What Does 'The Chalk' Mean in Sports Betting?

Today, we’re going to look at the question ‘what does chalk mean in betting?’ We’ll tell you what it means, as well as give you a brief history of the term and how it’s used today.

Ready to learn more? Let’s go! 

History of the Term 

The term ‘chalk’ when applied to betting traces its roots back to horse racing. Years ago, the odds for a race were written up on big blackboards using chalk, and the favourites of the race would end up having their odds changed frequently, resulting in far more chalk next to that name. So the horse with the most chalk residue next to its name would be the favourite, or ‘the chalk’.

What Does Chalk Mean Today?

The chalk betting term to describe the favourite of a horse race has developed throughout the years. Nowadays, you'll now hear the expression to describe the firm favourite for many sports events or matches.

However, although all chalk bets are favourites, it doesn’t mean that all favourites are necessarily chalk! The chalk is not the opposite of an underdog - it isn’t one side versus another 50/50.

Therefore, a chalk pick is a heavy favourite even when stacked up against other popular competitors. You can usually tell who the chalk is by looking at the odds of a match or event.

Betting the chalk would mean you wager on the team or player with the lowest moneyline odds, as this denotes that they are the bookie’s top selection to win. 

Examples of Chalk 

Simply put, betting on the chalk means wagering on the expected favourite. While these bets usually come with lower returns, they’re often much safer bets when compared to picking underdogs or less likely outcomes.

To illustrate what betting the chalk means in today's world, let's look at a few examples.