There is a common misconception that betting odds are always expressed in a positive manner. This couldn’t be further from the truth. In fact, there are often many phrases and words used to describe odds that you might not know the meaning of, or alternatively, might confuse you.
At What Point Does The Word ‘Even’ Appear?
If you’re new to betting or simply need an easy way to figure out the odds of various sports books, you might not realize that the word even appears in many places in the industry. This is mostly because bookmakers are trying to eliminate as many surprises as possible in the games they offer, so they use the word even when they mean odds.
“Even,” in the world of sports betting, can have the following meanings:
- The final score of the game will be even
- The total number of runs scored in the game will be even
- The number of hits in the game will be even
- Each team will play an equivalent number of innings, therefore making the game scoreless
- The amount wagered on each outcome will be even
- The length of time in minutes that the game will run will be even
What Does ‘Include’ Mean In Terms Of Odds?
While “even” can be used to indicate that a game is expected to finish in a specific way, there’s another word that is often used interchangeably with it: “include.” This word, like “even,” can have different meanings depending on the context in which it is used. The most common connotation of “include” when used in sports is that the final result will be a part of something larger. For instance, if you see a plus-150 betting option on the Milwaukee Bucks vs. Indiana Pacers game, it means that the final score of that game is +150.
In other situations, such as the Indianapolis Colts vs. Houston Texans game where the over/under is set at 48, it might just mean that the game is expected to be close. In this particular case, you would not want to risk missing out on the action because you didn’t understand what “include” meant in terms of betting odds. In such instances, a person would usually just use “even” instead of “include” so that there’s no misunderstanding about what they mean.
What Does ‘Parlay’ Mean In Terms Of Sports Betting?
You might be familiar with the concept of a parlay if you’ve ever watched pro football. Essentially, a parlay is when a person combines several wagers into one action. For example, you could bet $100 on the New York Jets vs. Cincinnati Bengals, and in addition to that 100, you could also wager $100 on the Atlanta Falcons vs. New York Giants. In this case, your total wager is $200, but you’re betting on three games, which is why you’ll see multiple parlays offered at various odds throughout the year.
In most cases, a parlay is an aggressive wager that you know you won’t be able to maintain for the entire length of the game. In general, you shouldn’t expect to see too many people parlaying during the NFL season, as the games are usually too frequent and the line moves too much for it to be worthwhile. However, during the off-season, which is mainly made up of college football and basketball, as well as some major league baseball, people will frequently parlay games because there’s less competition and the spreads are usually larger.
What Does ‘Scalp’ Mean In Terms Of Bets?
Speaking of larger spreads, there’s one word you should know the meaning of before you start making any wagers: “scalp.” When a bookmaker refers to an outright winner, they will often say that the game was “scalped” by the winner. What this means is that the bet was won, and the horse’s owner will most likely also win. In most cases, you will only see “scalping” when a small-field bettor wagers on a game that has an extremely high degree of difficulty. In these instances, although the odds might be in your favor, you still have to deal with the fact that the favorite might be extremely difficult to beat. This is why you’ll see many people opting to lay large amounts of money on these games, especially since if they win they will most likely also win the entire pool of money they’ve risked. You can learn more about scalping here:
How To Scalp A Bet
Now that you’re armed with the knowledge of what some of the terms mean in betting, you’re ready to place your first wager. However, before you do, take a moment to think about what you’re planning to wager on. If you’re looking for an easy way to make quick cash, the sports betting industry is likely not for you. The majority of professional sportsbooks will not be able to accommodate your desires, as it takes more than just being smart to succeed in sports betting.
One more thing before you start placing wagers: be sure to stay on top of the news. This way, you’ll know when a game that you’re interested in is going to be featured on a news outlet, and you’ll have a better chance of succeeding if you’re aware of when the big games are going to be played. In most cases, the news will also reveal when a title game is going to be played, which enables you to have a better idea of what type of game you’re getting into.