Knowledge Base
Glossary
Plain-English definitions for the terminology used across Tactical Review.
- Arbitrage
- Exploiting differences in odds across bookmakers to guarantee a profit regardless of result.
- Asian Handicap
- A handicap system that eliminates the draw outcome and halves the risk of losing, using quarter‑goal lines.
- ATS
- "Against the Spread," meaning a bet placed on the performance of a team relative to the point spread.
- Bankroll Management
- The practice of setting a budget for betting and deciding how much to stake on each wager.
- Bookmaker Margin
- The built-in advantage a bookmaker has in the odds, ensuring profit over the long term.
- Cash Out
- The option to settle a bet before the event ends, locking in a profit or loss.
- Chalk
- The favorite in a game, often indicated by a negative point spread.
- Draw No Bet
- A wager where you pick a team to win; if the match ends in a draw, the bet is refunded.
- Expected Value
- The average amount you can expect to win or lose per bet if the same situation repeated many times.
- Futures Bet
- A bet placed on an outcome that will be decided later in the tournament, such as who wins the World Cup.
- Hedge
- Placing a bet on the opposite outcome to reduce risk or guarantee a profit.
- In-Play Betting
- Placing bets after the match has started, with odds that change as the game progresses.
- Kelly Criterion
- A mathematical formula used to determine the optimal size of a bet based on perceived edge.
- Moneyline
- A bet on which team will win the match, with odds shown as a positive or negative number.
- Over/Under
- A bet on whether the total number of goals/scores in a match will be higher or lower than a set line.
- Parlay
- A single bet that links two or more selections; all must win for the bet to pay out.
- Point Spread
- A handicap given to the favorite team to level the playing field, expressed as a number of goals or points.
- Prop Bet
- A wager on a specific event within a match, such as which player scores first.
- Public Money
- The amount of bets placed by the majority of recreational bettors, often moving the line.
- ROI
- The return on investment from betting, expressed as a percentage of the amount wagered.
- Steam Move
- A rapid shift in odds across multiple books, usually caused by heavy betting action.
- Underdog
- The team expected to lose, often given a positive point spread.
- Vigorish
- The commission that a bookmaker charges for accepting a bet, also called "juice".