short-end money, n. — Green’s Dictionary of Slang

short-end money n.

[in a bet of twenty to one or nine to four the smaller digit is the ‘short’ end]

(gambling) money bet on the possibility of a team or individual (esp. in boxing) losing a contest.

1954		B. Schulberg On the Waterfront [movie script] You should’ve taken care of me just a little bit, so I wouldn't have to take them dives for the short-end money.
1989		M. Amis London Fields 112: He might dump them for ten quid on the tinker in Golborne Road. Now he reconsidered. Maybe that was just more short-end money, just more small thought.
1995		Spy Mar-Apr. 14/4: Mailer may have been paid 50 grand for his ‘oeuvre’ on Madonna [...] but he’s clearly not above selling himself out for the short-end money.
2007		A.J. Adler Night and the Cat 17: I was gonna get the shit kicked outta me for short-end money.