Betting Glossary
Here are some gambling terms and sport betting definitions that apply to betting on MMA fights.
| Action | A sports betting wager of any kind, a bet. |
| Angles | Using key factors from previous events to predict the results for future outcomes. |
| Bet | To risk something on the outcome of an event |
| Book | An establishment that accepts bets on the outcome of events. |
| Bookie | A person who accepts bets. |
| Bookmaker | see ‘Bookie’ |
| Buck | Sports betting term for a $100 wager. |
| Chalk | The favorite. |
| Chalk Player | Someone who usually only plays the favored fighter, rarely betting on the underdogs. |
| Data Mining | Searching through a large volume of statistics to find profitable situations to bet on in the future. |
| Dime | $1000.00 sports betting wager. |
| Dog | The fighter perceived to be most likely to lose. |
| Dog Player | Someone who mostly plays the underdog. |
| Dollar | $100, in sports wagering. |
| Double Action | An “if bet” in sports betting that is processed if the precedent bet wins, ties or cancels. |
| Double Bet | A wager for twice the size of one’s usual wager; also known as ‘Double Pop’ or ‘Doubling Up’. |
| Edge | A persons advantage when it comes to sports betting. |
| Even Money | A bet whose odds are 1/1; a wager in which no vigorish or juice is laid. |
| Exotic | Any wager other than a straight bet or parlay – also called a ‘Prop’ or ‘Proposition’. |
| Exposure | The maximum amount of money a sports book stands to lose on a game. |
| Favorite | The fighter expected to win. The quoted odds reflect the extent to which the choice is favored. |
| Fifty Cents | $50.00 of sports betting action. |
| Gamble | To risk money on the outcome of an event. |
| Getting Down | Sports wagering meaning making a bet. |
| Half a Dollar | $50.00 in sports betting action. |
| Handicapper | When it comes to sports betting a handicapper is one who studies, rates and wagers on events. |
| Handicapping | In sports gambling this is the attempt to predict the outcome of events. |
| Handle | A sports wagering term that means the total amount of bets taken. |
| Hedging | Placing wagers on the opposite fighter in order to cut losses or guarantee a minimum amount of winnings. |
| Juice | The bookmaker’s commission on a losing bet, also known as “Vigorish.” |
| Laying the Price | In sports wagering, laying the price means betting the favorite by laying money odds. |
| Layoff | Sports betting term for money bet by a house with another bookmaker to reduce its liability. |
| Limit | The maximum amount a bookmaker will allow you to bet before he changes the odds. |
| Line | In sports betting, the current odds or point spread on a particular event. |
| Linemaker | This is the person who establishes the original and subsequent betting lines. |
| Longshot | In sports wagering this is a fighter perceived to be unlikely to win. |
| Money Line | Odds expressed in terms of money. So a moneyline of -145 means that for every $1.45 you bet, you would win $1. |
| Nickel | $500.00, in on a sports gambling wager. |
| Nickel Line | A sports wagering line where the juice is 5%. |
| No Action | A wager in sports betting in which no money is lost nor won. |
| Odds | The likelihood of the outcome occurring, stated in numbers form. |
| Off the Board | In sports betting this is a game on which the bookmaker will not accept action. |
| Opening Line | The earliest line posted for a particular event. |
| Parlay | A bet with two or more fighters in which all fighters must win or cover for the bettor to win and receive higher payouts. |
| Pick | When neither fighter is favored. |
| Power Ratings | The strength of a fighter in comparison to another fighter. |
| Press | In sports betting this means to wager a larger amount than usual. |
| Price | Sports betting term for the odds or point spread. |
| Proposition Bet | A specific wager on an outcome in a fight. Take for example in boxing, there are prop bets on which round the fighter will end the bout. |
| Puppy | The underdog in an event. |
| Push | When the contest ends with no winner or loser for wagering purposes. |
| Run Down | In sports gambling this is all the lines for an specific date, sport, time, etc. |
| Runner | One who places bets for another when it comes to sports betting. |
| Sharp | When it comes to sports betting a sharp is a sophisticated or professional gambler. |
| Single Action | An “if bet” in sports gambling that is processed only if the precedent bet wins. |
| Sportsbook | A person or company that accepts bets. |
| Square | A novice when it comes to sports betting. |
| Store | A bookie or sports betting establishment. |
| Straight Bet | In sports betting this is a wager on just one fight. |
| Systems | Using trends for the past that you are consistent with to predict future outcomes. |
| Ticket | A sports betting wager. |
| Tout | Someone who sells their expertise on sports wagering. |
| Trends | Using the past to predict the future focusing in on only one fighter. |
| Underdog | The fighter perceived to be most likely to lose. Also known as the ‘Dog’ in sports betting terminology. |
| Value | In sports betting value means getting the best odds on a wagering proposition; the highest possible edge. |
| Vigorish | The bookmaker’s commission on a losing bet; also known as juice in sports betting. |
| Wager | To risk money on the outcome of an event, to bet. |
| Wise Guy | A wise guy is the sports gambling term for a well-informed or knowledgeable handicapper or bettor. |
