A
Action
Any bet or wager. "Having action" means you have money riding on a game.
Against the Spread (ATS)
Betting on the point spread rather than the moneyline. A team's ATS record shows how often they cover.
Arbitrage (Arbing)
Betting both sides of a game at different sportsbooks to guarantee profit regardless of outcome.
B
Bankroll
The total amount of money you've set aside for betting. Smart bettors never risk more than 1-2% per bet.
Bonus Bet
A promotional bet where you keep the winnings but not the stake. Also called "site credit" or "bet credit."
Book / Bookie
Short for sportsbook. The company or person accepting bets.
C
Cash Out
Settling a bet early for a guaranteed payout before the event ends. Available at most Ohio sportsbooks.
Chalk
The favorite. "Playing the chalk" means betting on favorites.
Cover
Winning against the spread. If a team is -7 and wins by 10, they covered.
D-E
Dog / Underdog
The team expected to lose. Shown with a + sign on the spread or moneyline.
Edge
An advantage over the sportsbook. Sharp bettors look for edges in lines.
Even Money
A bet that pays 1:1. Also shown as +100 in American odds.
F-H
Favorite
The team expected to win. Shown with a - sign on the spread or moneyline.
Handle
The total amount of money wagered on an event. "The Super Bowl handle was $200 million."
Hedge
Betting the opposite side to guarantee profit or reduce risk on an existing bet.
Hook
A half-point in the spread. "Getting the hook" means getting +3.5 instead of +3.
J-L
Juice / Vig
The sportsbook's commission. Standard is -110, meaning bet $110 to win $100. The extra $10 is juice.
Limit
The maximum bet a sportsbook will accept. Limits vary by market and bettor.
Line
The odds or point spread on a game. "What's the line on the Browns game?"
Lock
A "sure thing" bet. In reality, there are no locks — anyone claiming one is lying.
M-O
Moneyline
A bet on which team wins outright, with no spread. Favorites pay less, underdogs pay more.
Odds
The probability of an outcome expressed as a payout ratio. American odds show how much you win on $100.
Over/Under (Total)
A bet on whether the combined score will be higher or lower than a set number.
P
Parlay
A bet combining multiple selections. All must win for the parlay to pay. Higher risk, higher reward.
Point Spread
The margin of victory a favorite must win by. A -7 spread means win by 8+ to cover.
Prop Bet
A bet on something other than the game outcome — player stats, first scorer, etc.
Push
A tie on the spread. Your stake is refunded. Example: -7 spread, team wins by exactly 7.
S
Sharp
A professional or winning bettor. Sharps move lines with their action.
Spread
Short for point spread. The handicap applied to the favorite.
Square
A recreational or losing bettor. The opposite of a sharp.
Steam Move
A sudden, significant line movement caused by heavy betting action.
Straight Bet
A single bet on one outcome, as opposed to a parlay.
T-Z
Teaser
A parlay where you adjust the spread in your favor on each leg in exchange for lower odds.
Total
The combined score of both teams. Betting over/under the total.
Unit
A standardized bet size, typically 1% of your bankroll. "I bet 2 units on the Bengals."
Value
A bet where the odds are better than the actual probability. Finding value is key to long-term profit.
Vig (Vigorish)
The sportsbook's commission on bets. Also called juice. Standard is ~4.5% at -110 odds.