Football Betting Glossary

A
ACCUMULATOR
A cumulative bet where the punter selects several matches or events and bets on the first one. If he wins, the winnings become his bet on the next and so on.
ARBITRAGE
Where a variation in odds available allows a punter to back both sides and guarantee a win.

 

B
BAD BEAT
An unlucky loss. Mainly used in poker but also used for any unexpected gambling loss.
BANKER
A bet that has a very high chance of winning.
BETTOR
Someone who places a bet.
BOOK
A bookmakers record of all bets placed on a certain game or competition.
BOOKMAKER (BOOKIE)
A person or company who give odds and accepts bets from the public.
BOTH TEAMS TO SCORE (BTTS)
A football bet you could place on whether both teams will score or not.

 

C
CHALK PLAYER
Someone who usually only wagers on the favourites.

 

D
DOG
The underdog in any betting proposition. This person is expected to lose.
DOUBLE CHANCE
A popular football bet which means you are either backing the home side to win/draw or the away side to win/draw or either the home/away side to win.
DOUBLING
A widely used system of doubling your next bet after a loss to try and make back some money.
DRIFT
When the odds on a certain market get bigger (or worse odds than before). The odds are then said to have “drifted”.

 

E
EDGE
The advantage you have over your opposition. Used in many forms of gambling, most common in poker.
EVENS
Odds of 1/1, this bet will double your money exactly.

 

F
FOLD
A fold indicates the number of selections in an accumulator (5-Fold = 5 selections). Fold bets usually range from a 4-Fold up to a 14-Fold, sometimes higher.
FORM
Past performances used to give an indication of the team’s chances.

 

G
GOLIATH
A bet consisting of 247 combinations (28 doubles, 56 trebles, 70 4-folds, 56 5-folds, 28 6-folds, 8 7-folds and 1 8-fold) involving 8 selections in different events.
GOALS GALORE
When both teams score at least 1 goal in the match.
GRAND
£1,000.

 

H
HANDICAP
A method used by bookmakers to make a one-sided event become a more attractive betting proposition.
HEINZ
A multiple bet consisting of 57 combinations (15 doubles, 20 trebles, 15 4-folds, 6 5-folds and 1 6-fold) involving 6 selections in different matches.

 

I
INTERFACE
The computer platform which allows you to bet.

 

J
JUICE
The commission paid to the bookmaker.

 

K
KICK-OFF
The start of a football match and when in-play betting starts.

 

L
LOCK
A guaranteed winner. Also known as ‘Banker’.
LONG ODDS
A selection with big odds. Eg. 1000/1. An unlikely winner.
LONG SHOT
The un-fancied team. A selection that is unlikely to win.
LUCKY 15
A Lucky 15 is 4 selections with multiple bets, so 4 singles, 6 doubles, 4 trebles and 1 4-fold = 15 bets.
LUCKY 31
A Lucky 31 is 5 selections with multiple bets, so 5 singles, 10 doubles, 10 trebles, 5 4-folds and 1 5-fold = 31 bets.
LUCKY 63
A Lucky 63 is 6 selections with multiple bets, so 6 singles, 15 doubles, 20 trebles, 15 4-folds, 6 5-folds and 1 6-fold = 63 bets.

 

N
NAP
The selection that tipsters nominate as their strongest selection of the day or event.

 

O
ODDS
The bookmaker’s view of the chance of a team winning or event happening.
ODDS AGAINST
Where the odds are greater than evens (eg 2/1).
ODDS ON
Where the odds are shorter than evens (eg 1/2). If the selection wins, the amount won is less than the amount staked but you also get your stake back!
OUTSIDER
A long shot, unlikely the selection will win.

 

P
PATENT
A multiple bet consisting of 7 bets involving 3 selections. A single on each selection, plus 3 doubles and 1 treble.
PUNTER
UK term for someone who has a bet.

 

S
SHOO IN
A bet that is “guaranteed” to win.
SINGLE
A bet on one selection to win. This bet can be anything from picking an outright winner to various other markets. Anything that is 1 bet.
SUPER YANKEE
A Super Yankee is a multiple bet with 5 selections consisting of 26 bets. 10 Doubles, 10 Trebles, 5 4-Fold’s and 1 5-Fold.
SYSTEM
A betting method, usually mathematically based.

 

T
TIPS
Selections that are recommended by an expert or a website like FootballBettr.co.uk.
TIPSTER
An expert in the field of football betting. For example, the owner of FootballBettr.co.uk.
TREBLE
A bet consisting of 3 selections, all of which must win for the bet to be successful.
TRIXIE
A multiple bet consisting with 3 selections consisting of 4 bets. 3 Doubles and 1 Treble.

 

V
VALUE
Getting great odds on a football match.
VIG
The bookmaker’s commission.

 

Y
YANKEE
A multiple bet consisting of 4 selections resulting in 11 different bets. 6 Doubles, 4 Trebles and 1 4-Fold.