Sports Betting Glossary – Complete Betting Terms Dictionary | BookieBrawler

Complete sports betting glossary with definitions for every betting term - from action to vig. The ultimate reference for new and experienced bettors.

A-D

• <strong>Action:</strong> A live bet; any wager
• <strong>Against the Spread (ATS):</strong> A team's record when accounting for the point spread
• <strong>Arbitrage:</strong> Betting both sides of a market at different books to guarantee profit
• <strong>Bankroll:</strong> Total amount of money set aside for betting
• <strong>Bad Beat:</strong> A loss that seemed like a sure win until a late-game event

E-J

• <strong>Edge:</strong> An advantage over the sportsbook
• <strong>Even Money:</strong> A bet with +100 odds (no favorite)
• <strong>Expected Value (EV):</strong> The mathematical profit expectation of a bet
• <strong>Futures:</strong> Bets on events in the future (season winners, MVP)
• <strong>Handle:</strong> Total amount wagered on an event

K-P

• <strong>Kelly Criterion:</strong> Formula for optimal bet sizing based on edge
• <strong>Line:</strong> The odds or point spread set by the sportsbook
• <strong>Lock:</strong> A supposed "sure thing" (spoiler: nothing is a lock)
• <strong>Moneyline:</strong> A bet on which team wins outright
• <strong>No-Vig (Fair Odds):</strong> Odds with the sportsbook's commission removed

R-Z

• <strong>Sharp:</strong> A professional/winning bettor
• <strong>Square:</strong> A casual/recreational bettor
• <strong>Steam Move:</strong> A sudden, dramatic line movement caused by sharp action
• <strong>Teaser:</strong> A parlay where you adjust spreads in your favor for reduced payout
• <strong>Total (Over/Under):</strong> The combined score of both teams