Knowledge Base
Glossary
Plain-English definitions for the terminology used across Football Compass.
- Accumulator
- A bet that combines multiple selections into one wager; every selection must win for the bet to pay out, and the potential payout grows with each added selection.
- Arbitrage
- The practice of exploiting differences in odds across bookmakers to guarantee a profit regardless of the result.
- Asian Handicap
- A handicap given to a team to remove the draw option, often using half‑goal or quarter‑goal lines, making both outcomes equally attractive.
- Bankroll Management
- The strategy of deciding how much money to wager and how to spread it across bets to avoid losing your entire funds.
- Bookmaker
- A company that sets odds and accepts bets on sporting events.
- Both Teams To Score (BTTS)
- A bet on whether each team will score at least one goal during the match, regardless of the final result.
- Cash Out
- A feature that lets you settle a bet before the match ends, locking in a profit or limiting a loss.
- Closing Line
- The final odds offered just before an event starts; beating the closing line indicates you secured good value.
- Correct Score
- A wager that predicts the exact final score of a match, such as 2‑1 or 3‑0.
- Double Chance
- A bet that covers two of the three possible outcomes (win, draw, loss) in a match, increasing your chance of winning.
- Draw No Bet
- A bet that refunds your stake if the match ends in a draw; you win if your chosen team wins.
- First Goalscorer
- A bet on which player will score the first goal in the match.
- Half-Time/Full-Time
- A bet that asks you to predict the result at both half‑time and full‑time, such as “Home/Draw” or “Away/Home.”
- Hedge
- Placing a second bet on the opposite outcome to guarantee a profit or reduce risk after an original bet.
- In‑Play Betting
- Placing or adjusting a bet after the match has started, with odds that change as the game unfolds.
- Kelly Criterion
- A mathematical formula that calculates the optimal bet size based on your perceived edge and the odds offered.
- Live Odds
- The constantly updated odds offered during a live match, reflecting the current state of play.
- Margin
- The bookmaker’s built‑in advantage, expressed as a percentage, which reflects how much the odds are skewed in their favor.
- Matched Betting
- A technique that uses free bets and bonuses to cover all possible outcomes and lock in a guaranteed profit.
- Over/Under
- A bet on whether the total number of goals (or other stats) will be above or below a line set by the bookmaker.
- Rollover
- The number of times you must wager a bonus amount before you can withdraw any winnings from it.
- Stake
- The amount of money you place on a bet.
- Unit
- A standardized bet size, often expressed as a percentage of your bankroll, used to compare wager amounts.
- Value Bet
- A selection where the odds offered are higher than the true probability suggests, giving you a potential edge over the bookmaker.
- Vig (Juice)
- The commission or fee a bookmaker builds into the odds, ensuring they profit regardless of the outcome.