| ACTION |
The amount of money being wagered on a game. |
| BAD BEAT |
A hard loss. |
| BOOKIE |
A person or organization that sets the lines and books the bets in sports. |
| BANKROLL |
The amount of money the player plans to gamble. |
| BEARD |
A messenger bettor. Someone who places bets on behalf of another person so that the bookmakers will not know the identity of the actual bettor. |
| BEEF |
A Dispute |
| BUCK |
A $100 wager. |
| CHALK |
The team favored to win. |
| CHALK PLAYER |
A person who usually wagers on the favored teams. A.K.A Favorite Freddie, chalk eater |
| CIRCLE GAME |
A game where the betting action is severely limited due to uncertainties about key injuries, inclement weather conditions, or unsubstantiated rumors regarding a team. |
| COVER |
To win by more than the pointspread. |
| DEGENERATE |
A compulsive gambler. |
| DIME BET |
A $1000 wager. |
| DOG |
The underdog in any betting proposition. A.K.A. Puppy |
| DOG PLAYER |
A person who usually bets on the underdog. |
| DOLLAR BET |
A $100 wager. |
| DOUBLE BET |
A wager twice the amount of one's normal wager. |
| EARN |
The practical hold percentage |
| EDGE |
An advantage |
| EVEN MONEY |
A wager on which the odds are 1-1. |
| EXOTIC BET |
A bet other than a straight bet or parlay |
| EXPOSURE |
The amount of money the house will risk losing on a game or race. |
| EXTENSION |
The amount of money the house theoretically stands to lose on a game or race. |
| FIGURE |
Amount of money owed to or by a bookmaker. |
| FIRING |
Wagering huge sums of money. |
| FLEA |
An annoying person who wants something for nothing. One who expects to be comped for a $2 wager. |
| FORM |
The performance expected of a team according to how they look on paper. |
| FUTURE BET |
Bets accepted well in advance of the events. |
| GETTING DOWN |
Making a bet. |
| GOING DOWN |
Losing a bet or bets. |
| GROSS WIN |
The amount of winnings before subtracting the expenses. |
| HANDICAPPER |
A person who studies sports and predicts its outcome. |
| HEDGING |
Betting on the opposite side in order to cut losses or guarantee winning a minimal amount of money. |
| HOLD |
The percentage the house wins. |
| HOLDING YOUR OWN |
Neither winning or losing, just breaking even. |
| HOOK |
A half point in pointspreads. |
| HOOKED |
Losing a bet by exactly one-half a point. |
| HOME FIELD ADVANTAGE |
The edge the home team is expected to have as a result of familiarity with the playing area, fan support, and the effect of travel on the visiting team. |
| HOOPS |
Another term for Basketball. |
| HOT GAME |
A game that draws a significant amount of action on one side by knowledgeable handicappers. |
| HOT TIP |
Insider information that the bookmaker cannot divulge. |
