S

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.

Scratch – To cancel or withdraw a bet

Shut Out - What happens to a bettor who gets on the betting line to late and is still waiting in line hen the window closes. Another meaning, is when the losing team do not score.

Side - When one side of a wager wins and the other side ties.

Square - Player that is always on favorites and overs. Also known as a gambling fool.

Steam - When a betting line starts to move quite rapidly, usually cause by too many bettors betting on it.

Straight Bet - One wager

Sucker Bet - Parlays, teasers or exotics (anything bookmakers use to entice squares to bet more)

T

Taking – taking the odds, betting on the underdog.

Teaser - A bet on two or more teams where the bettor can add or subtract points from the spread to make their bets stronger in return for reduced odds. All results must match the selections to win the teaser.

Thick'un - A big bet.

Totals - Total combined point/runs/goals scored in a game.

Trebles - A triple bet on three events. A form of parlay or accumulator.

U

Underdog - The team that receives a point start in a handicap. The weaker team and least likely to win the match/event.

Underlay - A situation in which the odds on a game favor the house rather than bettors

V

Value - Getting the best odds on a betting proposition; the highest possible edge.


Vigorish or Vig - The commission paid to the bookmaker.

W

Wise Guy - A knowledgeable handicapper or bettor.

And there you have it, a list of the most commonly used punter slang. Hopefully these sports betting terms will be able to serve you well as you delve in the world of online betting.

Check out the 3rd part of our list of sports betting jargon and slang terms and have a better grasp on punter talk.

N

NICKEL - $500

O

Odds – A sportsbook's view of the winning chance of a competitor, it is adjusted to include a profit.

Oddsmaker/Odds Compiler - The person or group that establishes the line, spread, or betting odds

Odds On Favourite - A team or individual so favoured by the public that the odds are less than even.

Odds-on - An Odds-on bet has a Minus sign in front and is worked out in reverse. It is the amount you wager to win $100.

OTB or Off the Board - A game or event on which the online sportsbook will not accept action on. OTB is usually due to the uncertainty of the status of a player or inclement weather

Outsiders – Non favorites and are not expected to win. Usually offered at lengthy odds.

Over/Under - A bet on whether the total points or goals scored by the two teams will be over or under a specified number.

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

P

Parlay - A multiple bet. Making simultaneous selections on two or more games with the intent of pressing the winnings of the first win on the bet of the following game selected, and so on. Selection must all win for the bettor to win.

Past Post - To place a wager after an event has started

PK or Pick - Evenly matched teams or a game with no favourite.

Pointspread -The online betting line or handicap.

Price – Odds.

Proposition Bet - A wager on a particular aspect of the game such as how many field goals will be made.

Puppy-Underdog

Push-Tie on wager. If the result of a game lands exactly on the pointspread or if the exact score of the game matches exactly the sportsbook's posted game total.

Punter - Bettor.

R

Return - Your total winnings on a bet.

Round Robin - A single ticket comprised of more than one parlay. A bet consisting of 10 bets involving three selections in different events.