
Stake - The amount of money wagered or bet.
Tipster - Someone who either gives or sells tips. You can play in our very own Tipsters League for free to win fantastic cash prizes and gadgets!
Treble - A bet which involves three selections on one bet, picked from three different events, and the bettor requires all three outcomes to be achieved to profit from the bet.
Tricast - A type of bet where you predict the 1st, 2nd, and 3rd place finishers in a race or event, in the exact order.
Trixie - A type of bet where you choose 3 selections, and it combines 4 smaller bets. Check out our “Trixie Betting Explained” article to learn more.
Underdog - A selection that is expected to lose, e.g. in football this may refer to a lower league club playing a higher league team.
Value - A situation where the odds offered on a bet are better than they should be. It’s when you think a bet has a higher chance of winning than the odds suggest.
Void Bet - A bet that is canceled and doesn’t count. This can happen for various reasons, like if the event is canceled, postponed, or if there’s a mistake in the bet.
Wager - A bet.
Weigh In - The process of weighing a fighter/horse to make sure they are within preassigned weight limits for the contest.
Winnings - The profit made from a bet, minus the initial stake.
Yankee - A type of bet where you make 4 selections and place 11 different bets on them.
Zoo - A mixture of very different selections or contestants in one event.