Reference

The terms a serious bettor actually uses.

Every concept the DomVs feed touches — Kelly, EV, CLV, no-vig pricing, devigging, edge, variance, drawdown — explained plainly, with the formulas and worked examples. Bookmark it. Use it.

A
  • American OddsFormats

    Plus/minus prices used in US markets. -110 means risk 110 to win 100.

  • Arbitrage (Arb)Strategy

    Backing every outcome at different books to lock in a guaranteed profit.

B
  • BankrollStaking

    The pool of money set aside exclusively for betting. Never your rent.

C
  • Closing Line Value (CLV)Measurement

    The difference between the price you took and the market's closing price — the truest test of an edge.

D
  • DeviggingMath

    The process of removing the bookmaker's margin to recover the fair price.

  • Decimal OddsFormats

    The total return per 1 unit staked, including stake. Standard in Europe and Asia.

  • DrawdownRisk

    The peak-to-trough decline in bankroll during a losing run.

E
  • Expected Value (EV)Math

    The average profit (or loss) per unit staked if the same bet were repeated infinitely.

  • EdgeMath

    How much better your estimated probability is than the market's implied probability.

F
  • Fractional KellyStaking

    Staking a fixed fraction (e.g. 0.5×) of full Kelly to reduce variance.

  • Fractional OddsFormats

    Odds shown as a fraction (e.g. 5/2). Common in UK horse racing.

  • Fair-Value OddsMath

    The price implied by your model probability, with no margin added.

  • FuturesBet types

    Long-term bets on outcomes weeks or months away — title winners, MVP, etc.

H
  • Hit Rate (Win Rate)Measurement

    The percentage of bets that win. By itself, it tells you very little.

  • Hold PercentageMath

    The bookmaker's expected profit margin on a market.

I
  • Implied ProbabilityMath

    The probability suggested by a price (before removing the bookmaker's margin).

K
  • Kelly CriterionStaking

    The mathematically optimal stake size given your edge and the odds — maximises long-run bankroll growth.

L
  • Line ShoppingPractice

    Comparing prices across bookmakers to take the best available number.

  • Live Betting (In-Play)Bet types

    Wagering on a market while the event is in progress.

  • LimitMarket

    The maximum stake a bookmaker will accept on a market.

M
  • MiddlingStrategy

    Betting both sides of a moved line so that one specific result wins both bets.

  • MoneylineBet types

    A bet on which side wins, with no handicap.

N
  • No-Vig Odds (Fair Odds)Math

    The odds with the bookmaker's margin removed — what a fair coin would pay.

P
  • Parlay (Accumulator)Bet types

    A combined bet on multiple events. Pays big, has terrible math, beloved by squares.

  • Point Spread (Handicap)Bet types

    A bet that adds or subtracts points to even out an unequal matchup.

  • PushBet types

    A tie against the spread or total — your stake is refunded.

  • Prop BetBet types

    A bet on something other than the final result — player points, first scorer, etc.

  • Public BettingMarket

    The percentage of bets (or money) on each side of a market.

R
  • ROI (Return on Investment)Measurement

    Profit divided by total amount staked, as a percentage.

S
  • Sharpe RatioRisk

    Risk-adjusted return — how much profit you earn per unit of volatility.

  • Sample SizeMath

    The number of bets needed before a track record is statistically meaningful.

  • Sharp MoneyMarket

    Bets placed by professionals — large, informed, and likely to move the line.

  • Square MoneyMarket

    Recreational betting action — typically on favourites, overs, and home teams.

  • Steam MoveMarket

    A sudden, sharp line move across multiple sportsbooks at once.

  • Stake FactorMarket

    The fraction of the advertised limit a specific customer is allowed to stake.

T
  • Totals (Over/Under)Bet types

    A bet on whether the combined score lands above or below a posted number.

  • Tier (T1 / T2 / T3+)DomVs

    DomVs's internal label for model conviction. T1 = highest edge.

U
  • UnitStaking

    A standardised stake size, usually 1% of bankroll.

V
  • Vig (Juice / Overround)Math

    The bookmaker's built-in margin — why two 50/50 outcomes pay less than 2.00.

  • VarianceMath

    The natural swings around your true expected value. Bigger edges have smaller swings; longshots have huge ones.

Y
  • YieldMeasurement

    Effectively a synonym for ROI in betting contexts.