What Does ‘Nap’ Mean in Sports Betting?

In sports betting, “Nap” is a British term that stands for a tipster’s best bet of the day.

It is the one single wager they are most confident in. If a betting expert gives out five tips for Saturday’s games, the “Nap” is the one they believe is the absolute surest winner.

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Translation for US Bettors

If you are in the US, you likely won’t hear this term at the sportsbook. We have our own words for it:

• “Lock of the Day”
• “Best Bet”
• “Banker”

So, if you are reading a UK betting site and see “Man City is our Nap,” just translate that in your head to “Man City is our Lock of the Day.”

Where Did the Word Come From?

It actually comes from a French card game called Napoleon.

In that game, the player with the best hand is called “Napoleon.” Over time, bettors shortened it to just “Nap” to describe the hand (or bet) that couldn’t lose.

(One quick note: You might also see “NB” listed next to a Nap. That stands for “Next Best”—their second-favorite bet of the day.)