Betting Glossary

Betting odds on soccer games where plus or minus 0.5 goals is the point spread. These handicaps turn a three-way bet into a two-way bet.

A bet placed on the second half of a game after the first half is finished.

Odds set by a sportsbook with the purpose of creating an even betting opportunity. For example, if San Francisco were a heavy favorite over Seattle, the bookmaker could give San Francisco a handicap of 13.5 points. This means that if Seattle loses by less than 13.5 points, the bet will win.

A bettor who researches events and matchups before placing a bet. It’s also used to describe people who post predictions on events.

A term used to describe the amount of money a sportsbook accepts on a single game.

A hedge is a bet made on the opposite side of an original bet to guarantee a return. This can only be done if the original wager is in progress and is close to winning. Hedging guarantees a return in the event of a bad beat.

A term used to describe a break-even stretch - you aren’t losing, but you aren’t winning either.

The perceived benefit teams and athletes get from playing in the home stadium/country.

A half-point/goal added to points spreads and game totals to guarantee that a wager cannot be a push. It is guaranteed that one side will win and another will lose.