NHL Betting Glossary

Ever been in a sportsbook and heard terms such as puppy, beard, reverse, or push? These are a few of many terms and lingo you'll hear when people speak about hockey betting. Check out our hockey betting glossary below to get the learn the definition of each term!

ACTION-Wager

AGENT-Person that sends players to books for commission

AWOL-Person that skips town on their book without paying

BACK DOOR COVER-A team comes back in the end to cover the spread

BAD BEAT-Sure winner turned to a loser

BANKROLL or BR-Your gambling money

BEARD-Person making wager for a wiseguy

BEEF-A dispute over the outcome of a bet

BM-Bookmaker

BOOKIE-Person who takes bets or "action"

BONUS-Addition to your deposit. Usually 10%-20%

BUCK-$100 wager

CHALK-Favored team

CHALK PLAYER-Bettor who almost always plays favorites

CIRCLED GAME-A game in which limits may be limited due to an injury, uncertainty of a player's status, or inclement weather

CLONE JOINT-A book that copies others lines

COVER-Beating the spread

DEGENERATE-Compulsive gambler

DIME-$1000

DIMELINE-10c separating the fav from the dog. Much better value than a 20c line! DOG-Team getting points or getting + odds

DOLLAR-$100

EVEN MONEY-No odds or vig

EXOTIC WAGER-Usually refers to a proposition wager

FORUM-Place where gamblers congregate to discuss the upcoming games

FUTURES-Wager in which your gambling on the result of a team relative to season wins, standings, playoff finish etc

GAMBLING-Wagering money with the intention of profiting more money.

GETTING DOWN-Placing a wager or bet

HANDICAPPER-Person who analyzes games and predicts outcomes on sporting events

HANDLE-Total amount of money wagered

HEDGING-The placing of a bet on the other side in order to cut losses or guarantee profit on a wager

HOOK-1/2 point

JUICE-Book commission

LAYING POINTS-Playing the favorite

LAYOFF-Money bet by a house with another bookmaker to reduce its liability

LIMIT-Maximum amount of money accepted for one wager

LINE-Odds or spread on a game

LINEMAKER-The person or group that establishes the line, spread, or odds

LOCK-Guaranteed winner.

LONGSHOT-Large underdog.

MATADOR-A cover that occurs in the waning moments of a game (also referred to as a back door cover)

MIDDLE-To win both sides of a game. For example, if you bet the underdog +3 1/2 and the favorite -2 1/2 and the favorite wins by 3, you've middled the book. The book has been middled.
MIDDLER-Gambler that takes both sides of a game hoping for result to land in middle

MUSH-A better who is bad luck

NICKEL-$500

NEUTRAL SITE-Arena, court or field where neither side has a home field advantage.

ODDSMAKER-The person or group that establishes the line, spread, or odds

OTB or OFF THE BOARD-A game the book is not currently accepting action on. OTB is usually due to the uncertainty of the status of a player or inclement weather

OVERLAY-A situation in which the odds on a game favor the bettors rather than the house

PARLAY-A wager in which you get enhanced odds however all games in your "parlay" must win or your ticket is void

PAST POST-To place a wager after an event has started

PICKEM-Wager in which the pointspread is zero

POINTSPREAD-The betting line

PRICE-Odds or spread

PUPPY-Underdog

PUSH-Tie on wager

REDUCED VIG-A wager in which your laying less than the standard -110

ROUND ROBIN-A single ticket comprised of more than one parlay. Same as "boxing" in horse racing.

SCALPER-Gambler making a play on low odds favorite then finding higher odds underdog on same game resulting in no risk wagering

SERVICE-Handicapper(s) that sells opinions, analysis, and picks

SHARP-Astute bettor

SIDE-Picking a team to win (non total wager)

SQUARE-Player that is always on favorites and overs. Also known as a gambling fool.

STEAM-Large amount of money being wagered on one side usually from a wiseguy

STRAIGHT BET-One wager (opposed to a parlay)

SUCKER BET-Parlays, teasers or exotics (anything bookmakers use to entice squares to bet more)

TAKING A PRICE-Betting an underdog

TEASER-Multi game card in which you can move the spread X amount of points (points and odds vary)

TOUT-Handicapper that sells opinions, analysis, and picks

TOTAL-Wager on the over/under in a game

UNDERLAY-A situation in which the odds on a game favor the house rather than bettors

VIGORISH-Amount of commission kept by the house (also referred to as juice or vig)

WISEGUY -The "steam" creator; sharp bettor; gambling pro.

Email us if you'd like to see an addition to this gambling guide or if we missed some wagering terms!