Dictionary for Sports Betting: Common Terms

Accumulator. The bets are reinvested on a subsequent wager.

Action. The number of bets placed on a specific game.

Beard. The person who bets for someone to conceal their identity.

Bookmaker. The person who accept bets on a sporting event.

Chalk player. The favorite team, athlete, or horse of a person.

Edge. The advantage of the bookmaker, or wager.

Even money. A bet on outcome with no odds.

Favorite. The expected winner.

Handicapping. The predictions of the outcome of a sporting event.

Handle. The total amount of bet on an event.

Longshot. The team, athlete, or horse that is least likely to win.

Odds. A numerical number placed on the likelihood of a particular event occurring.

Over or Under. The bet is combined on a total of points scored by a team over or under a chosen number.

Press. The bet is higher than the usual amount.

Push. There is no winner or loser.

Sharp. A professional gambler.

Sides. The two teams, the favorite and the underdog.

Square. A new wager.

Underdog. The team, athlete, or horse that is most likely to lose.

Vig. The commission the bookmaker gets on losing bets.