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From ATS to vig — the complete working vocabulary of sports betting, with plain-English definitions.
Betting has its own language, and half of learning the craft is learning the vocabulary. These are the terms you'll actually encounter, in plain English.
Odds & Markets
Essential pricing terms:
- Moneyline — bet on who wins outright
- Spread / handicap — margin-adjusted bet, both sides near -110
- Total (over/under) — combined points scored
- Futures — season-long outcomes (champion, MVP)
- Props — bets on player/game events other than the result
- Vig / juice — the book's margin built into prices
- Steam — sudden sharp line movement across the market
Bet Types & Situations
Ticket construction terms:
- Parlay / accumulator — multiple legs, all must win
- Teaser — parlay with points bought in your favor
- Middle — holding both sides with a gap where both win
- Hedge — betting the other side to lock profit or cap loss
- Push — a tie against the line; stake refunded
- Cash out — book's live offer to settle early
- Bad beat — losing on late, unlikely events
Money & Performance
Bankroll and results vocabulary:
- Unit — standardized stake, typically 1-2% of bankroll
- ROI — profit / total staked
- CLV — closing line value; beating the closing price
- Sharp / square — professional vs recreational bettor
- Limits — maximum stakes a book allows a customer
- Chalk — the favorite; chalk bettor backs favorites
- Handle — total amount wagered
Frequently Asked Questions
What does ATS mean?
'Against the spread' — a team's record with the handicap applied, the standard measure of whether backing them has been profitable.
What's a sharp book?
A book (like Pinnacle) that welcomes winners, runs low margins, and whose lines other books follow — the market's reference prices.