Glossary of Casino Terms
There are lots of casino related terms and phrases that you may not be familiar with if you are not an experienced casino player. It's fairly obvious what some of them mean, but some of them can cause a bit of confusion. Although we wouldn't say it's essential that you understand all of them in order to enjoy playing casino games, it certainly doesn't hurt.
If you're something of a beginner and planning to visit a casino, or looking to start playing online, it really wouldn't be a bad idea to have a look through this page. We've listed a number of the most commonly used words and phrases used in the casino, and explained exactly what they mean.
An acronym for Automatic Card Shuffler.
A casino player who is able to legally gain some kind of advantage over the house. The term is typically used for players who can successfully count cards in blackjack, but can also apply to craps players who use dice control or players who know how to gain maximum value from bonuses and comps.
An initial bet required (usually in card games) before a hand can start.
A machine used in some land based venues to automatically shuffle one or more decks of cards.
A position that is responsible for taking lost bets and paying out winnings. This position is typically held by the dealer.
A fixed sum of money used specifically for the purposes of gambling.
An amount of money put at risk for the chance of winning.
The area of a gaming table where players can place their chips to make their chosen bet(s).
The minimum and maximum stakes allowed at a gaming table.
Extra funds that an online casino account may add to a player's account as an incentive for signing up and depositing, or as a reward for wagering a certain amount on games.
A card that is taken from the top of the deck and discarded after a shuffle or before a new round of cards is dealt.
The area of a casino where the chips are stored. Usually includes the cashier's desk too.
Keeping track of which cards have been dealt in blackjack to have a better idea of which cards are likely to be dealt next. When done successfully, card counting can give a player an edge over the casino.
An expert card game player.
An alternative phrase for card shark.
A card shuffling technique where a dealer will spread all the cards on the table and mix them around.
A specific type of online casino bonus. A cash bonus is one that can be withdrawn once the wagering requirements have been met.
To have funds from your online account sent back to you via the payment option of your choice.
The area of a casino where players can exchange their chips for cash.
Trying to recover previous losses by increasing stakes. A very bad idea.
Usually found in front of a dealer at a gaming table, this holds the chip inventory for that table.
Typically plastic discs, these are tokens used to represent real money at the gaming tables.
To follow someone else's betting patterns.
An extended run of bad luck.
A gaming table where all or most players are losing.
To exchange smaller denomination chips for ones of a larger denomination.
To give players free drinks/food/accommodation in exchange for their playing activity.
The act of playing specific games, or playing in a specific way, so as to maximize the value of comps relative to the amount lost at the tables or slot machines.
Players earns comp points based on their playing activity. These points can be exchanged for free food/drink/accommodation/credits in a land based casino, or for extra credits in an online casino.
A machine used in some land based venues to automatically and continuously shuffle the cards during game play. They are typically used in blackjack to combat card counters.
A casino employee in charge of running a gaming table. Also referred to as a dealer.
An acronym for Continuous Shuffling Machine.
A blank plastic card that is used to cut a deck of cards.
A casino employee in charge of running a gaming table. Also referred to as a croupier.
The term used to describe the (approximate) percentage of a deck, or decks, of cards before they are shuffled.
Sending funds to your online casino account using the payment method of your choice.
A specific type of casino bonus. A deposit bonus is one that is given for making a deposit to your online casino account.
The payment method used to deposit funds to your online casino account. Popular deposit methods include credit cards, debit cards, e-wallets, and bank transfer.
A method of throwing dice that gives a player an increased likelihood of throwing, or not throwing, certain numbers. There is some debate about whether this is actually possible.
The losing bets that are collected by the dealer at the end of a game.
Usually found to the right of a dealer at a gaming table, this is where played or discarded cards are placed.
A card dealt unexposed – i.e. facing the table. Also known as a face down card.
A type of online casino where you have to download software in order to play the games.
An acronym for E-Commerce Online Gaming Regulation and Assurance. An independent authority which approves online casinos that have proved they operate responsibly and provide a fair gaming experience.
See House Edge.
A method used by online casinos to ensure that financial transactions and private information are encoded and protected from hackers.
A bet with payout odds of 1:1, meaning the potential amount won is equal to the initial stake (the initial stake is also returned). A winning $10 even money bet would return a total of $20.
The percentage of the total amount wagered at a game that you can expect to win back. For example, in a game with a 95% expected win rate you would expect to win roughly $95 for every $100 wagered in the long run (net losses would be $5).
A term used to describe the security cameras in the ceiling at most land based casinos.
Any jack, queen or king in a deck of cards.
A card dealt unexposed – i.e. facing the table. Also known as a down card.
A card dealt exposed – i.e. facing upwards. Also known as an up card.
A type of online casino where you can play the games directly from your web browser. Also known as an instant casino.
A betting style where the amount you stake is the same each time.
The mistaken belief that the outcome of a random event is influenced by previous outcomes. Believing that the next spin of the roulette wheel must be black because the previous ten spins have all been red is an example of gambler's fallacy.
A slang term used by dealers to refer to a player who tips well.
The total amount returned from a winning bet, or a series of winning bets, including the initial stake(s).
A player that places high stakes bets.
An extended run of good luck.
A gaming table where all or most players are winning.
An alternative term for the casino.
The built-in advantage that the casino has in all games. It is usually gained by paying out at odds slightly below the true odds of winning, and is expressed as a house edge. A game with a 2% house edge, for example, should net the casino a $2 profit for every $100 wagered in the long run.
Games rules that are specific to a particular casino.
A type of online casino where you can play the games directly from your web browser. Also known as a flash casino.
A particularly large prize, usually associated with slot games.
See Betting Layout.
Online casino games where players can play against real dealers using real gaming tables via real time video feeds.
The area of an online casino where you can choose which games you are going to play.
A method for online casinos to reward their players based on their playing activity.
An amount of money that may be loaned to player for the purposes of wagering in the casino, providing that player has an established line of credit.
The highest amount a player can stake on any one bet.
The lowest amount a player can stake on any one bet.
Any game where players can play more than one hand at once.
Any game where more than one player can take part at the same time.
The profit made by a player from a winning bet, or a series of winning bets.
See True Odds and Payout Odds.
In certain games there is a "correct" way to play which will give players the best chance of winning (or rather minimize their chances of losing). This is way of playing is known as optimal strategy.
A slang term used for any jack, queen or king in a deck of cards.
The amount returned to a player after a winning bet.
Used to determine the amount a player will win from a winning bet, relative to the initial stake. Payout odds of 2:1, for example, mean a player will win $2 for every $1 staked.
The total amount returned to players in the long run, expressed as a percentage of money staked. A game with a payout percentage of 98%, for example, will return an average of $98 for every $100 wagered.
Displays the amount that can be won for the various winning combinations on a slot game, or for winning hands at video poker, or any winning bets at a table game.
Land based casinos are generally divided into various separate pits, with each pit containing a number of gaming tables. The central area of each set of tables is restricted to players, and only casino employees can enter.
A casino employee responsible for overseeing a specific pit, ensuring that the correct policies are followed and dealing with any issues or disputes that may arise.
A specific type of online casino bonus. A play bonus is for wagering purposes only and cannot be withdrawn.
Most online casinos offer play for fun versions of some or all of their games, where players can try the games without having to risk any of their own real money.
A betting style. Positive progression involves increasing stakes after a win and negative progression involves increasing stakes after a loss.
A type of jackpot that grows over time until it is won.
An alternative term for a tie.
A casino located at a horse racing track.
A computer program used by online casinos to automatically produce random results for the games.
A specific type of online casino bonus. A reload bonus is offered to existing players in return for making a deposit to their account.
A method for online casinos to reward their players based on their playing activity.
A box of some kind used to hold and dispense cards at gaming tables.
The act of randomly mixing up a deck of cards so their order is uncertain.
A type of bet that can be placed in some casino games, on an outcome that is not directly related to the result of the game. For example, in some blackjack variants you can place a side bet on whether the total value of your first two cards will be higher or lower than 13.
A specific type of online casino bonus. A sign up bonus is offered to new players when they first join.
The size of a bet.
See Play Bonus.
A slang term used by dealers to refer to a player that doesn't tip.
The total profit made by a gaming table over a specified period of time.
A slang term for a tip given to a dealer.
The actual odds of a bet winning based on probability. The true odds are usually higher than the payout odds, which is how the casinos gain their edge. For example, in European roulette the payout odds for a bet on a single number are 35:1. The true odds of winning such a bet are 36:1.
A card dealt unexposed – i.e. facing upwards. Also known as a face up card.
A player who is considered high value by a casino, usually because they play very regularly and/or for high stakes.
A method for online casinos to reward their players based on their playing activity.
See Bet.
Online casino bonuses usually come with wagering requirements, which dictate how much a player must wager on games before they can make a withdrawal of any winnings associated with a bonus.
See Sign Up Bonus.
A high value player; one that loses regularly and/or plays for large stakes.
Making a withdrawal from your online casino account means requesting funds are paid back to you via the payment method of your choice.