Common Definitions

ATS - "Against the Spread": taking points rather than betting with the spread and laying points in sports betting.  In 12 games this College Football season, K-State leads the nation with a 9-3 record ATS.

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Book - An establishment that accepts wagers on the outcome of sporting events.  5DIMES is an online sportsbook.



​Bookmaker - Commonly referred to as a "Bookie" or "Sportsbook."  One who accepts bets.  Mike calls up his bookmaker every Friday to place bets on the NFL action.



​Favorite - In sports betting this is the team expected to win an event.



Futures - Odds posted on the winners of various major sport championships in advance of the event, including the Super Bowl for NFL Football, the World Series for Major League Baseball, the Stanley Cup (NHL Hockey), the NBA Finals Championship, and the World Cup for international soccer betting.



Handle - The sum of all wagers collected for a particular event or over a specific time period by a bookmaker.

 

Handicapper - When it comes to sports betting a handicapper is one who studies, rates and wagers on sporting events and/or races.  Due to the suspension of Nothern Illinois’ starting Quarterback, and most valuable player, and of the unfavorable match-up, The Huskies are handicapped 12 points.



Hedging - Placing bets on the opposite side in order to cut losses or guarantee winning a minimal amount of money.
 

Hook - A half point added to football and basketball.



Hot Game - Sports betting term for a game that is drawing a lot of action on one side by knowledgeable handicappers. Due to the nationwide popularity of the Michigan Wolverines football team, the opening line of +12 against William & Mary shifted to +22 due, in large part, to the heavy betting on the favorites, Michigan.
 

Juice - The tax that bookmakers charge for each wager.



Laying the Points - Betting the favorite by giving up points.



Laying the Price - In sports wagering, laying the price means betting the favorite by laying money odds.



Line - The listed odds on a game (points or money line).



Linemaker - The person who establishes the original and subsequent betting lines.



Lock - Easy winner, can not lose. Zach empties his savings account and places his bet on Northern Illinois to cover +10 vs Florida State in the Orange Bowl. His friends concerns are levied when he exclaims, “Trust me, It’s a lock, bros.”

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Longshot - A team or horse that is unlikely to win.   With 14/1 odds to win the Big 12 Championship in the preseason, K-State was a longshot.



Moneyline - Offered when no handicap is given, such as a point spread or run line, and the odds are not therefore fixed. Payouts are then based on true odds rather than fixed odds. The favorite and underdog are given odds to win a game or fight.



Official Line - The line that the bookmaker uses for wagering purposes. The line, which comes from Las Vegas, is quite often referred to as the official line; however, the line that your bookie offers you is actually your "official line".



Overplay - An advantage for the bettor in which the price on a given wager is greater than the real probability of its success.



Over/Under (O/U) - A wager for the total score by both teams will more or less than the total posted by the sportsbook.  The O/U for the Fiesta Bowl is at 71.5.



Parley - A multi-part bet, usually involving three or more teams, in which each team in must win or the parlay loses.  Todd bets a three team parley with the Dallas Cowboys +3.5ATS, Chiefs +34.5ATS & the Browns -5.5.



Pick - No favorite on the game/race.



Proposition “Prop” Bet - A wager on a particular aspect of the game. How long will it take Christina Aguilera to sing the National Anthem, 1:54 O/U?



Push - If the result of a game lands exactly on the pointspread or is a tie in the case of betting a moneyline, or if the exact score of the game matches exactly the sportsbook's posted game total (Total), then the game is a "Push" or "No Action" and all wagers are normally released. Example: Zach places at a bet with at +4 on the Tigers and the Tigers lose by 4 points, Zach pushes his bet.



Side - When one side of a wager wins and the other side ties.  Mike hits on three out of four of his bets for parley and pushes on one. Mike receives credit for a three-team parley.



Spread - Or known as a pointspread - also called "the line" - is used as a margin to handicap the favorite team. The spread for the Orange Bowl has been set at -3 with the Oregon Ducks as the favorite.



Slip - A typical receipt of a wager or wagers placed at a Land-Based sportsbook like Caesar’s in Las Vegas.



Steam - When a betting line starts to move quite rapidly. The BCS National Championship line opens at +8 for Notre Dame and moves to +2 the following day.



Vig - The house's commission on a wager. Todd bets $20 on Stanford at +8.5 to cover with 10/11 odds to win, Stanford wins 31-20, Todd hits his bet and the house takes 1/11 of his winnings.



Wager - A bet.