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GAMBLING GLOSSARY: THE VOCABULARY OF PLAYING SMART

Glossary of Common Gaming Terms

  • Bet or Wager: The amount of money risked on the outcome of a game or event. Placing a bet or wager means predicting an outcome and risking money on it.
  • Dealer: The casino employee responsible for dealing cards, managing bets, and overseeing the game at the table.
  • Entertainment: The primary purpose of gambling – playing games for enjoyment, not as a source of income.
  • Handle: In sports betting, the total amount of money wagered.
  • House Edge: The built-in mathematical advantage that the casino has over players, ensuring the casino profits in the long run. Usually expressed as a percentage, it represents the average amount the casino expects to keep from all wagers over the long term.
  • Moneyline: In sports betting, a bet on which team or player will win outright, with odds reflecting the likelihood of each outcome. 
  • Odds: The probability of a specific outcome occurring, usually expressed as a ratio comparing the number of ways to win versus the number of ways to lose. They help determine both the likelihood of winning and the payout for a bet.
  • Over/Under: In sports betting, a bet on whether a score or statistic in a game will be higher or lower than a set number determined by the sportsbook 
  • Parlay: A single wager that links two or more bets together. All selections must win for the parlay to pay out, but the payout is higher than for individual bets.
  • Point Spread: In sports betting, a handicap applied to a game to even the odds between two teams. Bettors wager on whether a team will win by more than (or not lose by more than) the spread.
  • Problem Gambling: Gambling behavior that is done excessively or compulsively, persistently negatively affecting important areas of a person’s life, including health, work, finances, or relationships. It includes behaviors like chasing losses, risking money needed for necessities, or being unable to stop despite negative consequences.
  • Proposition Bet (Prop Bet): In sports betting, a wager on a specific occurrence during a game besides the the game’s outcome.
  • Responsible Gaming: Responsible gaming is an industry-wide commitment to promote smarter gambling practices so players can maximize their enjoyment. It shows that playing with knowledge, awareness, and self-control can create the right conditions for genuine fun and entertainment. 
  • Self-Exclusion: A voluntary program that allows individuals to ban themselves from gambling venues or online platforms, either temporarily or permanently, to help manage their gambling habits.
  • Table Minimum/Maximum: The lowest and highest amounts respectively that can be bet at a particular table.

get support

Is gambling no longer fun? Here’s how you can find support.

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The National Problem Gambling Helpline and its affiliates provide services to assist people and families affected by problem gambling.
Learn More
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Take the self-assessment or you can call or text the 24-hour confidential hotline: 1-800-GAMBLER.
Take the Self-Assessment
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Many states also provide ways to opt-out of gambling through voluntary self-exclusion.
View State-Specific Resources