OUTLAW LINE

The early, private line set by professional gamblers, which is financed, distributed, and enforced by the organized crime syndicate.

An early line which is not an official line. Quite often line makers allow specially selected bettors to wager into the "outlaw line" before entering the line to the public. The line makers respect these individuals and use their input to create a final opening number. This process is also called "ironing" or "flattening" the line.