Knowledge Base
Glossary
Plain-English definitions for the terminology used across Football Compass.
- Accumulator
- A single bet that combines multiple selections; all must win for the bet to pay out.
- Arbitrage
- Betting on all possible outcomes of an event across different bookmakers to secure a risk-free profit.
- Asian Handicap
- A handicap applied to a team to level the playing field, giving one side a fictional deficit or surplus before the match starts.
- Back
- To bet on a specific outcome to happen.
- Bankroll
- The total amount of money you have set aside for betting.
- Bet Builder
- A feature that lets you combine different markets from the same match into one customized wager.
- Bookmaker
- A company that sets odds and accepts bets on sporting events.
- Both Teams To Score
- A wager that both sides will score at least one goal during the match.
- Cash Out
- The option to settle your bet before the event ends, locking in a profit or cutting a loss.
- Double Chance
- A bet that covers two of the three possible outcomes (win, draw, loss) in a match, increasing your chance of winning.
- Goal Line
- A line set by the bookmaker representing the total expected goals in a match; similar to Over/Under but can include half-goals.
- Half-Time/Full-Time
- A bet that predicts both the result at halftime and the final result of the match.
- In-Play Betting
- Placing a bet on a match while it is already in progress, with odds that update as the game unfolds.
- Juice
- The commission or fee that a bookmaker charges on a bet, usually built into the odds.
- Kelly Criterion
- A mathematical formula that calculates the optimal size of a bet based on your perceived edge.
- Lay
- To bet against a particular outcome happening, acting as the bookmaker in a peer-to-peer bet.
- Matched Betting
- A technique that uses free bets and odds differences to guarantee a profit regardless of the result.
- Odds Boost
- A promotion that increases the odds on a specific bet, offering a higher potential payout.
- Outright
- A bet on a team or player to win a tournament, league, or award before the competition begins.
- Over/Under
- A bet on whether the total number of goals in a match will be higher or lower than a number set by the bookmaker.
- Pre-Match Betting
- Placing a bet on a match before it officially starts, based on the initial odds.
- Stake
- The amount of money you risk on a particular bet.
- Units
- A standardized measure of bet size, used to track performance regardless of currency.
- Value Bet
- A bet where the odds offered are higher than the true probability suggests, giving you an edge over the bookmaker.