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Square

A recreational or casual bettor who tends to bet based on gut feelings, popular opinion, or fan loyalty rather than statistical analysis. Squares typically bet favorites and overs, and their action is welcomed by bookmakers. The opposite of a sharp bettor.

Related General Terms

Lock
A bet that is considered a sure winner, though no bet is ever truly guaranteed. The term is commonly used by tipsters and recreational bettors to express high confidence. Sharp bettors are skeptical of 'locks' because they understand that uncertainty is inherent in all sports outcomes.
Margin
The percentage above 100% that the implied probabilities of all outcomes in a market add up to. A market with odds that imply 103% total probability has a 3% margin. Lower margins mean fairer odds for bettors. Also called the overround or book percentage.
Juice (Vig)
The commission or fee built into the odds by the bookmaker. Also known as vigorish (vig), it represents the bookmaker's profit margin. For example, if both sides of a coin flip are priced at 1.91 instead of 2.00, the difference is the juice. Lower juice means better value for bettors.
Handicap
A virtual advantage or disadvantage applied to a team or player to level the playing field in a sporting event. For example, a -1.5 goal handicap means the team must win by 2 or more goals for the bet to win. Handicaps are used to create more balanced betting markets.
Punter
A common British and Australian term for a person who places bets, particularly on horse racing and sports. In the US, the equivalent term is typically 'bettor' or 'gambler'. The term is used casually and does not imply any particular skill level.
Bookmaker (Bookie)
A company or individual that accepts and pays out bets on sporting and other events. Bookmakers set the odds, manage risk, and build in a margin (overround) to ensure long-term profitability. Examples include Bet365, DraftKings, and FanDuel.
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