USA Betting Terms

Betting terminology can vary slightly between countries, and the United States has unique jargon when placing wagers. However, here are some common terms used by bettors in the USA:

  1. Action: The act of placing a bet or having a bet on a particular event.
  2. Against the Spread (ATS): A bet on whether a team will cover the point spread. In other words, whether the favoured team will win by more than the specified number of points or the underdog will lose by fewer points or win outright.
  3. Bankroll: The total money a bettor has set aside for gambling.
  4. Bookie/Bookmaker: A person or organization that accepts bets on sports events and sets odds for those events.
  5. Chalk: The favoured team or individual in a particular event.
  6. Cover: When a team wins against the point spread, or an underdog loses by fewer points than the spread or wins outright.
  7. Dime Bet: A bet of $1,000.
  8. Even Money: A bet where the potential winnings are the same as the amount wagered.
  9. Futures Bet: A bet placed on an event that will occur in the future, such as the winner of a championship or season.
  10. Handicap: The point spread or the number of points a team is expected to win or lose by.
  11. Juice/Vig/Vigorish: A bookmaker’s commission on a bet is typically expressed as a percentage.
  12. Moneyline: A type of bet where the bettor picks the outright winner of the game, regardless of the point spread.
  13. Over/Under (O/U): A bet on whether the total number of points, goals, or runs scored in a game will be over or under a predetermined number the bookmaker sets.
  14. Parlay: A single bet that combines multiple individual bets. All bets within the parlay must win for the bettor to receive a payout.
  15. Prop Bet (Proposition Bet): A bet on a specific aspect of a game or event that does not directly affect the outcome, such as the number of touchdowns a player will score or the duration of the national anthem.
  16. Push: When the result of a game or event results in a tie against the point spread, and the original wager is refunded.
  17. Sharp: A knowledgeable, experienced bettor who consistently makes well-informed bets.
  18. Square: A casual, less experienced bettor who may need to make better-informed bets.
  19. Teaser: A form of parlay bet where the bettor can adjust the point spreads for each game, typically in exchange for lower odds.
  20. Total: The combined number of points, goals, or runs scored in a game by both teams. Bettors can wager on whether the total will be over or under the number set by the bookmaker.

Bettors commonly use these terms in the USA, but it’s important to note that betting terminology can vary depending on the sport or type of bet getting placed.

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