Sports Betting Terms

Below you can find a list with the most common sports betting terms, jargon or slang used for American or Canadian sports. A lot of punters but also sportsbooks use slang for specific sport actions or bets. If you are a regular punter you will probably be aware of most of the definitions but there is always the chance that you have missed something. From the other hand if you are new in sports betting then you will find that list very useful.

Most common terms for American and Canadian Sports

Wager - Any bet.

ATS - Initials for “Against The Spread”

Book - A sportsbook or bookmaker that sets odds and lines and accepts wagers on the outcome of different sporting events.

Circled Game - sportsbooks will circle games on the betting board due to injuries to impact players or due to weather conditions. Mainly for the first reason

Cover - When the team wins by more than the point spread.

Dime - In sports betting, a dime equals to $1,000

Dime line -the difference between the favourite and the underdog on the money line is 10 cents ( Ii.e -130 +140) . Used for Baseball

Dog - The underdog 
Edge - Advantage

Future bet - Bets accepted well in advance for example pre season NFL winner or betting on CFL winner at the start of the period

Line- The current odds or point spread on an event.

Middle – Using both sides of a point spread proposition to make sure profit

Odds on favourite - A horse, team or individual so that is favored with odds less than even. 

Off the board – A game in which the sports book is not taking wagers on.

Point Spread - The scoring difference between two opponents that a sportsbooks predicts and accepts wagers on

Post Time - The scheduled starting time.

Push - A tie in the betting.

Round Robin - A method of betting on two or more teams in all  possible two-team parlay combinations.

Straight up win - When the dog win by a point spread underdog.

These are just some basic definitions of the most commonly used terms for American or Canadian sports like NBA, NFL, NHL, CFL.
Got familiar with the betting jargon? Now you can check out the best sportsbooks for Canada