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A |
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ACTION |
A bet |
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ATS |
Against the spread |
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B |
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B.R. |
Bankroll |
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BAD BEAT |
Tough loss |
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BEARD |
Messenger bettor |
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BEEF |
Dispute |
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BUCK |
$100 |
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C |
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CHALK |
Favorite |
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CHALK EATER |
Favorite bettor |
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CHURN |
The effect of betting and re-betting money |
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CIRCLE GAME |
Game where action is limited due to uncertainties about weather, injuries, etc. |
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COVER |
Win by more than the point spread |
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D |
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DEGENERATE |
Compulsive gambler |
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DIME |
$1,000 |
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DOLLAR |
$100 |
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E |
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EARN |
Practical hold percentage |
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EDGE |
Advantage |
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EXOTIC BET |
Action other than a straight bet or parlay. |
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EXPOSURE |
The amount of money the house actually stands to lose on a game or a race. |
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EXTENSION |
The amount of money the house theoretically will risk losing on a game or a race. |
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F |
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FIGURE |
Amount owed by or to a bookmaker. |
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FIRING |
Betting a lot. A player who is "firing" is wagering large sums. |
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FLEA |
An annoying human parasite who wants something for nothing; a $2 bettor who expects to be rewarded for his action. |
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FORM |
What performance is to be expected according to how a team looks on paper. |
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G |
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GET DOWN |
Make a bet |
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GROSS WIN |
Win before expenses |
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H |
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HANDICAPPER |
One who studies sports and predicts outcomes. |
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HANDLE |
Total amount of bets taken. |
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HEDGE |
Bet the opposite of your original wager in order to reduce the amount of action you have on a game. |
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HOLD |
The percentage the house wins. |
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HOOK |
Half point in pointspreads, as in "lost by the hook." |
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HOME FIELD ADVANTAGE |
Edge the home team is expected to have as a result of familiarity with the playing area, favorable demographics and effect of travel on the visiting team. |
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HOOPS |
Basketball |
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HOT TIP |
Information the bookmaker is not yet privy to. |
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J |
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JUICE |
Bookmaker's commission, most often refers to the 11 to 10 football bettors lay on straight wagers; vigorish. |
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L |
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LAY A PRICE |
Bet a favorite, lay the points. |
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LAYOFF BET |
A wager made by one bookmaker with another to help balance his action and reduces his risk on one side or one horse. |
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LIMIT |
Maximum bet accepted by the house before the price will be changed. |
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LINE |
The betting proposition on a game and/or payoff odds on the bet. |
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LONGSHOT |
Large underdog |
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M |
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MIDDLE |
To win both sides of a game. For example, if you bet the underdog +3 1/2 and the favorite - 2 1/2 and the favorite wins by 3, you've MIDDLED the book. The book has BEEN MIDDLED. |
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N |
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NEUTRAL SITE |
Arena, court or field where neither side has a home field advantage. |
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NICKEL |
$500 |
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O |
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OFF THE BOARD |
Game where no bets are being accepted. |
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OUT |
Bookmaker, usually refers to an illegal bookmaker. |
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OVERLAY |
When the odds on a proposition are in favor of the bettor rather than the house. |
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P |
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PARLAY |
A bet with two or more teams where all the teams must win for the bettor to be successful. |
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PAST POST |
To make a bet after an event has started. |
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PICK OR PICK'EM |
A game where neither team is favored. |
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PLAYER |
Bettor, gambler. |
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PRACTICAL HOLD PERCENTAGE |
The amount won by a bookmaker divided by the total amount booked. |
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PRESS |
To bet a larger amount than usual. |
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PRICE |
Line |
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PUPPY |
Underdog |
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PUSH |
Tie |
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R |
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ROUND ROBIN |
A series of parlays. A three-team round robin consists of one three-team parlay and three two-team parlays. |
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RUNDOWN |
Line update |
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RUNNER |
See Beard |
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S |
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SCALPER |
One who attempts to profit from the differences in odds from book to book by betting both sides of the same game at different prices. |
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SCORE |
To win a lot of money. |
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SCRATCH |
Withdraw; cancel |
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SHARP |
Wise guy |
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SHORTSTOP |
A small bettor. |
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SIDE |
To win one side and tie the other. For example, if you lay -2 1/2 and take 3 on the same game and the favorite wins by 3 you have SIDED the book. The book has been SIDED. |
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SQUARE |
Unsophisticated gambler. |
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STEAM |
Heavy action on one side. |
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STRAIGHT BET |
A bet on just one team. |
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SUCKER BET |
Bet with a large house edge. |
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T |
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TAKE A PRICE |
Bet the underdog, take the points. |
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TAPPED OUT |
Broke, busted, common result of pressing. |
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THEORETICAL HOLD PERCENTAGE |
The edge the bookmaker would have IF the odds guaranteed him a constant commission regardless of the outcome. |
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TOKE |
A tip or gratuity. |
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TOSS UP |
Game where the line is close to pick-em. |
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TOUT SERVICE |
A business that sells opinions on sporting events. |
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TRIPLE SHARP |
The sharpest of the sharp. (Note: There is no such term as "Double Sharp"). |
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U |
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UNDERLAY |
When the odds on a proposition are in favor of the house. |
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V |
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VALUE |
An overlay |
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VIGORISH |
See Juice |
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W |
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WISE GUY |
Established and successful sports bettor. |
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