SPORTS LINKS

Glossary of Terms

Bet	To lay money on the correct prediction of an outcome. Also to lay, gamble and wager.
Bookmaker	The person who takes your bet.
Cent line	The cent line is the US system of prices. The type of cent line used determines the difference in price between the favourite and the underdog, and also determines the incremental difference between one line move and the next.
Circled Game	Applies to US sports. A game where the betting activity is limited by the bookmaker; this usually happens where bad weather or injury may significanlty alter the chances of either team winning, thereby making the outcome far more uncertain.
Dead Heat	Applies to Tournament-type bets, Three Balls (golf) and Top Batsman (cricket); where two or more competitors both qualify for an equal place.
Dog	Abbreviation of Underdog
Favourite	The team or player considered by the oddsmaker to have more chance of winning than their opponents.
Fixed-odds sports	Applies to US sports, namely NFL, College Football, NBA and College Basketball, where the price for the Side rarely moves from -1.10.
Gamble	See bet. Also wager and lay.
Gross Win	Your total payout, i.e. including your stake.
Handicap	A term usually associated with International sports. The handicap is the advantage given to the underdog, and the disadvantage given to the favourite, in order to even up the possible outcome of the event and give the bet more value. Known as the Spread in US sports.
Lay	To stake money on an outcome; to bet, wager or gamble.
Line	The odds, or the price. The figure by which you multiply your stake to calculate your winnings.
Net Win	The profit on your payout, i.e. excluding your stake.
Non fixed-odds sports	Applies to US sports, namely Major League Baseball and Ice Hockey, where the price for the Side is not fixed at -1.10 (see Fixed-odds sports).
Odds	Also the line, or the price. The figure by which you multiply your stake to calculate your potential winnings.
Oddsmaker	The person who establishes the odds.
Outright	The price to come first in a Tournament, as opposed to winning a place.
Payoff	The winnings on your bet
Payout	The winnings on your bet
Place	Applies to Tournament-type bets only, where a set number of valid places are declared by the bookmaker (e.g. first, second and third), and your place bet will win if your selection comes within this range.
Pointspread	Applies to US sports. The pointspread is the advantage given to the underdog, and the disadvantage attached to the favourite, in order to even up the outcome of the event and give the bet more value. See also Spread and Handicap.
Price	The odds or the line.
Push	A tie or a draw. There is no winner, therefore all bets become void and the stakes are returned.
Range	Applies to Tournament-type bets only. The number of places declared valid for betting purposes.
Return	Your winnings, including your stake.
Rule 4	Applies to Tournament-type bets only. A ruling which may be applied at the bookmaker's discretion, when a competitor withdraws from an event thereby altering the other competitors' chances of winning.
Split	Applies to Tournament-type bets only. The figure by which the outright odds are multiplied in order to calculate the payout for a place.
Spread	See Pointspread.
Starting pitchers	Applies to baseball. The pitchers that are declared to be opening the game for either team. If one or both pitchers are changed, the bets attached to them may be voided or the recalculated.
Stake	The amount of money wagered.
Tournament	A competition / championship where a number of competitors all aim to take first place.
Underdog	The team or player considered by the oddsmaker to have less chance of winning than their opponents.
Value	Good odds / a good price.
Wager	To bet, lay or gamble.
Winnings	The money you win (your profit) if your bet is successful.