Single/Straight
A single or straight is a bet on 1 selection. Your selection must be successful to have a return.

Double
A double or 2 play parlay is 1 bet involving 2 selections in different events. Both selections must be successful for the bet to win, with returns from the first reinvested on the second.

Treble
A treble or 3 play parlay is 1 bet involving 3 selections in different events. All selections must be successful for the bet to win. Returns from the first are reinvested on the second and then onto the third.

Four-fold
A four-fold or 4 play parlay is 1 bet involving 4 selections in different events. All selections must be successful for the bet to win. Winning returns are reinvested on successive selections. Arsenal, Sir Percy, Fernando Alonso and Tiger Woods would all have to win for the bet to be successful.

Evens
A price in which the winnings are equal to the original stake money.

Handicap
A race in which competitors do not start on equal terms, e.g. horses carry extra weights, dogs have extra yards/metres to run.

Accumulator
A bet involving two or more selections. The returns from the first selection are invested on the second selection, the returns from which are invested on the third selection, and so on until the bet finishes.

All weather track
The surface of the track is designed to reduce the impact of the bad weather conditions, thereby reducing the likelihood of racing being unable to take place.

Ante-post betting
Ante-post prices are the prices offered on all major events before the day of the event. Bets are normally taken on the understanding that if the selection does not take part in the event (e.g. the horse does not run) the wager is lost.

Bar price
Those runners in an event quoted without a price during early betting shows by SIS.

Dead-heat
Two or more runners that are considered to have finished the race together, i.e. the judge cannot separate them even after seeing the photo finish print.

Each-way
A term for a selection backed to win or be placed.

Favourite
The most backed entrant, i.e. the one with the shortest price.

First show
The first list of prices for an event.

Forecast
A bet where you must predict the 1st and 2nd in a horse or greyhound race in the correct order.

Joint favourites
When 2 selections are at the same shortest price in an event.

Odds against
A betting price where the odds are greater than evens, i.e. the winnings are larger than the stake.

Odds on
A betting price where the odds are lesser than evens i.e. the winnings are smaller than the stake.

Permutations/perm
A term used most frequently in football betting meaning "any", e.g. "perm three from five" means trebles in five selections.

Returns
The amount the customer collects including the original stake. Sometimes customers mistakenly refer to returns as winnings.

Selection(s)
The horse, greyhound, football team etc. that the customer has predicted as a winner of a particular event.

Show
A list of prices on an event publicised by SIS or a similar source.

Stake
The amount of money a customer wishes to wager on a particular selection.

Stake unit
The minimum stake needed for a particular speciality bet.

Starting prices/SP
The odds at which a wager is settled unless an alternative price is previously agreed.

Stewards enquiry
An investigation carried out by the stewards into any suspected infringements of the rules during a race.

Tattersalls
Usually the main enclosure at a racecourse.

Tattersalls rule 4
Rule 4 may be applied when an entry has been withdrawn (not under orders) and there is too little time for the betting market to be reformed. Deductions are made from winnings based on the price of the withdrawn entry when it was withdrawn. The rule also applies when bets have been made at board price prior to the withdrawal.

Tote
An alternative-betting medium to starting price, which operates on a pool basis.

Walk over
When only one entrant goes to the start of an event.

Weighed in
The "weighed in" signal is given when the weight of all jockeys has been checked after the race. It is the duty of the Clerk of the Scales to confirm they weigh approximately the figure allocated to their mounts. After this signal the result cannot be changed from a betting point of view.

Winnings
The extra amount the customer collects not including his original stake money.

Withdrawn
The decision to remove a horse from a race before it starts either before or after coming under starters orders.

Coupled
One or more selections that have been grouped together for the purposes of betting.

Dime line
10 cent line in baseball.

Dividend
US horse racing dividends are declared to a $2 stake, you receive the dividend amount for each $2 you have staked.

Double action
An "if bet" that is processed if the precedent bet wins, ties or cancels.

Double header
Two separate games played by the same teams on the same day.

Even money
A bet the odds of which are 1/1; a wager in which no vigorish or juice is laid.

Exacta
A US horse racing bet where you must predict the 1st and 2nd placed finishers in the exact order. The equivalent of the UK forecast bet.

Exotic wager
A bet posted for customer accommodation such as first half; second half, futures, run lines or money line wagers.

Final four
Remaining four college teams from a field of 64. They meet to determine the National Champion.

Future
Odds posted in advance of the winners of various major events, including the Superbowl, the World Series, the Stanley Cup and the NBA championship.

Home team
The team playing in it's own town.

Juice
The profit margin.

Line
The current odds or point spread on a particular event.

Lines
Another word for odds.

Listed pitchers
In baseball wagering, a bet that will be placed only if both of the pitchers scheduled to start a game actually start. If they don't the bet is cancelled.

Money line
The odds (line) for a team to win a match outright, with the tie not included.

No action
A bet in which no money is lost or won.

Off the board
A game on which the bookmaker will not accept action.

Over
A sports bet in which the bettor guesses that the combined point total of two teams will be above a specified total.

Overtime
Extension to a tied contest at the end of regulation play that last until a winner is determined or maximum overtime periods expire.

Postponed
A contest cancelled for any reason and rescheduled at a later date.

Price
The odds or pointspread. See money line.

Run line
In baseball, a spread used instead of the money line.

Spread
The head start that one team gives another (handicap).

Tie
A bet in which no money is lost or won because the team's scores were equal to the number of points in the given line.

Total
The specified total goals or points that a client can bet over or under.

Under
A sports bet in which the bettor guesses that the total points scored by both teams will be under a certain figure.

Underdog
The team perceived to be the most likely to lose. Also known as the 'dog'.

Buy
A customer pays an additional price to receive half a point or more in his favour on a point spread game.