BetAnything Your Ultimate Glossary for Gaming Terms

A term commonly used in Europe to describe when multiple wagers are combined into a single large bet. For the accumulator to pay out, every individual bet within it must win.

This refers to when a player makes a bet on a game, race, or any event. It can also allude to the amount of bets placed on a game or sporting event. It can also refer to how bets are settled. For example, 'all action' means every bet will be settled, regardless of outcome.

When you’re comparing a team’s win-loss record against the spread (the expected margin of victory), instead of counting their wins and losses directly.

An Alternate Line is simply a different version of a regular bet. For example, if you bet on a team winning by 5 points (a standard line), but you wish to make it easier to win (or maybe harder instead), you can choose to change it to a 3-point win (easier to win, but with a lower payout) or to a 10-point win (more difficult, but with a bigger payout).

The first thing a player needs to know is the specific amount of money they can’t go beyond throughout their gambling period. That set amount of cash is what’s called Bankroll. A disciplined player knows when it’s time to stop.

The second thing a player needs to know is the money strategy they’ll use while gambling. A player should always be in total control of their betting. Strategizing how to manage the wager limits, shopping for the best odds value, knowing when to bet, and how much they can afford to lose is key. Bankroll Management is responsible betting.

The spotlight isn’t for everyone. That’s why in betting we have what’s called a Beard, a person who places bets instead of the real bettor to protect their anonymity. This is especially true when professional bettors don’t want to be recognized by bookmakers, it is said that the actor Ashton Kutcher used to be a beard for gambling legend Billy Walters.

The most basic term you’ll find in this glossary. A bet is the amount of money you want to gamble on whatever game, race, or event you are interested in.

Go big. Bet Max is the higher bet you can place on any given game.

We all love free stuff, especially money. A Bonus is an offer a bookmaker provide to give the players an extra edge.

To save time, it’s very common to refer to the underdog not by name all the time but as Bottom.

A Box bet is when the chosen numbers in a lottery or the chosen horses in a race can win in any order.

The alpha, the apex, the silver back. If a given team or player is referred to as Chalk, that means it’s the favorite to win. It can also apply to gamblers. If someone always bets on the winner, they are called “Chalk” bettors.

This term refers to last the betting odds just before the event starts.

This term is what any bettor is looking to hear. When you see that someone Covers a bet, it means that if a team, either the favorite or the underdog, beats the set point spread (the margin for winning or losing), you won your bet.

A user who only deposits using cryptocurrency, often qualifying for higher limits or bonuses. Some people just live digitally. A Crypto Exclusive is a user who only deposits with cryptocurrency. The reason is that it often qualifies for higher limits or bonuses.

A term that just saves saying “under” to refer to the least favorite to win. Underdog reduced.

The famous “if bet.” To put it simply, in a Double Action bet you place 2 bets, if the first one is successful, we move to the second one. If the first bet loses, the second is canceled.

Double the trouble? Not in betting. When a player combines two bet selections into one bet, the profit can be bigger than placing their money in a single market. To cash in a Double Bet, both bets must be successful.

A Drift is when the original odds set by the sportsbook are increased after the opening line. The odds drifting means the odds have increased only.

When a player wants to increase the odds to win, there are always ways to ease the difficulty of a bet result. In horse racing, one of these ways, is called an Each-Way bet. A bet is split into 2, meaning that the horse can come in first or second place. Both bets pay if the horse finishes first, while only one pays if the horse comes in second place.

An Exacta bet (exact bet) is when the players pick the first and second finishers in a horse race in the exact order.

You will hear or read this term from both bettors and bookmakers. This will come up when they define the sum of money they might lose on a bet.

Sometimes referred to as moneyline odds, Fixed Odds describes the situation in which the bet becomes fixed and thus cannot move up or down even if the line does.

A Furlong means that the racing distance is equal to 1/8 of a mile, or 201 meters long.

Futures are bets with a long-term life span. This can be end-of-season results like league champions or a league’s MVP.

This term refers to a betting market that focuses on the total number of points scored during a particular game. A Game Total Bet typically involves wagering on whether the combined score of both teams will be over or under a predetermined total set by the sportsbook.

Settling a bet, whether the player wins, loses, or draws, is what we call a Graded Bet. It happens after the final result of said bet.

Probably the term most tasteful in this Glossary. You’ll win the Grand Salami bet when you get right (over or under, depending on your bet) the total number of goals or runs scored combined across all games in a league, on a single day. Mostly used in hockey and baseball, this can also apply to other sports. It does not matter which team wins or loses.

Assigning weights to horses or modifying odds to level the betting field. When in a David versus Goliath situation it’s always good to have a handicap. In betting, this means that a bet is not just about who wins, but who wins after the Handicap is applied. For example, if the stronger team gets a disadvantage like starting with -1 goal, the underdog gets an advantage like starting with +1 goal.

When you are a seasoned bettor your ability to predict what will happen during a sporting event, makes you a Handicapper. This comes also from extensive research, not only experience.

Total money wagered on an event or over time. This term simply refers to the total money wagered on an event or over a period. The Handle is what a player bets overall.

Here’s a good old trick: Bet on the winner… and on the loser of the same event. By doing this, you can balance the potential loss on one side with the winnings on the other. This is called a Hedge.

The casino’s statistical advantage over the player in a game. Another way to say “the house always wins” is House Edge. You can refer to the statistical advantage a casino has over the player as the House Edge.

This happens when you want to link two or more wagers together, but the second bet (or third, fourth, etc.) can only take place if the first one is successful.

The highest of thrills, after winning of course, is when you are part of the action as it happens. In-Game Wagering is when you place bets during a live event in real-time.

You can almost hear it just by reading it, right? The Jackpot is the top prize when you play slots, lottery, poker, or other progressive betting games.

The bookmaker’s cut or commission on a bet. To put it simply, the Juice or Vig is the cut the bookmaker’s make on a bet. When you see odds like -110, that means that you need to bet $110 to earn $100. The $10 dollar difference is what the sportsbook will take.

These refers to the most common victory margins in football and basketball. Examples of Key numbers in football are 3-point margins, 7-point margins, 10-point margins, etc. it will depend on different factors, such as field goals, single touchdown differences, and more.

This is just another word for odds.

Another term you love to hear. Lock refers to a bet guaranteed to win in the eyes of an expert or, as commonly referred to, a Handicapper.

Sometimes a little boost can’t hurt. Imagine you win $100 in a lottery. By paying an extra cost, you can add a multiplier option that draws, for example, 3x, turning your $100 into $300. The Lottery Multiplier increases your winnings, but not your chances of winning and is chosen randomly (2x, 3x, 5x, etc.).

This is a betting strategy in which, with every loss, a bettor needs to double their bet to make up for the previous loss. Please note, betting strategies aren't foolproof. Even though it seems like you will eventually win, over time you are most likely to lose.

Ever wonder what the + or – signs mean when betting? It’s quite simple. The favorite is always the one with the – sign and the underdog is always the one with the + sign next to it. You’ll notice these signs in a Moneyline betting. And it’s an easy way to know how much profit you’d make if you bet $100.

This term refers to a player’s best bet of the day. 

You’ll hear this when a bookmaker cancels betting actions and returns the original stakes to bettors. 

The world is bigger than casinos, horse races, sporting events, or lotteries. When a player wants to bet on who wins the Oscars, who’ll be the next James Bond, the name of the next royalty baby, or if it will snow in London on Christmas day, a bookmaker will offer a Novelty Bet. The world is our oyster. This kind of bet is also called a “Prop Bet.”

Sometimes happens that sportsbooks get generous. When that happens, you’ll get an Odds Boost; which means that a sportsbook increase the potential for profit (e.g. a bet is boosted from +250 to +325).

This refers to a bet on whether the combined score will be over or under a set number. Let’s say that you bet on a total points line in which the Chiefs and the Buffalo Bills get a 48.5 total score combining both teams at the end of the game. If you bet for it to be over 48.5, and the result of the total score combined is 49, you win. But if the total result amounts to 42, you lose.

Another word for Accumulator, a Parlay is also a single bet combining multiple wagers; all must win for the parlay to pay up.

A horse racing bet that wins if the selected horse finishes first or second. This is very straight forward. Place refers to the bet that wins depending on the finishing position of a horse in a race, whether first or second place.

Sometimes many player’s losses can turn into one player’s win. The more unsuccessful bets happened the more the Jackpot is increased. If you win after many unsuccessful bets, you’ll go home with a Progressive Jackpot.

This is not good or bad, but if you see Push on one of your bets, that means that there’s a tie between you and the sportsbook, so your bet will be returned.

If you want the lottery machine to randomly generate numbers for you instead of choosing your own numbers, choose a Quick Pick.

Hope sometimes comes in the form of percentages. The RTP (Return to Player), is a theoretical percentage the player will get back from playing slots or other games over time.

This is a line only regarding baseball games. It is the same as a spread line, usually set at 1.5.

Even if you are new to playing the lottery, you know about the Scratch-Off type. We bet you’ve scratched at least one. Just scratch away and find out you’ve won. It’s that easy.

To be a consummate pro with a bag of skills, you must be Sharp.

This term refers to a horse racing bet that wins if the selected horse finishes first, second, or third.

To even the playing field between two teams or players that are unevenly matched, the sportsbook will set a margin that allows the bettor to have a better chance of getting more money. If Team A has a point spread of -7.5 and Team B a point spread of +7.5, if you bet on Team A they must win by 8 points or more for you to collect. The opposite is true if you bet on Team B. To collect your bet, they must not win the game or lose by 7 points or fewer.

This happens when you get five cards in numerical sequence (e.g. 5-6-7-8-9)

If your number selection matches the lottery numbers in the exact order, you got a Straight.

The most basic of bets. this is a wager on a single event or outcome.

To beat a standard straight with another straight, that other one must be a Straight Flush, which is a five-card sequence but with the same suit (e.g. 4♠️-5♠️-6♠️-7♠️-8♠️).

This is the best hand in all of poker. If you get this hand, start celebrating. This is a five-card sequence that goes from 10 to Ace, all of the same suit (e.g. 10♠️-J♠️-Q♠️-K♠️-A♠️).

Often used in Moneyline betting, meaning you're betting on a team to win outright, without point spreads.

A Teaser bet lets you adjust the point spread or total in your favor, but in exchange, you get a lower payout.

This means that the betting options are only win, lose, or draw.

This term refers to a horse racing bet where you predict the first three finishers in the exact order. Now that’s winning the game.

This means that the betting options are only win or lose.

The least likely winner in a bet (watch Rocky 1).

This is plain and simple, the bookie or sportsbook commission out of every bet.

This is a term used when a bet gets cancelled. A refund will be issued after.

An important term to know. This refers to the amount you need to bet before bonus funds become withdrawable.

This might sound generic, but it is quite specific. It refers to a horse racing bet that wins only if the selected horse finishes first.