The world of sports betting is a complicated one. The lines can be confusing, and you might not always know what events are worth betting on and which ones you should avoid. The main purpose of this article is to introduce you to the lingo used in the world of sports betting and why using an online glossary can make understanding the complex world of betting much easier.
Traditional vs. Electronic Sportsbooks
The first thing you’ll want to know about when entering the world of sports betting is the difference between a traditional and electronic sportsbook. A traditional sportsbook is what you’re probably most familiar with – it’s where you make your bets, place your wagers, and follow the outcomes of the games you’re interested in. Traditional sportsbooks are run by live people who deal with your questions and requests and have some degree of accountability for their words and actions. On the opposite end of the spectrum, you have an electronic sportsbook, which is entirely digital and, for the most part, automated.
Traditional sportsbooks are open to the public, and anyone can walk in and place a bet, inquire about lines, or leave a comment. On the other hand, electronic sportsbooks are often times accessed through an online connection that requires a login and can be more difficult to use for those who aren’t tech-savvy. Still, even then, the interfaces between the different sportsbooks can be a little clunky and slow to respond when you need help or want to submit a wager.
Wager vs. Stake
Wagers and stakes are two terms you’ll often hear in the world of sports betting and can be used interchangeably. Essentially, a ‘wager’ is a gamble, or a chance to win or lose money, while’stake’ is what you’re actually wagering on – whether you win or lose, you’ll still have the same stake in the game, regardless of the outcome.
You might wonder what the difference is between making a wager and laying down a stake, and while there is some distinct difference in the way the two phrases are used, they can both be used to refer to the same concept. For example, you might make a wager that the Cleveland Browns will win the AFC North Division, or you could lay down a stake on the same bet.
Terminology: A Glossary of Sports Betting Lingo
To wrap up this section, let’s briefly run down a list of some of the most common terms used in the world of sports betting. While most of these words and phrases can be used in various ways, each one has its own meaning and is associated with a particular phase/event of a sports game:
- A.C. – All clear, or all clear signal
- AFC – American football conference
- AFH – All football home
- B.C. – Before the change (or start of the action)
- BUF – Bear, eat fish
- D.C. – Did you catch it?
- D/L – Dog/light
- E.C. – Easy catch, or an easy victory
- F.C. – Final catch, or a touchdown or conversion to win (in the NFL)
- FG – Field goal
- FF – First-half/first-quarter
- HI – Home underdog, or a team that is less popular/expected to win at home (in the NFL)
- H/A – Hook/angle
- I.C. – Incomplete check, or an incomplete check signal (when a receiver has not caught the ball completely)
- L.C. – Long count, or the amount of time remaining before the start of the next play (in basketball)
- LSU – Last second swing, or the last play or action of a game (in college football)
- M.C. – Man count, or the amount of men remaining on the field (in American football)
- MID – Middle (in the NFL, referring to the second half)
- MIXED – Mixed crowd, or a game that attracts spectators from both sides (in college football)
- MU – Moneyline, or the money (or wagers) on one side of the bet (in the NFL)
- N.E. – No electronics, or no cell phones allowed
- OK – Over/under (in college football)
- PA – Pick ’em, or a peeper (in the NBA)
- P.B. (or P.O.B.) – Pound/ounce before/after the game, or what you’ll win or lose (in boxing)
- P.B.S. – Pound/ounce before the start of the game, or what you’ll win or lose (in boxing)
- P.M. – Post-match (in boxing)
- P.O.B. – Pound/ounce before the start of the game, or what you’ll win or lose (in boxing)
- Q.S. – Questionable shot, or a shot that is not clear whether the player will make it (in baseball)
- R.C. – Red count, or the amount of red cards remaining in the game (in soccer)
- R/U – Run/underestimate
- S.H. – Second half
- S.O.B. – Side of the book, or the money (or wagers) on one side of the bet (in the NFL)
- S.O.S. – Save our score, or an indication that your score is missing, or has been corrupted
- T.O.B. – The one before the bowl, or the NFL Divisional Playoff games (before the conference championship games)
- U.C. – Underdog college team (in the NCAA)
- U.F.H. – Underdog favorite home team (in the NCAA)
- WAS – Walking away shot, or a shot that is close to being over (in baseball)
- W/L – Wrong/luck, or a streak of bad luck that continues (in bowling)
- X.C. – Exit count, or the number of times a shooter has successfully hit a target (in archery)
- Y.D. – You done it, or an indication that a player has scored (in boxing)
- YDND – You did not do it, or an indication that a player did not score (in boxing)
- Z.C. – Zone count, or the number of balls still remaining in the batting order (in baseball)
With that, you have the basic understanding of the basic terms used in the world of sports betting. As you move forward and begin placing wagers on the various games and events you’re interested in, you’ll find that understanding the lingo used will greatly enhance your experience and make it much easier to navigate the sometimes complex world of sports betting. Now, let’s move on to the fun stuff – placing bets and following the results of the games you’re interested in!