Betting Slang that Only Boomers Still Use

Sports betting has been around for centuries. The modern iteration of sports betting is about 80 years old. The activity had been largely forced underground by various laws over the years. There, it developed its very own slang terminology known only by those who partook.

In this article we want go over some of the slang that dominated betting circles for years but now are largely unused. And if they are used it’s probably by your grandfather.

“Get Down”

One term which has died the slow death it deserves is “get down”. It simply means to place a bet. Used in a sentence: “I’m going to get down on some NBA games this weekend”. This terminology seemed to have sprung up around 50 years ago, coinciding with the era of disco. Think about the song “Get Down It” by Kool & the Gang. Disco is dead and this term is almost there. It’s antiquated and I look forward to the day it’s gone forever.

“11-10”

This was a way of communicating or asking what the vig was on a bet. “Is that bet 11-10?”. This question is simple asking if the bet is standard vig of 10%. Today people will just ask “what’s the juice?”.

“Book Sheet”

This is a bookmaker’s private accounting of bets and balances of his customers. Since the old school neighborhood bookie is almost extinct, so is a need to discuss his “book sheet”. This term is almost never used any longer.

“Marker”

Marker is still used in casinos. It simply means an “IOU” or “I’ll pay you later”. At a physical casino, it means getting fronted some chips on credit. In sports betting, paying later for bets you already lost is something you don’t see much anymore. Credit wagering is basically a dead art form. Post-up is the way that 90%+ people interact with the world of sports betting.

“Beard”

A person who placed bets for you was referred to as a “beard”. This often occurred when a guy lived in an area where there was no local bookie. He could call his buddy in another area and have him place his bets. The beard business was huge in Las Vegas for many years.

“Nickel” or “Dime”

These words initially meant placing a $5 or $10 wager way back in the day. They eventually became used to describe a $50 and $100 bet. Then they became used to describe $500 and a $1000 bet. Younger generations don’t typically use these terms.

“Welch” or “Welsh”

To welch on a bet meant not to pay when you lost. Typically, this was done on a credit basis or a bet between friends. “Don’t welch on your bet, pay up!”