Every sport has its jargon. Sports betting has even more. This glossary covers 100+ terms you'll encounter while betting in Ohio, explained in plain English.
A
Action
Any bet or wager. "I have action on the Bengals" means you bet on the Bengals.
Against the Spread (ATS)
Betting with the point spread rather than the straight-up winner. A team's ATS record shows how they've performed relative to the spread.
Alternate Line
A spread or total different from the main line, with adjusted odds. Buying or selling points from the standard line.
American Odds
Odds format using + and - numbers. Minus shows how much to bet to win $100; plus shows profit on a $100 bet. Most common in the US.
Arbitrage (Arb)
Betting both sides at different sportsbooks to guarantee profit regardless of outcome. Exploits pricing differences between books.
B
Bankroll
The total amount of money you have set aside for betting. Your betting budget.
Bet Slip
The interface where you confirm your bets. Shows your selections, stakes, and potential payouts before you submit.
Bonus Bet
A promotional credit that can be wagered but the stake isn't returned with winnings. If you win with a $50 bonus bet at +100, you get $50 profit, not $100.
Book / Sportsbook
A company that accepts sports bets. DraftKings, FanDuel, BetMGM are all sportsbooks.
Buy Points
Paying worse odds to get a more favorable spread or total. Buying a half-point from -3 to -2.5 costs extra juice.
C
Cash Out
Settling a bet before the event ends for a guaranteed amount. Available on many bets, with the value changing based on how the event is going.
Chalk
The favorite in a matchup. "Betting the chalk" means betting favorites.
Closing Line
The final odds/line before an event starts. Generally considered the most accurate line because it incorporates all available information.
Cover
Winning against the spread. If the Bengals are -3 and win by 7, they covered. If they win by 2, they didn't cover.
D
Decimal Odds
Odds format showing total return per $1 bet. 2.50 means $2.50 total return ($1.50 profit + $1 stake). Common in Europe.
Dog / Underdog
The team expected to lose. Shown with + odds on the moneyline.
Dime
$1,000 in betting slang.
E
Edge
An advantage over the sportsbook. If you believe a team has a 55% chance to win but the odds imply 50%, you have an edge.
Even Money (EVEN)
Odds of +100 or 1:1. Bet $100 to win $100.
Exotic Bet
Any bet beyond basic spread, moneyline, or total. Includes props, parlays, teasers, and futures.
F
Favorite
The team expected to win. Shown with - odds on the moneyline and gives points on the spread.
First Bet Insurance
A promotion where if your first bet loses, you receive bonus bets equal to your stake (up to a limit).
Futures
Bets on events that won't be decided for a while—championships, MVP awards, win totals, etc.
G
Game Props
Prop bets related to the game rather than individual players. First team to score, total touchdowns, will there be overtime, etc.
Grand Salami
A bet on the total combined score of all games in a sport on a given day. Common in baseball and hockey.
H
Handle
The total amount of money bet on an event or at a sportsbook. "Super Bowl handle" = all money wagered on the Super Bowl.
Handicapper
Someone who analyzes sports to predict outcomes. Can refer to bettors or people who sell picks.
Hedge
Betting the opposite side of a previous bet to reduce risk or guarantee profit. Common with futures as teams get deeper in playoffs.
Hold
The percentage of bets the sportsbook keeps as profit. Typically 5-10% of handle depending on bet type.
Hook
A half-point. "Getting the hook" means getting +3.5 instead of +3.
I
Implied Probability
The win probability reflected in the odds. -150 implies ~60% probability; +150 implies ~40%.
In-Game / Live Betting
Betting on events while they're in progress. Odds change constantly based on game situation.
J
Juice / Vig / Vigorish
The sportsbook's commission built into the odds. Standard -110 on both sides means ~4.55% juice. This is how books make money.
K
Key Numbers
Common final margins in a sport. In football, 3 and 7 are key numbers because games often end with those margins (field goal, touchdown).
L
Laying Points
Betting on the favorite with the spread. The favorite must win by more than the spread to cover.
Limit
The maximum bet a sportsbook will accept on a particular line. Higher limits on main markets, lower on props.
Line
The odds or spread on a bet. "What's the line on the Browns?" means what spread or odds are available.
Line Movement
Changes in odds/spread from the opening line. Caused by betting action, news, or sportsbook adjustments.
Lock
A supposedly "guaranteed" winner. Spoiler: there are no locks in sports betting. Anyone claiming one is lying.
M
Middle
Betting both sides at different numbers hoping to win both. If you have Team A -3 and +7, you win both if Team A wins by 4-6.
Moneyline
A bet on who wins outright, no spread. Just pick the winner.
N
Nickel
$500 in betting slang.
No Action
A bet that's cancelled and refunded. Can happen due to game cancellations, rule violations, or voided props.
O
Odds Boost
A promotion offering enhanced odds on specific bets. A team at +150 might be boosted to +200 for a limited time.
Opening Line
The first odds/spread released by a sportsbook. Often moves significantly before game time.
Over/Under (Total)
A bet on whether the combined score will be over or under a specified number.
P
Parlay
A single bet combining multiple selections. All legs must win for the parlay to pay. Higher risk, higher reward.
Pick'em (PK)
A game with no spread—both teams are considered equal. Just pick the winner.
Player Props
Bets on individual player performance—passing yards, points scored, strikeouts, etc.
Point Spread
The handicap applied to even out a matchup. Favorites give points (-3); underdogs get points (+3).
Push
A tie against the spread or total. Your stake is refunded. Happens when the result lands exactly on the number.
R
Return on Investment (ROI)
Your profit as a percentage of total amount wagered. +5% ROI means you've made 5 cents per dollar bet over time.
Reverse Line Movement
When the line moves opposite to public betting percentages. Often indicates sharp money on the other side.
Run Line
Baseball's version of a point spread. Standard is -1.5 for favorites, +1.5 for underdogs.
S
Same-Game Parlay (SGP)
A parlay where all legs are from the same game. Popular but carries high vig because legs are correlated.
Sharp
A professional or highly skilled bettor. Sharp money = bets from professionals that often move lines.
Square
A recreational or casual bettor. Not derogatory—most bettors are squares.
Stake
The amount you bet. A $50 stake means you're risking $50.
Steam Move
Rapid, significant line movement caused by heavy betting—often from sharp bettors or syndicates.
Straight Bet
A single bet on one outcome. The most basic bet type.
T
Taking Points
Betting on the underdog with the spread. The underdog can lose by less than the spread and still cover.
Teaser
A parlay where you can move the spread in your favor on each leg, but at reduced odds. Common in football and basketball.
Total
The combined score of both teams. Betting the over/under.
Tout
Someone who sells betting picks. Quality varies wildly—most are not profitable long-term.
U
Unit
A standardized bet size for bankroll management. Usually 1-2% of total bankroll. Helps track performance and manage risk.
V
Value
When the odds offered are better than the true probability. Finding value is the key to long-term profitable betting.
Vig / Vigorish
See Juice. The sportsbook's built-in commission on bets.
W
Wager
A bet. "Place a wager" means make a bet.
Win Total
A futures bet on how many games a team will win during the regular season.
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Save this glossary for reference as you encounter new terms. Sports betting has a lot of jargon, but it all becomes natural with experience.