bookie
noun
book·ie ˈbu̇-kē 
plural bookies
informal
: a person who determines gambling odds and receives and pays off bets : bookmaker
The "line"—the Vikings over the Giants by four points, for example—establishes the point spread that the bookie believes will attract gamblers in equal numbers to each side of the bet.
Jack El-Hai
Jack El-HaiFunnily enough, I was never anxious to win one of these bets. I didn't want to collect from the bookie on any of them. Art Buchwald
Art Buchwald
Example Sentences
Their bookie is giving good odds.
Recent Examples on the Web Sports bettors in Massachusetts will soon be able to ditch their local bookie for a legal sportsbook. Will Yakowicz, Forbes, 11 Aug. 2022 In a half-century career, Sorvino portrayed a wide range of roles, including James Caan's bookie in 1974's The Gambler and Secretary of State Henry Kissinger in Oliver Stone's 1995 film Nixon. Harold Maass, The Week, 26 July 2022 The numbers racket is run by Archie (Jason Isaacs), a bookie with a heart of gold who also works at the dog track. Odie Henderson, BostonGlobe.com, 12 July 2022 Gateways began when course bookie Ted Ware won the lease in a bet in 1943. Lucia Cheng, Smithsonian Magazine, 28 June 2022 Turkish convinces gangster Brick Top to offer bets on bare-knuckle boxer Mickey at his bookie business. Travis Bean, Forbes, 23 Apr. 2022 Reid had earlier butted heads with infamous mob bookie Lefty Rosenthal, who was denied a gaming license for the Stardust after bickering with Reid during a 1978 commission hearing. James Dehaven, USA TODAY, 29 Dec. 2021 What can’t happen to Alabama, which may have too many flaws to repeat as national champs so please be advised to spend your money on Christmas and not with a bookie, is another Tennessee game from two years ago at Bryant-Denny. Charles Hollis, al, 22 Oct. 2021 Legal betting is creating opportunities for TV programming to serve potential bettors, especially those who found the idea of using the local bookie unsavory. Ryan Faughnder, Los Angeles Times, 11 Oct. 2021 See More
Will Yakowicz, Forbes, 11 Aug. 2022 In a half-century career, Sorvino portrayed a wide range of roles, including James Caan's bookie in 1974's The Gambler and Secretary of State Henry Kissinger in Oliver Stone's 1995 film Nixon. Harold Maass, The Week, 26 July 2022 The numbers racket is run by Archie (Jason Isaacs), a bookie with a heart of gold who also works at the dog track. Odie Henderson, BostonGlobe.com, 12 July 2022 Gateways began when course bookie Ted Ware won the lease in a bet in 1943. Lucia Cheng, Smithsonian Magazine, 28 June 2022 Turkish convinces gangster Brick Top to offer bets on bare-knuckle boxer Mickey at his bookie business. Travis Bean, Forbes, 23 Apr. 2022 Reid had earlier butted heads with infamous mob bookie Lefty Rosenthal, who was denied a gaming license for the Stardust after bickering with Reid during a 1978 commission hearing. James Dehaven, USA TODAY, 29 Dec. 2021 What can’t happen to Alabama, which may have too many flaws to repeat as national champs so please be advised to spend your money on Christmas and not with a bookie, is another Tennessee game from two years ago at Bryant-Denny. Charles Hollis, al, 22 Oct. 2021 Legal betting is creating opportunities for TV programming to serve potential bettors, especially those who found the idea of using the local bookie unsavory. Ryan Faughnder, Los Angeles Times, 11 Oct. 2021 See More Word History
Etymology
by shortening & alteration
First Known Use
1877, in the meaning defined above
Legal Definition
bookie
noun
book·ie ˈbu̇-kē
: bookmaker