Betting Glossary

A betting line set by a bookmaker that indicates the implied probability of an outcome as well as the potential payout.

Different ways of displaying odds. The three most common odds formats are American (+100), fractional (1/1), and decimal (2.0).

A team or athlete that is considered such a favorite that their odds are less than even money.

The act of comparing the odds for the same event on different sportsbooks to find the best price.

Another term for a bookmaker or sportsbook; a person or group that sets betting lines.

Often shortened to OTB, this refers to games displayed on a sportsbook that do not have odds attached to them. A significant event, such as a sudden change in weather or an injury to a key player, may cause this to happen.

The act of predicting the overall winner of a tournament/competition.

The opposite of an under bet; this bet takes the “over” line of a game total bet. For example, if the game total for the Heat against the Lakers is 225.5, you would bet the over if you think there will be more than 225.5 points.

A bet on the total number of something (e.g., goals/points/assists) happening in an event. The sportsbook will post a total, and you can bet on whether the final total will be over or under that number.