Gambling Glossary
We've attempted to compile a list of the most commonly used casino and gaming terms in this glossary. If you think we are missing something please contact us with your suggestions and we will consider them for inclusion in the list below.
A-D
American Roulette
A roulette wheel that has a total of 38 numbers (0 and 00 and numbers 1-36).
Ante
Usually in Poker, meaning the first bet made on a hand before you receive your cards (Stud Poker).
Baccarat
Also called Punto Banco and Chemin De Fer (similar to Baccarat but features a skill based element). A table game using 6 or 8 decks of cards which does not require skill.
Bank Roll
A total sum of money a player is willing to risk on a given visit to a casino.
Bet
The player's wager.
Bet the limit
Wagering the maximum amount a player is allowed to risk in any game.
Blackjack
A two-card total of 21 consisting of an ace and a 10-value card.
Break/Bust
When the dealer or player's hand exceeds a total value of 21.
Break/Bust Card
The card received which causes the dealer or player to exceed 21.
Burn Card
The top card of the deck which is placed face down in the discard pile after the shuffle and cut.
Bust
Used in Blackjack when a players hand value reaches over 21.
Casino Advantage
Also known as 'house edge' The edge that the House (casino) has over the players.
Chips
Round tokens that are used on casino gaming tables in lieu of cash.
Come-out
The first roll of the dice in craps that establishes the point.
Craps
Casino dice table-game.
Crapping-out
In craps, having a bet on the pass line and losing by rolling a 2,3, or 12 on the come-out.
Dealer
Employee of the casino who deals the game. Also known as Croupier, the French word for Dealer, in the games of baccarat and roulette.
Deuce
A two in dice.
Double Down
Placing an additional wager up to the amount of the original on the first two cards of the hand (the player is only allowed one card).
E-H
Face cards
In a deck of cards, any jack, queen, or king.
Fixed Odds Games
Also know as Instant Win Games. The name used to describe a game or event in which a gambler is able to establish what the return on a bet will be when it is placed. Click here to see some of our Fixed Odds games.
French Roulette (European Roulette)
A wheel containing just one zero. Mainly found in the European casinos.
Four of a Kind
In Poker four cards of the same denomination.
Full House
In Poker a set of three cards of the same denomination plus a set of two cards of the same denomination.
Gambling
The voluntary risking of a sum of money on the outcome of a game or other event.
Hard Hand
Any hand without an ace or a hand where all cards are aces is counted as one.
Hit
Additional card at the player's request - "he hit me with an ace".
High Roller
A player who makes extremely large wagers.
Hole Card
The dealer's unexposed down card.
House Edge
Also known as PC (percent casino). The term referring to the mathematical edge that the casino has over the player on a particular bet. A house edge of say 1% means that for every £100 bet by the player, the probable long term outcome will be £99 won by the player, and £1 retained by the casino.
House Rules
Set of rules established by the casino for the players and dealers to follow. Breaking these rules can get you barred from a casino.
I-M
Insurance
The player bets that the dealer has a blackjack when the dealer's up card is an ace.
Instant Win Games
See Fixed Odds Games
Jacks Or Better
In Poker, a pair that pays off only if the cards in the pair are Jacks, Queens, Kings, or Aces. Lower pairs do not pay off. Jackpot The biggest payoff issued by the slot machines.
Jackpot
Jackpot The biggest payoff issued by the slot machines.
Monkey
Slang for $/£500. Chinese use to describe any card with a value of 10.
N-R
Natural Blackjack
A two-card total of 21 consisting of an ace and a 10-value card. Baccarat: A two-card total of 8 or 9.Craps: Player rolls a 7 or 11.
Payout Table (Pay Table)
The sign that tells you what each winning hand will pay for the number of coins, chips or credits played. Mainly used in slots or video poker.
Pass
Mainly used in card games. Meaning not to bet - to fold.
Pigeon
A new, naive or unsophisticated gambler.
Playing Strategy
Self-imposed strategy or rules designed to maximize odds for winning the game.
Progressive Jackpots
A game whose potential jackpot increases with each wager that is played by the participants. When the progressive jackpot finally hits the amount resets to the starting number. Some Progressive Jackpots can reach into the millions. Online they can be from $300 - £1,000,000.
Push (Draw)
When the dealer and player tie - no money is won or lost by either party.
Royal Flush
In Poker, five consecutive denomination cards of the same suit, starting from 10 and ending with an ace.
RNG - Random Number Generator
The hardware that's used to create random numbers in an online casino or soft gaming site.
S-V
Shoe
The box from which the cards are dealt.
Soft Hand
A hand containing an ace where the ace is counted as 11 (total must be 21 or less).
Soft Double Down
Doubling down when one of the two cards is an ace.
Split
Option to play each of two like cards as a separate hand ( a separate bet equal to the original wager must be made).
Straight
In Poker, five consecutive denomination cards of different suit.
Straight Flush
In Poker, five consecutive denomination cards of the same suit.
Stand
The decision to not receive another card.
Standing Card
Term used when the dealer has a 7 or greater showing.
Standing Hand
Hand requiring the dealer to stand.
Three of a Kind
In Poker, three cards of the same denomination or rank.
Two Pairs
In Poker, two sets of pairs of the same card denomination.
W-Z
Wager
A bet, any bet!
Wager Requirements
A wager requirement is a restriction that an online casino puts on their bonuses to stop players abusing the bonus. A player must play a certain amount of bets/ hands before they are able to cashout the bonus. The amount that must be wagered is usually between 10-50 times the initial deposit (plus the bonus). For example, if you deposit £200 and get a match bonus of 100% and the wager requirements are 15X. You would need to wager a total of £6000 before you may cash out the bonus. Always read the terms and conditions!
Whale
A player who makes extremely large wagers. Unlike high rollers who consistently wager £100/£200 or more per round, whales are typically those who make wagers amounting to thousands if not tens or hundreds of thousands of dollars per round.
Wild Card
A joker or other card that can be used as any other card to complete your hand in card games.
