Betting glossary
Betting shop terms, explained simply
Over 57 betting shop and sports betting terms in Germany, explained in plain English and in line with the German gambling rules (GGL). Search for a term or filter by topic.
57 terms 6 topic areas A-Z sorted
Why a glossary helps at the betting shop
A glossary helps you get to grips with the language of sports betting. Step into a betting shop for the first time and you will meet a fair few technical terms. Words like odds, stake, betting slip and cash-out crop up on the screens and at the counter. This glossary explains them briefly and clearly, so you know what they mean before you place a bet.
The entries cover two sides of things. One is sports betting itself, so bet types, odds and betting markets. The other is the visit to the shop, such as self-service terminals, the printed betting slip and the cashier. We keep the writing factual and easy to follow. It is here to explain, not to talk you into betting, and you will not find any betting tips here by design.
Once you know the terms, the next step is easier. You can find a betting shop near you already knowing how things work at the counter. Whether in your own town or the next one along, the glossary takes you from your first term to the betting slip. Sports betting is only for over-18s (21 in Bremen). Anyone who needs help can reach the free telephone counselling run by the German Federal Centre for Health Education.
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A
- Accumulator Bet types An accumulator bundles several single bets on one slip. Every tip has to be right, and in return the odds multiply into a higher total, which raises the risk.
- Advertising guidelines Law & licence Advertising guidelines govern how sports betting may be advertised. In Germany, it is only allowed within limits and must carry protective notices.
- Asian Handicap Bet types The Asian handicap is a special form of the handicap bet. It often uses half or split values and rules out the draw as an outcome.
B
- Bankroll management Odds & stake Bankroll management means consciously dividing up your betting budget. You decide in advance how much money you stake in total and how much of it per bet, so that you keep an overview at all times.
- Betting acceptance point Shop & retail A betting acceptance point is a place where your sports bet is taken on site. That can be a dedicated betting shop or a smaller acceptance point.
- Betting bonus General A betting bonus is an extra offer from a provider that comes with conditions such as a wagering requirement. In Germany, strict advertising rules apply to it.
- Betting market General A betting market is a particular question about a sporting event that you can tip on. Examples are the match winner, the number of goals or both teams to score.
- Betting outlet Shop & retail A betting outlet is a shop for sports betting on site and means the same as a betting shop. You tip in the shop, usually pay in cash and collect winnings there.
- Betting receipt Shop & retail The betting receipt is the proof you get at the betting shop after placing your bet. It confirms your tip and serves as proof for the payout of any winnings.
- Betting shop Shop & retail A betting shop, often just called a branch, is a high-street outlet where you place sports bets on site. You tip at the terminal or the counter, pay in cash and collect your winnings in the shop.
- Betting slip Shop & retail A betting slip gathers your tips for a bet. At the betting shop you fill it in at the terminal or the counter, pay the stake and receive a receipt for the bet.
- Betting syndicate General A betting syndicate is a group of people who tip together and share the stake. Any winnings are split according to each member's share.
- Bookmaker General A bookmaker is a provider that accepts sports bets and sets odds for them. They take your stake and, if you win, pay out the odds.
- Bookmaker's margin Odds & stake The bookmaker's margin is the mark-up a provider builds into its odds. It funds the bookmaker's business and makes odds slightly lower than pure probability.
- Both teams to score (BTTS) Bet types With the BTTS bet, you tip whether both teams score at least one goal in a match. Who wins the match plays no part in it.
C
- Cash payout Shop & retail With a cash payout, you receive your winnings directly at the betting shop in cash. You present your receipt and receive the amount at the counter.
- Cash-out Odds & stake Cash-out means ending a running bet early in return for an amount offered. At Tipico this amount is only credited once all matches on the betting slip have been settled.
- Closing times Shop & retail Closing times are the hours when a betting shop has to close and may not accept bets. In Germany they are set by state law and vary by state and municipality.
D
- Deposit limit Player protection The deposit limit caps how much money you can stake per month in online gambling. The standard is a cross-provider limit of 1,000 euros per month.
- Double Chance Bet types With the Double Chance, you cover two of the three possible match outcomes with a single tip. That increases the chance of a winner but lowers the odds.
- Dropping odds Odds & stake Dropping odds are odds that fall noticeably over time. A drop shows that the bookmaker considers an outcome more likely than before.
F
- Favourite and underdog General The favourite is the side that, in the bookmaker's view, is more likely to win a sporting event. The underdog is regarded as the less likely winner and therefore has higher odds.
- Free bet General A free bet is a bet whose stake is not deducted from your own balance. It is a bonus offer and is subject to strict rules in Germany.
G
- GGL Law & licence The GGL (Joint Gambling Authority of the Federal States) is the central German authority that supervises and licenses gambling and sports betting.
- GlüStV (Interstate Treaty on Gambling) Law & licence The Interstate Treaty on Gambling 2021 is the central German set of rules for gambling and sports betting. It has applied in all federal states since 1 July 2021.
- Goalscorer bet Bet types With a goalscorer bet you tip which player scores. You can back the first goalscorer, for example, or a player to score at any point in the match.
H
- Half-time/full-time bet Bet types With the half-time/full-time bet, you tip the score at half-time and the final result. Both predictions have to be right, and in return the odds are higher.
- Handicap bet Bet types With a handicap bet, one team gets a notional head start or deficit. This changes the odds, especially in matches with a clear favourite.
L
- Licence (sports betting licence) Law & licence A licence is the official authorisation to legally offer sports betting in Germany. Without it, no provider may accept bets.
- Live bet Bet types A live bet is a tip you place during a match in progress. The odds change constantly and adapt to the current course of the match.
- Live coverage in the shop Shop & retail Live coverage in the shop shows sporting events in real time on screens in the betting shop. This lets you follow matches on site, even without betting. Which matches are shown depends on the individual shop.
- LUGAS Law & licence LUGAS is the cross-provider supervision system for online gambling in Germany. It monitors limits and prevents simultaneous play with several providers.
M
- Minimum age (18 years) Law & licence Sports betting is only permitted in Germany from the age of 18 (21 in Bremen). At the betting shop, age verification can be requested at any time.
- Money laundering prevention Law & licence Money laundering prevention covers the obligations of betting providers to identify and report suspicious flows of money. The basis is the Money Laundering Act.
O
- OASIS (blocking system) Player protection OASIS is the nationwide blocking system for gambling. Anyone who is blocked can place bets neither at the betting shop nor online.
- Odds Odds & stake The odds show you how much money you get back if your tip is right. They stand for the probability of an outcome and determine your possible winnings.
- Odds boost Odds & stake An odds boost is a temporarily increased set of odds from the provider for a particular bet. The promotion applies only to set tips and comes with conditions.
- Odds format Odds & stake The odds format is the way odds are presented. There are three common formats: decimal, fractional and American. In Germany, decimal odds are usual.
- Outright bet Bet types An outright bet is a tip on a result that is only decided after a longer period, such as the champions of a season. At the betting shop, you place it like any other bet and keep the receipt for weeks or months.
- Over/under bet Bet types With an over/under bet you tip whether a particular figure comes in above or below a set line. Most often it is about the total number of goals in a match.
P
- Panic button (time-out) Player protection The panic button is a function with which you immediately exclude yourself from betting for a short time, in order to take a break.
- Payout Odds & stake The payout is the amount you get back on a correct tip. It includes your stake plus the winnings and is calculated as stake times odds.
- Player protection Player protection Player protection covers all measures that protect against the risks of gambling, from limits through the blocking system to counselling.
R
- Responsible gambling Player protection Responsible gambling means treating betting as entertainment, setting firm limits and taking warning signs seriously.
- Rest-of-match bet Bet types A rest-of-match bet settles only what happens from the moment of the bet until the end of the match. An already existing score does not count towards it.
S
- Self-exclusion Player protection With a self-exclusion, you voluntarily have yourself excluded from gambling. It takes effect via OASIS with all licensed providers.
- Self-service terminal Shop & retail A self-service terminal is a self-service machine in the betting shop. There you choose your match yourself, put together your tip and print the betting slip, without having to go to the counter.
- Single bet Bet types A single bet is a tip on exactly one event. You bet on a single outcome, such as a team's win, and you win if that tip is right.
- Special bets (specials) Bet types Special bets are tips away from the classic markets such as the winner or goals. They concern particular events within or around a match.
- Sports bet General A sports bet is a tip on the outcome of a sporting event, for which you put down a stake. If you tip right, you get paid out stake times odds.
- Sports betting tax Law & licence The sports betting tax in Germany is 5 percent. At Tipico it is not included in the odds but calculated separately.
- Stake Odds & stake The stake is the amount of money you put on a bet. Together with the odds, it determines how high your possible payout turns out.
- System bet Bet types A system bet is a combination of several tips in which not all the tips have to be right. Even if part of the tips is correct, winnings can arise.
Frequently asked questions about the betting glossary
What is a betting glossary?
A betting glossary explains the key terms around betting shops and sports betting in plain English. Here you will find over 50 of them, from odds and handicap to the OASIS exclusion system, each with a short definition and an example.
What do the terms in the betting shop mean?
In the betting shop you will come across words like odds, stake, betting slip, self-service terminal and cash-out. The glossary explains each one in plain English so you know where you stand while you are there.
Are the explanations up to date with German law?
Yes. The legal terms reflect the Interstate Treaty on Gambling 2021 and oversight by the GGL. Sports betting is only allowed from the age of 18 (21 in Bremen). For specific legal questions, the current terms of the operators and authorities apply.
