Sports Betting Abbreviations & Terminologies by Sports

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This article was created with the intention of helping you in navigating the world of sports betting.

In this comprehensive guide, we will break down the most common sports betting abbreviations and terminologies in three popular sports: football (soccer), tennis, and basketball.

It can be an exciting but sometimes overwhelming experience, particularly for newcomers.

With countless betting markets, options, and jargon, it’s essential to understand the language of the game to make informed decisions and increase your chances of success.

Tennis Betting Terminologies & Abbreviations with a Definition

  1. ATP – Association of Tennis Professionals: The main governing body for men’s professional tennis, responsible for organizing the ATP Tour.
  2. WTA – Women’s Tennis Association: The main governing body for women’s professional tennis, responsible for organizing the WTA Tour.
  3. ITF – International Tennis Federation: The world governing body for tennis, responsible for overseeing various aspects of the sport, including the Grand Slam tournaments.
  4. Grand Slam: The four major tennis tournaments, namely the Australian Open, French Open, Wimbledon, and US Open.
  5. Match Bet: A bet on the winner of an individual tennis match.
  6. Set Betting: A bet on the exact score of a tennis match in terms of sets won by each player.
  7. Game Handicap: A bet on the difference in the total number of games won by each player in a tennis match, adjusted by a specified handicap.
  8. Set Handicap: A bet on the difference in the total number of sets won by each player in a tennis match, adjusted by a specified handicap.
  9. Total Games: A bet on the total number of games played in a tennis match, either over or under a specified number.
  10. Total Sets: A bet on the total number of sets played in a tennis match, either over or under a specified number.
  11. Correct Score: A bet on the exact score of a tennis match, both in terms of sets and games.
  12. Tiebreak: A special game played when the score in a set reaches 6-6, used to determine the winner of the set.
  13. Aces: A bet on the total number of aces served by a player in a tennis match, either over or under a specified number.
  14. Double Faults: A bet on the total number of double faults committed by a player in a tennis match, either over or under a specified number.
  15. First Set Winner: A bet on the winner of the first set in a tennis match.
  16. In-play Betting: Placing bets on a tennis match after it has started, with odds that change in real-time based on the match’s progress.
  17. Retirement: When a player is unable to continue a match due to injury or other reasons and concedes the match to their opponent.
  18. Walkover: When a player advances to the next round without playing a match, usually because their opponent withdraws due to injury or other reasons.
  19. Wild Card: An unranked player who is granted entry into a tournament by the organizers, despite not meeting the usual qualification criteria.
  20. Qualifier: A player who earns a spot in the main draw of a tournament by winning matches in the qualifying rounds.
  21. Futures Bet: A bet on a tennis player to win a specific tournament or achieve a specific ranking in the future, often weeks or months in advance.
  22. Outright Bet: A bet on a tennis player to win a specific tournament.
  23. Head-to-Head: A bet comparing the performance of two tennis players in a specific match or tournament.
  24. Ante-post Betting: Placing bets on tennis tournaments before they begin, often at more favourable odds than those available during the tournament.
  25. Seed: A player’s ranking in a tournament, used to determine their position in the draw and their opponents in the early rounds.

Check the following tennis betting-related articles and you can begin your profitable betting career by focusing on strategies based on math and numbers.

Don’t worry, they are pretty easy to understand:

Football betting Terminologies & abbreviations with a definition

  1. 1X2 – Three-Way Betting: A bet on the outcome of a football match, with three possible results: home team win (1), draw (X), or away team win (2).
  2. ACCA – Accumulator: A single bet that combines multiple individual bets, with all selections needing to be correct for the bet to pay out.
  3. BTTS – Both Teams to Score: A bet on whether both teams will score at least one goal during a football match.
  4. Clean Sheet: A bet on a team to prevent their opponents from scoring any goals during a match.
  5. Correct Score: A bet on the exact final score of a football match.
  6. DNB – Draw No Bet: A bet on a team to win, with the stake returned if the match ends in a draw.
  7. Double Chance: A bet that covers two of the three possible outcomes in a football match: home win or draw, draw or away win, or home win or away win.
  8. First Goalscorer: A bet on a specific player to score the first goal of a football match.
  9. Last Goalscorer: A bet on a specific player to score the last goal of a football match.
  10. Anytime Goalscorer: A bet on a specific player to score a goal at any point during a football match.
  11. HT/FT – Half Time/Full Time: A bet on the outcome of a football match at both half time and full time.
  12. Handicap Betting: A bet on the outcome of a football match with one team given a goal advantage or disadvantage to level the playing field.
  13. Asian Handicap: A type of handicap betting that uses half or quarter goals to eliminate the possibility of a draw.
  14. Over/Under Goals: A bet on whether the total number of goals scored during a football match will be over or under a specified number.
  15. In-Play Betting: Placing bets on a football match after it has started, with odds that change in real-time based on the match’s progress.
  16. Outright Betting: A bet on a team to win a specific tournament or competition, such as a league title or cup competition.
  17. Futures Bet: A bet on a specific event, team, or individual that will take place in the future, often weeks or months in advance.
  18. Goal Line: A type of over/under bet that focuses specifically on the total number of goals scored in a football match.
  19. Match Result and Total Goals: A bet that combines the outcome of a football match (win, draw, or loss) with whether the total number of goals will be over or under a specified number.
  20. Multiscore: A bet on multiple possible final scores of a football match.
  21. Total Corners: A bet on the total number of corner kicks awarded during a football match, either over or under a specified number.
  22. Total Cards: A bet on the total number of yellow and red cards shown during a football match, either over or under a specified number.
  23. Win to Nil: A bet on a team to win a football match while keeping a clean sheet (not conceding any goals).
  24. Scorecast: A bet on a specific player to score the first goal and the final score of a football match.
  25. Wincast: A bet on a specific player to score a goal and their team to win the match.
  26. VAR – Video Assistant Referee: A system used to review decisions made by the on-field referee using video footage and a headset for communication.
  27. FGS – First Goal Scorer: A bet on a specific player to score the first goal of a football match.
  28. LGS – Last Goal Scorer: A bet on a specific player to score the last goal of a football match.
  29. CS – Correct Score: A bet on the exact final score of a football match.
  30. NRNB – Non-Runner No Bet: A betting market where if a team or individual does not participate in a specified event, the bettor’s stake will be refunded. This is commonly used in futures betting, such as for a football team to win a tournament, but may also apply to other betting markets.
  31. To Qualify: A bet on a team to advance to the next round or stage of a knockout competition, such as the UEFA Champions League or FIFA World Cup.
  32. Group Winner: A bet on a team to finish at the top of their group during a group stage competition, such as the FIFA World Cup or UEFA Champions League.
  33. Top Goalscorer: A bet on a specific player to score the most goals throughout a tournament or competition.
  34. Next Team to Score: A bet on which team will score the next goal during a football match, regardless of the current score.
  35. Half with Most Goals: A bet on whether the first half or the second half of a football match will have the most goals scored.
  36. Time of First Goal: A bet on the time range within which the first goal of a football match will be scored, typically divided into intervals (e.g., 1-10 minutes, 11-20 minutes, etc.).
  37. Penalty Shootout: A bet on the outcome of a penalty shootout to determine the winner of a knockout competition match that has ended in a draw.
  38. Red Card: A bet on whether a red card will be shown during a football match.
  39. Own Goal: A bet on whether an own goal will be scored during a football match.
  40. Winning Margin: A bet on the number of goals by which a team will win a football match (e.g., a 1-goal margin, 2-goal margin, etc.).
  41. Method of Victory: A bet on how a team will win a football match, such as by a regular-time win, extra-time win, or penalty shootout win.
  42. Exact Total Goals: A bet on the exact total number of goals scored during a football match.
  43. Team Total Goals: A bet on the total number of goals scored by a specific team during a football match, either over or under a specified number.
  44. Both Teams to Score in Both Halves: A bet on whether both teams will score at least one goal in each half of a football match.
  45. Half Time Result: A bet on the outcome of a football match at half time (home win, draw, or away win).
  46. To Score in Both Halves: A bet on a specific team to score at least one goal in both halves of a football match.
  47. To Win Both Halves: A bet on a specific team to win both halves of a football match.
  48. To Win from Behind: A bet on a specific team to come from behind and win a football match.
  49. To Win to Nil: A bet on a specific team to win a football match while keeping a clean sheet (not conceding any goals).
  50. Goal in Both Halves: A bet on whether there will be at least one goal scored in each half of a football match.
  51. First Half Goals: A bet on the total number of goals scored during the first half of a football match, either over or under a specified number.
  52. Second Half Goals: A bet on the total number of goals scored during the second half of a football match, either over or under a specified number.
  53. Team to Score First: A bet on which team will score the first goal of a football match.
  54. Team to Score Last: A bet on which team will score the last goal of a football match.
  55. No Goalscorer: A bet on a football match to end with a score of 0-0, meaning no goals are scored by either team.

Football betting related articles:

Basketball betting Terminologies & abbreviations with a definition

  1. ML – Moneyline: A bet on the outright winner of a basketball game, regardless of the points difference.
  2. ATS – Against the Spread: A bet on a team to win the game or lose by a specific number of points, as determined by the point spread set by the bookmaker.
  3. O/U – Over/Under: A bet on whether the total number of combined points scored by both teams in a basketball game will be over or under a specified number.
  4. Parlay: A single bet that combines multiple individual bets, with all selections needing to be correct for the bet to pay out.
  5. Teaser: A type of parlay bet that allows the bettor to adjust the point spread or over/under total in their favor, in exchange for a reduced payout.
  6. First Half Betting: A bet on the outcome of the first half of a basketball game, typically in the form of a point spread, moneyline, or over/under.
  7. Second Half Betting: A bet on the outcome of the second half of a basketball game, typically in the form of a point spread, moneyline, or over/under.
  8. Quarter Betting: A bet on the outcome of a specific quarter in a basketball game, typically in the form of a point spread, moneyline, or over/under.
  9. Player Props: Bets on individual player performances in a basketball game, such as points scored, rebounds, assists, steals, or blocks.
  10. Team Props: Bets on specific team achievements in a basketball game, such as total points, three-pointers made, or free throw percentage.
  11. Futures Bet: A bet on a specific event, team, or individual that will take place in the future, such as a team winning the NBA championship or a player winning the MVP award.
  12. In-Play Betting: Placing bets on a basketball game after it has started, with odds that change in real-time based on the game’s progress.
  13. Outright Betting: A bet on a team to win a specific tournament or competition, such as the NBA championship or the NCAA tournament.
  14. Double Result: A bet on the outcome of both the first half and the full game in a basketball match.
  15. Winning Margin: A bet on the number of points by which a team will win a basketball game (e.g., a 1-5 point margin, 6-10 point margin, etc.).
  16. Race to X Points: A bet on which team will be the first to reach a specific number of points during a basketball game.
  17. Series Betting: A bet on the outcome of a playoff series between two teams, typically in a best-of-seven format.
  18. Alternate Lines: Betting options with adjusted point spreads or over/under totals, offering different odds and payouts than the standard lines.
  19. First Scorer: A bet on a specific player to score the first points of a basketball game.
  20. Last Scorer: A bet on a specific player to score the last points of a basketball game.
  21. Most Valuable Player (MVP): A bet on a specific player to win the MVP award for a league or tournament.
  22. Defensive Player of the Year: A bet on a specific player to win the Defensive Player of the Year award for a league or tournament.
  23. Rookie of the Year: A bet on a specific first-year player to win the Rookie of the Year award for a league or tournament.
  24. Head-to-Head: A bet comparing the performance of two basketball players in a specific game or over a designated period, such as a season or tournament.
  25. Total Team Rebounds: A bet on the total number of rebounds collected by a specific team during a basketball game, either over or under a specified number.
  26. Total Team Assists: A bet on the total number of assists recorded by a specific team during a basketball game, either over or under a specified number.
  27. Total Team Blocks: A bet on the total number of blocks made by a specific team during a basketball game, either over or under a specified number.
  28. Total Team Steals: A bet on the total number of steals made by a specific team during a basketball game, either over or under a specified number.
  29. Field Goal Percentage: A bet on the field goal percentage of a specific team or player during a basketball game, either over or under a specified number.
  30. Three-Point Percentage: A bet on the three-point shooting percentage of a specific team or player during a basketball game, either over or under a specified number.
  31. Free Throw Percentage: A bet on the free throw shooting percentage of a specific team or player during a basketball game, either over or under a specified number.
  32. Triple-Double: A bet on a specific player to record a triple-double (double-digit totals in three statistical categories, typically points, rebounds, and assists) in a basketball game.
  33. Double-Double: A bet on a specific player to record a double-double (double-digit totals in two statistical categories, typically points, rebounds, or assists) in a basketball game.
  34. Highest Scoring Quarter: A bet on which quarter of a basketball game will have the most combined points scored by both teams.

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I have been a professional sports bettor since 2013. I gained the most experience with the strategies: matched betting, arbitrage betting, and value betting. Each betting software and strategy I present here was tested or used by me for an extended period.