Online Sports Betting Glossary: Understanding the Language of the Industry

Are you a seasoned sports betting enthusiast or just stepping onto the thrilling field of online sports wagering? Either way, you're bound to encounter myriad jargon, buzzwords, and abbreviations that might leave you wondering, "What's the score here?" To simplify your sports betting adventure, we've compiled the ultimate A-to-Z glossary of key sports betting terms!

Sportsbook Jargon

In the iGaming world, you’ll come across terms that are familiar and terms that aren’t. If you’re used to land-based sports betting, you may even wonder what sportsbook means (it’s the sports betting section of an iGaming/online casino platform or a standalone sports betting website). Sports betting, wagering, gambling and sportsbook (however you want to refer to it ) is force to be reckoned with in its own right – hence our glossary dedicated to all sports lovers!

Terms & Conditions

Before we get down to the nitty-gritty, let’s take a minute to think about an often overlooked but critical component of sportsbook – terms and conditions (T&Cs) and wagering requirements (WR). Many punters jump into online sports betting with their experiences from traditional sportsbooks, but it's essential to understand that there are some significant differences in the online arena.

Terms and conditions and wagering requirements in online sports betting can vary widely from one platform to another. Understanding them is crucial for your betting journey. So, before we embark on our alphabetical journey through the glossary, let's unravel a few key points worth your attention.

Wagering requirements mean how much you must bet before you can enjoy the thrill of withdrawing any bonus cash. These requirements are often expressed as a multiplier plus other T&Cs, such as time limits, within the promotional T&Cs (Remember, you must ALSO look at the general T&Cs).

Wagering Requirements – How Do They Work?

Think of it as a thrilling maths challenge. Imagine you receive a €100 bonus, and the wagering requirement is 50x. What does that mean? Well, you'll need to deposit 

and bet that amount (€100) fifty times with real money before claiming your bonus winnings (also known as playthrough requirements). 

Here's the formula: 

Bonus funds X wagering requirements = the amount you must bet in real cash to release and withdraw your bonus funds.

Using the previous example again, it works like this: a €100 bonus with 50x wagering requirements could be written as €100 x 50 = €5,000. The punter must place €5,000 worth of bets to meet the wagering requirements. So: 

• You have a €100 bonus.
• You must bet fifty times that amount to withdraw your bonus – €100 x 50 = €5,000.
• Once you have bet €5,000 in actual money, you can withdraw your €100 bonus funds.

If maths isn’t your strong point, some online calculators can help, but it’s usually easy to work it out. 

Remember, you’ll also need to pay attention to time limits. There is always a deadline to meet the wagering requirements. Be sure to check it. A seven-day time limit, for example, will make it much harder to meet the WR than a 30-day limit.

Before you can revel in your winnings, there are other administrative steps, such as completing identification checks (KYC). Plus, you’ll also need to check if the platform approves your withdrawal method and the withdrawal amount limit.

Rest assured, reputable online sportsbooks follow strict safety and security guidelines. Adhering to T&Cs is essential because they provide the framework for a fair and enjoyable betting experience.

With your newfound knowledge, you're ready to embark on your exhilarating sports betting journey. 

#

• 24/7 Customer Service – A form of customer support available twenty-four hours a day, seven days a week.

A

• Acca insurance – Insurance for players to get money back if one of their legs doesn’t come through in an accumulator bet.
• Accumulator/Multiple/Parlay – A bet combining the odds of multiple events. They offer larger prizes but are less likely to win.
• Across the Board – A bet in horse racing to win, place, and show with equal stakes.
• Action – A bet on baseball where the pitcher isn’t specified. Also, the number of bets being placed on an event. It can also mean the total monetary amount to be won.
• Admission – Fee to enter a tournament or game.
• Affiliate – A platform that promotes an online sportsbook.
• Against the Spread (ATS) – Referring to a bet result and the spread. The sportsbook will set a spread. ATS is when a player wagers either greater than the spread for the favourites or loses by fewer points than the spread for the underdogs.
• Aggregate Limit – The amount to be paid out after a round.
• Ajax – UK betting tax.
• All In – When a player wagers their remaining chips/cash. It can also mean when a player bets on several outcomes, all parts must win to win the bet overall and get the money.
• Antepost/Ante Post/Futures – Make a wager predicting the outcome of a future event.
• Arbitrage – A variation in odds that lets someone back both sides and still win.
• Asian Handicap – A handicap bet used in some Asian football bets. More common in Asian sportsbooks.

B

• Backed – The player/team/horse you backed is the one you bet on to win.
• Banker – In an accumulator bet, the team most likely to win. They must win for the overall bet win to be paid out.
• Bankroll – Money in a player’s account.
• Banned/Barred – When a player can no longer make bets at the sportsbook.
• Best Odds Guaranteed – An offer that guarantees the best odds available.
• Bet/Wager/Stake – The money a player bets.
• Bet in Play – Placing a bet live during a game.
• Bet Insurance – An insurance offered by some sportsbooks where players can insure their bet so that they may recoup some of their money if they don’t make a win.
• Bet Limit – The maximum or minimum you can bet.
• Bet Refund – An offer that returns part of a losing bet.
• Betting Tax – Tax to be paid out against the turnover.
• Bettor/Puner – The person placing the bet.
• Binary Betting/Fixed-Odds Betting/Spread Betting – A bet combining spread and fixed odds with only two possible outcomes.
• Book – Short for sportsbook.
• Bookie/Bookmaker – A person you place a bet with, for example, a betting shop.
• Bonus/Bonus Funds/Bonus Games – A bonus, bonus funds or bonus games are awarded to players as part of a promotion or another offer, like when joining a sportsbook. Players must meet the wagering requirements to withdraw any winnings from betting with the bonus funds (see above).
• Both Teams To Score Betting (BTTS) – A football bet that both teams will score; odds vary depending on the teams. 
• Break Even – To win the exact amount that you bet.
• Burlington Bertie – Odds of 100 to 30 (10 to 3).

C

• CGA – Acronym of the Curaçao Gaming Authority or the Canadian Gaming Association.
• Canadian line – A combination of money line and points spread in hockey.
• Cap – A limit on the number of betting rounds.
• Carpet/Tres/Gimmel – Odds of 3 to 1.
• Cash Back – Some sportsbooks will offer to return some money wagered to players on specific games, matches or tournaments.
• Cash Out – To take your money and leave. Some online sportsbooks let players cash out after a partial win before the final result.
• Century/Ton – UK slang term for a £100 bet.
• Chalk – The favourite.
• Chalk Player – Someone who bets on the favourite.
• Chat Room – An online chat room for players in a table game.
• Chase – Someone placing more bets to try and recover their losses.
• Circled Game – A game where the maximum action or bet.
• Clean Sheet – A team that comes through a game without conceding a goal or points would be said to have a clean sheet.
• Closing Line – The final list offer of the bookmaker.
• Closing Odds – The last available odds given before a market closes.
• Co-favourite – Joint favourite.
• Cold Streak – To continually lose.
• Colt – A Male horse less than five years old.
• Combination Bet – A bet on teams or horses to finish first and second in any order. Players place multiple bets to reduce risk and maximise potential gain. Even if one choice loses, the bet won’t be lost.
• Comboboost – Additional odds offered by the sportsbook applied to express bets. 
• Commission/Vigorish/Juice/Margin – Commission is the money bookmakers take on any bet.
• Consensus – The general consensus on the outcome.
• Contrarian Betting – Betting against the public.
• Correct Score – A football (soccer) bet predicting both the winning team and the final score.
• Correlated Parlay – A  bet where both bets relate to each other.
• Cover – The result of a point spread bet. The favourite will cover if it wins by a number higher than the spread. An underdog can cover by winning outright or losing by less than the spread.
• Cryptocurrency – Digital currency is an alternative form of adding and withdrawing funds compared to traditional bank transfers and credit cards. 

D

• Dam – The mother of a horse.
• Dead Heat/Dead Hit – When two horses or teams finish in the same place.
• Deposit – To add funds to your sportsbook account.
• Deposit Betting – Making a wager with money already in your sportsbook account.
• Deposit Bonus – A bonus awarded by a sportsbook when a player deposits.
• Deposit Method – The method used to deposit funds into a sportsbook account.
• Dime – A $1,000 bet in the US.
• Dividend – A payout from any bet.
• Dog – The underdog.
• Dog Player – A punter who frequently bets on underdogs.
• Dollar Bet – A $100 bet in the US.
• Double – A type of parlay or accumulator bet. A double bet on two events or parts of the same event. 
• Double Action – A possible bet that continues if the precedent bet is won, a draw, or cancelled.
• Double Carpet – Odds of 33 to 1 in UK slang.
• Double Chance – When sportsbooks reduce the outcome of three football matches to two matches by ‘Double Chance’ betting.
• Double Header – Two games played back-to-back.
• Double or Nothing – A bet that pays out the amount initially bet.
• Double Result – A bet that combines the half-time and full-time scores.
• Doubling Up – A player increases their next bet to try to recoup a loss.
• Down to the Felt – When a player’s cash has all run out.
• Draw – When teams or players finish a match with even scores.
• Drift – Odds that increase are drifting.
• Dutch – A player who backs more than one option.

E

• ECOGRA – Short for eCommerce Online Gaming Regulation and Assurance, an independent third party focusing on responsible gambling.
• E-Currency – Another name for cryptocurrency.
• E-Wallet – An online bank account. Usually quicker for payments and withdrawals than traditional methods. 
• Each Way – A wager on a team or horse to win and/or place.
• Edge/House Edge – Refers to the sportsbook’s advantage.
• Encryption – Software used by online casinos to secure transactions.
• European Football Championship (The Euros or UEFA European Football Championship) – A four-yearly football tournament in Europe.
• Even Money – When the player has been dealt blackjack and the dealer's face-up card is an ace.
• Even Money/Even Money Bet/Evens – A bet with odds of 1-1. 
• Even Odd Bet – A bet if the winning number is even or odd that pays 1-1.
• Event Bonus – A bonus awarded for a specific sporting event.
• Exotic – An unusual bet.
• Expectation – The expected win based on probability.
• Exposure – The maximum a sportsbook could lose from a game.
• Express Bet of the Day – A sports betting bonus for selected events with an applied bonus rate.

F

• FA – Football Association (UK).
• Favourite – The team, individual, or horse most likely to win.
• Field – All players, the playing area, or odds offered on all other non-listed players or teams.
• Figure – Money owed to or by a sportsbook.
• Fillie – Female horse.
• Final Four – The last four teams in a tournament.
• First Half Bet – A bet on the first half of a game.
• First/Last/Anytime Scorer – A bet on a scorer in football.
• Fixed Game – A game that has been fraudulently fixed.
• Fixed Odds – A bet with unchanging odds.
• Fixed-Odds Betting – See Binary Betting
• Flag – A complicated bet on four choices.
• Form – The performance or fitness of an athlete or horse.
• Fold – The number of choices in an accumulator or parlay bet.
• Forecast – A bet that predicts the first and second places.
• Free Bet – a bet offered for free to players, but always read the T&Cs to check if ‘free’ really does mean ‘free’.
• French Open – A women's and men's Grand Slam tennis tournament held in late May and early June.
• Full Cover – A bet on all the doubles, trebles and accumulators.
• Full Time – The end of a match.
• Futures – See Ante Post.

G

• Game Total Bet – A bet on the total score of a game.
• Gaming Inspection and Coordination Bureau – Gambling regulatory body of Macau.
• Gaming Licence – A legal licence that allows a sportsbook to operate legally in a specific location.
• Getting Down – Placing a bet.
• Gimmel – See Carpet.
• Goal Line Bet/Over-Under – Betting on a football game to either have enough goals to go over or betting on it to not go over the goal line.
• Goliath – A huge bet comprised of 247 wagers on eight choices across different events. 
• Grand – A £1,000 bet.
• Grand Salami – The schedule for a specific day or night. Alternatively, the over-under total of the scores from all hockey games in a league.
• Grand Slam – The four biggest tennis/golf tournaments.
• Grid – A sportsbook’s display table of upcoming fixtures.
• Gross Winnings – The total payout from the gambling session.

H

• Half-Ball Handicap – Football betting odds with plus or minus 0.5 goals as the point spread.
• Half-Time Bet – A bet made in the second half of a match.
• Half-a-Dollar – In the US, a $50 bet.
• Handicap – A game’s spread/the point spread. It is also a method used to equalise sports players’ abilities to ensure a fairer playing field.
• Handicap Race – A horse race where weights are placed on horses to even the chances of a close won race.
• Handicapper – Someone who researches and then places a bet. Also, a tipster who publishes predictions.
• Handicapping – Assessing sports statistics.
• Handle – The total amount of money bet.
• Hang Cheng – A point spread term used in Asia.
• Hedging/Layoff Bet – A bookie uses a hedge bet to attempt to reduce future losses on games where a specific team or player has had many wagers. Placing a bet on the opposition side of the last bet to ensure a win.
• Heinz – A multiple bet with 57 wagers in different events across six selections. It refers to the Heinz food company’s 57 varieties. 
• Holding Your Own – Breaking even.
• Hot Game – A game with many bets on it.
• Home Field Advantage – A term used to describe the advantage a sports team has by playing at their home ground.
• Hook – A spread half-point.
• Hoops – Basketball.
• House – The sportsbook itself.
• House Cut – The percentage of money from the pot taken by the house.
• House Edge – See Edge/House Edge.
• House Rules – Rules set by the sportsbook.
• HTML5 – A programming language used by online sportsbooks.

I

• IBAS – Independent Arbitration Betting Service.
• IBF – The International Boxing Federation.
• If Bet – Multiple bets on a series of results.
• In and Out Teaser – Betting on the favourite, underdog, over, and under in a game.
• In-Play Betting/In-Game Betting – Betting during a game.
• In the Red – Odds-on favourite.
• Index Betting – Spread betting.
• Investment – The amount of money put in the pot by a player.
• Investment Odds – The estimated return on the wager made for a particular hand or action. 
• Implied Odds – Ratio of the money expected to be in the pot by the end of a round or hand.

J

• Jackpot – The biggest or one of the biggest prizes.
• Joint Favourites – Two teams or players with the same odds.
• Jolly – The favourite, a UK term.
• Juice – See Commission.

K

• KYC/Know Your Customer – Checks made by sportsbooks to verify a customer’s identity. 
• Kentucky Derby – A famous annual horse race in Kentucky.
• Key Numbers – Used frequently in football, the standard numbers or margins of defeat.

L

• LBO – Licensed Betting Office.
• Lay a Bet – Accepting or placing a bet on the favourite.
• Layer – Bookmaker/bookie.
• Layoff Bet – See Hedging.
• Laying the Odds – Place a bet on the most likely to win.
• Laying the Points – A type of spread betting.
• Laying the Price – A moneyline wager on the favourite.
• Limit – The limit before the odds change.
• Lines – Odds from a sportsbook.
• Linemaker/Oddsmaker – A person who sets the odds.
• Live Betting – Betting during the game.
• Live Chat – Live customer service messaging service.
• Lobby – The main area of sportsbook or tournament.
• Lock – A bet considered a certainty.
• Loyalty Program/Loyalty Scheme/Reward Scheme/Reward Program – A reward scheme where players accrue points that can be collected and exchanged for cash, prizes, or benefits.
• Long Odds – Long odds, usually greater or higher than 10 to 1, unlikely to win.
• Longshot – The team or player with long odds.
• Lucky 15/31/63 – A series of combo bets.

M

• MGA – Malta Gaming Authority.
• MLB – Major League Baseball.
• MVP – The Most Valuable Player.
• Maiden – A horse that hasn’t won a race.
• Margin – See Commission. Also, how much a team or player defeats the opponent by.
• Martingale System – A wagering system that some punters use.
• Match Bet – A bet on two variables against each other.
• Matched Deposit Bonus – A bonus cash award matching the player's deposit amount.
• Max Cash-Out – The maximum amount players can withdraw at any time.
• Maximum Bet – The maximum amount a player can bet.
• Minimum Bet – The minimum amount a player can bet.
• Middle – A wager on the underdog on a one-point spread and the favourite at a different point spread, winning both.
• Mobile Sportsbook – An online sportsbook that is optimised for mobile devices.
• Moderated Chat – An online game chat room moderated by customer support staff to help players.
• Moneyline – Odds would make a €100 profit or the amount a €100 wager would make. A bet on the end result of a match or game.
• Monkey – A £500 bet, or just £500. UK slang.
• Monthly Promotions – Online casinos have various promotions; many include monthly offers that change month to month.
• Morning Odds – A prediction of the next day’s odds.
• Move the Line – A punter pays another amount in exchange for an extra half-point in a point-spread game.
• Multiple – See Accumulator.

N

• NASCAR – National Association for Stock Car Auto Racing, the governing body of stock car racing.
• NBA – The National Basketball Association.
• NFL – The National Football League (US).
• NHL – The National Hockey League.
• NRNB – Non-runner, no-bet – the horse did not run in the race. The stake is returned to the punter.
• Nap – Refers to a Napoleon or the best pick of the event.
• Net Winnings – The total received from winning bets over time.
• Nickel – A $500 wager. US slang.
• Nickel Line – A betting line where the juice is 5%. US slang.
• No Action – A bet that doesn't win or lose.
• No Limit – A game without a bet size limit.
• No-Deposit Bonus (NDB) – Bonus funds given by an online casino that doesn’t require a player to deposit to receive it.
• Non-runner – A horse that did not take part in the race.
• Novelty Bets – Special bets, such as bets on television shows.
• Number Spread – An index spread. It is based on the amount of runs, goals and points in an event.

O

• Odds – The amount a bet pays out. For example, 2 to 1, 10 to 1, etc. 
• Odds Against – The long-term ratio of negative to positive outcomes.
• Odds For– The long-term ratio of positive to negative outcomes. 
• Odds Format – The different odds formats at various jurisdictions, such as decimal versus fractional.
• Odds-On – If the odds are shorter than evens.
• Odds On Favourite – The favourite to win.
• Odds Shopping – Comparing sportsbooks to find the best odds.
• Oddsmaker/Odds Compiler – See Linemaker.
• Off the Board – A game not going ahead.
• Off-Track Betting (OTB) – Bets not made at the event.
• On the Nose – Betting on a horse to win.
• Onesies – Players who play the lowest amount each time on a slot.
• Online Casino – Online version of bricks and mortar casino.
• Opening Line – The first odds offered.
• Outlaw Line – The earliest line in sports betting.
• Outright Betting – Betting on the overall winner of a tournament.
• Outsiders – Players, teams, or horses not expected to win.
• Over – If the total score of two teams is greater than the sportsbook prediction.
• Over Bet – A bet placed on a combined final score being over a certain amount of points.
• Overbroke – When the betting percentage of a market is less than 100%. Giving the punter an advantage.
• Overround – When the betting percentage of a market is above 100%. Giving the bookmaker an advantage.
• Over-Under – See Goal Line Bet.
• Overlay – When there’s a good chance of winning with high odds.

P

• PGA Championship – Grand Slam golf tournament.
• Parimutuel – A betting system where those who back the first three positions split the pool of all other losing bets.
• Parlay – See Accumulator. Adding winnings from the previous roll to the current roll bet or increasing a bet. 
• Parlay Banker – The favourite in a parlay.
• Patent – A multiple bet with 7 wagers.
• Payoff/Payout – The money won.
• Payout Odds – The odds used to work out the win amount.
• Payout Percentage – The total won as a percentage.
• Permutations – The possible outcomes.
• Picks/PK – Betting selections.
• Pick’em – A game with no favourite.
• Point Spread – The number of points given to the underdog to even the playing field. Also, the handicap/margin of victory set to attract wagers on the favourite and the underdog. The favourite must win by more than the point spread to win. The underdog must lose by less than the spread or by winning the game outright.
• Pony – £25 in the UK.
• Post-Time – Horse race start time.
• Pot Limit – A game with a fixed bet size for each round.
• Place – To finish in a winning position in a tournament. 
• Playthrough/Playthrough Requirement – Linked to Wagering Requirements. The amount a player must bet, using real money, before releasing a cash bonus. Often, it can only be on certain games/tables.
• Premier League – The top football league in England.
• Prepaid Card – A payment type that uses vouchers to make deposits.
• Press – Betting a more significant amount than usual.
• Press a Bet – Adding winnings from a previous bet to the next bet or to double a bet.
• Price – The odds.
• Prize Pool – The total amount of prize money that will be split between all winners.
• Progression Betting – A betting formula.
• Proposition Bet/Prop Bet – A bet unrelated to the final score or outcome.
• Puck – A game of hockey.
• Puckline – A point spread in hockey of -1.5 for the favourite and +1.5 for the underdog.
• Punter – The bettor. UK term.
• Puppy – The underdog.
• Push – A game tied to the point spread. Usually, the bet is returned or dropped from the parlay or combination bet.

Q

• Qualifier – Something that must be met to win the bet.
• Quarter – $25, US term.
• Quarter Bet – A wager made during a particular quarter of any game fractioned into quarters.
• Quinella – A bet on the first and second in the competition. US term.

R

• RFB – Rewards given to VIP players.
• Rag – The outsider.
• Real-Time Odds – Odds at a sportsbook that update as the event does. 
• Re-bet – Betting the same amount that was just won.
• Recreational Bettor – An infrequent bettor who only bets on big games.
• Refer a Friend Bonus – A bonus awarded for referring a friend to the casino who makes a deposit.
• Reload Bonus – A bonus given when funds are deposited.
• Responsible Gambling/Responsible Gaming – Relating to laws and regulations that casinos must abide by legally to limit gambling harm and addiction.
• Return – The total winnings on a bet.
• Return on Investment – The amount of money generated in the long term.
• Return to Player (RTP) – The total amount an online casino game pays back to players over time is expressed as a percentage.
• Reverse-Line Movement – A betting line that’s the opposite of the public betting percentages. 
• Reward Scheme – See loyalty program.
• Rotation Number – The number allotted on the bookie’s board.
• Rounder – Three bets made over different events.
• Round Robin – A wager involving 10 bets over three events.
• Run Down – All the specific betting lines related to an event.
• Run Line – A baseball term for the money line, a point spread of -1.5 on the favourite and +1.5 on the underdog.
• Runner – Someone who places a bet for someone else.

S

• Scalper – A punter who uses different odds at different sportsbooks to gain an advantage.
• Score – To win. Also, a £20 bet in the UK.
• Scouts – A cautious punter who waits for a strong chance.
• Scratch – Either a horse or player that withdraws from an event.
• Settler – An expert who calculates the payouts for a bookmaker.
• Shoo-In – A fixed event or the expected winner.
• Shorten – When odds are reduced.
• Show – Third place finish in a horse race.
• Shut Out – If a losing team is scoreless.
• Side Bet – A bet is not directly related to the outcome of the main game.
• Side Pot – Separate from the main pot where certain players can contribute and win. 
• Sign-Up Bonus – A bonus awarded when you sign up and join an online sportsbook. 
• Sire – The father of a horse.
• Single – A straight-up bet to win a race or event. Or a straight event. 
• Single States About – A wager with two bets on two choices.
• Smart Money – Where people in the know are betting.
• Spot Play – Selecting bets randomly.
• Sportsbook – An online sports betting platform.
• Spread – The point spread.
• Spread Betting – See Binary betting.
• Square – Someone who is new to sports betting.
• Stake – The amount bet.
• Steam – When betting lines are quickly changed.
• Store – Another name for a sportsbook.
• Straight – A bet to win.
• Straight Bet – A bet on a single team, athlete or horse.
• Straight Up – A bet for a team to win outright instead of a point spread.
• Super Bowl – The NFL championship.
• Super Yankee – A bet with five selections.
• Sure Thing – The favourite.

T

• Taking/Taking the Points – A bet on the underdog.
• Take the Odds – Take the bet. To place a bet smaller than the payoff.
• Taking the Points/Taking the Price – Betting on the outsider and its point spread.
• Teaser – A changeable bet made across several selections. 
• Telephone Support – Customer support that’s available via the phone.
• Terms and conditions (T&Cs) – Casino rules that apply to all players. Players who don’t abide by the T&Cs forfeit any chance of winning.
• Tic-Tac – The sign language used by bookies at a racecourse.
• Ticket – A sports bet.
• Tie – A result where both parties have equal points.
• Time Limit – A game with a time limit on how long a player can decide or move. Or a limit set by a player on how long they can play each day/week/month at the casino.
• Tips – Tips or predictions given by an expert.
• Tipster – Someone who gives tips.
• Totals – A bet on the total score.
• Tote – The totalizator system offering pool betting on horseracing.
• Treble – A triple bet on three events. 
• Trixie – A bet of four wagers placed across three choices.
• True Odds - The actual odds of an event happening. 
• Tout – A seller of tips or tickets.
• Two & Three Balls Betting – A golf bet. 
• Two-Way Bet  – A bet with two outcomes.
• Three-Way Odds: Betting options with three sides and ties.
• Two-Way Odds: Betting options with two sides that do not include ties as a betting option.

U

• UEFA – Union of European Football Associations.
• UKGC – Acronym of the United Kingdom Gambling Commission. 
• US Open – Golf or tennis Grand Slam in the US.
• Under – The total score of two teams that is less than the sportsbook total prediction.
• Underdog – The team/player/horse expected to lose. The outsider.
• Union Jack – A type of multiples bet.
• Upper Limit – The highest amount that can be bet.
• The UK Gambling Commission (UKGC) – The governing body that grants gambling licences to both land-based and online gambling operators in the UK.

V

• VIP – Very Important Person. 
• VIP Club/VIP Programme – Exclusive membership schemes for high rollers.
• VIP Player – A highly-valued player, usually a high roller.
• Value – Seeking the best odds for a selection.
• Value Bet – When the odds you take are potentially better than the chance the team/athlete/horse has of winning.
• Vigorish – See Commission.

W

• WAP – Wireless Application Protocol. A wireless communication network that gives access to the web from a mobile device.
• WBA – World Boxing Association.
• WBC – World Boxing Council.
• WNBA – Women's National Basketball Association.
• Wad – A roll of banknotes.
• Wager – A bet, a stake, a gamble.
• Wager Bonus – A bonus awarded that has WR attached.
• Wagering Requirement (WR)– See the start of this blog and Playthrough Requirement.
• Weekly Promotions – Offers from sportsbooks that change each week.
• Welch – Failing to pay a gambling bet.
• Welcome Bonus – A bonus received or offered to new customers at a sportsbook.
• Whale – A player who places high-stakes bets irrespective of his chances
• Wimbledon – The British Grand Slam tennis tournament.
• Win Only – A bet on a particular athlete/team/horse, etc. to win.
• Winning Margin – A bet predicting how much a team will win by.
• Winning Streak – A series of consecutive wins.
• Win Totals – A futures bet with win totals as an over/under number of total wins for one team in an entire season.
• Wire Transfer – Depositing or withdrawing money using a bank transfer.
• Withdrawal – To request and withdraw funds from your online casino account.
• Wireless Application Protocol (WAP) – Wireless communication network that enables access to the web from a mobile device.
• Wise Guy – A handicapper who is classed as an expert.
• World Cup – An international football or rugby tournament that occurs every four years.
• World Series – The championship of Major League Baseball.

Y

• Yankee – A type of multiples bet.

We’re Here for All Your Sportsbook Needs!

We hope you found our iGaming sportsbook and sports betting glossary exciting and informative. Remember, our list is not exhaustive, and things vary between regions and change over time, so keep your eyes peeled and your ears open for any new phrases that may be kicking into action at a sportsbook near you soon.

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