Glossary

A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z

Scalper - one who attempts to profit from the differences in odds, from book to book, by wagering both sides of the same game at different set prices.

Schooling Race - a practice race conducted under actual racing conditions, but in which no wagering is allowed.

Score - to win a great amount of money due to successful wagering.

Scout - a person who studies the performance and potential of teams, horses or contestants, and reports the pertinent findings to handicapper(s).

Scratch - to withdraw, cancel or call off a wager.

Second-Half Bet - a wager placed on the second half of a football or basketball game.

Separate Pools - money wagered on a race at a track, which is totally unrelated to any pool held at another track.

Sharp - a wise guy.

Short Odds - the odds for an event that has a good chance of occurring.

Shortstop - a term that refers to people who make small wagers.

Show – describes a third-place finish. A player collects if his selection finishes first, second or third.

Side – the percentage of money bet on the point spread of the game, not on the actual outcome of the game.

Sides - the names of the two teams playing the underdog and the favorite.

Single Action - to specify a win-only in an if-bet type wager.

Single Bet – a bet on a single result or outcome; a wager on a specific horse or greyhound, in a single designated race, to win at the given odds. This is the most uncomplicated and common bet. If the player's dog crosses the finish line in first place, he collects. See also Straight Bet and Win (Bet).

Sire - the male parent of an animal, e.g., the father of a greyhound or horse.

Smart Money - money wagered on sides by knowledgeable handicappers.

Soft Line - a wagering line that is not current with the true posted line; a line that has been adjusted or moved as a result of action but doesn't reflect the true line as posted.

Splash Around - to play more loosely than one should.

Sport Player - a player who might wait for an unusually strong wager.

Spread (Lines) - short form for point spread on a game.

Spread Wager - an abbreviated term for point spread.

Spread Limit - a fixed betting structure in which a player may bet any amount, within a set range, on every betting round. A typical spread limit structure is $2-6, where a player may bet as little as $2 or as much as $6 on every betting round.
Square - an unsophisticated player.

Stake - money used to wager on the success or failure of a particular event.

Stakes Race - a greyhound or horse race for a championship, or for a purse larger than those offered for ordinary feature races.

Stanley Cup – trophy awarded to the winners of the NHL championship series.

Star - a rating given to certain high performers.
Steam - when a betting line on a selection starts to move quite rapidly, usually due to a rapid increase in the number of players wagering on it. Most steam games do not necessarily reflect the right side, but are sides where the majority of players have decided to focus their attention and action.

Steaming - to be playing badly and wildly, often while emotionally upset.

Straight Bet (Wager) - a wager on a specific horse or team, in a single designated race or game, to win at the given odds. This is the simplest and most common bet. Also see Single Bet, and Win (Bet).

Straight Forecast (UK) - a wager on two horses or greyhounds, in a single designated race, to cross the finish line in a specific order. Also see Exacta and Perfecta.

Straight Wager (Bet) - a single straightforward wager on a selected side, or over/under. The team wagered on must win by the point spread given at the time of the wager.

Stuck - a depressing condition experienced by players who feel behind, buried, losing or down for the week, sometimes as a result of losing a substantial amount of money.

Sucker - a player who has lots of cash, but lacks the basic skills to win. Also see, mark, live one, fish, and provider.

Sucker Bet - a wager that overwhelmingly favors the bookmaker or house.

Sudden Death - an overtime period of play where the first contestant to score is declared the winner of the event.

Super Bowl - NFL championship game.

Superfecta - a wager placed on any four horses or greyhounds to cross the finish line in a specific order.

System - a method of wagering that is usually based on a mathematical formula and is used by a player to get an edge.