There’s a bit of a betting slang that you may have heard of: MetaLol. It stands for MetaLol betting and is frequently used within the community as a shortening of ‘metasyntactic parlance’. If you want to become a full-fledged member of the MetaLol society, then you need to learn about the meaning of ML in betting. Here we go!
Parlance And Odds
When you place a bet with an online bookmaker, the first thing that will pop up is their ‘parlance’ which is basically their set of rules regarding betting. Some bookmakers may use ‘decimal lines’ which makes winning quite easy. You will usually find the opposite: most bookmakers use ‘binary options’ which makes winning more difficult. If you are new to betting, then try out ‘decimal lines’ to start with, and eventually move on to more complicated systems if you want to improve your odds of winning.
ML = Money Line
For those familiar with sports betting, ‘money line’ may sound familiar. That’s because it is generally used within the sports betting world, though it also shows up in some horse racing bets. The ‘money line’ or ‘parlance line’ is where you’ll find the phrase ‘money management’ showing up. The bookmaker will generally offer you two sets of odds: one for the match (if it’s a sports event) and the other for the money line (usually in a different color). Basically, if one set of odds is favorable and the other is not, then it means the favored team is probably going to win. For example, if Manchester United is listed at +600 and Chelsea is only +400, then United will probably win the match.
As a beginner, you’ll likely start out with a small bet, and that’s what the bookmaker will require from you. When you win, they’ll give you more money to bet with. When you lose, then they’ll take it all back (minus a small commission). This may seem easy enough, but it’s important to keep in mind that this is gambling, and it’s all about probability. The more you bet, the more you’ll understand probability. Don’t get too carried away, however; it’s still considered gambling even if it’s just a few dollars.
Predicting The Future
Many bookmakers now allow you to make predictions. These are generally known as ‘prop bets’ and can sometimes be quite entertaining to those who enjoy poking holes in fortune cookies. For example, if you believe that Donald Trump is going to be the next US president, then you can place a bet on it. Unfortunately, as a beginner, you’ll need to place quite a large bet in order to make this form of betting worthwhile. Most online sportsbooks have an upper limit on the size of the wager, so be careful not to go over it. Once you reach a certain level of betting winnings, then you can consider looking into prop bets.
ML = Mixing Lingo And Math
If you’re looking for an acronym to remember, then you can’t go wrong with ML. It stands for Mixing Lingo and Math, and it is used quite frequently within the MetaLol society. For example, if you want to refer to the money line discussed above, then you can say “Let’s ML that Manchester United is going to beat Chelsea,” or “That’s an ML proposition.” What this means is that you’re combining linguistics with mathematics by using the formula ‘A’ + ‘B’ to mean ‘AB’ (A is the first thing, B is the second thing). Basically, as a beginner, you’re going to need to learn to make the right combinations of words and numbers to become a master of the trade.
What Are Match Results Based On?
This may sound like a strange one, but when you’re dealing with probabilities and statistics, then it’s important to understand the basis of the calculation. The way online bookmakers determine the result of a sports match is based on several factors. In general, they look at the following:
- The winning team’s score
- The amount of goals scored (or missed by either team)
- Whether the match was ‘halftime’ or ‘full time’ (in other words, whether there were extra periods of play)
- Whether there were weather or transportation issues that affected the game (such as snow, rainy days, or bad traffic jams)
- Whether either team was physically or mentally prepared for the game (based on their recent performances and injuries)
- The betting line (if there was one)
In other words, there are a lot of factors that go into the result of a game. As long as you understand this, then you can begin to understand why some teams are favored over others and how you can use this information to your advantage. Remember: none of this is science. It’s all about probability and math, though sometimes it feels like trying to juggle without smashing the cups!
Where Can I Find More Information?
If you’re wanting to learn more about betting or the lingo associated with it, then you can’t go wrong with the following sources:
- OddsShark.com
- NerdWallet.com
- Bovada.lv
- BookmakersInsider.com
- PokerStars.com
- BlackjackScore.com
Each of these websites is well-known for being useful and easy to use for those who either are already familiar with or want to learn more about betting. You can also find lots of information on Twitter if you want to take your research further. Just search for ‘#betting’ or ‘#ML’ to see what pops up. You will not get random tweets with the phrases ‘betting’ and ‘ML’ in them, but you will get a stream of relevant information all linked to different subjects related to betting.
Ultimately, whether you’re a newcomer to the world of betting or a seasoned professional, odds are you’ll use multiple websites and social media platforms to keep up with all the changes and trends relating to your favorite sport.