bookmaker

[book-mey-ker]

noun

1. a person who makes a business of accepting the bets of others on the outcome of sports contests, especially of horse races.

2. a person who makes books.

bookmaker

/ ˈbʊkˌmeɪkə /

noun

1. a person who as an occupation accepts bets, esp on horseraces, and pays out to winning betters

Other Word Forms

• bookmaking noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of bookmaker¹

First recorded in 1375–1425, bookmaker is from the late Middle English word bokmakere. See book, maker

Example Sentences

According to the indictment, Rozier let the gambling conspirators know that he would take himself out of the game early, allowing them to profit from bets that his stats would fall short of bookmakers’ expectations.

Read more on Los Angeles Times

Some bookmakers have named The One Show's Roman Kemp as their favourite for the Strictly job - with Coral cutting their odds.

Read more on BBC

Unlike traditional betting, in which customers gamble against bookmakers, prediction markets allow users to trade event contracts among themselves.

Read more on Barron's

Spain are the early bookmakers' favourites to win the World Cup - and with good reason.

Read more on BBC

But sportsbooks can suspend wagering or halt bettors’ ability to cash out of winning bets—which often happens precisely at game-changing moments, as bookmakers readjust the odds.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

Related Words

• bettor 
• bookie 

When To Use

What does bookmaker mean?

A bookmaker is a person or institution whose business is accepting other people’s gambling bets, such as on sporting events.A bookmaker is more commonly called a bookie, especially when it refers to a person. The word book in bookmaker refers to a record of bets.The words bookie and bookmaker are sometimes associated with illegal betting operations, especially those run by organized crime groups. However, being a bookmaker can be done legally. Still, as modern sports betting becomes more widespread, sophisticated, and run by large businesses, the image of a bookmaker as a shady person writing down bets by hand in a book is likely on the decline.The word bookmaker can also refer to a person or company that makes books.Example: I got a hot tip on a horse—I better call my bookmaker!