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An A-Z of betting terms, and in particular football betting terms, used on this site and elsewhere. Get in touch if there's a word you hear or see and don't understand...

Accumulator A bet where the punter places several (more than three) selections ina single bet. For the bet to win all selections must be successful. It is calculated by multiplying al the selections prices together. Eg: Four winner accumulator: 2/1, 2/1, 2/1, 3/1, 2/1 = 324/1.

Ante-post A price or book prior to the day of the event, or on a long-running event (eg: Premier League title).

Asian Handicap (see Handicap) A Handicap market in which the handicap is never an integer.

Banker Overused term that signifies a tipster or punter's strong selection or "sure thing". An almost guaranteed winner. Also, in some specialist multiple bets the banker is a selection that must win to guarantee any returns.

Book A term used to describe a market. So described because the bookies used to keep all bet records in a book.

Double A bet consisting of two selections where both selections must be successful. The bet is settled in the same way as an accumulator.

Drift The act of the price on a selection falling, or drifting, in the market making it better value, but perhaps indicating less confidence in the selection by punters.

Each-Way A single bet with two parts. The first part is the Win bet, in which the selection must win the race, game, title etc.. The second part constitutes a Place wager. The selection must finish in a pre-designated placing - usually in the first three or four.

Evens The odds of a selection. Equivalent to 1/1. One unit returned for every one unit placed.

Favourite The selection with the shorted (smallest) price in a market.

Handicap A method whereby bookmakers attach a handicap (often goals taken away in to make a one-sided event become a more attractive betting proposition. Teams are awarded a number of points start depending on their calibre (also known as the "pointspread" or "line").

betting glossary I-Z

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