- Gambling Lingo
- Sports Gambling Terms And Phrases
- Casino Terms And Phrases
- Words Associated With Gambling
- Gambling Words
- Gambling Terms And Phrases
Gambling terms seeks to provide an authoratative thesaurus or dictionary listing of these Gambling Terms. The phrases and words contained within this listing apply to both traditional casinos as well as the online gambling environments. So lets get on and learn the lingo so to speak!! Gambling Terms through Tables: Action: The total amount bet during the time on table on wager. Active Player: A player who is still in play. Adding On: Freedom to buy more chips. Aggregate Limit: The overall payout liability during a game by casino. All or Nothing: A player will win if he has all the cards. Gambling words and phrases explained. This section explains some of the terms and phrases used in gambling. Understanding how gambling works, especially in relation to odds, probability, house edge and randomness, can help protect people from gambling harms. Being able to make an informed choice about whether to gamble by understanding the likelihood of a positive outcome can help you to not spend more than you can afford to lose, and help with rational thinking if you feel tempted to chase.
- Our Ultimate Gambling Glossary is designed to help. Here you can familiarize yourself with phrases, casino terms, gambling meanings, slang terms, definitions, and the online chat abbreviations of.
- And one of the most common lessons learned in Las Vegas concerns the various slang terms used by gamblers and casino staff when the games get underway. After nearly nine decades offering an oasis of legalized gambling for all Americans to enjoy, Las Vegas has developed a language all its own.
What are some of the essential roulette terms and definitions? This ultimate glossary of terms and slang will answer all your questions!
Roulette Glossary and Definitions
Many players believe roulette is a simple game of chance that relies solely on luck. However, there are some things that can help you advance in this game and improve your reputation on the casino floor or online. In fact, if you learn the basics of roulette lingo and the common terminology, you will be able to gain the upper hand.
That’s why we took the time to create this thorough A–Z roulette glossary. You can use this list of terms to find out about each bet type and roulette variant, as well as learn the subtle variations of its rules before you play. We will cover French, European, and American roulette, the types of bets you can place, roulette slang, and the glossary even includes some payout details.
So take a look at our ultimate roulette glossary to learn all the essential terms and be sure to bookmark it for later use. So if you happen to need a particular definition, simply look it up below; you will get a quick and clear explanation that will save you a lot of time and effort.
Roulette Terms
A
Action — The entire amount of funds that the player wagers over a specific time period. Often used to keep track of comp points.
Action Player — This refers to players who frequently make big bets. Some might use it to refer to a mindless player whose big bets do not pay off.
Adrenotrend System — Signifies a form of progressive betting. Every time the players win a bet, they remove two numbers. When players lose a bet, a total of two numbers is added. Other names are “Hot and Cold” or “Streak Betting.”
American Roulette — One of the most common roulette variants, and it is usually referred to as “Double-zero Roulette” or “American Wheel.” It includes a 0 and a 00 pocket, along with 36 numbers (38 pockets in total). The numbers are 1–36, and the sequence is 0, 28, 9, 26, 30, 11, 7, 20, 32, 17, 5, 22, 34, 15, 3, 24, 36, 13, 1, 00, 27, 10, 25, 29, 12, 8, 19, 31, 18, 6, 21, 33, 16, 4, 23, 35, 14, 2 (clockwise).
Airball Roulette — Refers to an electronic roulette wheel that operates with air pressure.
B
Backtrack — Sometimes a “Ball-track,” this term refers to the outer rim that remains stationary as the ball spins on the roulette wheel.
Ball — The roulette ball is usually made from plastics, such as nylon or acetal, but wood or ivory were used in the past. The ball spins in a direction opposite of the roulette wheel. Every time it lands in a pocket which is numbered, it determines the winner and the payouts.
Ball-track — This term refers to the outer rim that remains stationary as the ball spins on the roulette wheel. Often called a “Backtrack.”
Bankroll — The bankroll indicates the total funds that a player sets aside and uses during the game.
Basket Bet — When players make a 3, 2, 1, 0, and 00 wager. The payout is 6:1, and the bet is sometimes called the “First Four.”
Bet on the Layout — This phrase is often used for bets placed anywhere on the part of the table with numbers. See “Layout.”
Biased Number — A specific wheel number that hits more often than usual. These numbers appear on biased roulette wheels and are statistically proven after a detailed analysis.
Biased Wheel — This is a wheel that contains a defect which allows specific numbers to win more often and overall gives a non-random result.
Big Number — When a number hits more often than its mathematical probability, it is called a Big Number.
Black Action — Signifies a $100 black chip bet.
Black Bet — When players bet that the next ball will land on a black number.
Blacks — Used to refer to 100$ black chips.
Bottom Track —Before the ball falls onto the wheel head and then into the pocket, it slides through the inner stationary area called the bottom track.
C
Cage — Often used to refer to the cashier room in a casino which is protected by bars. Funds are exchanged for chips and money is cashed out here.
Cancellation Betting System — In this system, a number sequence is used, and each winning bet cancels certain numbers. On the other hand, after a losing bet, it adds numbers. A common variant of this betting system is called “LaBouchere System.”
Gambling Lingo
Call Bet — This type of bet is mostly used in French or European roulette. It requires the player to call out their bet instead of just placing a wager on the roulette table. Types of call bets are Voisins du Zero, Tiers du Cylindre, Jeu Zero, Neighbors, and Orphelins.
Capping a Bet — If players cap a bet, they forcefully add chips to a winning bet after that bet has finished. It is also similar to “Past Posting.”
Sports Gambling Terms And Phrases
Carre — a Corner Bet in French (see “Corner Bet”).
Casino Advantage — Often referred to as the “House Edge,” it’s a percentage of the mathematical advantage that the casino has over the player.
Chameleon Strategy — Players who use this strategy observe and mimic a winning player’s betting patterns in order to get lucky.
Chasing Losses — The action of players who lose and then increase their bets in an attempt to regain the money they have lost.
Check Rack — Sometimes referred to as “chip tray” or “chip rack,” this term is used to describe the tray where all the roulette chips are held.
Checks — This term stands for chips, and it’s more common for the casino staff and operators to use it. If used by winning roulette players, it could draw some unwanted attention of the casino staff.
Cheval — a Split Bet in French (see “Split Bet”).
Choppy Game — When neither the house nor the players win in a particular game consistently. It can also describe a roulette game with no winning patterns.
Clocking — Encompasses two different forms: “Player Clocking” and “Wheel Clocking,” which you can refer to in this glossary.
Color Up — When players at the roulette table swap chips with small denominations for chips with a higher denomination.
Cold Table — Signifies a roulette table where many players lose consistently.
Colonne — a Column Bet in French (see “Column Bet” below).
Column Bet — When players place a bet on one out of three columns (each column with 12 numbers). The payout is 2:1 for this bet.
Combination Bet — When the player uses one chip or more and bets on two numbers or more.
Comp — Complimentary points that players receive upon reaching specific betting levels.
Corner Bet — A type of single bet. It signifies betting on one winning number out of four on the layout. The four numbers have to be next to each other in a square shape (e.g., 1, 2, 4, 5).
Croupier — Another, more formal term for the dealer. In roulette, the croupier is the employee who works at the roulette table and spins the wheel.
Coup — When a player wins on a single spin or bet.
D
D’Alembert System — In this progressive betting system, players modify their bet by +1 when they lose and by -1 when they win.
Dead Table — This is a roulette table that is fully prepared for the game; however, it has no players.
Dealer — Dealers are members of the casino staff. They handle and operate the games.
Derniere — In French, this term signifies “last.” It stands for the last range of 12 numbers during the Dozen Bet.
Double Up Betting System — To make up for their previous loss, players will double their bets. The “Martingale System” is a popular variant.
Double Zero — A wheel with two zeros. See “American Roulette.”
Douzaine — A Dozen Bet in French. See “Dozen Bet.”
Dozen Bet — When players bet on one pattern of 12 numbers (e.g., 1 to 12, 13 to 24, etc.) The payout is 2:1.
Double Dynamite Roulette System — The practice of employing Big Number play as well as “Sector Slicing.” It is used in short-range play.
Drop — Often used by the casino staff; the term describes the entire sum of money as well as the markers that were wagered during play.
Drop Box — When players cash into games, the money is placed into the drop box, which is generally found under the tables. The players then get their chips.
Dumping — Signifies roulette tables which lose a lot of money, i.e., where the players win the most.
E
Edge — The edge is the advantage or the upper hand in a game.
En Plein -- A Straight-up Bet in French (see “Straight-up Bet”).
En Prison — In French, this term signifies an advantageous option for single-zero roulette. Even-money bets are not lost in case the zero shows. In place of that, the bets get locked up. If there is a winning bet on the next spin, it will be returned fully. But if it is a losing bet, the money goes to the house.
Electronic Roulette — Refers to an electronic roulette wheel.
European Roulette — It is also referred to as “European” or “single zero roulette.”
It includes only one zero and 36 numbers (37 pockets in total). The numbers are 1–36 and the sequence is 0, 32, 15, 19, 4, 21, 2, 25, 17, 34, 6, 27, 13, 36, 11, 30, 8, 23, 10, 5, 24, 16, 33, 1, 20, 14, 31, 9, 22, 18, 29, 7, 28, 12, 35, 3, 26 (clockwise).
Even Bet — When players make an even bet, they place a wager on an even number to win in the next round.
Even or Odd Bet — When players make an even or odd bet, they place a wager on either an even or odd number to win.
Even Money — Indicates a bet that pays 1:1. Even Money bets in Roulette are High, Low, Red, Black, Even, and Odd.
Casino game app real money. Even Up — Indicates a bet that doesn’t contain a mathematical advantage for the house or the player. It can appear in biased wheels, or even with biased croupiers.
Eye in the Sky — Security cameras in a casino that observe and record the gameplay.
F
Fair Game — Used to describe a game in which neither the player nor the casino has the edge.
Fibonacci Betting System — A form of progressive betting. It is used to determine the size of your bet by following the numbers of the Fibonacci sequence (1, 2, 3, 5, 8, 13…). After every lost bet, the player bets the value of the next number in the sequence. And after each win, the player removes two of the highest numbers from the sequence and continues from there.
Final Bet — Signifies a bet placed in a single-zero game. The bet is made on a final number. For example, a “final 5” bet is made on 5, 15, 25, and 35.
Five-Number Bet — Only used for American roulette, and it is among the weakest bets in the entire game. It indicates a single group bet on 3, 2, 1, 0, and 00. With this bet, the casino gains a high edge. It is also called the Sucker Bet.
Flat Bettor — Refers to players who never change their bets and always use the same bet amounts.
French Roulette -- In French roulette, the wheel is the same as in the European version or the single zero roulette, but there are slight variations in the rules.
Full Complete Bet — A typical bet for high rollers that consists of players placing all their inside bets on one number. Also called a “Maximum.”
G
Gaffed Wheel — A rigged roulette wheel.
Gambling Stake — The total funds that the player sets aside and uses during the game. Also called the “Bankroll.”
Golden Number — a number that hits more often than the laws of probability dictate. Golden Numbers could indicate a biased wheel.
Grand Martingale System — Signifies a system in which players double their bets and then add an additional unit if they lose. It’s a variation of the Martingale System.
Greens — Chips that have a value of $25.
Grind — A player who plays for small money.
Grind Down — When the casino wins all the money from a player over time due to the mathematical advantage.
H
High Bet — When players place an even money wager on 1–18 (top half).
High or Low Bet — When players place an even money wager on 19–36 or 1–18.
Hoca — A 17th-century roulette variant.
Hot and Cold — Betting on a side that won in the last round. It is also called “Streak Betting.”
Hot Table — A table where many players have been winning for a long time.
House Edge — The casino’s mathematical advantage on a player’s bet.
I
Impair — In French, this term stands for an Odd Bet.
Inside Bet — When players make a wager on the numbers closest to the center of the table layout. The bets are placed only on individual numbers or small groups. Bets include Straight-up, Split, Street, Corner, Line, Five-Number Bet, Basket, and Snake Bet.
J
Jeu Zero — A French term for “zero game.” The player makes a 5-piece bet on numbers that are nearest to zero (e.g., 12, 35, 3, 26, 0, 32, 15). Often popular in European and German casinos.
L
La Partage — A rule resembling the En Prison bet, which applies for French roulette. It means half of the player’s lost money will be returned if the ball hits zero.
LaBouchere System — This system is a type of Cancellation Betting. The player sets up a sequence of numbers, and the size of their bet will be equal to the sum of the first and the last number in that sequence. If they win, the first and the last numbers in the sequence are removed. If they lose, the size of their previous bet is added as the last number in the sequence. This continues until all the numbers in the sequence are crossed out.
Layout — This term is used for the design on the table surface where players can place bets.
Layout Strategies — Strategies and betting tactics which are used to beat the house edge. They do not incorporate the bias of the wheel or the dealer.
Line Bet — When players bet on one out of six numbers in a 2×3 row divided by the white line. It pays 5:1.
Long End of the Bet — One side of a bet which has to pay out more than it has collected.
Low Bet — Signifies a bet on low numbers between 1 and 18.
M
Manque -- In French, this term stands for “Low Bet.”
Martingale System -- This betting method is similar to the “Double Up” system. To make up for their previous loss, players will double their bets.
Marker — The croupier uses the marker to point out the number that won the spin. New bets cannot be placed on the table if the marker is still on it.
Mini Roulette -- A type of online roulette which has a smaller wheel with fewer numbers (usually 0 to 12).
Money Plays -- The casino staff calls out “Money Plays” if someone is betting with cash instead of chips.
N
Negative Progression -- Used to refer to any betting system which requires the player to increase their bet after losing.
Neighbors — A 5-piece bet where one number is followed by two on each side.
Nickel -- A chip worth $5, which is often red.
No Action— This term is used by the dealer to indicate that the casino will not cover a specific bet. Plus, it could also mean that a decision or spin will not count.
Noir— In French, this term stands for Black Bet (see “Black Bet”).
O
Odd-Number Bet— When players bet on odd numbers for the next spin. The payout is generally 1:1.
Orphans— When players bet on neighboring numbers 34, 17, and 6. The term is popular mainly in Europe.
Orphelins — Another popular bet in Europe — it indicates an “orphans” call bet made on neighboring numbers. Generally, it includes one straight-up bet and four split bets.
Outside Bet — A bet made outside the felt layout boundaries. These bets come with better odds but smaller payouts. Some of outside bets include Low, Red or Black, Even or Odd, and Column.
P
Pair — In French, this term stands for Even Bet (see “Even Bet”).
Parlay — When a player doubles their bet after winning.
Passe — In French, this term stands for High Bet (see “High Bet”).
Past Posting -- Refers to players who forcefully add chips to a winning bet after that bet has finished. It is also similar to “Capping a Bet.”
Pocket — Pockets are the numbered boxes on a roulette wheel. Pockets are usually numbered 1 to 36, with an additional zero and a double zero, depending on the roulette variant. The pockets for zeroes are always green, and half of the other numbers are black, while the other half is red.
Positive Progression — Used to refer to any type of betting system which requires the player to increase their bet after winning.
P.C.— You will sometimes see this abbreviation to describe the house edge in the form of a percentage.
Penny Ante— Used to describe a game that is played for incredibly small stakes.
Pinching-- Players can pinch a bet by removing their chips during the game. This is not allowed.
Pit — Signifies the area in a casino where players will find a number of tables.
Premiere -- The term means “first” in French. During the Dozen Bet, it applies to the first 12-number group.
Press — When players increase their bet, often by doubling it after winning.
Push — A push stands for a tie in a game.
Q
Quarter Bet — A type of single bet. It signifies betting on one winning number out of four on the layout. Also known as “Corner Bet” or “Carre” in French.
R
Rating — Casinos make ratings to assess players’ action for comp point purposes.
Rating Card — A type of card the casino uses to rate players.
Reds — A casino term for $5 chips.
Red Bet — This type of roulette bet requires the player to make an even-wager and bet on red as the next winning number.
Red-Black Bet — Players bet on 18 numbers. The payout is 1:1.
Red or Black Bet -- An even money bet which requires the player to wager on either red or black. The payout is 1:1.
Reverse-LaBouchere — Reverse-LaBouchere is the betting system which is essentially the reverse of LaBouchere. In LaBouchere, the player sets up a sequence of numbers. If they win, the numbers are canceled, and if they lose, the numbers are added to the sequence. InReverse-LaBouchere, the numbers are canceled after losses or added together after wins.
Reverse-Martingale — Reverse-Martingale is the betting system which is essentially the reverse of Martingale. In Martingale, players will double their bets to make up for the previous loss. However, in Reverse-Martingale, players double-up after every win.
Rouge — Red Bet in French (See “Red Bet”).
Run — Used in roulette and other casino games to indicate a winning streak of consecutive patterns/numbers.
S
Scared Money — This term refers to the money players can’t bear to lose.
Section Shooter — Denotes dealers or croupiers who purposefully hit specific sections or numbers on roulette wheels.
Section Shooting — When dealers put a roulette ball in a specific section of a wheel.
Section Slicing — Section Slicing refers to a technique used to determine bias. The roulette wheel is split into areas where the numbers hit the most.
Sixain — In French roulette, the term is used to refer to a Six Line Bet. (See “Six Line Bet”).
Six Line Bet — When a player makes a wager on six numbers.
Single-Zero Wheel — A wheel with only one zero.
Snake Bet — A special bet that forms a snake shape on the table. The numbers are 1, 5, 9, 12, 14, 16, 19, 23, 27, 30, 32, and 34. The payout is 2:1.
Split Bet — When a player makes a wager on the line that divides two numbers. If one number hits, the player wins. The payout is 17:1, and players can split between the two numbers.
Square Bet — See “Corner Bet.”
Stack — The term refers to a stack of 20 chips used for roulette.
Straight Bet — When a player makes a wager on a single number. The number must be green, and the bet has to be placed squarely. The payout is 35:1, and chips must not cross a line.
Straight-up Bet — When a player makes a wager on a single number. The payout is 35:1.
Street Bet — When a player makes a wager on three numbers that are in a row (e.g., 7, 8, 9).
Casino Terms And Phrases
Sucker Bet — Only used for American roulette, and it is among the weakest bets in the entire game. It indicates a single group bet on 3, 2, 1, 0, and 00. With this bet, the casino gains a very high edge. It is also called the Five-Number Bet.
Surrender — When a player loses and the casino takes half of the bet. The bets are even money, and it applies if the ball hits on 0 or 00.
T
Table Hopping — When players switch between different roulette tables frequently.
Take Down — When a player takes back their wager before the game starts.
Tiers du cylindre — A type of call bet common in French and other casinos in Europe, meaning “third of the wheel.” Players make a bet in thirds on 12 numbers (27 to 33). Some variations of this bet are called “Series 5/8,” “Giocco Ferrari,” and “Tier 5, 8, 10, 11.”
Transversale — The French term indicating a Street Bet. See “Street Bet.”
Trio Bet — A trio bet or triple bet is another term for Street Bet. See “Street Bet.”
V
Visual Wheel Tracking — Refers to a skill of observing and predicting where a roulette ball will land.
Voisins du zero — A type of call bet with nine chips that translates to “neighbors of zero” on a single-zero table. Players wager on 17 numbers nearest to zero (22 to 25).
W
Wager -- Another way of saying bet.
Wheel Chips -- Signifies chips used only for roulette.
Wheel Roller -- Slang term for the roulette croupier or dealer.
Wheel Strategies -- Tactics used to take advantage of flaws on the roulette wheel in order to gain an edge.
Wheel Clocking -- 1. Implies the act of tracking roulette spin results to determine patterns or a possible wheel bias. 2. To time the speed of a wheel (electronically or visually) and predict the results.
Wheel Head — Denotes the area on the wheel with the numbered pockets.
Z
Zero — Refers to the number on a roulette wheel which is usually green. Players can make bets on zero in the same manner as bets on 1 to 36.
Now It’s Time to Play
That was our complete roulette glossary, and it will surely help you for your next game in online casinos or land-based establishments. We admit; it is a fairly extensive list of terms and phrases. However, you can quickly bookmark it and check specific terms whenever you come across them. But if you want to get familiar with all the ways to win at roulette, you should definitely learn the betting strategies and bet types listed in our glossary.
Use this page as a reference to enhance your knowledge and good luck in your next roulette game!
![Catchy gambling phrases Catchy gambling phrases](https://blog.grosvenorcasinos.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/04/poker-20905-1024x682.jpg)
Most gambling games are pretty simple, but the terms used to talk about them are not. There's an entire language filled with slang terms that gamblers know, which can be intimidating or confusing to new players.
But fear not… become a real pro by working down this page, or simply click on the letter you need to find the word that’s thrown you. Be prepared to get lucky!
- Action The amount of money that a player bets across the whole playing session.
- Add-on In poker, you can buy and use more chips during the game and these are known as add-ons.
- Aggregate Limit The casino’s total payout liability during any one game.
- All-in (Going All-In) The term in poker to bet all your chips. During a No Limit game, if another player bets more than what you have then you can use everything you have by going All-In and they will bring down their bet to match yours.
- All or Nothing In Keno, a ticket that only wins if either all your selected numbers or none of your selected numbers are drawn.
- Ante Usually in poker, this is the initial bet placed by each player before the cards are dealt. This ensures that there is always money to play and that every player has contributed.
- Arm In Craps, this is the player thought to possess special skills throwing dice, giving them the power to alter the odds of the game.Whether or not such players actually exist is up for debate but, to make sure the outcome is strictly random, dealers insist that the dice are thrown against the back wall of the table.
- Automat Club Also known as Videomat Casino, Arcade Casino, and Slot Hall. Just as it sounds, it’s full of automatic games that don’t need a casino operator, e.g.: slot/video machines, electronic Derby horse racing, etc.They’re usually 24/7, free to enter and lax on dress code so they offer a more casual experience.
- Baccarat A simple, yet ever popular table game, particularly amongst high rollers. Players choose the hand they want play, either as 'player' or 'banker'.
- Bankroll Money that a gambler has specifically set aside for gambling. A casual gambler is unlikely to need a dedicated bankroll, but it’s very important for professional gamblers.It ensures they only gamble with money that they have set aside prior to the game.
- Beef A dispute that arises between a player and the casino or bookmaker, usually over the outcome of a bet.
- Beginners’ Luck Players who have just started often find themselves on a winning streak, and this is called ‘Beginner’s Luck’.
- Bet A single instance of wagering money on a gambling game. Players may be able to make several bets in a single game.
- Betting Limits Limits set by the casino on how much a player can bet on certain games. In most casinos, you’ll find both a minimum and maximum bet listed for each game.
- Black Book The book containing the names of people too ‘undesirable’ to be let into the casinos of Nevada.
- Blackjack A table game where players take on the dealer. To beat the dealer, players must score a hand of 21 points, or as close to, without going over.THE winning hand, comprised of an ace and 10-point card, is called a Blackjack.
- Blinds In Hold'em Poker, it’s a bet you’re forced to make.
- Bonus An incentive given to players at online casinos for opening a new account and/or making a deposit. Most bonuses are matching bonuses, meaning that the size of the bonus depends on the size of the deposit being made.
- Burn Card The card dealt face down at the start of a shoe in most table games, or any time new community cards are revealed in a game of poker. It helps protect the integrity of the game in case any of the players see the top card.
- Buy in The cash used to buy chips before joining a table game.
- Call In poker, this is the bet to match the current one.
- Card Counting A way of outdoing the dealer and the game in Blackjack. It’s a form of cheating, whereby you remember the cards that have been played so as to make an informed guess on the remaining cards and cheat the game.
- Carpet Joint Slang used in the US for luxury and high-end casinos. Opposite of Sawdust Joint.
- Casino Advantage The mathematical edge the casino has over the players. See 'House Edge' for more details.
- Chase Where money has been lost in gambling, the bet placed to try and retrieve it is known as the chase.
- Cold The way to describe a slot machine that isn’t paying out or a player who keeps losing. Opposite to 'hot'.
- Chips Tokens used to represent money and make bets during most gambling games. Like paper money and coins, chips come in many different denominations.
- Comps Incentives used by casinos to lure in players in the form of gifts such as free hotel rooms, food, and drink.
- Craps A table game played with dice in which a shooter attempts to roll certain numbers. Because it offers so many bets to choose from, various players may be rooting for different results during the game.
- D'Alembert System A staking plan that works by adding a unit for every losing bet, and deducting one for every winning bet.
- Dealer The casino employee who deals cards to players and controls the flow of the game. Dealers are used in many common games, like Poker, Blackjack, and Baccarat.
- Deuce Slang for a two, either in terms of cards (e.g. in the video poker game Deuces Wild) or dice.
- Discard Tray The tray to the dealer’s right hand that catches used cards that have been played or discarded.
- Dolly Unlike French Roulette. where the dealer simply uses a stick to point to the winning number, in American Roulette there’s a special marker made from wood or plastic that the dealer places on the table, over the winning number.It got its name from its doll shaped outline.
- Double Down A bet of equal size to an initial bet, such as in Blackjack. In most cases, both bets will now either win or lose together.
- Drop Box The box in the middle of the game table where chips used as bets are placed.
- eCOGRA The acronym for e-Commerce Online Gaming Regulation and Assurance.They write all the online casino regulation making sure the industry stays safe and honest for players. It’s a way of knowing whether or not you can trust an online casino.If you see the logo on a site’s homepage you know it’s been approved and is committed to ensuring its games are fair, their players protected, and that responsible conduct is expected by all.
- En Prison Similar to a bonus in some casinos, it’s the stake that stays on the Roulette table for another spin following an Even Money Bet where the outcome was zero or double zero.
- Even Money Bet A bet where the odds are 1:1, meaning you’re paid back whatever amount you bet plus the same again.
- Expected Value The average return on a given bet that a player can expect to see over the long run. Depending on how profitable (or not) the bet is, the expected value can be either positive or negative.
Words Associated With Gambling
- Face Card Also known as paint. Slang term for any playing card with a 'face' on it – kings, queens, and jacks.
- Ficheur The device used in American Roulette to separate the different colored chips.
- Fill Also known as full house, straight flush. In poker, this term refers to the fifth card drawn that makes a full hand.
- Finale Schnaps The command to a dealer for placing bets on numbers 11, 22, 33 In French Roulette.
- Fish The sad player who’s losing all their money. Can’t spot ‘em at your table? It’s probably you!
- Fixed Odds The chances of winning and payouts are fixed ahead of time, e.g scratch card games, online casino favorite simulated horse games.Broadly speaking it applies to most table games and slot machines, but tends to be used for “specialty” games only. Games like poker and sports betting don’t have fixed odds since the odds and probability are unknown.
- Flat Betting When a player consistently bets the same amount of money.
- Flea A sponger. The guy that expects everything for nothing, like comps for placing small bets.
- Gambling Betting on an event with an uncertain outcome.
- George The big tipper. Every dealer’s favorite gambler.
- Hit Taking an additional card, such as in Blackjack.
- High Roller A term used by casinos for a gambler who spends a lot. It varies from casino to casino as to who and what exactly qualify for this title.
- Hold The percentage of money bet by a gambler that the casino expects to keep at the end of a session or day. It depends a lot on how much time players spend playing certain games.While it’s irrelevant for the players (they care more about the house edge on each bet) it helps the casino identify which games are their most profitable.
- Hole Card(s) Cards that remain face down so that nobody can see them. The dealer has a hole card in Blackjack.In Poker, individual players may have hole cards that they can look at, but which remain hidden to other players.
- House Edge Usually expressed as a percentage of each bet made, it indicates the advantage the casino has over the player. If, for example, the house edge is 2%, over the long run players can expect to lose 2% of what they bet.
- Hot A player who’s getting win after win, or a slot machine that’s dishing out. Opposite of 'cold'.
- Inside Bets A bet in Roulette made on the inside numbers of the table.
- Irregular Playing Patterns A kind of “bonus abuse” that exists in online casinos where players will do the bare minimum to claim their bonus prizes, in a bid to lose as little of their own money.
- Jackpot The largest prize available on a slot machine or other games. Typically it’s only used for special prizes, such as a progressive prize or one associated with a side bet.
- Junket A type of trip offered to VIP players by casinos. Often they will cover the flights and hotel of the guests and in exchange the players put down a deposit of $5000 and commit to play a certain number of hours in the casino.
- Kalooki Also known as Jamaican Rummy, it follows the same idea as Rummy, matching sets of cards. Played with wild cards most of the time.
- Keno A game similar to a lottery. Players choose numbers before a drawing and hope to match them to the numbers drawn by the casino.
- Kicker In a draw Poker tournament, it’s the high card in a hand that doesn’t make up the fill, usually in the form of an Ace or King card.
- Ladderman The casino employee in charge of overseeing the game of Baccarat, seated in a chair above the table.
- Layout The cloth over the gaming table covered in markings indicating where to place your bets.
- Low Poker Also called Lowball. The game of poker where the aim is sort of in reverse. The winner is the player with the lowest poker-value hand.
- Martingale Originating in France, it’s a betting system that involves the gambler doubling the bet after each loss.
- Maximum BetThe most that a casino will allow you to wager in a game. This can apply to a single bet, the total of all bets, or the rules in a game of poker that limit how much a player is allowed to bet or raise on a particular round.
- Megalats Jackpot Also known as Minilats Jackpot. A system whereby different slot machines are wired up together and, if with your one token you get a jackpot, you may also win the accumulative winnings of all the other slot machines wired to the same network.
- Minimum Bet As with Maximum Bet, but the least that a casino will allow you to wager in a game.
Gambling Words
- Natural A two-card hand of a certain figure – eight or nine in Baccarat, and 21 points in Blackjack.
- Negative Expectation The loss you can expect to see over the long-run of playing a particular game multiple times.
- Non-negotiable Chips Promo chips dished out by the casino that can only be placed in bets and not cashed in.
- Non-value Chip A gaming chip with no value written upon it. The value instead is worked out by the amount of buy-in divided by the number of chips.
- Number PoolThe pool, or range, of numbers from which you can pick in a game where they will be drawn.The number pools vary from game to game, e.g. in Keno it’s 1-80, lotteries tend to be 1-60, Bingo is either 1-75 or 1-90.
- Nut Two meanings: the first is a set figure a gambler decides as their winning target for the day, the second is the casino’s overheads.
- Odds The casino’s set ratio of the player’s chance of winning. This will determine how much money the gambler will receive against their bet, should they win.
- Open The first player to place a bet in Poker.
- Optimal Strategy Applicable to any game that involves the player making strategic decisions, and where the range of possible results can be calculated mathematically.It’s the set of plays in a game that will get the player their best returns. It’s commonly used in Blackjack and Video Poker (where you’ll find charts detailing optimal strategy).
- Outside BetsBets in Roulette placed on the numbers located on the outside of the table, involving 12 or 18 numbers being bet with one chip.
- Overlay A strong bet that means the player has an edge over the casino.
- Paroli A type of betting system which, as you win, increases the bet. In French Roulette, this is an order that tells the croupier to use the bet to press the win.
- Pay Table The casino's list of payouts for various results in a given game. Casinos can alter the odds in a lot of common casino games by changing the payouts they give players.NB: before choosing a game to play, make sure you examine the pay table!
- Pit The area of a casino where you’ll find the tables manned by dealers.
- Pit Boss The casino employee with slightly elevated status, responsible for supervising multiple tables.
- Pigeon The newbie of the gambling world, or a gambler who lacks sophistication and finesse.
- Progressive Prize The prize from a slot machine that increases progressively with every coin that is played into it.
- Push A bet that results in a tie. The player receives their money back without neither a win nor a loss.
- Quads In poker, having a number in all four suits.
- Random Number Generator (RNG) A device used to produce a random, unpredictable string of numbers, which requires a multi-stage process to ensure it really is random.Algorithms from the device (almost impossible to predict but not totally random) combine with outside factors, such as air temperature, air pressure, and mouse movements on a site (totally unpredictable).RNGs have many purposes, but in the gambling world are particularly helpful for predicting the results of online gambling results where dice are rolled, cards dealt etc.
- River The fifth and last card the dealer will deal to you in a game of Poker (Stud or Hold’em). If you hang in ‘til this last round in Seven-card Stud you’re “going to the river”.
- Roulette A game played using a wheel with a ball that can fall into one of many numbered pockets. The players may make a variety of bets that predict which pocket (or group of pockets) the ball will fall into.There are two main variations of this game: American Roulette (with two zeroes on the wheel) and European Roulette (with just a single zero), with the European version having better odds for the player.
- Royal Flush Also known as a Royal Straight Flush or a Royal. The money-winning hand in a game of Poker. An Ace, King, Queen, Jack, or Ten card from each suit.
- Sawdust Joint American slang to describe a rough and ready casino. Opposite of a 'Carpet Joint'.
- Shark A clever player that tricks their opponents by pretending to be the fish at the start of the game then striking when everyone’s guard is down.
- Shiner A small mirror that cheats use to try and steal a glance at their opponents’ cards.
- Shoe A device that can hold several decks’ worth of playing cards. Shoes are used in games like Blackjack to hold the collection of cards from which the game is dealt.
- Slot Machine A game in which players spin reels in order to match combinations of symbols across pre-determined paylines.Older-style slot machines used mechanical or electronic reels while modern slots use video displays to simulate the reels.
- Snake Eyes In Craps, when the dice land on a two. So called because the dice look snakey this way up, and if you just rolled it, it’s bad news.
- Stand To sit on the hand one currently has without taking more cards. Most often associated with Blackjack, but also used in other games like Baccarat.
- Tapping Out Losing the entirety of your bankroll and having to throw in the towel and go home.
- Toke Nickname for a token which is similar to the chips used for bets. Tokes are what players use when tipping the dealer, and George hands them out in abundance.
- True Odds When a casino lists its “odds” they’re not usually the true chances of whether or not a thing will happen. True odds are and include the house edge.
- Underlay A bet you don’t want to be behind as it’s bad and sure not to win. More money than it’s worth due to the improbability of the event in question occurring.
- Video Poker A machine game that simulates the action of five-card poker games. Players choose to discard and replace cards from their starting hand and if they make the minimum hand needed to win, are then paid.Common video poker games include Jacks or Better and Deuces Wild.
- Vigorish Also known as the vig, the take, or the juice, it’s the amount the bookmaker charges the gambler for making a bet.
Gambling Terms And Phrases
- Wagering Requirement The amount of money a player must bet before claiming their bonus funds on online casinos. This ensures that players cannot just claim a bonus and immediately cash out.
- Washing When walking away from a table the dealer/croupier will mime the movement of washing their hands to illustrate that they are walking away with nothing.
- Whale An extremely high roller who will significantly affect a casino’s business. Some might see this as a derogatory term since these are players from which a casino can hugely profit.
- Wild Card Common in Poker and Video Poker, this is the card that can substitute for any card value.
- Wong Also known as Wonging, a Wonger, after Stanford Wong who counted cards at a certain Blackjack table to ascertain if the player was on the winning foot, and then join the table to play.The meaning has also evolved so that it encompasses games that are to the players’ advantage.