Common Casino Terms

Complete Casino Glossary: Demystifying Common Casino Terms and Jargon

If you’re new to the world of gambling, you might be overwhelmed by the jargon used in casinos. Whether you’re playing at a physical casino or online, understanding the terminology can help you navigate the games more easily. To help you get started, here are some common terms you might come across in a casino.

Action – The amount of money wagered by a player during a playing session.

Ante – The initial bet required before a hand can start.

Banker – The dealer in games like Baccarat and Pai Gow Poker.

Bankroll – The total amount of money a player has set aside for gambling.

Bet – The amount of money placed on the outcome of a game.

Blackjack – A card game where the goal is to have a hand value closest to 21 without exceeding it.

Bluff – In poker, when a player acts as if they have a better hand than they actually do.

Break – When a dealer reaches the end of a deck during a card game.

Bust – When a player’s hand exceeds 21 in Blackjack.

Buy-in – The amount of money required to enter a poker game or tournament.

Call – Matching the current bet in a poker game.

Card Shark – A skilled card player.

Casino Advantage – The statistical advantage that the casino has in a game.

Chip – The small, round piece used to represent money in a casino.

Cold Streak – When a player experiences a series of losses.

Comps – Free items given to players as a reward for their play.

Craps – A casino dice game.

Croupier – The dealer in a game of roulette or certain other casino games.

Cut – Dividing the deck of cards into two parts and switching them around.

Dealer – The person who manages the game and ensures that the rules are followed.

Double Down – In Blackjack, when a player doubles their initial bet in exchange for one more card.

Draw – To receive another card in a card game.

Edge – The advantage that one player has over another.

Even Money – A bet that pays 1:1.

Face Card – A king, queen, or jack in a deck of cards.

Flop – In poker, the first three community cards dealt.

Fold – To give up your hand in poker.

Full House – In poker, a hand with three cards of one rank and two of another.

Gamble – To play a game for money.

High Roller – A player who makes large bets.

Hit – To take another card in Blackjack.

Hole Card – In Blackjack, the dealer’s card that is dealt face down.

House – The casino.

House Edge – The advantage the casino has over the players.

Inside Bet – In roulette, a bet placed on a single number.

Jackpot – The biggest prize in a game.

Joker – A wild card in a deck of cards.

Kicker – In poker, the highest card in a player’s hand that doesn’t contribute to the hand’s ranking.

Lose – To be defeated in a game.

Marker – A written form of credit provided by the casino to a player.

Natural – In Blackjack, when a player’s first two cards total 21.

Odds – The probability of a particular outcome occurring.

Outside Bet – In roulette, a bet placed on a group of numbers or colors.

Over/Under – A bet on whether the final total will be higher or lower than a set number.

Pair – In poker, two cards of the same rank.

Pass – To not make a bet.

Payline – The line on a slot machine where winning combinations are formed.

Payoff – The amount won for a winning bet.

Pit Boss – The person in charge of the gaming tables in a casino.

Payout – The money paid to a player for a winning bet.

Pot – In poker, the total amount of money that is bet.

Progressive Jackpot – A jackpot that grows over time as more bets are placed.

Push – A tie in a casino game.

Raise – To increase the size of the current bet in poker.

Random Number Generator (RNG) – Software used in slot machines to ensure random outcomes.

Reel – The spinning parts of a slot machine that display the symbols.

River – In poker, the fifth and final community card dealt.

Roulette – A casino game where a ball is spun around a wheel and players bet on where it will land.

Royal Flush – In poker, an ace-high straight flush.

Shuffle – Mixing up the deck of cards.

Slot Machine – A casino game where players try to line up symbols on spinning reels to win prizes.

Split – In Blackjack, when a player divides their two identical cards into two separate hands.

Stand – To not take any more cards in Blackjack.

Straight – In poker, five consecutive cards of any suit.

Straight Flush – In poker, five consecutive cards of the same suit.

Surrender – In Blackjack, when a player gives up half their bet and ends their hand.

Table Limit – The maximum or minimum bet allowed at a table.

Three of a Kind – In poker, three cards of the same rank.

Tilt – When a player becomes frustrated and starts making poor decisions.

Turn – In poker, the fourth community card dealt.

Two Pair – In poker, two sets of two cards of the same rank.

Wild Card – A card that can represent any other card.

Wager – Another term for a bet.

Whale – A high-stakes player.

Win – To be victorious in a game.

House Way – The rules by which the dealer plays their hand in certain card games.

Insurance – A side bet in Blackjack that pays off if the dealer has a natural.

Martingale System – A betting system where a player doubles their bet after each loss.

Pit – The area of a casino where table games are located.

Snake Eyes – In craps, when both dice show a one.

Toke – A tip given to a dealer.

Upcard – In Blackjack, the dealer’s card that is dealt face up.

Vigorish – The house edge in a casino game.

Carousel – A group of slot machines arranged in a circle.

Discard Tray – A tray used to hold cards that have been played.

Drop Box – A container used to hold chips and currency at a gaming table.

Marker Puck – A plastic disc used to mark the point in craps.

Point – In craps, the number established after the come-out roll.

Shooter – In craps, the player who rolls the dice.

Soft Hand – In Blackjack, a hand with an ace that can be counted as 11.

Hard Hand – In Blackjack, a hand with an ace that must be counted as 1.

Betting Spread – The difference between the minimum and maximum bets.

Burn Card – A card discarded from the deck before dealing.

Fifth Street – In poker, the fifth community card dealt.

High-Low Split – In poker, a game where the pot is divided between the highest