Glossario delle scommesse

The most common bet type in events with three outcomes, primarily football. 1X2 betting can also be found as Moneyline in betting slips.

• 1: Home Win
• X: Draw
• 2: Away Win

As the name suggests, American odds are more popular in the US and Canada. They are identified by a plus (+) or minus (-) sign.

• The Favourite (-): A minus sign suggests how much you need to bet to earn a €100 profit (e.g.-150 means you bet €150 to win €100).
• The Underdog (+): A plus sign suggests how much your profit will be if you bet €100 (e.g., +200 means a €100 bet could result in a €200 profit).
• Related Tool: Odds Converter

Un ante-post bet is a wager placed mostly on horse racing before the event starts. For some big races such as Cheltenham and Grand National, this can be days, even weeks, or months in advance.

An advanced betting strategy that involves placing bets on all possible outcomes of an event across different bookmakers to guarantee a risk-free profit. For an “arb” move to make sense, the odds discrepancies between bookmakers need to create an implied probability lower than 100%.

• Related Tool: Calcolatore di Arbitrage (arbitraggio)

A popular form of betting that started in Asia and has spread worldwide. It eliminates the possibility of a draw by providing a “handicap” or head start (e.g., +0.5, -1.25 goals) to one of the teams. In recent years some bookmakers and exchanges offer asian handicap in sports other than football.

• Related Tool: Calcolatore dell'Handicap Asiatico

Un accumulator is a betting slip that combines two or more events. To win the bet, every single selection (or “leg”) must be correct. If even one leg loses, the entire stake is lost. A bet with two selections is a Double and a betting slip with three selections is a Treble. Why is it a popular bet type? ACCAs offer the chance for large payouts by risking small stakes, because the odds of each leg are multiplied with each other.

• Related Tool: Parlay/Accumulator Calculator

When punters put money on a specific outcome to happen (e.g., backing Liverpool to win), then this is a back bet. Which is also the direct opposite of a Lay Bet (that is covered later in this glossary)

An often-overseen aspect of sports betting, calls for players to manage their funds and stakes. There are several bank management strategies that are available online for free.

An individual or a company that accepts bets on sports and other events. Bookmakers can be physical stores or online websites. They accept players’ bets and pay out winnings after the end of an event.

Cash Out is a feature offered by bookmakers that allows players to settle bets before the end of the game. On a sportsbook’s live betting platform, an algorithm will offer players an early payout option based on the game’s progress. Cash-out strategies are very popular among sharp players as well, as they allow hedging and risk management.

Football definition that describes a team that concedes no goals during a game. The Clean Sheet Money Back is a common sportsbook offer that gives players a refund on their stake for markets such as all-time scorer and total goals.

A bet type on the exact score of a match. For example, players can bet that the game between Manchester United and Manchester City will end in a 2-2 draw.

This odds format is used primarily in continental Europe and Latin America. Decimal odds represent the total potential return, including the original stake.

For example, if a player bets £10 at odds of 3.50 and the bet wins, the player’s closing balance will be £35 (the initial £10 plus £25 profit).

• Related Tool: Odds Converter

Draw No Bet is a betting market that excludes a Draw from the potential outcomes. When selecting Draw No Bet and backing the home or away win, if the game ends in a Draw, the stake is refunded. This is an alternative to traditional Double Chance markets.

Il Scommesse sul Dutching, is a  strategy in which players spread the stake across different markets of the same event. Bets are usually placed across several sportsbooks (since most bookies won’t allow dutching on their platforms), and the aim is to achieve guaranteed profits by finding the edge in these lines.

• Related Tool: Calcolatrice per il Dutching

A popular betting type in the UK and Ireland. Horse racing and golf are top choices for each-way betting, which comprises of two bets merged in one:

• The ‘Win’ Bet: A winner pick.
• The ‘Place’ Bet: A pick on the other top positions (e.g. 2nd, 3rd etc)

“Edge” is the advantage that the bookmaker holds over bettors. It means that the true probability of an outcome is lower than the probability implied by the bookmaker’s odds. Finding the right edge is key to finding a Value Bet.

An index used by sharp bettors to calculate long-term profit or losses when following similar betting patterns and odds. Several betting calculators will include this value in their interfaces to improve players’ understanding of strategy mathematics.

• Related Tool: Calcolatore EV / Value Bet Calculator

A betting type associated mostly with horse racing and greyhound racing. Bettors need to predict the first- and second-place finishers in a race. Forecast and Tricast are the most popular betting types in horse racing events.

Odds format that is traditionally used in the UK and Ireland. It provides the potential profit (numerator) for each stake level (denominator). For example, a £2 bet at odds of 3/2 will return a £3 profit. It’s one of the three odds formats offered by the vast majority of sportsbooks. With the other two being the decimal and American odds.

Il Scommesse future, is also known as Outright. Long-term bets that usually settle at the end of the tournament, e.g., the Champions League winner, Premier League top scorer, NBA MVP, etc.

A particular type of bet for horse racing involving 247 total wagers. Included are 28 doubles, 56 trebles, 76 fivefolds, 28 sixfolds, 8 sevenfolds and 1 eightfold acca in all. It covers a wide range of combinations

Handicap betting gives each team a handicap or advantage, and players can bet on these lines. The underdog is usually represented by a positive line, e.g +1.5 goals, while the stronger team (the favourite) is represented by a negative line, e.g. -0.5 goals. Handicap betting, also known as Point Spread, is mainly used by US sportsbooks.

Hedging is a betting strategy used by sharp, professional players to guarantee profits or limit losses by placing bets on the same events and markets. In most cases, these bets are placed across different betting platforms.

• Related Tool: Hedge Betting Calculator

Implied probability is the percentage value of an outcome if the bookmaker’s odds are translated into mathematical values.

• Related Tool: Odds Probability Calculator

In-Paly Betting, is placing bets after the event has started. Players are challenged by changing odds, delays in receiving information, and the possibility of cashing out early.

Also known as Vig, this is the commission a bookie includes in the price offered to you. Typically, this happens at soft bookmakers, and is also known as “margin” or “overround”.

A mathematical model used primarily in bankroll management. It calculates the percentage of a player’s bankroll to stake on bets with positive expected value (+EV), aiming to maximise long-term bankroll growth.

• Related Tool: Calcolatore del criterio di Kelly

A wager on the probability that an outcome will not happen. It is the opposite of a Back Bet, and it’s offered only on betting exchanges. Lay betting has its own mathematical rules and calculations. Players need to factor in the commission withheld by the betting exchange.

• Related Tool: Lay Betting Calculator

A technique used to profit from betting on the same event but across different sportsbooks. It often involves placing a “back” bet with a bookmaker and an opposing “lay” bet with a betting exchange to manage risk.

• Related Tool: Matched Betting Calculator

Or “1X2” or “Win” market. A straightforward bet on the winner of an event.

Used more often in Horse Racing, when a horse withdraws before the race starts. The stakes are returned to players. Rule 4 usually kicks in when there is a non-runner.

Also known as future betting. This typically involves betting on the winner of a tournament, competition, round, etc. Refers to a rather long-term outcome of a championship/competition.

Over/Under Bet is a bet on the total amount of points, goals or other units used in different sports. Players are asked to predict the total number at the end of a period, half or full time.

• Related Tool: Over/Under Calculator

A parlay is an accumulator. The word is most commonly used in the USA or in American sports.

When players submit a betting slip to the sportsbook or betting exchange and the latter confirms it. After placing the bet, the wager amount can’t be returned, but the bet can be cashed out (terms and conditions might apply).

Il Proposition Bet is a bet that is not on the 1X2 market. Prop bets in soccer can include scorers, penalty takers, cards, etc. Similarly, in Basketball, prop bets can include scorers, rebounds, assists, etc.

A betting player. On some occasions, the punter is a recreational player, not involved in Arbitrage or Sharp Betting.

A “push” is another word for a tie. When the event outcome is balanced/tied between the opponents.

This is a popular betting type in American sports such as basketball and American football. It can typically be placed before or during a live event for a team to win a particular quarter.

When creating smaller accumulators from a parlay with multiple events. For example, when a treble is broken down into 2-event combis.

A bookmaker’s rule that applies a deduction to winning bets in horse racing when a horse is withdrawn from a race after the final declarations have been made. The size of the deduction depends on the odds of the withdrawn horse at the time of its withdrawal.

A player who seeks value bets is often engaged in arbitrage and might even be a professional bettor. Sharp players read the news, the lines, and game analyses to place bets with limited risk, often across different sportsbooks.

A casual or recreational bettor. Someone who is not a sharp or professional player. At the same time, this player won’t engage in arbitrage or seek value bets.

It’s the amount of money that a player will risk on a certain betting slip.

Most commonly used in Horse Racing, it’s the odds price at the moment the race begins. Accepting the “SP” option on a bet, players agree to accept any odds offered at that moment. Otherwise, they need to monitor the prices and place the bet at the start of the event.

A fast and sharp change in betting odds, often caused by a betting syndicate backing a certain result with significant wager amounts. Traders and markets will adjust the odds instantly to reflect this.

Teaser Bet is a type of accumulator, most commonly offered in American sports. Offers players the option to adjust a handicap/spread bet in exchange for a lower overall payout.

A bet similar to Forecast, most commonly available in horse racing and greyhound racing. Players need to correctly predict the first-, second, and third-place finishers. It’s considered a high-risk betting option, very popular for its generous payouts.

A team or athlete who is considered to be one of the outside favorites to win an event. Has much higher odds to win than the favorite(s) and therefore deemed less likely to win.

This is a bet with a higher true probability than the odds reflect. Value bets are popular among sharp, professional players, with plenty of online tools offering smart betting guidance.

• Related Tool: Value Bet Calculator

The vigorish, or “vig,” is the bookmaker’s commission built into the odds. It’s also known as the “margin” or “overround.” To find the “true odds” of an event, you must first remove the vig.

• Related Tool: Vig Removal Calculator

This is a bet that gets cancelled. The conditions that can lead to a cancelled bet need to be clearly described in the bets’ terms and conditions. Possible reasons can include an event postponement or the sportsbook barring a game. If the bet is void, the wager amount is returned to the player.

The maximum you can bet on an outcome.

Also known as a sharp bettor, who seeks value and does research before betting.

This denotes a ‘draw’ in 1X2 markets, which are very popular among bettors.

This bet type involves four selections that can be up to 11 individual bets.