Knowledge Base
Glossary
Plain-English definitions for the terminology used across Match Daily.
- American Odds
- Odds displayed as a positive or negative number; a positive shows profit on a $100 bet, a negative shows how much you must bet to win $100.
- Arbitrage
- Betting on all possible outcomes of an event across different sportsbooks to secure a profit no matter who wins.
- Bankroll
- The total amount of money you set aside for placing bets.
- Cash Out
- An option to settle your bet before the event ends, letting you lock in a profit or cut a loss.
- Closing Line
- The final odds offered just before a match starts; getting a better price than the closing line is a sign of a successful bet.
- Decimal Odds
- Odds expressed as a single number that includes your stake; your payout equals stake multiplied by the odds.
- Fractional Odds
- Odds shown as a fraction where the numerator is the profit you could win and the denominator is your stake.
- Futures
- A bet on an event that will be decided in the future, such as which team wins the World Cup.
- Handicapping
- Analyzing statistics, team form, and other factors to estimate the likely outcome of a match.
- Hedge
- Placing a bet on the opposite side of an existing wager to reduce risk or lock in a guaranteed profit.
- In-Play
- Placing a bet after the match has started, with odds that change as the game progresses.
- Kelly Criterion
- A mathematical formula that suggests the optimal fraction of your bankroll to bet in order to maximize long‑term growth.
- Lay
- To bet against a particular outcome, often on a betting exchange where you act as the bookmaker.
- Moneyline
- A bet on which team will win the match outright, with odds shown as a positive or negative number.
- Over/Under
- A wager on whether the total goals or points scored will be higher or lower than a set number.
- Parlay
- A single bet that combines two or more selections and pays out only if every selection wins.
- Point Spread
- A handicap given to the underdog and an advantage to the favorite to level the betting field.
- Prop Bet
- A wager on a specific event within a match that does not affect the final score, like which player scores first.
- Public Money
- The volume of bets placed by casual bettors, often causing line movement toward popular teams.
- Sportsbook
- A company or platform that accepts bets on sporting events and sets the odds for those bets.
- Stake
- The amount of money you risk on a single bet.
- Steam Move
- A rapid shift in odds or line across multiple sportsbooks triggered by heavy betting action.
- Vig (Juice)
- The commission a sportsbook builds into the odds, guaranteeing a profit regardless of the outcome.