Knowledge Base
Glossary
Plain-English definitions for the terminology used across Football Compass.
- 1X2
- A three-way betting market where you pick either the home team to win (1), a draw (X), or the away team to win (2).
- Accumulator
- Another term for a parlay, where multiple picks are combined and the winnings roll over from one selection to the next.
- Arbitrage
- Placing bets on all possible outcomes with different bookmakers to guarantee a profit regardless of the result.
- Asian Handicap
- A point spread that gives one team a fractional advantage to level the odds, eliminating the draw option.
- Bankroll
- The total amount of money set aside for betting, separate from everyday finances.
- Bookmaker
- A company that sets odds and accepts bets on sporting events.
- Both Teams to Score
- A wager on whether each side will score at least one goal during the match.
- Cash Out
- A feature allowing you to settle a bet before the event ends, locking in a profit or limiting a loss.
- Correct Score
- A bet that predicts the exact final score of a match.
- Double Chance
- A bet that covers two of the three possible outcomes, such as home win or draw, in a single wager.
- Draw No Bet
- A market where you back either team to win and your stake is refunded if the match ends in a draw.
- Dutching
- Spreading your stake across multiple outcomes in the same event to guarantee a profit or reduce risk.
- First Goalscorer
- A bet on which player will score the first goal in a match.
- Flat Betting
- A strategy where you wager the same amount on every bet, regardless of confidence.
- Half-Time/Full-Time
- A bet that combines the result at half-time and the result at full-time in one market.
- In-Play
- Bets placed after the match has started, with odds that update as the game unfolds.
- Juice
- The commission or fee that a bookmaker adds to the odds, also called vig.
- Kelly Criterion
- A mathematical formula that calculates the optimal fraction of your bankroll to bet based on your perceived edge.
- Live Betting
- The same as in‑play betting; wagering on events while the match is happening.
- Over/Under
- A bet on whether the total number of goals in a match will be more (over) or less (under) than a set line.
- Parlay
- A single bet that links multiple selections; all must win for the bet to pay out, increasing potential profit.
- Stake
- The amount of money you wager on a single bet.
- Unit
- A standardized bet size used to manage risk; often a small percentage of your bankroll.
- Value Bet
- A bet where the odds offered are higher than the true probability suggests, giving an expected edge.
- Vig
- Short for vigorish, the built‑in margin a bookmaker uses to ensure profit, often 5‑10% of the true odds.