gambling terms > all gambling terms

Prix Des Nations [Equestrian Sports]
	Another name for the team show jumping event.

Prize [Keno]
	The amount paid to a player for his winning ticket. May not be a net profit.

Prize Bingo [Bingo]
	Until recently, this game was only played for a set prize or vouchers. Recent changes in UK law mean that the prize may be cash of up to £15.

Pro [Motor Sports]
	Professional Racers Organization

Pro Rallies [Motor Sports]
	Road rallies which are very competitive and are run at high speeds on roads closed to the public. Often sponsored by the SCCA.

Pro Shop [Golf]
	The golf course shop operated by the head professional where equipment is sold.

Pro Start [Motor Sports]
	A method of starting a drag race that differs from most starts in that it only has one amber light between the initial staging and the final lights on the "Christmas Tree."

Pro Stock [Motor Sports]
	A category of the NHRA, in which coupes or sedans that are stock - straight from the manufacturer - are fitted with carbureted engines of up to 500 cubic inches. Counting the driver, they must weigh at least 2,350 pounds. Their times are about 2 seconds slower than the Top Fuel and Funny Car categories.

Pro Tree [Motor Sports]
	Used in Top Fuel, Funny Car, Pro Stock, Pro Stock Bike, Alcohol Dragster, Alcohol Funny Car, Super Comp, Super Gas, and Super Street, which feature heads-up competition. All three large amber lights on the Christmas Tree flash simultaneously, followed four-tenths of a second later by the green starting light. A perfect reaction time on a Pro Tree is .400. (Drag racing)

Pro-am [Golf]
	A competition in which professionals and amateurs are paired as partners.

Probability [General]

The odds are an indication of what the odds layer thinks is the probability of a participant winning an event. If you were to add up the probabilities of each participant they have to total exactly 100% (one participant - but only one - must win). You can calculate the probabilities from the odds (there’s an example table below). To calculate the percentage, divide 100 by the sum of the two parts of the ratio and then multiply the result by the second part of the ratio. For 11-4 this works out as 100 divided by 15 (11 plus 4) equals 6.666. This multiplied by 4 gives 26.67 Converting the odds to percentages is particularly useful for calculating the overround.

Procter and Gamble [Poker]
	A form of stud, found exclusively in home games, in which each player receives four cards face down, and three community cards are dealt face down, and these cards are turned up one at a time, each followed by a betting round, with the last card, and all cards of the same rank, wild.

Prodd [Archery]
	See Arbalete a Jalet.

Producer [Poker]
	1) Someone who brings lots of money to a game and keeps that money in circulation. The term is usually used by the management to describe someone around whom a game can be built (because others like to play with him or her), or by professionals to describe a live one. Also, provider. 2) A player whose main source of income does not derive from gambling.

Production [Motor Sports]
	A production engine or car is one that is made in quantity, usually on an assembly line.

Profession [Poker]
	Cheating at cards, cardsharping, illegal gambling; always preceded by the.

Professional [Golf]
	A player who receives monetary competition for playing in tournaments or for giving lessons. Commonly shortened to "pro."

Professional Foul [Soccer]
	A foul, usually hard and from behind, in which a defender intentionally takes down a player to disrupt a clear scoring opportunity, usually a break-away. The "professional foul" usally results in a yellow or red card.

Professional Gambler [Poker]
	A player whose main source of income derives from gambling.

Professional Golfer [Golf]
	Usually earns his living from golf. Is licensed to give lessons for money.

Professional Sports Car Racing [Motor Sports]
	The racing group formerly known as IMSA (International Motor Sports Association) sanctions sports car races. Its parent company is International Motor Sports Group.

Professor [Poker]
	A gambler who has the ability to calculate the odds, particularly in card games. Also, dean.

Profiles [Poker]
	The picture cards whose faces are shown in profile, that is, Kd , Js , and Jh ; the one-eyes.

Profit Formula [Blackjack]
	Method for calculating expected winnings. Number of hands played per hour x average bet x hours played x gain = expected winnings.

Profit Slip [Bingo]
	A sheet of paper included in each set of game tickets detailing the selling price per ticket to players, number of tickets, ideal gross receipts, payout/profit information, prize breakdown by denomination, and sometimes, game play instructions.

Program [Greyhound Racing]
	A printed guide to the day's races, including details such as the specifications and grades of individual races, track records, post positions, past performances, handicappers' selections, results of the previous day's races and entries for the following day or night.

Progression Betting [Blackjack]
	A form of betting which requires one to change the size of his bet based upon the results of the last hand or series of hands. Progressions can be negative, which usually means a bet is raised after a loss, or positive, which usually means the bet is raised after a win. No progression has ever been devised which can change the actual expectation in any given game.

Progressive [Poker]

1) Describing the high draw games as used to be played in Southern California (which is not the same interpretation as in home games). They are jacks or better progressive. The California card room interpretation of progressive was a further ante after each passed pot (up to triple ante) plus a doubling of the stakes (usually once only). 2) Describing games with increasing opening requirements, such as progressive jackpots.

Progressive Actions [Fencing]
	A series of actions in which the sword point moves continually towards the target.

Progressive Flexibility [Golf]
	A shafting concept in which longer irons are fitted with more flexible shafts to promote feel and aid in getting the ball airborne and shorter irons utilize stiffer shafts for added control.

Progressive Game [Bingo]
	A seal card -style game with a designated jackpot that, if not won, is carried forward and added to the jackpot of the subsequent sets of the game until won. Here's how a progressive game works

Progressive Jackpot [Video Poker]
	This is a Jackpot, usually for a Royal Flush that grows as players play. Several machines are linked together so that each bet at any of them increases the jackpot. When a player gets the Jackpot the Progressive Jackpot is reset to a starting value, typically $1,000 for a 25 cent machine with five coins played. Important: You can't win the Progressive Jackpot unless you Play Maximum Credits.

Progressive Jackpots [Poker]

A form of draw poker found mainly in home games in which the opener must have at least a pair of jacks to open, and be prepared to show openers before the pot is out of play; if no one opens, players ante again, sometimes the next dealer deals, and the minimum opening requirements increase to queens, and so on if no one again opens. Sometimes the opening requirements after passed pots stop at aces; sometimes they continue to increase (to two pair, and so on). Pots can grow quite large from just the antes.

Progressive Offset [Golf]
	Iron head design feature in which longer irons have more offset and shorter irons have less. The offset progresses in somewhat uniform increments through the set. More offset is featured in long irons as offset tends to eliminate slicing and helps to get the ball airborne, qualities that help most players hit the ball straighter.

Progressive Poker Dictionary [Poker]

Progressive Progressive [Poker]
	Progressive jackpots with the ante increased (in size) each hand that is not opened. Sometimes called rangdoodles

Progressive Torque [Golf]
	Set of shafts which exhibit a changing of torque from one shaft to another through the set. Typically the torque will be greater in the longer irons and less in the shorter shafts.

Projector-Beam Headlights [Motor Sports]
	A headlight that uses a spherical reflector to tightly control the light beam. The bulb or light source directs the light inward, toward the reflector at the back of the headlight assembly, which then projects it forward from the vehicle. These lights are more powerful, accurate and expensive than standard sealed-beam and halogen headlights, and are generally found on sport and luxury models.

Promo [Wrestling]
	(noun) An interview. Doing an interview is called "cutting a promo".

Promo(Flash) [Wrestling]
	A short roleplay in the form of a commercial.

Promoter [Wrestling]

(noun) Someone who promotes live wrestling events in front of an audience, although may not necessarily own/operate the wrestling league that they are promoting. For example, there are currently promoters in each major city who help the major federations secure the arena and promote the show locally when they come to that town. And although they promoted the event, they have nothing to do with booking the matches or what happens at the show.

Promoter's Option [Motor Sports]

The traditional prerogative of the promoter, as the person who organizes a race, of designating one or more cars to start a race even though they failed to qualify. (Similar to what is called a "sponsor's exemption" in golf.) Promoters often reserved an option for themselves, so that they could be guaranteed that a popular driver would participate in the race (particularly when that driver had been paid appearance money).

Promotion [Blackjack]
	A special marketing device used by casinos to encourage play. It may take the form of a special rule, such as paying 2:1 for blackjacks or a special offer in conjunction with play, such as offering free show tickets or meals if a player makes a specified bet on certain games.

Pronation [Fencing]
	A position in which the knuckles of the sword hand are pointing upward.

Proof of Loss [Motor Sports]
	A formal statement made by the insured to the insurance company regarding a loss.

Prop [Horse Racing]
	Refusing to break with field from gate. Standing flat-footed. Also, when a horse suddenly stops running a full speed by extending his forefeet as "brakes."

Prop Bet [Poker]
	1) The bet that arises out of a proposition. 2) The bet offered by a proposition hustler.

Prop or Proposition Player [Poker]
	An employee of the gaming establishment whose primary purpose is to keep enough players at a table to prevent breaking up the game for lack of players. Unlike shills "props" make a small hourly wage but play with their own money, winning or losing based on their skill.

Propane [Sailing]
	Also known as LPG (liquid petroleum gas). Propane is a common fuel used for cooking and heating. CNG (natural gas) is considered safer because propane is heavy than air and will sink into the bilge if it leaks, creating the potential for an explosion. Propane is more easily available throughout the world than CNG however, so it is used for most boats outside of North America.

Propane Torch [Golf]
	Hand-held torch, fueled by propane, used to heat metal hosels in order to break the epoxy bond between head and shaft.

Propeller [Sailing]
	An object with two or more twisted blades that is designed to propel a vessel through the water when spun rapidly by the boat's engine.

Propeller Shaft [Powerboating]
	A rotating shaft that transmits power from the engine to the propeller.

Property Damage Liability [Motor Sports]
	The protection of the property when not under control of the insured.

Proportional Betting [Blackjack]
	See Kelly betting.

Proposition [Poker]

1) An offer by one player to another to play under certain circumstances, usually more favorable to the other player, in exchange for calling a bet. Propositions are found mainly in no-limit lowball games. For example, one player raises. The player who opened the pot asks, "Two-for-one?" He is offering a proposition, which is, in effect, saying, "I need to draw two cards to this hand. I would not normally call your raise, but you look like a sporting fellow, so I will call and draw two cards if you agree that you will take one card. If you have to break a pat hand to comply, then so be it; I will not play otherwise." Gentlemen do not offer a proposition and then renege. In other words, if you offer, for example, two-for-one, it's not considered sporting to then draw only one or stand pat after the other has thrown his card, nor is it sporting on his part to accept and then stand pat. (Of course, he could accept and draw two, because that is more of a gamble than the offerer of the proposition was requesting or expecting.) If someone offers you a proposition, naturally you can decline. Again, the sporting thing to do in this example is not to say, "Oh, I'm probably drawing anyway," and then stand pat. If you don't want to give away anything about your intentions, you can say, "Just call the bet, or throw away your hand," or say nothing. Just don't out-and-out lie. While permitted, it's not sporting, and will lose you respect and action later. A counter proposition (described under pass for a prop) is also a possibility. 2) An agreement between two or more players to always take part in a certain gamble when circumstances warrant, such as open blind, raise blind or two-three.

Proposition Bet [General]
	A wager on a particular aspect of the game. These bets are usually exotic bets like which quarterback will complete the most touchdown passes, which team will score the last points in a game, or which will complete the longest fieldgoal. Many prop bets are offered at 11-10 odds, but some will be offered at better or worse odds, depending on the bet.

Proposition Hustler [Poker]
	Someone, usually a player, who offers other players bets on certain occurrences, paying off at less than true odds. For example, in a draw game, a proposition hustler might say to another player, "I'll bet you can't beat a pair of sevens before the draw next hand." The actual odds against such an occurrence are worse than 1.5-to-1.

Proprietary [Golf]
	Any feature of a golf club that is unique to a particular manufacturer. For example, each manufacturer's head or shaft designs are proprietary to that manufacturer. Proprietary designs, logos, etc. are often patented by the company developing them in order to secure their exclusive use for a given time period.

Prorhythmic Swingweight Scale [Golf]
	A type of swingweight scale that bases its measurements on a 14” fulcrum system, additionally providing weights in ounces or grams.

Protect [Poker]

1) Hold onto your cards, as opposed to leaving them sit on the table, such that the dealer cannot accidentally scoop up your hand, and such that it cannot be otherwise fouled. 2) Place a chip atop your cards so that no cards falling on them can foul the hand; usually followed by your hand or the hand. 3) Place a chip atop the deck (by the player dealer or the house dealer) after dealing the first round of cards, so that discards cannot accidentally get mixed in with the deck; usually followed by the deck. "Hey, dealer, protect the deck," means the cards are just sitting on the table, and a player wants the dealer to put a chip on top of the deck. 4) Bet in such a way as to increase the chances of an all-in player winning a pot, that is, ensure a showdown between only the bettor and the all-in player. For example, in a $4-to-go no-limit lowball game, Grady has $20, while Tom, Sue, and Scott all have over $200. Grady opens for $4, and Tom raises to $20. Sue calls, and Scott raises another $40. Grady calls all of his remaining chips. Tom and Sue call the re-raise, creating a $60 side pot. Grady, Tom, and Sue all draw one card, and Scott stands pat. Grady cannot bet after the draw. Tom and Sue both pass. Now Scott says, "I'll protect your hand, Grady," and bets $150. If Tom and Sue now both fold, Grady has a better chance of winning the main pot (and Scott can make money even if he was bluffing, by winning the now-uncontested side pot). Compare with dry pot. 5) When you have a blind in a blind game, invest more money so money you've already put in the pot isn't "wasted." "Jim always protects his blind, no matter what his cards are or how many bets it costs." 6) Bet in such a way as to make other players pay for the privilege of trying to beat your hand, a hand that is currently the leader, but could easily be outdrawn on the draw, in a draw game, or on the next card in a stud or flop game

Protect a Hand [Poker]
	To protect a hand is to bet so as to reduce the chances of anyone outdrawing you by getting them to fold.

Protect the Other Players [Poker]
	Act in such a way as to not jeopardize any other player's action. Acting in turn is a way of protecting the others.

Protect your Cards [Poker]
	To protect your cards is to place a chip or some other small object on top of them so that they don't accidentally get mucked by the dealer, mixed with another player's discards, or otherwise become dead when you'd like to play them.

Protection [Poker]
	1) How a card room protects players against being cheated, including such measures as having a house dealer, using plastic cards, having floor personnel who know what to look out for, etc. 2) A protection bet.

Protection Area [Wrestling]
	The border of the mat, extending at least 1.5 meters beyond the passivity zone, to help prevent injury if a wrestler is thrown outside the ring.

Protection Bet [Poker]

1) In a big bet game, a bet made after the draw in a draw game, or in a vulnerable position in a stud or hold 'em game, to avoid having to call a larger bet from a potentially better hand or from a possible bluff. For example, in no-limit lowball, a player opens for $4. Another player raises $25. The first player calls and draws one card, while the other stands pat. The first player catches an 8, to make an 8-6. He does not want to check, because, with the sevens rule, if the other player has a 7 or better, she might bet a lot, knowing she cannot possibly lose. So the first player now bets $4. That is a protection bet, because the other player will likely not raise with a hand (like a rough 7) that would be a cinch if the first player had not bet. Also underbet. 2) A bet made to protect a player who is all in for the main pot, as described under protect. 3) A bet made to protect a vulnerable hand, as described under protect.

Protest [Horse Racing]

A verbal or written dissent regarding the placings of a particular race, which is made to the stewards before the all clear is signalled. Connections of one of the horses in a race, for instance, may believe that they would have finished in a better position had in not been for the interference or inconvenience caused by another runner, and therefore issue a protest against that offending horse. The stewards will then defer the all clear (a protest is signified by a warning type siren as opposed to the all clear siren) until an inquiry or investigation into these claims can be made. They may agree with the claims and uphold the protest, in which case the placings may be amended, or they may disagree and dismiss the protest, in which case the placings would remain the same.

Protocol [Weight Lifting]
	The international weightlifting term for the scoresheet, on which the complete competition is recorded, including each successful and unsuccessful lift and totals for all competitors.

Prototype [Motor Sports]
	A sports car that is not in production; either an experimental model or a car made in very limited quantities, solely for racing.

Protractor [Sailing]
	A navigation tool used to measure angles on a chart.

Proud Flesh [Horse Racing]
	This is a tumor-like mass of granulation tissue that is found in the healing process of certain wounds on the legs of horses.

Provider [Poker]
	A provider is a poker player who makes the game profitable for the other players at the table. Similar in meaning to fish, although provider has a somehow less negative connotation. A provider might be a decent player who just happens to be playing out of his/her league. A fish is usually someone who's probably out of any league.

Provisional [Motor Sports]
	There are seven provisional positions in a starting field of 43 for every race. Six spots are awarded by the use of provisionals based on OWNERS points. The seventh is awarded to a past champion who has not otherwise qualified for the race. For more on provisionals Click Here.

Provisional Ball [Golf]
	A ball played if the previously hit ball may be lost or out of bounds. If the first ball is found, or is discovered to be in bounds, that ball is played. Otherwise, the player continues playing the provisional ball.

Provisional Qualifying [Motor Sports]
	NASCAR only. A driver who hasn't driven fast enough to qualify for the race but is entitled to a spot at the back of the lineup because of certain provisions; i.e., former Winston Cup champion.

Provisional Starter [Motor Sports]
	A system used by a promoter or sanctioning body to improve the odds that race teams that participate in a series on a regular basis will be able to earn a starting position.

Provisional Starting Spot [Motor Sports]
	Special performance-based exemptions for drivers who do not initially qualify for a race. A driver awarded a provisional spot must start at the back of the starting grid.

Prow [Sailing]
	The part of the bow forward of where it leaves the waterline.

Proximal [Horse Racing]
	Toward the body, i.e., the proximal cannon region is the upper portion of the cannon bone.

Pry Bar [Golf]
	Tool used in the most economic method of graphite shaft removal. The pry bar applies force to the club head as the shaft is held in a vise by a vinyl shaft clamp. Pressure from the bar forces the head from the club when the epoxy bond breaks from the application of heat.

Ps [Motor Sports]
	Pferdestarke is a measurement of metric horsepower. 1.0 hp=1.0139 PS 1.0 PS=0.7355 Kw

Psa [General]
	Professional Squash Association.

Pscw [Wrestling]
	Power Slam Championship Wrestling

Pseudo-Cannon Shot [Croquet]
	A three ball croquet shot in which the the croqueted ball moves just a little way out of the corner.

Psi [Motor Sports]
	Acronym for pounds per square inch. A pressure measurement used in tire inflation and turbocharger boost.

Ptarmigan [Horse Racing]
	Small bird that has nothing to do with horse racing. We just put this in to see if you were paying attention.

Pu [Greyhound Racing]
	Pueblo, Colorado

Public Game [Poker]
	A game played in a poker room, with usually a fee charged (or taken from each pot) by the establishment for the use of the premises. Compare with private game.

Public Links [Golf]
	A course open to the public.

Public Poker Dictionary [Poker]
	A game played in a poker room, with usually a fee charged (or taken from each pot) by the establishment for the use of the premises. Compare with private game.

Public Relations Player [Poker]
	An employee of the gaming establishment whose primary purpose is to keep enough players at a table to prevent breaking up the game for lack of players. Unlike shills "props" make a small hourly wage but play with their own money, winning or losing based on their skill.

Public Trainer [Horse Racing]
	One whose services are not exclusively engaged by a single stable and who accepts horses from a number of owners.

Puck [Ice Hockey]
	A black, vulcanized rubber disc, 1-inch thick and 3-inches in diameter, weighing between 5 1/2 and 6 ounces used to play hockey; they are frozen to prevent excessive bouncing and changed throughout the game; can travel up to 120 miles per hour on a slap shot.

Puck Line [General]
	Mainly used on East Coast with hockey, giving odds of a goal spread instead of Canadian Line where both a goal spread and money line is played

Puck-Handler [Ice Hockey]
	The player currently in possession of the puck.

Puckline [General]

Hockey combines both a handicap/spread and odds. This is called the Puckline. Sample line: Boston +1 (-110) Detroit -1.5 (-110) The favorites are the Detroit Red Wings, who are giving the Boston Bruins 1.5 goals. To win the bet, Detroit would have to win the game by 2 goals. When placing this bet you are getting even money, which means that for every $110 you wager, you will win $100. If you are betting on Boston, you will receive a 1.0 goal handicap, meaning that if Detroit wins by 1 goal the game is a push. If the game ends in a tie or Boston wins, then you win the bet. The odds again are at -110.

Pucks [General]
	A slang word used to indicate the game of hockey.

Pud [Skydiving]
	Slang for the handle the jumper grabs to pull the pilote chute into the air stream and initiate deployment of the main. It's usually located on the right bottom side of the container or leg strap.

Puddle [Rowing]
	The water movement caused by the action of the oars. The size and shape of the puddle are indications of the amount of power put into the stroke.

Pulk [Skiing]
	A type of sled or toboggan most commonly found in Scandinavia used to tow children, or other loads behind the skier, connected by a harness to the skier's waist.

Pull [Poker]
	Draw a card from the deck, particularly for the purpose of starting a game, with the player pulling either the highest or the lowest card becoming the first dealer. "Let's pull for deal." Also called draw for deal, pull for prime, pull prime.

Pull Block [Football]
	When an offensive lineman moves out and blocks a defender on the outside of the play.

Pull for Prime [Poker]
	Draw a card from the deck, particularly for the purpose of starting a game, with the player pulling either the highest or the lowest card becoming the first dealer. "Let's pull for deal." Also called draw for deal, pull for prime, pull prime.

Pull Hitter [Baseball]
	A batter that generally hits to the same side of the field that he bats. (eg, righthanded pull hitter hits to the left side of the field).

Pull Prime [Poker]
	Draw a card from the deck, particularly for the purpose of starting a game, with the player pulling either the highest or the lowest card becoming the first dealer. "Let's pull for deal." Also called draw for deal, pull for prime, pull prime.

Pull Tab [Bingo]
	A game similar to the Washington State lottery game. Tickets sell for 25 cents or 50 cents or even more and typically offer prizes ranging from free tickets to $500. Each ticket has perforated windows which open revealing symbols similar to those found on slot machines or some lottery games.

Pull the Film [Poker]
	Remove and view the tape from the surveillance camera above a table for the purpose of determining whether an alleged rules infraction took place or resolving a dispute. Pulling the tape is usually done only in extreme situations, and usually requires official action on the part of a representative of the management, say a shift manager.

Pull the Goalie [Ice Hockey]
	To remove the goaltender from the ice and replace him with a forward to gain more attacking power. The goalie is pulled when there's a delayed penalty on the opposition or when a team needs to score in the closing minutes of a game.

Pull the Rug [Bowling]
	A hit on which a number of pins wobble for a time before falling down simultaneously, as if a rug had been pulled out from under them.

Pull the Tape [Poker]
	Remove and view the tape from the surveillance camera above a table for the purpose of determining whether an alleged rules infraction took place or resolving a dispute. Pulling the tape is usually done only in extreme situations, and usually requires official action on the part of a representative of the management, say a shift manager.

Pull Up [Horse Racing]
	To stop or slow a horse during or after a race or workout.

Pull-Through [Poker]
	A form of false shuffling, in which the cheating dealer performs a maneuver that makes it look like he is riffling the cards, but all he does is pull half the deck through the other half, and then cuts the cards without changing their order. Also called pass.

Pulled Suspensory [Horse Racing]
	Suspensory ligament injury (suspensory desmitis) in which some portion of the fibers of the ligament have been disrupted and some loss of support of the distal limb may have occurred.

Pulled the Plugs [Horse Racing]
	Drivers who pull the plugs during a race are merely releasing the ear plugs that have been in their horse's ears up until that time. Ear plugs can help keep a horse's mind on the job and help nervy horses stay calm leading up to and during part of the race. When released, (often as the horse gets closer to the finish) the sudden exposure to more noise may help spur on the horse.

Pulled Up [Horse Racing]
	A horse which has finished a race has pulled up. The term can also refer to the act of a driver stopping his horse from competing in a race, while that race is still in progress, for example, because of injury or broken gear.

Pulling [Horse Racing]
	Some horses get fired-up during a race and try to run faster than the tempo of the other runners. These horses are 'pulling'. Horses that pull will usually waste a lot of energy in the process, leaving little in reserve for the finish.

Pulling Out [Horse Racing]
	A horse which is pulling out in a race is one which is coming from a rails or running line position and heading out wider on the track in an effort to secure a clear run.

Pulling the Goalie [Ice Hockey]
	Taking the goalkeeper off the ice and replacing him with a forward; leaves the goal unguarded so is only used as a last minute attempt to score.

Pulpit [Sailing]
	A sturdy railing around the deck on the bow.

Pump [Poker]
	Raise.

Pump Fake [Basketball]
	A fake in which a player motions as if he is going to shoot the ball but holds back, hoping his defender will jump out of position.