Betting Terms Explained

A plain glossary of the terms used across this site, from odds and bonuses to the app and download words you will meet on our review pages. Definitions are short and kept neutral. Where a term does not apply to the offshore apps we cover, we say so.

App and download terms

These come up on our review pages because the apps here are not the usual store downloads.

Term What it means
APK The Android install file. Apps outside Google Play are installed from an APK taken from the operator’s own site, not the Play Store.
Sideloading Installing an app from an APK rather than an app store. Android asks you to allow installs from unknown sources the first time.
WebView app An app that is really the operator’s website running inside an app frame. Quick to build, but tied to the site.
PWA (web app) A site you save to your home screen so it opens full-screen like an app. There is no file to install. Common on iPhone through Safari.
Native app An app built properly for the platform rather than a wrapped website. Feels more consistent across devices.
Flutter app A native build made with Google’s Flutter framework. It renders the same across phones.
Package ID The app’s unique identifier, such as com.bass.win, visible in Android settings. We use it to confirm an app is the genuine build.
Store listing An app’s page in Google Play or the App Store. Most offshore brands have none, so there is nothing to verify against.
Permissions What an app asks to access, such as storage, camera or microphone. We flag apps that ask for more than they need.

Odds and probability

Term What it means
Decimal odds Odds shown as a number like 2.50. Your total return is stake times the odds. A £10 bet at 2.50 returns £25.
Fractional odds Odds shown as a fraction like 6/4. The first number is profit, the second is stake.
Implied probability The chance an odds price suggests. Decimal odds of 2.00 imply a 50 percent chance.
Overround The bookmaker’s built-in margin. Add up the implied probabilities of every outcome and the total is over 100 percent. The extra is the book’s edge.
Stake The amount you bet.
Returns Your stake plus profit if the bet wins.

Bet types

Term What it means
Single One selection. It wins or loses on its own.
Accumulator (acca) Several selections in one bet. Every leg must win for the bet to pay.
Double / treble An accumulator with two or three legs.
Each-way Two bets in one: half your stake on the selection to win, half on it to place. Common in horse racing.
Handicap A market that gives one side a head start or deficit to level an uneven contest.
Over/under (totals) A bet on whether a number, such as total goals, will be above or below a line.
Both teams to score (BTTS) A bet on whether both teams find the net.
Bet Builder Combining several markets from a single match into one bet. Some apps here support it for single matches only.

In-play and settlement

Term What it means
Live (in-play) betting Betting on an event while it is happening, with odds that move in real time.
Cash Out (full) Settling a bet early for a value the app offers, before the event ends. Most apps here only allow full Cash Out.
Cash Out (partial) Taking out part of a bet and leaving the rest running. Uncommon among the apps we cover.
Early Payout A promotion that settles a leading football bet as a win once your team goes two goals ahead, whatever happens after. Offered by a few apps here.
Virtual sports Computer-generated events you can bet on when there is no live fixture.

Racing terms

Term What it means
SP (starting price) The official odds of a horse or greyhound at the off.
BOG (best odds guaranteed) A promotion that pays you at the bigger of your taken price or the SP. Common at UK bookmakers, but not a feature of the offshore apps here.
Rule 4 A deduction from winnings when a runner is withdrawn after you bet, because the remaining odds were shorter than priced.

Bonuses and wagering

Term What it means
Welcome bonus / sign-up offer A promotion for new customers. Check whether it is a sports offer or a casino one, as some brands here only run casino welcomes.
Free bet A stake credited by the operator. The stake is not returned with winnings, only the profit.
Wagering (rollover) How many times you must bet an amount before winnings can be withdrawn. A 5x requirement is gentle, 45x is steep.
Qualifying bet / odds The bet, and the minimum odds, needed to unlock a bonus. Higher qualifying odds mean more risk on the bet.
Max stake while wagering A cap on how much you can bet per wager while clearing a bonus.

Payments and verification

Term What it means
Minimum deposit / withdrawal The smallest amount you can pay in or take out. Withdrawal floors matter most, since a high one locks up your balance.
E-wallet A digital wallet such as Skrill, Neteller or Paysafecard. Most offshore apps here skip these.
KYC (verification) Identity and address checks, usually done at first withdrawal. Some apps ask for camera access to photograph ID.

Matched betting

Term What it means
Matched betting A technique that uses a bookmaker free bet against a lay bet on a betting exchange to lock in a return. It needs an exchange, which the sportsbook apps on this site do not offer, so it does not apply to these brands.
Betting exchange A platform where you bet against other people rather than a bookmaker, and can lay (bet against) an outcome. None of the apps here are exchanges.

Licensing and safer gambling

Term What it means
UKGC The UK Gambling Commission, the regulator for UK-licensed gambling. None of the operators on this site hold a UKGC licence.
Non-UKGC / offshore An operator licensed outside the UK, in places such as Anjouan, Curaçao or Costa Rica. UK players are accepted, but UKGC consumer protections do not apply.
GAMSTOP The UK’s free self-exclusion scheme. It only blocks UK-licensed sites, so it does not cover the offshore apps here. See our responsible gambling guide.
Gamban Paid software that blocks gambling sites at device level, including offshore ones. It reaches sites GAMSTOP cannot.

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