Betting Glossary: Terms from A to Z

An accumulator bet (AKO, from the Polish zakład akumulowany) combines several picks into one slip: for the slip to win, all the events must come in at once. The odds of the individual “legs” are multiplied together, so the potential win grows faster than with single bets, but the risk grows too: one losing leg voids the whole slip. The bookmaker’s margin is also multiplied on every leg, so the total markup on an AKO slip is higher than the sum of the margins counted separately. We explain the full mechanics of multiplying the margin in an AKO, calculated step by step, in the guide to the accumulator bet.

A variety of handicap in which the virtual goal advantage or deficit can take non-integer values (for example -0.25 or -0.75), which eliminates the draw as a possible result of the bet or splits the stake into two halves placed on adjacent handicap lines. Used mainly in football as an alternative to the classic European handicap. The mechanics of calculating the result are identical to an ordinary handicap. See the separate entry.

A bet placed long before the start of a competition or tournament (for example on the league champion before the season), usually at higher odds than closer to the start. The bookmaker prices in the greater uncertainty. The drawback is that the stake is not returned if the tipped player is injured or the team’s form changes during the season; the terms of the specific bet say whether the stake is refunded (“void”) in such situations.

The mobile version of a bookmaker’s site for placing bets, following live odds and managing your account from a smartphone. Most licensed bookmakers offer apps in the App Store, and on Android usually as an APK file from the bookmaker’s own site. We found no betting app from any of the licensed operators we checked on Google Play (as of 31 Oct 2026).

A colloquial name for the strategy described in more detail under the entry surebet, that is, exploiting differences in odds between bookmakers so that the profit does not depend on the result of the event. See the full definition below.

All the funds that a player deliberately sets aside for sports betting, kept separate from the household budget. Bankroll management (setting a fixed size for a single stake, a small percentage of the total, and sticking to it regardless of a winning or losing streak) is the basic tool for limiting the risk of losing control over spending. We describe the full guide with specific methods in the text on bankroll management.

A benefit (for example extra funds to bet with or boosted odds on the first slip) offered to new players after registration and a first deposit. The mechanism and terms depend on the operator. Always check the terms of the specific offer, including the bonus wagering requirement, before you take it up. Always check the current form and terms of the bonus directly with the operator. We give no amounts here.

A type of bonus granted for registering an account alone, without having to deposit your own funds, unlike a welcome bonus that depends on a deposit. Its terms, such as the wagering requirement and the withdrawal limit, are set in the terms of the offer and can differ from those of deposit bonuses, so check them before you take it up.

A Polish mobile payment method based on a one-time six-digit code generated in the banking app. Operators may offer it as a quick way to deposit (and at some operators also to withdraw) funds to the betting account, without giving a card number or an online banking login. Check in the cashier of your chosen operator whether it is available.

Temporarily raised odds on a selected event or pick, offered by a bookmaker as a marketing promotion. The mechanism does not change the real probability of the result, it only temporarily lowers the margin built into that specific bet. The details (stake limit, duration) are always set by the promotion terms at the given operator.

A shortened, colloquial term for a bookmaker used in conversation and on forums, functionally the same as the word “bukmacher”, with no separate formal meaning.

A function that lets you close a bet before the event ends: take a partial win early or limit the loss before the result is settled. The cashout amount is calculated by the bookmaker on an ongoing basis from the current live odds, so it is usually lower than the potential full win of the slip. That is the cost of passing the risk to the operator earlier than the standard settlement rules provide. We describe the full mechanism and when it is worth using in the guide cash out at a bookmaker.

A mechanism of partly refunding lost funds (for example as a bonus) once the promotion conditions are met. It is a different model from a risk-free bet, because the refund usually applies to the sum of losing bets in a given settlement period, not to a single slip.

The last available odds on a given event just before it starts, when the market has absorbed all the available money flow and information (line-ups, injuries). Comparing the odds at which a player placed a bet with the closing line (the so-called closing line value) is one of the measures used to judge the quality of picks regardless of the result of a single match.

A payment of your own funds into the player’s account at a bookmaker, usually a necessary condition for betting (apart from exceptional no-deposit promotions) and often for activating a welcome bonus. The available deposit methods (transfer, BLIK, card) and the minimum amount depend on the operator.

A betting market that combines two of the three possible match results into one pick (for example “home win or draw”), so the chance of winning is higher than when picking a single result, but the odds, which reflect that higher chance, are correspondingly lower.

A category of sport on which bets can be placed (football, volleyball, basketball, tennis, esports and so on). The range of available sports and the number of markets within them differ between licensed bookmakers. A good place to start comparing offers is the bookmaker ranking.

A single sporting event or a specific market within it on which a bet can be placed, for example a whole match, or a narrower part such as the number of corners. In an AKO slip each event is a separate “leg” of the slip.

Competition in video games (for example CS2, League of Legends, FIFA) treated by licensed bookmakers as a separate betting discipline, with its own markets and live odds. The mechanics of odds, margin and bet settlement are the same as in traditional sports.

The participant in an event rated by the bookmaker as the more likely winner. It has lower odds than the underdog, because lower odds correspond to a higher implied probability. Favourite status does not guarantee the result, it only reflects the market’s pricing before the event.

A colloquial, Polonised name for a handicap, that is, a virtual advantage or deficit given to one side of a bet to even out the difference in strength between rivals. See the full definition and the calculation of the result under the entry “Handicap” and in the guide betting handicap.

A free bet: a slip on which the player does not put up their own funds (or which they get back in the form of a free bet, for example after a losing welcome pick). The winnings from a free bet may be paid as net profit, without the free bet stake itself. The exact settlement depends on the terms of the specific promotion.

A free bet granted without having to deposit your own funds first, for example for registering an account. Its amount and wagering terms are set in the terms of the promotion, so check them. We describe the full mechanism, including the typical pitfalls in the terms, in the guide no-deposit free bet.

A set of rules and tools (deposit limits, time limits, self-exclusion) that help a player stay in control of their betting and treat it as entertainment, not a way to earn money. The responsible gambling rules of an operator running gambling online must include mechanisms that let players control their own activity on the website (Art. 15i sec. 1 point 4 of the Gambling Act, Journal of Laws 2025, item 595); check which tools a given operator offers in its terms and account settings.

A model in which players place bets directly with each other (one “backs”, the other “lays” the bet for a commission charged by the platform), rather than with the bookmaker as the opposing party. It is a different mechanism from the classic fixed-odds bet offered by licensed bookmakers in Poland. We list this entry only for terminological completeness.

A virtual advantage (positive) or deficit (negative) in goals, points or sets that the bookmaker “adds” to one side of a bet before settlement, to even out the difference in strength between rivals and make the odds on a clear favourite more attractive. With a -1.5 handicap a team must win by at least two goals for the bet to come in; the opponent with a +1.5 handicap “wins” the bet even when losing the match by one goal. You will find the full calculation with numerical examples in the guide betting handicap.

Loss of control over the frequency or size of the amounts bet, to the detriment of a player’s finances, relationships or mental health. If you recognise signs of losing control in yourself, read our guide to responsible gambling. Betting is entertainment, not a way to earn money.

The probability of a given result read directly from the odds, calculated as 1 divided by the decimal odds (for example odds of 2.00 correspond to a 50% chance according to the bookmaker). The sum of the implied probabilities of all results on a market exceeds 100%, and the excess is the bookmaker’s built-in margin, not a real chance. We explain the full mechanics of reading odds and converting them to percentages in the guide how to read odds.

An English synonym for live betting: betting on events that are already under way, with odds updated continuously as the situation on the pitch develops. See the full entry “Live betting” and the guide live betting.

A fixed, predetermined size of a single bet, expressed as a small percentage of the bankroll rather than a nominal amount. This way the size of the stake automatically scales with the size of the player’s whole bankroll. A basic tool of discipline in bankroll management. The rules for comparing units and a full worked example are covered in the guide units in betting.

The number by which the stake is multiplied to calculate the potential win if the pick comes in (in the decimal format, standard at Polish bookmakers: odds of 3.00 mean a payout of three times the stake, including its return). The lower the odds, the higher, in the bookmaker’s view, the probability of the given result. Odds contain a built-in margin, so the sum of the implied probabilities from all the odds on a market always exceeds 100%. You will find a full guide to reading odds, with step-by-step numerical examples, at how to read odds.

The colloquial name for a bet placed by a player. It can contain one event (a single slip) or many events combined into an AKO. The status of a slip (pending, won, lost, partly settled) is tracked in the bet history on the player’s account.

Odds updated in real time while an event is in progress, reacting to what happens on the pitch (goals, cards, pace of play). The mechanics are identical to pre-match odds: only the refresh rate differs and there is a narrower time window to react. Full guide: live betting.

A mathematical formula that calculates the optimal (from the point of view of long-term bankroll growth) percentage of the bankroll to put on a given bet, based on your own estimate of the probability of the result and the odds offered. One of the staking-discipline methods covered in the guide bankroll management.

A permit issued by the Polish Minister of Finance that entitles an operator to run betting (zakłady wzajemne) legally in Poland. Only operators with a current licence can be legally promoted and advertised in Poland. We keep the full current list of licensed bookmakers on the page licensed bookmakers.

The upper limit of the amount that can be staked on a given bet or in a given period. It can be imposed by the bookmaker itself (a risk limit on the market) or set voluntarily by the player as a responsible gambling tool.

Betting on events that are already under way, with odds updated continuously as the situation on the pitch develops, as opposed to pre-match bets, where the odds are fixed before the start and do not change during the event. It calls for faster decisions and a shorter window to accept the odds before they change. Full guide: live betting.

A participant or result rated as unlikely, with high odds. It is the opposite of the favourite. The high odds of a longshot reflect a low implied probability and are not a “better offer” in themselves.

The bookmaker’s markup built into the odds: the excess of the sum of implied probabilities over 100% on a given market. It is the main source of the bookmaker’s edge regardless of the result of the event: even with a “fair” pricing of the chances, both sides of a bet together pay more than the real probability, because the operator’s markup is included in every set of odds. A lower margin means higher odds for the player at the same real chance of the result. You will find the full calculation on the example of a 1X2 market, step by step, in the guide bookmaker margin (in Polish).

An event with no clear favourite, in which the odds on both (or all three) possible results are close to each other. It reflects the bookmaker’s assessment that the probabilities of the individual results are close to each other.

A single event that is part of an AKO slip. For the whole AKO slip to win, every single leg must come in: losing one leg voids the whole slip, regardless of the results of the others.

The specific amount staked on a given slip, expressed in złoty, as opposed to the stake unit expressed as a percentage of the bankroll. The stake amount results from multiplying the stake unit by the player’s current bankroll.

A condition in the terms that sets how many times (or for what total amount of slips, usually at a minimum odds level) the bonus funds must be wagered before they can be withdrawn as your own funds. The higher the wagering multiplier and the higher the required minimum odds of a single slip, the harder it is in practice to meet the bonus conditions. We describe the full mechanism, with tips on how to read the terms of a specific offer, in the guide bonus wagering.

A betting market in which you bet whether the total of a given event in a match (most often goals, points or sets) will exceed (over) or fall short of (under) a threshold value set by the bookmaker, for example 2.5 goals. Non-integer values eliminate the possibility of a push on that particular threshold.

A collective term for promotions aimed at new players at registration and first deposit. It can include a welcome bonus, a free bet or another mechanism. The terms and mechanism of a specific offer are always set out in the given operator’s terms.

In Poland, betting (zakłady wzajemne) is subject to a gaming tax of 12% of the stake value, and the operator is the taxpayer. Where the licensed bookmaker deducts the tax from the stake before it is multiplied by the odds, rather than from the final win, each payout is a fixed fraction (0.88) of the “gross” payout, regardless of the level of the odds or the number of events on the slip. You will find the full calculation with examples, including for AKO slips, in the guide tax on winnings. Winnings are exempt from personal income tax if a single win does not exceed PLN 2,280; above that, the 10% flat-rate tax applies to the whole win, not only to the amount above the threshold, and the licensed bookmaker withholds it as the withholding agent (Art. 21 sec. 1 point 6a(a), Art. 30 sec. 1 point 2 and Art. 41 sec. 4 of the Personal Income Tax Act, Journal of Laws 2026, item 592).

A system of rewarding a player’s regular activity (for example points exchangeable for free bets, or access to extra promotions), which some licensed bookmakers may run. The rules for earning and exchanging points are always set by the terms of the specific programme.

A physical venue where you can place a bet without using the internet. In Poland, bets may be taken in betting shops or online only under a Minister of Finance permit covering that channel (Art. 6 sec. 3 of the Gambling Act, Journal of Laws 2025, item 595). We keep the full list of operators with a current licence on the page licensed bookmakers.

A comparison of licensed bookmakers against criteria such as the breadth of the offer, the level of the odds, the available payment methods or the speed of withdrawals. To compare operators, see our bookmaker ranking.

One of the three possible results of a match on the 1X2 market (alongside a home win and an away win). It is available in sports that allow a draw in regulation time, for example football. The double chance market lets you combine a draw with one of the other results in a single pick.

The amount the player puts on a given slip. It is what gets multiplied by the odds when calculating the potential win, and it is on the stake, not on the win itself, that the 12% gaming tax on betting is charged in Poland.

A situation in which differences in odds between bookmakers on the same market theoretically allow you to bet on all possible results so that the sum of payouts exceeds the sum of stakes regardless of the actual result. In practice it is hard to exploit on a large scale: an operator may limit stakes or correct odds in reaction to unusual betting patterns, and the differences in odds between licensed operators can be too small to cover transaction costs.

A predetermined method of choosing the size of successive stakes (for example raising the stake after a loss or after a win, by a fixed rule). No staking system changes the bookmaker’s margin built into the odds or guarantees a profit in the long run; it is a tool of discipline, not a mathematical edge. More in the guide bankroll management.

A video broadcast of a sporting event that some bookmakers may offer to players with an active account or a placed bet. It makes it easier to follow the course of a match when betting live, although the availability of a stream depends on the operator and the specific rights to the given competitions. Full guide to betting during a match: live betting.

A single predicted version of an event’s result, bet on within a slip, for example “home win” or “over 2.5 goals”. A pick by itself is not yet a bet until it is combined with a stake and placed.

Another name for the total number of events (goals, points, sets) in a match, used in the over/under market: the bookmaker sets a threshold value for the total, and the player bets whether the actual sum will exceed it or not.

A schedule of upcoming sporting events with the available odds, published by a bookmaker in advance. It lets you plan what and when to bet on before the odds start to move closer to the start of the event.

The Polish act that regulates the rules for running and promoting gambling, including betting (zakłady wzajemne). It determines, among other things, which operators can operate legally in Poland (the requirement of a Minister of Finance licence) and what rules advertising materials must meet (including the 18+ label and information about the risk of gambling).

A bet in which, in the player’s view, the odds offered are higher than the real probability of the result would imply, so the offer has a positive expected value for the player despite the bookmaker’s built-in margin. Finding a real value bet takes your own estimate of the probability that is more accurate than the market’s. A difference in odds between bookmakers alone does not guarantee it. Related concept: bookmaker margin (in Polish).

A raised level of service and extra benefits (for example a dedicated account manager, higher limits, individual promotions) that some bookmakers may offer their most active players. The entry criteria and the scope of benefits are set by each operator on its own.

The amount paid to the player after a bet comes in: the result of multiplying the stake by the odds, reduced in Poland by the 12% gaming tax on betting, which is charged on the stake alone before it is multiplied by the odds, where the operator deducts it that way.

A mandatory process of confirming the player’s identity (among other things from an identity document), which a licensed bookmaker must carry out (Art. 34 sec. 1 point 1 and Art. 39 sec. 1 of the Anti-Money Laundering Act, Journal of Laws 2025, item 644); the moment of verification is set by the operator’s terms.

Transferring the player’s funds from the betting account back to a bank account or another payment method. The processing time depends on the operator and the method chosen. To compare operators on this criterion, see our bookmaker ranking.

A promotional mechanism in which the operator refunds (for example as a bonus rather than cash) the stake of a lost first bet, up to a limit set in the terms. It does not mean zero risk in the literal sense: the refund has its conditions (for example the form of a bonus subject to wagering, a maximum amount), which are always worth checking before you take up the offer. We describe the full mechanism in the guide risk-free bet.

A slip containing just one event. It is the opposite of an AKO. The win depends solely on that one pick coming in, with no effect of multiplying odds and no risk of the slip being voided by another, unrelated “leg”.

A slip that combines several events into many smaller combinations at once (for example all possible combinations of two out of five selected events), so part of the combinations can win even if not all the picks come in, unlike a classic AKO, where only a full set of hits counts. The cost is a higher total stake, because each combination is paid for separately.

A situation in which a bet is cancelled and the stake placed returns to the player with no win or loss. It happens, for example, when a handicap or total threshold set as a whole number is hit exactly, or when the event has been cancelled. The conditions under which a stake refund applies are set by the terms of the given market.