The latest bookmaker free bets and bonuses

You’ve come here to find leading bookmakers, so we won’t waste your time with small talk. Take a look at the 10 best betting sites list below, and you will certainly find a sports betting platform that suits your preferences.

Betting Dictionary: Key Terms Every Bettor Should Know

Understanding betting terminology is crucial for making informed wagers and maximizing your betting experience. Whether you’re a beginner or a seasoned bettor, this comprehensive betting dictionary will help you navigate the world of sports betting, casino gambling, and online wagering with confidence.

A

  • Accumulator (Acca) – A bet that combines multiple selections into one wager, requiring all picks to win for a payout.
  • Action – Any type of wager placed on a game or event.
  • Against the Spread (ATS) – A bet where a team must cover the spread rather than just winning outright.
  • All-In – In poker, when a player bets all of their remaining chips.
  • Arbitrage Betting (Arbing) – Placing bets on all possible outcomes of an event across different sportsbooks to guarantee a profit.

B

  • Bankroll – The total amount of money a bettor has set aside for wagering.
  • Bad Beat – A bet that is lost due to an unexpected or last-minute event.
  • Bet Slip – The digital or physical slip that shows your bet details, including odds and potential payout.
  • Bookmaker (Bookie) – A company or individual that accepts and pays out bets.
  • Both Teams to Score (BTTS) – A soccer bet on whether both teams will score at least one goal.

C

  • Cash Out – A feature allowing bettors to settle their bet before the event ends to secure a profit or minimize loss.
  • Chalk – A favorite in a betting market.
  • Closing Line – The final odds for a game before it begins.
  • Correct Score – A bet predicting the exact final score of a match.
  • Cover – When a team wins by more points than the point spread.

D

  • Dead Heat – When two or more competitors finish a race or event with no clear winner.
  • Decimal Odds – A common odds format where winnings are calculated by multiplying the stake by the decimal odds (e.g., 2.50 means a $10 bet returns $25).
  • Double Chance – A bet allowing two possible outcomes to win (e.g., Team A wins or the match is a draw).
  • Draw No Bet (DNB) – A bet where the stake is refunded if the match ends in a draw.

E

  • Each-Way Bet – A bet split into two parts: one on the selection to win and another for it to place (finish in a specified position).
  • Edge – An advantage a bettor has over the bookmaker.
  • Even Money – A bet with odds of 1/1 (2.00 in decimal), meaning a winning bet doubles the stake.
  • Exotic Bet – A non-traditional wager, such as parlays, teasers, or prop bets.

F

  • Favorite – The team or player expected to win, indicated by lower odds.
  • Futures Bet – A bet placed on an event that will be decided in the future, like a championship winner.
  • Free Bet – A promotion where a sportsbook offers a risk-free wager with no personal stake required.
  • Fixed Odds – Betting odds that are locked in at the time the bet is placed.

G

  • Grand Salami – A bet on the total number of goals or runs scored across all games in a league on a given day.
  • Gambler’s Fallacy – The mistaken belief that past results influence future outcomes in independent events.
  • Goalscorer Bet – A bet on a specific player to score a goal in a match.

H

  • Handicap Betting (Spread Betting) – Adjusting the odds by giving one team a virtual advantage or disadvantage.
  • Handle – The total amount of money wagered on an event.
  • Hedge – Placing an opposite bet to reduce risk or lock in a profit.
  • Home Field Advantage – The perceived advantage a team has when playing at home.

I

  • In-Play Betting (Live Betting) – Placing bets while a game or event is ongoing.
  • Indonesian Odds – A betting odds format used in Asia.

J

  • Juice (Vig or Vigorish) – The commission a sportsbook takes from bets, usually built into the odds.

K

  • Kelly Criterion – A formula used to determine optimal bet sizing based on perceived edge and bankroll.

L

  • Lay Bet – A bet against an outcome occurring, often seen in betting exchanges.
  • Line Movement – Changes in the betting odds or point spread due to betting activity.
  • Live Odds – Odds that update in real time during an event.
  • Long Shot – A bet with high odds and a low probability of winning.

M

  • Margin – The percentage of profit a bookmaker builds into odds.
  • Match Bet – A wager on the outcome of a single match or event.
  • Moneyline Bet – A bet on which team or player will win outright.

N

  • No Action – A bet that is voided and refunded.

O

  • Odds – The probability assigned to an event happening, determining payout.
  • Over/Under (Totals Betting) – A bet on whether the total points, goals, or runs in a game will be over or under a specific number.

P

  • Parlay (Accumulator) – A bet combining multiple selections, requiring all to win for a payout.
  • Pick ‘Em (PK) – A game where neither team is favored, with no spread.
  • Point Spread – A handicap given to a favorite or underdog to even the betting market.
  • Prop Bet (Proposition Bet) – A bet on a specific event within a game, like a player scoring first.
  • Payout – The money received from a winning bet.

R

  • Risk-Free Bet – A bet where the stake is refunded if it loses.
  • Rollover Requirement – The number of times a bonus must be wagered before withdrawing winnings.

S

  • Sharp Bettor – A professional bettor with a track record of winning.
  • Stake – The amount of money wagered on a bet.
  • Straight Bet – A single wager on one event.

T

  • Teaser Bet – A bet allowing bettors to adjust the spread or total in their favor at lower odds.
  • Ticket – A receipt showing bet details.
  • Tilt – Emotional betting decisions following a loss.

U

  • Underdog – The team or player expected to lose, indicated by higher odds.
  • Units – A measure of bet size relative to bankroll.

V-Z

  • Value Bet – A bet with higher odds than the true probability suggests.
  • Wager – Another term for a bet.
  • Whale – A high-stakes bettor.