Casino Glossary
A
Action
Your total time on a table.
Adding On
Buying more credits during the game play.
Advantage Player
A player who has an advantage against the house/casino.
All-In
Staking all money on a single bet.
American Wheel (Roulette)
A 38-number roulette wheel with two 0’s (1-36 + 0 + 0 = 38 numbers).
Ante
The fee which is paid in order to participate in a round.
Avatar
The profile picture.
B
Baccarat
6-8 decked multiplayer skill game, can be played in real casinos and through online casinos.
Back Raise
Slang for “Re-Raise”.
Bad Beat
A scenario where a player with a strong hand.
Banker
Synonym to “Dealer” or “Croupier”.
Bankroll
A player’s money reserved for gambling.
Barred / Banned
You lose access to a specific casino if you get banned or barred.
Beard
Someone who’s placing bets for another player.
Beef
Dispute between a player and a dealer.
Beginner’s Luck
The phenomenon when new players win against veteran players.
Bet
Staking money in a casino.
Bet Levels
“Bet Levels” allow you to increase or decrease the number of coins per round.
Bet Max
Bet maximum amount in a spin.
Betting Limit
The “Betting Limits” are the minimum and maximum amount that can be used to bet..
Big Blind
A fee paid by players to see the flop in a poker round.
Bingo
A dealer announces numbers and players shout “BINGO” when/if they fill their cards with the randomly drawn numbers..
BlackJack
“A player’s or dealer’s initial hand including a card valued 10 + an ace (11) in Blackjack, the table game.
Blind Bet
A scenario where a player doesn’t look at the cards before placing the bet.
Blinds
A fee which players need to pay in each poker hand before seeing the “Flop”.
Bluff
To bet high stakes with a bad hand.
Boat
Slang for a “Full House”.
Bonus Game
A feature inside a slot machine, usually with higher payouts with additional ways to win.
Bonus Money
Bonus Money have the same value as real money, although they need to be wagered (staked) X times before the bonus money is transformed to real money.
Bookie
A person who permit bets.
Brit Brag
A three card Poker game.
Buck
$100 bet.
Bug
Synonym for a Joker.
Bump
Raise the bet of another player.
Burn Card
Cards which are discarded between deals to remain excluded from the whole round.
Bust
Exceeding 21 points in Blackjack.
Button
Specifies the position of the Dealer in Blackjack.
C
Call
Is to match another player’s bet or stake the required amount to participate in a game round.
Caller
A player who calls a bet in table games. In Bingo, the Caller is the person announcing the order of bingo balls.
Camouflage
A player with some sort of disguise, acting drunk or very upset for example.
Capping
Bet amounts exceeding allowed bet levels, Capping is considered cheating.
Card Counting
Count played cards to get an “Edge” against the Casino.
Card Shark
An expert card player.
Card Washing
The dealer shuffles by spreading out all cards face down on the table and is mainly used to eliminate consistencies in the decks.
Carousel
A group of slot machines.
Carpet Joint
Slang for a luxury gambling casino.
Case Money
Emergency money, potential stakes for rainy day.
Cashback / Cash Back
A gift from the casino based on the percentage of deposited or lost amounts..
Cash Out
To “Withdraw”, moving casino winnings to the personal bank account or e-wallet.
Cashier
Exchanges your money into casino chips in a real casino.
Casino Advantage
The edge of a casino. Two 0’s on the roulette wheel increase the Casino Advantage with more than 1%.
Casino Rate
Reduced prizes for loyal players as a substitute loyalty systems such as cashback deals.
Casino Rewards
A reward from the casino to be spent in the casino. Casino rewards are usually based on activity.
Chase
Adjusting bet levels to chase losses from previous bet(s).
Chip Tray
Where the dealer keep the casino chips.
Chips
The currency of online casinos.
Coat-tail
Following the betting pattern of a winning player.
Coin Value
The value of each coin in a slot machine.
Cold Streak
A casino session resulting in losses.
Color Up
For example, exchanging 100x€5 for 10x€50.
Column Bet
Betting on 12 of 36 numbers (0’s excluded). Winning column Bets pays 2:1.
Community Cards
Common cards available to each player in the round.
Corner Bet
1 bet on 4 numbers, hence ‘corner’. A winning Corner bet pays 8:1. Also called a “Carré”.
Credits
The currency in a casino. The most common name for credit is “coins”.
Croupier
French word for dealer.
Cut
To divide a deck of cards before dealing.
Cut Card
A card which is used to cut the deck when shuffling the cards.
D
Deal
Provides new cards.
Dealer
The person who deal cards to players.
Dealer Button
Clarifies the position of the Dealer in Blackjack.
Deposit
Adding real money to your account balance in a casino.
Deuces Wild Poker
A video poker game where all number 2’s act as wilds.
Dime Bet
$1000 bet.
Discard
Rejects some or all cards that have been dealt while asking for new ones.
Discard Tray
Where the dealer discard burnt cards.
Dog
A weak player or a player who is most likely to lose.
Dog Player
A player betting on the underdog.
Double Down
Ask for 1 more card only while doubling your staked amount.
Double or Nothing
A function where a player can re-stake winnings for a chance to double them up or lose them.
Download Casino
A downloadable casino client cannot be played through a browser. You need to download a casino client (.exe file) which may be harmful to your PC.
Dozens Bet
Betting on 12 numbers (a dozen) in roulette, pays 2:1.
Draw
Asking for more cards.
Drop
A lost hand/round.
E
Early Surrender
Gives back half your bet and results in a loss. “Early Surrender” can be used by players before the dealer check his/her cards for a Blackjack (21).
Edge
The casino advantage against the player.
En Prison
A (European) roulette rule, can only be applied to even-money bets.
European Wheel
37-number Roulette (0-36).
Even Money
Any bet where the potential win is equivalent to the staked amount. “Even/Odd” and “Red/Black” are examples of even money bets.
Even/Odd
Playing on “Even/Odd” in Roulette means that you play on 16 odd or even out of 37 numbers which pays 1:1 in case of a win.
Eye in the Sky
The cameras in casinos.
F
Face Cards
Cards with a picture printed on it: Ace, King, Queen & Jack.
Face Value
“Face Value” is used to clarify the original value of a card.
Family Pot
The shared prize pool that can be won in a round.
Fifth Street / 5th Street
The third round in Seven Card Stud is called “5th Street” due to five cards being used.
First Base / 1st Base
The Chair at the dealer’s left is where the game commence.
Fish
A gambler who extracts the most losses from other players is a “Fish”.
Flash Casino
Most online casinos are flash casinos (same as “Instant Casino”), always try to play on a Flash Casino rather than on a “Download Casino”.
Flat Betting
Continuously betting the same amount per bet/hand.
Flop
The first 3 community cards in Texas Hold’em.
Flush
All cards on your hand from the same suit.
Four of a Kind
Four cards of the same value. For example four Aces, four Kings, four 7’s, four 4’s, etc.
Fourth Street / 4th Street
The Fourth Street is the second round in Seven Card Stud Poker due to the 4 cards being used.
Free Roll
A free tournament with prizes.
Free Spins
Bonus spins given to players to play X amount of free spins in a specific casino game. Winnings from free spins are usually subject to a “Wagering Requirement”.
French Roulette
37 number Roulette with additional bet systems.
Full House
Three-of-a-kind + one pair (3+2 = 5 cards).
G
Gamble
The risk of losing money for chances of winning.
Gambler’s Fallacy
An invalid theory that previous outcomes can assist the player in determining future outcomes.
George
Any gambler who tip the dealer.
GOY
Abbreviation for Game of the Year
Grease
Slang for “Bribes”.
Gross Winning
The total amount of winnings.
H
Hand
The cards that a player holds in a game round.
Handicapper
A player who can guess the result of a bet.
Hard Hand
A hand without an Ace card.
Heads-Up
A showdown between 2 players.
High-Low
A type of poker where the pot is divided between the best and the worst hand.
High Roller
A player using high stakes.
Hit
Used to describe winning combinations or basic wins, but also the decision of asking for an additional card in Blackjack.
Hole Card
The dealer’s card which is faced down.
Home Advantage
The advantage of playing on home field. (these players might know the dealer and be familiar with different patterns and security measures)
Hot
A casino game is considered “Hot” when/if frequent wins appear inside it.
Hot Streak
A winning session (opposite of “Cold Streak”).
House
Synonym for the Casino.
House Edge
The casino advantage against players in casino games.
House Rules
“House Rules” refers to the specific rules of a casino.
I
Inside Bet
Bets placed inside the “Layout”.
Instant Casino
A “Flash Casino”.
Insurance
The opportunity for players to protect themselves against the dealer’s potential Natural Blackjack (21).
IPP
Abbreviation for Irregular Playing Pattern
J
Jackpot
An unusual large monetary prize which is offered through a casino game. Jackpots can be found in slots such as the Mega Fortune slot, a “Progressive Jackpot” video slot.
Jacks or Better
A poker game where Jacks, Queens, Kings & Aces are worth most.
Joker Poker
A poker type where Jokers are wild cards.
Jokers
The “Wild Card” in card games.
Juice
Commission taken by casinos. (see “Vigorish”)
K
Kicker
A card to assist your hand as a “high card”. A high kicker card can provide you a win if the winning combinations are created through the community cards.
L
Ladderman
Person controlling the game in Baccarat.
Layout
The place on any table game where players can place bets.
Lay the Odds
Betting on your personal favorite, for example betting on your lucky number.
License
The certification of a casino being permitted to offer casino games.
Live Dealer Games
Casino games with dealer(s).
Lobby
Overview of the different games available.
Long Shot
The team with the lowest chance to win, synonym to “Underdog”.
Loose
A player playing more hands than the average player.
Low Poker
A poker game where winners are determined through lowest rank among the cards.
Loyalty Scheme / Loyalty Program
A program to reward loyal casino players.
M
Martingale System
A betting system in roulette used by doubling the bet amount in case of a loss.
Maximum Bet / Max Bet
Maximum amount to bet.
Minimum Bet
Minimum amount to bet.
Money in Action
The amount that you can use on your current table.
Moving the Line
Paying additional money to increase your chances of winning.
Multi-hand Games
Multiple hands simultaneously are allowed here.
Multi-line Game
Casino game with 2 or more pay lines.
Multiplayer Games
Games where you compete against or with other casino players.
Multiplier
Multiplies value of a winning symbol or combination X times, depending on the multiplier.
MVG
Abbreviation for “Most Valued Guest”, synonym VIP.
N
Natural (Blackjack)
Two cards in Blackjack accumulating to 21 points.
Natural Royal
A Royal Flush hand with no wild cards (jokers).
Net Winning
Net payout.
Nickel
$500 bet.
No-Limit Poker
Poker without maximum amounts for bets/raises.
No Deposit Bonus
A bonus offered to a player without the need of a deposit.
Number Pool
The amount of potential outcomes in a game. Keno has 80, while Bingo usually have 75/90 available numbers.
O
Odds
Chances of winning or potential winnings in sports (from a ratio aspect).
Operators
Online casinos are the operators of the online casino business.
Outside Bet
Even-money (1:1) bets or 2:1 bets are called “Outside Bets” due to the position of the betting systems on the table.
Overlay
When a player has the edge against the “House”. (a rare occasion in other words)
P
Pair
2 cards of same value.
Pallete
“Pallete” is the wooden score board of Baccarat.
Pass
Pass if you wish to see another card without raising the bet amount.
Pat Hand
A hand which is complete when the initial cards are dealt.
Pay Line
Shows where combinations need to be in order to create any winnings.
Pay Table
An overview of potential winnings.
Payout
The won amount of coins. “Bet Level” affects the bets/winnings in a round.
Payout Percentage
An indication on how much winnings players win on average.
Payout Table
A table that display an overview of the exact value in winning combinations.
Penetration
How much of a deck is being dealt before the deck is shuffled (in percentage).
Pigeon
An ignorant gambler.
Pit
The area between table games where only staff is allowed.
Pit Boss
Supervising the casino staff & tables.
Pocket
Initial hole cards of the player.
Pot
The shared winnings of a round.
Progressive Jackpot
The name for constantly increasing jackpots, such as Arabian Nights and/or Mega Fortune. A fraction of each bet is usually contributed to the jackpot value.
Promotions
Bonus offers sent in bulk.
Push
Draw in casino games.
Q
Quads
Slang for “Four of a Kind” in Poker.
Qualifier
A threshold for players in order to qualify for a pot.
R
Rack
Where coins/tokens/casino chips are kept in a casino.
Raise
Increase the cost to participate for players during a round.
Rake
A fraction of each poker pot given as a fee to the casino for offering the service for the players.
RNG
Abbreviation for Random Number Generator.
Red/Black
Bet on red or black for a win ratio of 1:1 although you (“only”) have a 48.65% chance to win.
Reel
A vertical row in a slot machine.
Reload Bonus
Get a reward for refilling your account balance with a deposit.
River
The last community card in a Texas Hold’em round.
Rock
A tight player.
Roulette Table
Where bets are placed.
Roulette Wheel
Where roulette balls are spun.
Row Bets
Bets on 12 of 37/38 numbers and pays 2:1.
Royal Flush
A straight between 10-Ace of the same suit.
Runner
Player betting for someone else.
S
Scatter Symbol
Symbols that triggers bonus features without the need to be on an active payline.
Session
The total time inside a specific game.
Shark
Skilled player disguised as a “Fish”…but sharks eat fish.
Shoe
A box from where dealers draw cards on a casino table.
Showdown
Remaining players reveal their cards until the round is finished.
Shuffle Tracking
Card counting scheme used by high level blackjack players.
Sign Up
Registering an account at an online casino.
Sign Up Bonus
The welcome bonus offered for signing up at an online casino.
Small Blind
The smaller required fee at the start of the poker game, used to increase pot size.
Soft Hand
A hand consisting of at least one Ace card (opposite of “Hard Hand”).
Software Clients
A downloadable casino program, although it is considered safer to play at flash casinos.
Spin
Initiate a game round in a slot machine.
Split
Increase your bet amount by 100% and divide your 2 cards into 2 new hands. A player who “Splits” will receive a new card for each of the two hands.
Stake
Synonym to bet. Stake is the amount used to bet. “To stake” means “to bet”.
Stand
No more cards.
Stiff Hand
A hand which may result in loss from a single hit.
Straight
A hand with 5 cards in chronological order, regardless of the different suits.
Straight Flush
5 cards in chronological order of the same suit (clubs, hearts, etc.).
Street Bet
A bet placed on 3 numbers, pays 11:1.
Suited
2 or more cards of the same suit (spades, hearts, etc).
Surrender
Throw away your hand by forfeiting half your bet to save 50% of any losses.
Symbols
Populates fields in slots. Winning combinations can be connected by having 3 consecutive symbols on an active payline.
T
Tight
A player playing few hands.
Toke
Gift from player to dealer.
U
Upcard
The first card to the dealer, displayed face-up.
V
Vigorish
Commissions taken by a casino.
VIP
Abbreviation for Very Important Player.
Volatility
Payout ratio.
W
Wager
Staked amounts.
Wagering Requirements
Requirement on how much to wager in order to transform any bonus money to real money.
Welcome Bonus
Bonuses included in the welcome packages at an online casino.
Whale
A player who stakes big.
Wild Card
Jokers are the Wild Cards in a deck of cards.
Wild Royal
A royal flush consisting at least one Wild card (a joker).
Wild Symbol
Substituting for other symbols in slots.
Withdrawal
A transaction from a player’s account balance to the player’s bank account/e-wallet.