Knowledge Base
Glossary
Plain-English definitions for the terminology used across Football Insights.
- Acca
- A single bet that combines multiple selections; all selections must win for the bet to pay out.
- Asian Handicap
- A spread betting system that eliminates the draw and offers two possible outcomes, using half‑goal or quarter‑goal increments.
- Bankroll
- The total money you have set aside for betting purposes.
- Bet Builder
- An online tool that lets you combine multiple betting markets from a single match into one custom wager.
- Bookmaker
- The entity that sets odds and accepts bets, also known as a sportsbook or bookie.
- Cash Out
- A feature that lets you settle a bet before the match ends, locking in a profit or limiting a loss.
- Double Chance
- A bet that covers two of the three possible outcomes of a match, such as win/draw or draw/win.
- Edge
- A perceived advantage you believe you have over the bookmaker’s odds on a particular outcome.
- Fade
- To bet against a popular pick or a known bettor’s position, hoping the opposite outcome occurs.
- Futures
- A bet placed on an outcome that will be decided in the future, such as which team will win the World Cup.
- In-Play Betting
- Placing bets after a match has started, with odds that change as the game unfolds.
- Margin
- The bookmaker’s built‑in profit margin, typically a percentage of each bet that ensures the sportsbook makes money over time.
- Middle
- A strategy where you bet on both sides of a point spread, aiming to win both if the final score lands between the two lines.
- Moneyline
- A bet on which team will win the match outright, with no point spread involved.
- Odds Movement
- The change in odds over time due to betting activity or new information about a match.
- Over/Under
- A wager on whether the total number of goals in a match will be over or under a set figure.
- Parlay
- A multi‑selection bet where each selection must win to generate a return, similar to an acca.
- Point Spread
- A handicap assigned to a team to level the betting field, giving an advantage or disadvantage to that side.
- Proposition Bet
- A wager on a specific event within a match, like which player will score the first goal.
- Square
- A casual or recreational bettor whose betting patterns are less informed, often used by books to balance action.
- Stake
- The amount of money you risk on a single bet.
- Steam
- A rapid, widespread shift in odds, usually caused by well‑informed (sharp) bettors placing large bets.
- Unit
- A standard stake size, often expressed as a percentage of your bankroll, used to manage risk.
- Vig
- The commission or juice a sportsbook includes in the odds, representing its built‑in profit margin.