Football betting is one of the most exciting sports to place your bets on and there are millions of fans around the world that enjoy doing so regularly.
Common Sports Betting Terms Explained. Welcome to the Glossary page, where you will find the most common sports betting terms explained as simply as possible. No big fancy words, just easy to understand definitions and exaples where needed. Whether you choose to refer to it as gambling, betting, or investing.
Betting Terminology Explained - A-Z betting guide Anyone unfamiliar with placing wagers will soon realise there is a language to betting, a good grasp of which is needed when visiting a bookmakers’ website. Hi, and welcome to the GoonersGuide.com Glossary or Guide to Football Betting Terms and Jargon. Sports betting has it's own culture and like all cultures quickly develops it's own set of terms and jargon that are not easy to pick up and often draw from historical stuff. Here's a rundown of the most common (or colourful) terms that you might see on the site, at your.
However, those new to the betting scene are sometimes unsure about different football betting terms, how betting on football works and most importantly how to place winning bets.
That’s why we wrote this football betting guide which will explain the key strategies, betting terms and other important information you need to know so you can make more profit from your football bets in 2019.
Ready? Let’s jump right in.
Football betting explained
One of the most common questions we get asked is whether you should place your football bets at a bookmaker or a betting exchange.
So to kick off our football betting guide, we’re going to look at the difference between a bookmaker and a betting exchange plus the benefits of each platform when betting on football.
Bookmaker or exchange for football betting?
So what’s the difference between a bookmaker and betting exchange?
Bookmaker
A bookmaker or bookie as it’s often referred to is your traditional betting platform. This is the most common and popular type of betting company and one that you’ll probably use regularly.
Examples of a bookmaker include Ladbrokes and Coral. At a bookmaker, you effectively bet against the company when you place a wager.
If you win your bet, the bookie loses and vice versa.
Bookmakers offer a range of features that still makes them the most popular betting platforms in 2019.
Some of their benefits include:
- Great promotions and bonuses
- Boosted odds
Great promotions and bonuses
Bookmakers typically offer a great range of promotions to their new and existing customers. They use them to incentivise punters to place more bets. However, you should use them to increase your football betting winnings.
Here’s a great example of a football betting offer you should consider using.
Boosted odds
One of the benefits of using a bookmaker, is you have access to features such as boosted odds whereas using a betting exchange you don’t, as we’ll look at below.
Much like the promotions and offers mentioned above, odds boosts will only help increase your football winnings if you pick wisely and land your bet.
So what about betting exchanges for your football betting?
Betting exchanges
A betting exchange is another common betting term you’ll come across.
An exchange is an online marketplace which matches gamblers together. A betting exchange doesn’t take on any bets like a bookmaker does meaning you don’t bet against the company. You’re betting against other punters. It’s a peer to peer platform.
The betting exchange makes money by charging a commission on players’ net winnings rather than building a profit margin into the odds. This means you’ll generally get better value odds at an exchange like Smarkets as well as other benefits which we’ll look at below:
- Both back and lay bets available
- Bet against other punters
- Better value odds
Back and lay bets
Both back and lay bets are available at betting exchanges which is something not available at a bookmaker. For the majority of football punters, they’re only interested in placing back bets.
However, for the serious bettors who win football bets regularly, they also place lay bets.
Bet against other punters
As a betting exchange is a peer to peer platform, you’re betting against other punters rather than against a bookmaker. This adds another layer of excitement as you always want to beat your ‘opponent’ and win your football bet.
Better value odds
Due to how betting exchanges work, you’re going to get more valuable odds compared to a bookmaker who has to build their profit margin into the odds.
This is great for football bettors as it means you’ll have more winnings when you land a bet.
So, overall what betting platform should you use to place your football bets in 2019? As I said at the start, it’s really up to you and depends on your needs. The right choice for me may not be the same for you.
A mixture of both is generally a solid approach.
When it comes to opening a new bookmaker or betting exchange account, check out this guide.
Awesome, now you’ve got a better idea of the different types of betting platform, let’s look at some football betting types.
Football betting terms – Different bet types
Next up in our football betting guide, we’re going to explain the different kinds of bet you can place on football.
Single bets
Single bets are the most common and popular football bet type in 2019. A single bet simply means you place one bet at a bookmaker or betting exchange.
You’ll probably start off using these bets as they’re the most simple to understand and place.
However, you can’t write a football betting guide without mentioning the incredibly popular football accumulator.
Football accumulators explained
An accumulator is a bet that contains more than four selections. For you to win the overall accumulator, each selection in the bet must win.
Accumulators have become very popular over the last few years, especially when betting on football.
As you can imagine, the winnings can be quite profitable as the probability of all outcomes occurring is quite low.
The bookmakers usually add promotions and special offers to accumulator bets, meaning the potential winnings can be even greater.
On the other hand, accumulator bets have to be placed at one bookmaker meaning you may not always get the best odds on each selection.
For more information and how to win more football accumulators in 2019, check out this article.
Football betting explained – key markets
Next up in our football betting guide, let’s look at some common football markets you should consider betting on.
Win/Draw/Win
The most basic of football betting markets, you may also see Win/Draw/Win written as 1X2 or match betting. Don’t let this confuse you, it means the same thing.
In this market, you’re betting on the outcome of a football fixture. The first part of the market represents a home team win, the second a draw and the third an away victory.
If you’re just getting started with football betting, I recommend you stick to this market as it’s the easiest to understand and bet on. Once you’ve got this nailed, you can move on to football markets mentioned below.
Both teams to score
This football betting term is pretty self-explanatory. You’re simply betting on both teams to score at least one goal in a fixture.
You should generally expect the odds for this market to be quite low unless a fixture is likely to be incredibly one-sided.
Both teams to score + win
This football betting market is the same as the one above apart from you’re also selecting a certain team to win the fixture. You’ll get better odds than the market above as the outcome is slightly less likely.
Correct score
Another self-explanatory market, in this scenario you’re simply selecting what you think the final score of a football match will be. Guessing the correct score can be quite difficult so you can expect large returns if your bet wins.
Draw no bet
A draw no bet is a football betting market that is voided if the fixture ends in a draw. In other words, your wager is returned if the game finishes level.
However, if your selected team wins or loses, the bet still stands. These markets are great for bettors who think a team may win but there’s also a chance of a draw.
Double chance
A double chance bet allows you to bet on a team winning or drawing a fixture. It essentially has two parts to the bet meaning you have two chances at winning. However, you should expect much lower odds than in the Win/Draw/Win market.
Half time/full time
A betting market where you bet on the outcome at half time as well as the outcome at full time in the game.
Football betting explained – goal markets
Next up in our football betting guide, we’ll look at some common goal markets you can expect to find at different bookmakers and betting exchanges.
First goalscorer
In this market, you’re betting on who you think will score the first goal of a game. You may find several promotions available on these markets, especially if leading goal scorers are in action.
Anytime goalscorer
Similar to the previous betting market, except you’re selection can score at any time during the fixture. The odds will be lower than in the previous goal market.
Poetry Terms Worksheet
Handicap
A betting market that levels the playing field between strong and weaker opponents. The underdog is usually given a head start in terms of goals.
Team to score Yes/No
In this scenario, you’re betting on a certain team to score a goal at any point during the game. If you wish, you also usually have the option to select which half you think the outcome will occur in.
Scorecast/wincast
In this football betting market, you’re staking money on who will be the first goalscorer as well as the outcome of the fixture. As you can imagine, winning outcomes are quite unlikely meaning large returns if you land your bet.
Over/Under
Another popular betting market in the online football betting world. There are many different markets that the Over/Under category can be added to. However, here are some of the most common ones you’ll come across.
Over/under Goals
In this football betting market, you’re betting whether you think the actual number of goals will be over or under a certain number.
Over/Under Corners
Similar to the market above, you’re betting on the total number of corners during a fixture. You can select whether you think the number will be higher or lower than a certain figure.
As I mentioned earlier, the Over/Under market can be added to a huge range of categories meaning the potential options are endless.
You can also bet on other types of football market including outrights and specials. However, these markets are pretty self-explanatory.
Football betting terms
Here are a few more key football betting terms you may come across once you begin your betting journey.
Back bets
When you stake money on a certain outcome happening.
Bankroll
The amount of money you have in your theoretical betting balance.
Cash-out
A popular betting feature which enables punters to close and settle their bets before an event has finished.
Football betting explained – overview
That’s it for our football betting explained article.
Betting on football is one of the most exciting sports to place your wagers on. I hope this guide has helped explain the main key terms and information you’ll need to place winning bets in 2019.
Are we missing some key football betting information? Leave a comment below and we’ll update the article.
Legal sports betting is expanding quickly in the US, and bettors are eager to put a couple sawbucks on that first NFL game … or tonight’s Yankees games … or on the Red Wings to win the Stanley Cup … or whatever. But maybe this whole sports betting thing is new to you. TheLines has got you covered.
Here’s a look at some common sports betting terms someone new to the game might need to place those bets – and hopefully cash a few tickets.
Accumulator – This is similar to a parlay in that it involves a series of bets in one wager. Each of the bets must win in order for the wager to win. If one leg of an accumulator loses the wager loses.
Alternate Lines – All sportsbooks offer lines (point spreads) on sporting events. Some sportsbooks may offer different (or alternate) point spreads that pay different odds for the same game. These provide bettors more options to wager on certain games.
American Odds – American odds are displayed differently than the rest of the world. Moneyline odds are shown as + or – a number in the US. Outside of the US, the same odds might be presented with a decimal point or by a fraction. Example: Yankees +400 American odds would be 5.0 or 4/1. The bettor takes home the same amount of money if the wager wins.
Football Betting Terminology
Arbitrage – This betting strategy involves placing a wager on all possible outcomes of an event so that that there’s a guaranteed profit regardless of the winner. This is best done with moneyline or futures wagers in the US and will usually take place across multiple sportsbooks.
Asian Handicap – An alternative way to bet soccer where the better team is “handicapped” to be the favorite. This form of betting was started in Asia.
Backdoor Cover – This is a popular term for a team that covers a point spread late in a game. The team with the late cover may or may not affect the actual result of the game, just the wager.
Banker – A banker is a European wager similar to a round robin bet in the US. Different teams are placed in a “system bet” to make different “accumulator” (parlay) bets.
Bankroll – Total amount of money a bettor has to place wagers.
Beard – This is a person who places a wager for another person who wishes to remain unknown.
Betting Exchange – A betting platform where people wager against one another instead of betting against a sportsbook. The exchange operator takes a small percentage of winning wagers. This is often seen as the most efficient market for sports betting.
Betting Unit – A betting unit is the amount of a typical wager. Bettors may have different sized bankrolls and a unit is a way to share how much was bet without giving away a specific dollar amount. For example, a high roller might have a unit size of $10,000 per wager while a low roller has a unit size of $20 wager per wager.
Bonus – Sportsbooks offer a financial bonus to customers for a variety of reasons. A signup bonus is the most popular way to incentivize bettors to use a certain sportsbook.
Chalk – A term for the team that is the favorite in an event. This team or player is usually a big favorite. The chalk is the expected winner by a large margin.
Circle Game – A game is circled by a sportsbook because betting limits are lower than usual. This most often happens when there’s a questionable injury before a game. It can also happen if there’s potentially bad weather, a trade rumor, or the possibility of “load management” which might give a player a night off.
Opening Line – This is the first point spread available for a game.
Closing Line – This is simply where the point spread is when the game begins.
Closing Line Value – This term is used by bettors to measure the value of the line they wagered before the line that was the last available before a game begins.
Consensus – The general agreement about something. In sports betting consensus could be the most popular teams bet or line available for a game.
Contrarian – Betting against the trends of the mainstream popular opinions. Bettors usually place contrarian wagers when there is value on the opposite opinion.
Dead Heat – Another way to say that there is a tie in a finishing position. Sportsbooks have different rules on how to pay in the event of a tie or dead heat in an event.
Decimal Odds – This is a different way to present odds than Americans are used to. They’re sometimes called “European odds” since this is how odds are listed with European sportsbooks. The math is easier to figure out for most bettors than US moneyline odds. Decimal odds are derived from a simple calculation of the amount bet x odds.
Dime Line – This is a “10 cent” difference between the moneyline odds payout between the money laid on the favorite and the money paid by the underdog. For example, Vegas Golden Knights -125 vs. San Jose Sharks +115. The difference of 10 (dime line) is the traditional profit margin for sportsbooks.
Dog – Short for underdog. This is the team that is not expected to win.
Double Chance – This is a European sports betting term mostly used for soccer betting. A double chance wager allows the bettor two opportunities to win a bet. For example, a result in soccer can be a win, loss, or tie. A double chance bettor may combine two of the three results instead of just one. This gives the bettor twice the chance to win the wager.
Double Pop – A European way of saying that a bettor will bet twice the normal amount. In the US this is known more often as doubling up.
Early Cash Out – A way for bettors to settle a wager for a certain dollar amount before the event is over. This is a way to lock in a profit at a smaller value than the wager would ultimately pay.
Edge – The advantage a bettor has against the sportsbook (or vice versa).
Even Money – A wager that pays the same as was risked. An even-money sports bet is listed as +100 or -100 in a sportsbook. Unlike traditional -110 wager, there’s no vigorish paid to the sportsbook. A bettor risks $100 to win $100 instead of wagering $110 to win $100.
Exacta – Choosing horses to finish first and second in a race. This is sometimes, but rarely, offered for other competitive sports.
Exotic Wager – These are non-traditional sports bets. Exotic wagers aren’t point spread, moneyline, or futures bets on a certain event. This kind of wager is often listed as a prop bet in a sportsbook.
Expected Value – This is a calculation used by a bettor to determine whether a wager should win or lose over time. Positive expected value (EV) bets over time is a good way to become a winning sports bettor.
Exposure – The amount of money a sportsbook potentially could lose for a specific event. For example, sportsbooks might have a lot of exposure (money at risk) on one team winning a championship versus another.
First Half – A derivative bet that can be placed on a sport that has two halves. Football and basketball are the most popular sports to place a first half wager. In soccer, this might be called a “half time result.”
Fixed Odds – These are the odds that most sports bettors will experience. Once a wager is placed, the odds are set and don’t change. Horse bettors might experience a change in odds from parimutuel betting.
Flat Betting – Simply put, this is a betting system where all wagers are the same. A bettor doesn’t change the wager amount based on wins, losses, or any other outside opinion. The wager is usually a percentage of bankroll but could also be a fixed dollar amount.
Fractional Odds – Another kind of odds used mainly in Britain and Ireland. Odds are listed in fraction form (1/5) instead of as a moneyline (-500) that US sportsbooks use.
Grand Salami – A popular hockey bet which the wager is for the over/under on total number of goals scored by all teams in a day. Some sportsbooks may offer derivative versions for home, away, or periods of games during the day. Some sportsbooks may offer a similar bet for runs in Major League Baseball.
Handicapper – A person who analyzes sports events to predict the winning team or player.
Handle – The amount of money a sportsbook or sportsbooks take from wagers. This could be broken down by sport, region, casinos, and more.
Hedge – Hedging is a strategy used by sports bettors to either reduce the risk of or to guarantee a profit from a wager.
Home Field – This the field (court, rink, etc.) where one team plays its games.
Terminology Words And Definitions
Hook – Another way to say half of a point. For example, a team may be a 3.5 point underdog. That could be called “three and a hook.”
Joint Favorite – When there are two favorites for an event. This is mostly used in England.
Kelly Criterion – A popular bankroll management strategy for a bettor who seeks to limit losses while maximizing the amount won.
Layoff – When a bookmaker reduces the risk of losing wagers by placing a bet with a different sportsbook(s). This typically happens when there is lopsided wagering on one side of a game and the sportsbook or a bookie want to alleviate potential losses.
Listed Pitcher – This is a baseball bet that is active only if the pitcher listed as the starter throws the first pitch of a game. If the pitcher doesn’t matter a bettor can place a wager on “action.” The latter wager will happen regardless of who starts the game to the team bet on.
Live Betting – Placing a wager on a game or event while it’s taking place. This is also known as In Play wagering.
Lock – Another way of saying that a team or player will be an easy winner. (Note: This isn’t always the case, no matter what a sports prognosticator or tout says.)
Margin – This is a wager where a bettor selects a team to win or lose by a specific number of points regardless of the point spread. For example, the Oakland Raiders will defeat the Los Angeles Chargers by 10-14 points. The Raiders must win by 11, 12, or 13 points for a win. A victory by 10 or 14 points is a push.
Martingale System – A gambling system where bettors doubles the amount of a wager after losses. This system can be used for sports and other forms of gambling (i.e. blackjack).
Middle/Middling – Middling a sports bet is playing different sides of the same game. This gives a bettor multiple chances to win wagers on the same game.
Matched Bet – When a bettor uses free wagers from a sportsbook operator to increase potential profit. This is a popular technique employed in new legal US sports betting markets as promotional offers are available.
Nickel – Placing a $500 wager. A “Dime” is a $1,000 wager.
Novelty Bet – Placing a wager on a non-sports event with a sportsbook. For example, placing a wager on the Oscars in New Jersey. These kinds of wagers are more popular overseas.
Odds-on Favorite – When a team or person is heavily favored to win a game or event. They often have very low odds paying much less than the amount wagered.
Off the Board – When a sportsbook stops taking wagers on an event or participant they remove the game odds from the betting board. This often happens when a player is uncertain to participate because of an injury.
Sports Betting Terms Explained
Public Betting Percentage – This is the percentage of wagers placed by the general betting public.
Puck Line – This is a point spread of sorts based on goals scored during a hockey game. The base puck line for a game is often plus or minus 1.5 since there are so few goals scored. Sportsbooks might offer an alternative puck line with more or fewer goals scored.
Puppy – Another way to say a team is an underdog in a game.
Push – When a point spread wager lands exactly on the line offered by the sportsbook. The bettor receives their money back if they push. For example, New England Patriots are favored by 14 points against the New York Jets. If they win by exactly 14 points, the wager pushes and the bettor gets their original wager back.
Player Props – A player prop bet is a wager on an individual player to do something during a game. For example, which player will score first in a football game?
Power Ranking – (AKA Power Rating) – Creating a ranking score for each team so that a bettor, handicapper, or sportsbook can create a point spread. Experienced handicappers use their point spreads to compare with a sportsbook in order to find the best bets available.
Reduced Juice – When a sportsbook lowers the vig on a game. For example, a sportsbook might offer -105 for a game instead of -110. This reduced juice will allow the potential for a bettor to take home more money if the wager wins.
Reverse Line Movement – When a line (or point spread) moves differently than the money wagered on the game or event.
ROI – ROI is an acronym for Return On Investment. The ROI of a sports wager can simply be calculated this way: (Gain from Investment – Cost of Investment) / Cost of Investment.
Round Robin – A wager that involves making multiple parlay bets at the same time.
Run Line – This is a point spread of sorts for baseball games based on the number of runs scored. The run line is typically plus or minus 1.5 since there are so few runs scored in baseball. Sportsbooks might offer an alternative run line with more or fewer runs scored.
Runner – A person who places wagers at a sportsbook for someone else. This person may also be known as a beard.
Sharp Money – Money wagered by sports bettors that a sportsbook operator respects. Sharp money often comes from large wagers placed by professional bettors. It should be noted that not all large wagers are considered Sharp.
Horse Betting Terminology
Square – A casual and recreational sports bettor. This is someone betting on sports as a hobby. They’re not as respected by sportsbook operators as sharp or professional bettors.
Steam – This is when odds change because of the money wagered on a game or participant. Some bettors will “follow the money” or “chase steam” thinking the bettors know something they may not.
Straight Up – When a team wins or loses an event. The point spread isn’t involved with the winner or loser.
Take the Points – When a bettor places a wager on an underdog they are taking the points offered by the sportsbook.
Take the Price – Similar to taking the points. This is when a bettor takes the price on a game offered by the sportsbook. The bet is typically wagering a moneyline on the underdog.
Tissue Price – The initial odds offered by a sportsbook. This price is usually considered to be the fairest price on a wager.
Testing Terminology Chart
TKO – Abbreviation for a Technical Knockout in boxing.
Totals – Totals are the numbers that bettors will choose the over or under on points (or runs, goals, etc,) scored.
Tout – A person who sells or gives away sports betting picks.
True Odds – True odds are the actual odds of an event happening. In sports betting this is the most accurate point spread or moneyline.
Wire-to-Wire – This is a wager that a team will lead at every quarter or for a specific number of quarters. Wire-to-wire bets are the most popular in basketball.