You’ll find that many of the words and Terms used in a casino (like “House,” “odds,” and “payout”) are the same whether you’re playing Roulette, blackjack, slots, or baccarat. However, each game has its own unique slang; and, unless someone takes the time to break down those Terms for you, you may well find yourself making mistakes or worse still making uninformed choices about which bonuses to take or how to play your hands. The casino glossary was created to provide an explanation for each gaming term found in a casino, using everyday language that can easily be visualized.
Understanding basic gaming vocabulary
There are several words you will see frequently throughout any casino (regardless of which games you are playing), therefore, it is helpful to learn these Terms first. Your bankroll is simply the amount of money you have allocated to spend in the casino (and should not include rent/mortgage money, grocery money etc.). Good bankroll management is merely spending wisely by not continuing to gamble when your bankroll begins to dwindle.
A wager or bet is the amount you choose to risk for a single hand, spin or roll. The House refers to the casino itself (i.e., “the House always wins”). The House edge is the mathematical advantage that allows the casino to remain profitable. On a standard American Roulette wheel, the House edge is approximately 5.26%, while on a European Roulette wheel with only one zero, the House edge is approximately 2.70%. The odds refer to the probability of a specific outcome occurring. When you do win, your payout will be described as a ratio (e.g. 3:2) or as an exact dollar amount. Betting limits.
You will soon encounter betting limits at every table you visit. Each table will display a sign stating the lowest and highest amounts you can place a wager. The lowest amount you can wager per hand at a $10 blackjack table would be $10. Conversely, the largest amount you could wager at that same table would be $500. This is important if you wish to increase your wagers during a winning streak.
Common slot Machine terminology
Slot machines seem to be easy enough to understand just throw your money into a Machine and hope. While true, the technical language behind slot machines provides insight into why some machines seem easier to play than others. Return to player (RTP) measures how much of all monies wagered on a Machine are paid back to players. Therefore, a Machine that has a 96% RTP will return, on average and over a long period of time, 96 cents of every dollar wagered. Random number generators (rng’s) are software programs that determine every spin’s outcome independently and randomly. There is no such thing as a Machine being due for a jackpot.
A payline is a pattern of symbols on the reels that creates a winning combination. Older Slots had only one payline, while today’s modern video Slots can have up to 50 or even 1000 ways to win. Wild symbols replace other symbols to assist in creating a winning combination. Scatter symbols usually activate something extra such as free spins or a bonus round and do not require alignment along a payline. Free spins allow you to play additional rounds without risking your own money. Typically, free spins are activated upon landing three or more scattered symbols on the reels. Examples of this include keno and Slots. A pay table shows all combinations of symbols and their respective payouts. Jackpot(s) refer to the highest possible prize associated with a Machine, including progressive machines whose jackpots continue to grow as additional players contribute to the same pool of funds until one lucky winner hits the top prize.
Terminology used in table games
In blackjack alone there are numerous Terms related to gameplay. To start off — hit means you desire an additional card, stand means you are satisfied with your total and do not wish any more cards, and bust means your total exceeds 21 and results in automatic defeat regardless of what the dealer does next. Double down permits you to double your initial wager for an additional card, and is usually best utilized when you have a favorable total (such as 10 or 11) and the dealer has an unfavorable up-card. Split occurs when your first two cards possess equal values and enables you to divide your cards into two separate hands with two separate bets. The dealer operates from the shoe (a container that contains multiple decks of cards combined together for card counting purposes).
Roulette has its own unique terminology as well. Straight-up bet means placing your wager on a single number, resulting in a 35:1 payoff if your number lands on the winning spot. An outside bet involves wagering on larger groups such as red/black, odd/even, or high/low numbers and typically result in lower payouts however land more often than straight-up bets. In baccarat you are wagering on player/banker/tie; although the terminology appears formalistic relative to blackjack’s fast-paced lingo, it serves as the foundation for this popular table game.
Poker introduces fold/call/raise. Folding means surrendering your hand rather than matching the present bet level; calling entails matching the present bet; raising indicates increasing the present bet to force other players to act. Craps may be the most intimidating table for newbies primarily due to the large variety of side bets offered and their respective payout structures. Nevertheless, the fundamental idea behind craps remains simply wagering on the outcome of die rolls beginning with the come-out roll.
Vocabulary relating to wagers & payouts
While learning individual games’ terminologies can prove useful, a secondary layer of jargon exists regarding how wagers settle. A Push occurs when your hand/wager ties with the dealer/House line — essentially neither party wins nor loses — and thus your original wager is returned to you. Side bets are supplemental wagers made in addition to your primary wager, typical in blackjack variants/craps — offer greater potential payouts for rarer events — yet incur increased House edges for doing so. Sportsbooks charge vig (short for vigorish) on all bets; this is simply the profit margin sportsbooks build into their odds regardless of the eventual outcome; hence fair coin flip bets are rarely listed at evens odds.
Deposits/withdrawals
Withdrawal methods/deposit methods may prove more relevant than newcomers anticipate particularly with regards to online casinos. Payment apps often facilitate quicker e-wallet withdrawal times than traditional banking transfer — sometimes in hours vs. days — although not all casinos utilize all e-wallet options; verify prior to initiating any transactions.
Mathematics behind casino Terms
House edge = the mathematical percentage advantage maintained by casinos from every bet in the long run. As previously stated, House edge varies greatly depending on which game you are playing. Using optimal strategies for blackjack can decrease House edge below 1%; conversely, some slot machines/keno may have House edge rates exceeding 5% or more. Probability refers to the likelihood of any event occurring. Once familiar with probability concepts — it clarifies why consecutive wins on individual Roulette spins appear improbable although statistically speaking they occur fairly regularly over sufficient quantities of spins.
Return-to-player (RTP) + House edge = virtually two sides of same coin
As previously discussed; although RTP is the return of monies paid back to players from total monies wagered; House edge represents monies retained by the casino from total monies wagered; RTP + House edge should approximate 100% in nearly all situations.
Live dealer games
Live dealers fall somewhere in-between pure RNG digital games/physical casinos in that live dealer games employ live human dealers broadcasting video footage from their location directly to your device. Cards are dealt/hands turned over/live wheels spun from actual locations providing comfort to players who distrust computer generated randomness despite rng software being widely independent tested and regulated.
Language associated with bonuses/promotions worth knowing
Although many individuals believe they know what “wagering requirements” mean — perhaps based on previous experience with promotional offers — i assure you many newbies are misled by their definitions. Online casinos offering “free money” (in reality) typically accompany stipulations requiring you wager thirty times ($1,500) prior to being able to withdraw winnings connected with that “free money.” Do not confuse promotional offers with “free money”; examine the details prior to accepting any offer.
A few expressions you will become familiar with quickly
Many expressions exist which do not fit perfectly into one category however are commonly seen/used throughout any casino floor. “on the House” denotes anything (typically food/drink) provided free-of-charge by the casino (as a form of hospitality). “comp” is short for complimentary and generally relates to free hotel accommodations/food/show tickets casinos extend to loyal customers. A whale is an extremely high stakes gambler whom casinos often cater too and go out of their way to woo (with things such as private jet rides/suites). Although seemingly superstitious (“the shoe is hot”)/”the table is cold”), these are simply colloquialisms used by gamblers describing recent luck — although neither cards nor dice retain any history/memory of what transpired moments before.
Below is an abbreviated guide illustrating five Terms newbies commonly become confused with most often; as these five Terms cause confusion at tables:
- Push/tie: A Push is returning your original wager with no win or loss — whereas a tie in baccarat constitutes a distinct win type with its own payout.
- RTP/edge: RTP denotes total monies paid back to players from total monies wagered — whereas House edge signifies total monies retained by casino from total monies wagered both concepts are mirrors of one another.
- Hit/standing: Hitting implies requesting additional cards standing implies maintaining current total exactly as is.
- Wild/scatter: Wilds substitute other symbols alongside paylines scatters usually activate additional features (e.g., bonus rounds) without requirement for alignment along any payline.
- Deposit method/withdrawal method: Many online casinos offer deposit methods which they do not support as withdrawal options verify prior to depositing funds
