Football betting, as betting in general often uses terms and words that many new punters aren’t familiar with.

Below are some of the most common ones, that you might have heard already or read on our site. To find a term that you are looking for, just click on the letter it starts with below.

A | B | C | D | E | F | G | H | I | J | K | L | M | N | O | P | Q | R | S | T | U | V | W | X | Y | Z


A

Accumulator
Also called a parlay, is a multiple bet that includes two or more games,where the winnings for the first match goes onto the next. The benefit of an accumulator is that it offers a bigger payoff than a single bet, but the risk is also greater. If any of the games is lost, the entire accumulator is lost.

Action
A football wager of any kind, a bet. Must be valid to be considered action.

Ante-Post
A football bet that can be placed weeks,moths or even years in advance, before the actual event.

Arbitrage
Also called “sure bet” is the type of a wager where you are guaranteed to win no matter the outcome of the event. This is usually possible if sportsbooks have difference of opinion and offer different odds.

Asian handicap
A type of bet, named after its origins which involves spread betting in football. The wager eliminates the draw as a possible outcome, increasing your chances to win to 50%/50%. The number that you would see next to each team will be abbreviated with either a positive “+” or a negative “-” sign (Examples: Team A -1.5 or Team A + 1.5 etc).Let’s say we bet on Team A -1.5, this creates a condition which must remain true for you to win, and it goes like this: If we subtract 1.50 from the goals of Team A at Full Time, the remainder must be bigger, than the goals scored by Team B, hence Final Score 3:1, 3 – 1.5 = 1.5 > 1. This is true also for addition.

If the Asian handicap is represented by a whole number like 1.0, 2.0 etc, the above is still valid, however if after addition or subtraction the game is tied your wager is refunded. Example: You have placed a bet on Team A – 1.0, the game ends 2:1, you wager is refunded.

If the Asian handicap is represented by two numbers, a whole and a half, -1.0;-0.5 then your wager is divided on half and half goes on -1.0, the other on -0.5. Example: You have placed a bet on Team A -1.0; -0.5 and the game ends 1:0. Half your bet will be refunded and half of your bet will be won.

ATS
Acronym of the phrase “against the spread”.


B

Bad Beat
An unexpected loss. An example of it would be a loss on a Banker(see below).

Banker
A football bet that’s considered to have a high probability of success. In combinations or systems, the banker is the match that must come out right to give you a chance for any returns.

Bettor
Someone that’s placing bets. It’s synonym in the UK is “punter”.

Bookie/Bookmaker
A Bookie is usually a slang for a Bookmaker.A Bookmaker is a company that’s licensed and regulated to accept your bets.

Betting Exchange
A company that provides a platform for bettors/punters to place bets against each other. The betting exchange also gives you the opportunity to LAY bet (bet against).

Buck
A slang for a $100 wager.


C

Canadian
Canadian is a betting term, that’s also know as Super Yankee. It involves a total of 26 bets, from 5 selections. It consists of an accumulator, 5xfourfolds, 10xtrebles and 10xdoubles.

Chalk
A term that means “the favorite”.

Chalk Player
Derived from the term Chalk (see above), which would mean someone that bets mostly on the favorites.

Circled Game
Refers to a game that has a limited betting action,due to injuries or bad weather etc . The game cannot be included in parlays.

Cover
In terms of football betting, this simply means a point spread win.


D

Dime
Betting terms which means a $1,000 wager.

Dividend
This is a term that usually refers to the profit made of any type of placed bet.

Dog
Derived from Underdog, is a term used to point the outsider in a match. Usually the dogs have high odds and low probability of success.

Dog Player
A player that usually places his/her bets on the underdogs(see Dog above).

Double
A type of an accumulator which involves 2 events. Both must win, for the bet to win.

Double Chance
Double Chance is a type of bet that usually bookmakers offer, pairing the possible outcomes. Example: Team A or Draw, Team B or Draw, Team A or Team B.


E

Edge
In betting terms it means an advantage.

Each Way
A type of a bet that consists of two wagers. Example: Backing Team A to win the match against Team B in the quarter finals, and backing Team A to advance in the semi-finals.

Exotic Wager
Refers to any bet that’s different than a straight bet.


F

Favorite
The team that is considered to have the better chance to win.

Fixed Odds
Once you place a bet on such odds, they will remain the same until the settlement of your wager.

Full Cover Bet
Usually refers to a bet, that has in it many if not all multiple bets, on your selections. This way, depending on how many outcomes you have covered, you can gain profit, even if you miss a match or two, or even more.

Futures
Very similar to Ante-post. A bet that can be placed long before the actual event takes place.


G

Gambler
Another synonym for bettor/punter.

Goliath
Goliath is a type of wager that involves a total of 247 bets, made on 8 selections. All of the bets consist of an accumulator, 8 sevenfolds, 28sixfolds, 56fivefolds, 70fourfolds,56 trebles, and 28 doubles. You must win at least 2 games to get any kind of return.


H

Handicap
A method, that bookmakers use to even the odds out. The point spread is reduced for the favorite, while the one for the dog is increased. This is also commonly known as line or spread.

Handicapper
Refers to a person who studies the football rates and bets.

Hang Sheng
A synonym for an Asian Handicap (see above Asian Handicap)

House
Commonly used to refer to bookmakers.

Hedging
A term that basically means trying to cut your losses or generate a small profit, by placing an opposite bet of your initial bet.

Heinz
A wager that consists of 57 bets made on 6 selections. These bets consist of an accumulator,6xfivefolds, 15xfourfoulds, 20xtrebles and 15xdoubles. You must win at least 2 in order for the wager to bring any kind of returns.


I

IBAS
An acronym that stands for Independent Arbitration Betting Service. They will help to resolve a dispute between a bettor and its bookmaker, if everything else fails.

Index betting
A synonym of spread betting.


J

Juice
In betting terms refers to the bookmaker’s commission on a punter’s losing bet. Also know as vigorish or vig.


K

Kite
It’s a slang in the UK, which refers to a cheque.(US check).


L

LBO
An acronym that stands for Licensed Betting Office. Mostly used in the UK.

Long Odds
High odds, given on the underdog that has a very slim chance of winning. A bet placed on long odds will bring a good profit if won.

Lock
Commonly used in the US, refers to a sure winner. Identical to banker (see above).

Lucky 15
A type of wager that consists of 15 bets on 4 selections. These bets consist of an accumulator, 4 trebles, 6 doubles and 4 singles. A single game must be won at least for the wager to return profit. The Lucky part refers to the bonus that the bookmaker will give you if you get all 4 games right.


M

Match Betting
Known as 1X2 betting, is a type of a regular bet where you can back the home team, the away team or the draw. Home teams is represented by 1 , the draw by an X and the away team by 2.

Monkey
Refers to a bet of the amount £500 GBP.

Money line
Used by American Bookmakers mostly. It shows the amount you must place to win 100$ (if negative) or the amount you will win if you bet 100$ (if positive)


N

Nap
A term derived from “Napoleon”. It’s commonly used by tipsters to point out their strongest prediction for a given day and/or event.

Neutral Venue
Usually abbreviated NE is use to point out that the match will be played on a neutral stadium, where neither side will have the home field advantage.

No Action
A type of wager that generates no profit nor loss.

Nickel
US slang that refers to a bet of the amount $500 USD.


O

Odds
Also know as the price, which the bookmaker gives you in a numerical form. The odds have the bookmaker’s commission included and are usually influenced by the money flow.

Over|Under
Is a type of bet, which has a probability of success 50/50 and refers to the amount of goals,cards,corners etc that a game can have. Example: A very popular type of bet is the Under 2.5 Goals and the Over 2.5 Goals. In the first case you are betting the game to end with less than 3 goals scored (1:1, 2:0, 1:0, 0:0, 0:1, etc) while in the second case you are betting for the game to end with at least 3 goals in it (2:1,2:2, etc).


P

Parlay
The US term that refers to an Accumulator. (see above Accumulator)

Payout
Your winnings of a given game or event.

Point Spread
Another word for “handicap” (see above Handicap)

Pick
Is a bet, that’s recommended by a tipster.

Punter
The UK term for a bettor. Someone that places bets (see above Bettor)

Price
Another word for Odds (see above Odds)


Q

Quinella
A term used in the US, when you are placing a bet on horse races, trying to predict which will finish 1st and 2nd.


R

Round Robin
A type of wager that involves 10 bets on 3 selections. It consists of 6 singles, 3 doubles and a treble.

Runner
Refers to a person who places bets for another.


S

Single
A bet made on just one match. It’s one of the most common bets around, where you back only one outcome on a single game.

Spread
Commonly referred as handicap (see above Handicap)

Super Yankee
A synonym for a wager called Canadian (see above Canadian)

System
Consists of using mathematical calculations, as well as past trends in order to predict a future outcome of a match. Gives the punter an advantage if it comes out right.


T

Tip
A synonym for a pick. (see above Pick)

Tipster
A person that analyses a given match, and offers his/her advice on a recommended bet.

Trend
A flow in a certain direction. Refers to a similar pattern than has been occurring in the past. Using trends is a good strategy to predict the outcome of a future game.

Treble
A type of wager that consists of 3 bets. In order get a payout, all 3 games must win.

Trixie
A type of wager that consists of 4 bets on 3 selections. These bets consist of 3 doubles and a treble. You must win at least 2 games in order to get a return.


U

Underdog
Also know as just “dog”, is a term that refers to the team with the low chances of winning, the outsider. (see above Dog)


V

Value
A type of bet that seems to have above average percentage of coming out a winner, but the odds are still high. Example: if you have seen that Team A has beaten Team B, 5 out of the last 6 times, but the odds are 4.50 for Team A to win, this would be a value bet.

Vigorish or Vig
A synonym of “juice” which refers to the bookmaker’s commission. (see above Juice)


W

Wager
A bet, a stake. To risk an amount of money, on a football game or any type of an event.

Wise Guy
Self-explanatory,a bettor that’s well informed.


X

“X”
A term used in the 1X2 abbreviation, which means a Draw. The rest, 1 represents home victory, and 2 away victory.


Y

Yankee
A type of wager that consists of 11 bets on 4 selections. These bets consist of 1xfourfold, 4xtrebles, and 6xdoubles. Must win at least 2 games to get a return.

Yap
Known as Lucky 15 (see above Lucky 15)


Z

None