ACTION: Any wager. A bettor is said to be in action when having a bet riding on any sporting event or table game.
ACTION JACKSON: A gambler who wagers every day, day and night.
APPLE: A sucker. A soft player; easy prey; cannot win.
BACKER: Someone who will stake a gambler with a good reputation during a difficult period.
BEARD: A person used to place bets so the bookmakers will not know the identity of the actual bettor.
BEEF: Any situation that is or may cause a problem.
BIG DIME: A $10,000 wager.
BIG ORDER: A large sports bet of five or six figures.
A BITE: A request by a gambler for a loan.
BOOKIE: A person who takes race and sports bets.
BOAT RACE: A crooked horse race.
BUCK: A $100 wager.
BUM STEER: Bad information.
BUSTER: Odds of 15 to 1 on a winning horse. (also: a fuzzy)
CARPET JOINT: A plush, class operation.
CHALK: Any favorite team, horse, greyhound, etc.
CHALK PLAYER: Person who bets ONLY favorites.
C-NOTE: A $100 bill.
COOLER: A prearranged deck or shoe of cards (Blackjack, Poker, or Baccarat). Has been used both for and against the house. (also-cold deck)
COPPER: When one gambler "fades" takes the opposing side of another gamblers bet, position, or opinion.
COVER: As in "covering the spread". This occurs when a favorite you have bet wins by more points than you have had to give up.
CROSSROADER: Any gambler who does not bet without cheating.
DAUB: A paste or liquid used to mark cards.
DEUCE DEALERS: A dealer who can peek at the top card and deal the next card if the top card is not to his advantage. (also: second dealer, mechanic, or number two man.)
DEAN (THE): A smart gambler who can calculate odds and percentages. (also called: The Professor)
DESPERADO: A gambler who bets on credit with rough people with absolutely no way to pay if he loses.
DIME BET: $1,000 wager.
DOG: The underdog in any betting proposition.
DOG IT: To be afraid to increase your bet during an extended winning streak.
DOUBLE BET: A wager twice the size of a persons usual wager. (also: press bet or doubling up)
DRY: A player is "DRY" when he has run out of funds and credit. (also: dead, broke, busted, and "used to be somebody").
DUTCH BOOK: A pricemakers odds line totaling MORE than 100%
EAR: A bent corner put on a playing card to identify or locate it. "He put the ear on the aces".
EASY WAY: In Craps: to make a point number (4, 6, 8, or 10) any way but the hard way.
EDGE: Any advantage.
EIGHTER FROM DECATUR: In Craps: the number eight.
END: A share. "What's my end of the score?
EVEN UP, EVEN MONEY: (1) A bet or proposition giving each player an equal chance to win. (2) A bet at correct odds. (3) A 50-50 bet.
EXACTA: In Horse Racing: a wager picking the two horses finishing first and second in the correct order. (See QUINELLA).
FACE CARD: A King, Queen or Jack in a deck of cards. (also: Paint).
FADE: To cover a bet. "You're faded."
FALSE CUT: A cut leaving the deck in its original position.
FAST COMPANY: Seasoned or smart gamblers.
FAT: Said of a person with a large bankroll. "He's fat". (also: loaded, deep pockets, and on fat street).
FEVER: A gambling habit.
FIELD: Several horses in a race or contestants in a sports tournament grouped as one contestant for betting purposes.
FINK: A stool pigeon or informer.
FISH: A sucker. (See APPLE).
FIX: To bribe. "The fix is in".
FLAT STORE: Any gaming operation that is crooked.
FLATS: Crooked dice which have been shaved to favor certain numbers.
G-NOTE: $1,000 bill.
GAFF: Any method or device that aids in cheating.
GET OUT: To regain ones losses.
GEORGE: Generous, big tipper; the opposite of TOM.
GET DOWN: Place a wager.
GRAVEYARD SHIFT: The early morning shift of a gaming establishment.
GRIND: Small play.
GRINDJOINT OR STORE: An establishment that caters to small play.
HARDWAY BET: To bet the number 4, 6, 8 or 10 will be made with two duplicate numbers. 2-2, 3-3, etc.
HOT: Said of dice that are passing or a player on an extended winning streak.
HIGH HURDLER: A person who left town owing money leaving no forwarding address. (also: skipped, took a hike, took a powder, and came up lame).
HANDICAPPER: A person who studies and evaluates all sporting events.
HOLDING YOUR OWN: Breaking about even.
HOUSE: The operators of the casino.
HOOKED: Losing a wager by exactly 1/2 a point.
HOT GAME: Any game attracting a lot of action on one side by many players.
IN THE BAG: Said of a sporting event with a predetermined outcome. The fix is in. Also said by over optimistic tout who may say it about both sides to many clients and then expect a reward from half of them.
JACKPOT: A troublesome situation.
JUICE: AKA: Vig or vigorish. The bookmakers commission for taking a bet. Also a term in casinos denoting influence with upper management.
KIBITZER: A spectator at any game who usually dispenses unwanted advice.
KICK: Ones pocket. "He put the bankroll in his kick".
KNOCK: To cast disparaging remarks about someone. Usually done behind his or her back. (also: rap).
LAYING THE POINTS: Betting on the favorite.
LAYDOWN: A wager.
LIMIT: (1) Maximum amount a player may wager on a specific bet or event. (2) Maximum amount a player may increase a previous bet. (3) Maximum amount bet before the casino/bookie changes odds and/or the points. (AKA: the "cap").
LINE: The listed odds or points offered on a game. Also-point spread and price line.
LINEMAKER: A person who establishes (creates) the original and subsequent betting lines. (AKA: oddsmaker).
LITTLE JOE FROM KOKOMO: In Craps: the point four.
LIVE HORSE: A horse considered to be in shape to run his best.
LIVE ONE: A player with money looking for action.
LOCK: Best bet, an easy winner, a no-brainer.
MAIDEN: A horse that has never won a race.
MARKER: An advance extended to a player on credit.
MICHIGAN BANKROLL: A large bankroll consisting mostly of dollar bills with a large denomination bill on the outside.
MIDDLES: Winning both sides of a betting proposition.
MORNING LINE: A linemakers morning guess as to the probable odds on horses that are to run in afternoon races.
MUDDER: A horse known to favor a muddy track.
NAILED: Caught cheating or stealing.
NATURAL: (1) In Blackjack: Ace and 10 count card. (2) In Craps: 7 or 11 on the first roll.
NICKEL: A $500 wager.
NOSE OPEN: To have ones nose open is to lose control, usually when losing, and try to steam ones way out of the trap.
NUT: A gambler or gambling enterprises overhead expenses.
ODDS: Correct odds are the ratio of favorable vs. unfavorable possibilities.
ODDS ON FAVORITE: A horse or competitor that is so favored that the odds are quoted as less than even money. "The odds on favorite is priced at one to ten".
OFF THE BOARD: Sporting events casinos or bookmakers will not accept action on.
OFFICE: A secret signal passed from a gambler to his confederate.
ON THE HOP: A one roll wager.
ONE DOLLAR: $100 wager.
PAPER: Marked cards.
PARLAY: A bet on two or more propositions.
PAST PERFORMANCE: Prior events are studied in order to help determine the outcome of a future contest.
PAST POST: A devious attempt to bet during or after an event has taken place.
PICK`EM GAME: A dead even game giving both sides an equal chance.
P.M.G.: Baseball terminology — Advertised Pitchers Must Go.
PUSH: A tie. Neither side wins or loses.
QUINELLA: A wager picking the first or second place finish in either order (1, 2 or 2, 1).
RACK: A box to hold chips or checks.
RENEGE: (1) To refuse to honor a lost wager or debt; to welsh. (2) To misplay a card illegally.
ROUND ROBIN: A bet of 3 teams or more. e.g. A & B, A & C, &B & C constitutes three 2 team parlays.
RUSH: In Poker: a streak of winning many consecutive hands.
SAWDUST JOINT: Unpretentious gambling casino.
SCOUT: Person who studies a team during play and/or practice and reports findings.
SCORE: A substantial win.
SEND IT IN: A player who takes full advantage of a winning streak by increasing his bets substantially. "When he's going good he sends it in".
SHORT ENDER: An underdog in any betting proposition.
SILKS: A jockeys uniform.
SMART MONEY: When professional gamblers wager.
SOFT PLAYER: Bets less when he wins and doubles up when he loses. Can't stand to take off a score.
SQUARES: Perfect dice to within a tolerance of 1/5,000 of an inch.
SNAPPER: Ace-10. (see: natural).
SPIT: A very small amount of money.
STEAMER: Will only bet big when losing. The softest of soft players.
STUCK: Losing, in the hole, losing a lot. (also: buried, lost it all).
TAP OUT: To bet and lose ones last dollar.
TOM: No good. Not generous. Opposite of George.
TOUT: A professional tipster who offers to sell his opinion on the outcome of a sporting event without benefit of knowledge.
TRUMP: Cash
VALUE: A professionals opinion regarding a proposition that appears to be an overlay or an underlay - high or low.
VIRGIN LINE: A line sent out to Sports Books before any wagers have been made.
WAVE: (1) To bend the edge of a card during play for identification purposes. (2) The bend itself.
WISE GUY: An educated professional gambler with an extensive track record of being a winning player.
WHALE: A sky high bettor who tries to negotiate maximum limits that make even the largest casinos uncomfortable.
WRONG BETTOR: In Craps: a player who bets the "don't".
ZOMBIE: A gambler who never shows emotion regardless of the outcome.
ACTION JACKSON: A gambler who wagers every day, day and night.
APPLE: A sucker. A soft player; easy prey; cannot win.
BACKER: Someone who will stake a gambler with a good reputation during a difficult period.
BEARD: A person used to place bets so the bookmakers will not know the identity of the actual bettor.
BEEF: Any situation that is or may cause a problem.
BIG DIME: A $10,000 wager.
BIG ORDER: A large sports bet of five or six figures.
A BITE: A request by a gambler for a loan.
BOOKIE: A person who takes race and sports bets.
BOAT RACE: A crooked horse race.
BUCK: A $100 wager.
BUM STEER: Bad information.
BUSTER: Odds of 15 to 1 on a winning horse. (also: a fuzzy)
CARPET JOINT: A plush, class operation.
CHALK: Any favorite team, horse, greyhound, etc.
CHALK PLAYER: Person who bets ONLY favorites.
C-NOTE: A $100 bill.
COOLER: A prearranged deck or shoe of cards (Blackjack, Poker, or Baccarat). Has been used both for and against the house. (also-cold deck)
COPPER: When one gambler "fades" takes the opposing side of another gamblers bet, position, or opinion.
COVER: As in "covering the spread". This occurs when a favorite you have bet wins by more points than you have had to give up.
CROSSROADER: Any gambler who does not bet without cheating.
DAUB: A paste or liquid used to mark cards.
DEUCE DEALERS: A dealer who can peek at the top card and deal the next card if the top card is not to his advantage. (also: second dealer, mechanic, or number two man.)
DEAN (THE): A smart gambler who can calculate odds and percentages. (also called: The Professor)
DESPERADO: A gambler who bets on credit with rough people with absolutely no way to pay if he loses.
DIME BET: $1,000 wager.
DOG: The underdog in any betting proposition.
DOG IT: To be afraid to increase your bet during an extended winning streak.
DOUBLE BET: A wager twice the size of a persons usual wager. (also: press bet or doubling up)
DRY: A player is "DRY" when he has run out of funds and credit. (also: dead, broke, busted, and "used to be somebody").
DUTCH BOOK: A pricemakers odds line totaling MORE than 100%
EAR: A bent corner put on a playing card to identify or locate it. "He put the ear on the aces".
EASY WAY: In Craps: to make a point number (4, 6, 8, or 10) any way but the hard way.
EDGE: Any advantage.
EIGHTER FROM DECATUR: In Craps: the number eight.
END: A share. "What's my end of the score?
EVEN UP, EVEN MONEY: (1) A bet or proposition giving each player an equal chance to win. (2) A bet at correct odds. (3) A 50-50 bet.
EXACTA: In Horse Racing: a wager picking the two horses finishing first and second in the correct order. (See QUINELLA).
FACE CARD: A King, Queen or Jack in a deck of cards. (also: Paint).
FADE: To cover a bet. "You're faded."
FALSE CUT: A cut leaving the deck in its original position.
FAST COMPANY: Seasoned or smart gamblers.
FAT: Said of a person with a large bankroll. "He's fat". (also: loaded, deep pockets, and on fat street).
FEVER: A gambling habit.
FIELD: Several horses in a race or contestants in a sports tournament grouped as one contestant for betting purposes.
FINK: A stool pigeon or informer.
FISH: A sucker. (See APPLE).
FIX: To bribe. "The fix is in".
FLAT STORE: Any gaming operation that is crooked.
FLATS: Crooked dice which have been shaved to favor certain numbers.
G-NOTE: $1,000 bill.
GAFF: Any method or device that aids in cheating.
GET OUT: To regain ones losses.
GEORGE: Generous, big tipper; the opposite of TOM.
GET DOWN: Place a wager.
GRAVEYARD SHIFT: The early morning shift of a gaming establishment.
GRIND: Small play.
GRINDJOINT OR STORE: An establishment that caters to small play.
HARDWAY BET: To bet the number 4, 6, 8 or 10 will be made with two duplicate numbers. 2-2, 3-3, etc.
HOT: Said of dice that are passing or a player on an extended winning streak.
HIGH HURDLER: A person who left town owing money leaving no forwarding address. (also: skipped, took a hike, took a powder, and came up lame).
HANDICAPPER: A person who studies and evaluates all sporting events.
HOLDING YOUR OWN: Breaking about even.
HOUSE: The operators of the casino.
HOOKED: Losing a wager by exactly 1/2 a point.
HOT GAME: Any game attracting a lot of action on one side by many players.
IN THE BAG: Said of a sporting event with a predetermined outcome. The fix is in. Also said by over optimistic tout who may say it about both sides to many clients and then expect a reward from half of them.
JACKPOT: A troublesome situation.
JUICE: AKA: Vig or vigorish. The bookmakers commission for taking a bet. Also a term in casinos denoting influence with upper management.
KIBITZER: A spectator at any game who usually dispenses unwanted advice.
KICK: Ones pocket. "He put the bankroll in his kick".
KNOCK: To cast disparaging remarks about someone. Usually done behind his or her back. (also: rap).
LAYING THE POINTS: Betting on the favorite.
LAYDOWN: A wager.
LIMIT: (1) Maximum amount a player may wager on a specific bet or event. (2) Maximum amount a player may increase a previous bet. (3) Maximum amount bet before the casino/bookie changes odds and/or the points. (AKA: the "cap").
LINE: The listed odds or points offered on a game. Also-point spread and price line.
LINEMAKER: A person who establishes (creates) the original and subsequent betting lines. (AKA: oddsmaker).
LITTLE JOE FROM KOKOMO: In Craps: the point four.
LIVE HORSE: A horse considered to be in shape to run his best.
LIVE ONE: A player with money looking for action.
LOCK: Best bet, an easy winner, a no-brainer.
MAIDEN: A horse that has never won a race.
MARKER: An advance extended to a player on credit.
MICHIGAN BANKROLL: A large bankroll consisting mostly of dollar bills with a large denomination bill on the outside.
MIDDLES: Winning both sides of a betting proposition.
MORNING LINE: A linemakers morning guess as to the probable odds on horses that are to run in afternoon races.
MUDDER: A horse known to favor a muddy track.
NAILED: Caught cheating or stealing.
NATURAL: (1) In Blackjack: Ace and 10 count card. (2) In Craps: 7 or 11 on the first roll.
NICKEL: A $500 wager.
NOSE OPEN: To have ones nose open is to lose control, usually when losing, and try to steam ones way out of the trap.
NUT: A gambler or gambling enterprises overhead expenses.
ODDS: Correct odds are the ratio of favorable vs. unfavorable possibilities.
ODDS ON FAVORITE: A horse or competitor that is so favored that the odds are quoted as less than even money. "The odds on favorite is priced at one to ten".
OFF THE BOARD: Sporting events casinos or bookmakers will not accept action on.
OFFICE: A secret signal passed from a gambler to his confederate.
ON THE HOP: A one roll wager.
ONE DOLLAR: $100 wager.
PAPER: Marked cards.
PARLAY: A bet on two or more propositions.
PAST PERFORMANCE: Prior events are studied in order to help determine the outcome of a future contest.
PAST POST: A devious attempt to bet during or after an event has taken place.
PICK`EM GAME: A dead even game giving both sides an equal chance.
P.M.G.: Baseball terminology — Advertised Pitchers Must Go.
PUSH: A tie. Neither side wins or loses.
QUINELLA: A wager picking the first or second place finish in either order (1, 2 or 2, 1).
RACK: A box to hold chips or checks.
RENEGE: (1) To refuse to honor a lost wager or debt; to welsh. (2) To misplay a card illegally.
ROUND ROBIN: A bet of 3 teams or more. e.g. A & B, A & C, &B & C constitutes three 2 team parlays.
RUSH: In Poker: a streak of winning many consecutive hands.
SAWDUST JOINT: Unpretentious gambling casino.
SCOUT: Person who studies a team during play and/or practice and reports findings.
SCORE: A substantial win.
SEND IT IN: A player who takes full advantage of a winning streak by increasing his bets substantially. "When he's going good he sends it in".
SHORT ENDER: An underdog in any betting proposition.
SILKS: A jockeys uniform.
SMART MONEY: When professional gamblers wager.
SOFT PLAYER: Bets less when he wins and doubles up when he loses. Can't stand to take off a score.
SQUARES: Perfect dice to within a tolerance of 1/5,000 of an inch.
SNAPPER: Ace-10. (see: natural).
SPIT: A very small amount of money.
STEAMER: Will only bet big when losing. The softest of soft players.
STUCK: Losing, in the hole, losing a lot. (also: buried, lost it all).
TAP OUT: To bet and lose ones last dollar.
TOM: No good. Not generous. Opposite of George.
TOUT: A professional tipster who offers to sell his opinion on the outcome of a sporting event without benefit of knowledge.
TRUMP: Cash
VALUE: A professionals opinion regarding a proposition that appears to be an overlay or an underlay - high or low.
VIRGIN LINE: A line sent out to Sports Books before any wagers have been made.
WAVE: (1) To bend the edge of a card during play for identification purposes. (2) The bend itself.
WISE GUY: An educated professional gambler with an extensive track record of being a winning player.
WHALE: A sky high bettor who tries to negotiate maximum limits that make even the largest casinos uncomfortable.
WRONG BETTOR: In Craps: a player who bets the "don't".
ZOMBIE: A gambler who never shows emotion regardless of the outcome.
