Betting Slang - The Most Common Terms in American Sports Betting

Action - This starts us out with one of the most common phrases in bet slang. This simply means that you have made a wager on a particular event. If someone has action on a game, that means they have placed a real-money wager. - (“I got action on this game”).

American Odds - The odds that will be used on all United States sportsbooks. There are three different odds formats, with American odds often considered the most difficult. 

Bankroll - This the total sum of money in the player’s account to be used for betting. 

Book/s - bet slang short for a bookmaker, more commonly known in America as a sportsbook. Can refer to either in-person or online sportsbooks. - (“Check the books and see what the odds are on New England”).

Consensus Pick - the outcome most favored by public bettors, or the outcome the highest percentage of bettors wagered on. 

Cover the Spread - referring to the favorite in a spread bet, who needs to win the game by a certain number of points for your bet to win. (If the spread is +7.5, the team needs to win by at least eight points to cover the spread).

Dime - Bet slang for a $1,000 wager. two dimes = $2,000, three dimes = $3,000, etc. - (“Put me down for two dimes on Philly tonight”).

Favorite - The opponent in a competition who is generally agreed to have the better chance to win. Betting on the favorite will bring a lower payout but a larger chance to win.

Handicapper - Usually an expert who predicts different bet outcomes for games.

Hedging a Bet - An attempt to make a profit or minimize losses in the case of a losing wager. This is done by betting on opposite lines of the original bet. 

Hook - Betting slang for half a point, used for spread and over/under bets.

Juice/Vig/Margin - the percentage of each bet that the sportsbook keeps as profit. A good margin percentage is 5% or under, with 10% or over considered poor. 

Live Bet - This is where a bet is placed during the game, not before like on normal bets. Most online sportsbooks today will have live betting sections. 

Lock - A pick that is considered to be 100% correct in the eyes of the bettor. (“The Red Wings are a lock for tonight’s game”). 

Moneyline - The most common and easiest bet to make. In order to win a moneyline, the athlete or team you bet on must win the competition. 

Mush - A gambling term for a bettor who is considered to be bad luck. (Famously heard often in the 1993 movie ‘A Bronx Tale’). 

Nickel - Bet slang for half of a dime, or a $500 wager.

Opening Line - The first point spread set by sportsbooks for a game. The point spread represents the perceived differences in quality between two teams or opponents. 

Parlay Bet - a type of wager that includes multiple bet selections, instead of only one. The payouts are much higher, but if one selection loses so does the entire parlay. 

Push - when a bet ties or draws against the sportsbook, which occasionally happens with spread or totals bets. Most of these numbers have (.5) added to them to avoid a push. (If the spread is -7, and the final score difference is seven, then the bet is a push and the stake will often be returned).

Puckline - The common spread and totals numbers for hockey games which are set at 1.5 for each. 

Round Robin Bet - Both a type of bet and a betting strategy. Round robins work by making several parlay bets, each containing the same variation of bet selections. 

Runline - The common spread and totals numbers for baseball games, which are set at 1.5 each. 

Sharp Bettor/Money - Considered to be a professional at sports betting. These types of players are known by sportsbooks and can have betting limits imposed on them. 

Stake - The dollar amount wagered on a particular bet is known as the player’s stake. 

Underdog - The perceived weaker team/athlete in a competition, who is naturally expected to lose. (“Seton Hall is a massive underdog going up against Syracuse tonight”).