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There’s some terminology that’s beneficial to understand when playing casino games, so we have compiled this useful glossary that covers the most commonly used words and phrases.
Some of these terms are specific to online casinos, while others are used in land-based casinos.
**Please note that we haven’t included game-specific terms, because they are covered in our casino game guides.
Advantage Player:
A player that has some kind of advantage over the casino. This was traditionally used for card counters in blackjack, but can also apply to online players who use bonuses to gain an advantage.
Ante:
A bet that’s required in some casino games prior to the hand/round starting.
Banker:
Another word for the dealer or the house.
Bankroll:
The amount of money a player has to gamble with.
Bonus:
A sum of money given to a player by an online casino for meeting certain requirements.
Card Shark:
An expert at card games.
Cash-Out:
The act of withdrawing money from an online casino.
Cashier:
In a land-based casino, it’s where you exchange chips for money. In an online casino, it’s where you can deposit and withdraw funds from your account.
Casino Advantage:
The mathematical advantage that the casino has over players. Also known as the house edge.
Casino Rewards:
Many online casinos will offer rewards of some kind, typically cash, to players based on how much they play.
Chip Tray:
The tray used by a dealer or croupier to hold house chips.
Chips:
Tokens used in casinos to represent cash; they come in various denominations.
Cold Streak:
An extended losing run.
Color Up:
The act of exchanging smaller-denomination chips for larger ones.
Comp Points:
At most casinos, online and land-based, you’ll earn comp points whenever you’re playing. These can then be exchanged for chips. In land-based casinos, comp points may also be used for food, drink, or reduced rate accommodation.
Croupier:
French word for a casino dealer, commonly used in other languages, too.
Cut Card:
A plastic card used to cut the deck in some card games.
Dealer:
A casino employee responsible for dealing the cards.
Degenerate Gambler:
Someone who gambles frequently and excessively.
Deposit:
The act of adding funds to your online casino account.
Download Casino:
A type of online casino that requires you to download software to play the games.
Edge:
The advantage held in a casino game. The vast majority of time, it’s the casino that has the edge.
Eye in the Sky:
Term for the overhead cameras used in casinos to monitor the gaming tables.
Flash Casino:
A type of online casino that allows you to play games directly from your browser using Flash technology.
Gambler’s Fallacy:
The (incorrect) belief that the outcome of a random event is influenced by previous events. See more on the following page –
Gambler’s Fallacy.
High Roller:
Someone who plays casino games for high stakes.
Hot Streak:
An extended winning run.
House:
The casino is often referred to as the house.
House Edge:
The mathematical advantage that the casino has over players in games.
House Rules:
Rules that are specific to a particular casino.
Instant Casino:
A type of online casino that doesn’t require you to download any software.
Jackpot:
A large prize that’s offered for a specific outcome in a game. This is typically offered in slot and video poker games.
Layout:
The surface of a gaming table where players can place their wagers. It’s virtually reproduced at online casinos.
Lobby:
The lobby in online casinos is where you can find all the available games.
Loyalty Scheme:
A scheme offered by online casinos to reward players for their wagering activities.
Live Dealer Games:
A type of online casino game played against real dealers over a live video stream.
Marker:
An IOU from a player getting credit at a casino.
Maximum Bet:
The highest stake that can be placed at a casino game.
Minimum Bet:
The lowest stake that can be placed at a casino game.
Multi-Hand Games:
Casino games where a player can play more than one hand at once.
Multiplayer Games:
Online games where you play with other real players rather than on your own.
Non-Sticky Bonus:
A type of bonus offered by online casinos that can be withdrawn once the necessary requirements have been met.
Payout Percentage:
The approximate return that’s paid out by a casino over time is expressed as a percentage of overall bets placed. It can be applied to individual games or the casino overall.
Payout Table:
A table that shows you the relevant pay-out for each bet on table games, or each winning combination on slot machines and video poker games.
Penetration:
The percentage of a deck that’s dealt before the deck is shuffled.
Phantom Bonus:
A type of bonus offered by online casinos that is removed from a player’s account at the point of cash-out.
Pit:
The area of a casino between tables where only casino staff are allowed.
Pit Boss:
The casino employee responsible for supervising all the staff and tables associated with a specific pit.
Progressive Jackpot:
A type of jackpot that increases over time.
Push:
A tied outcome at casino games where neither the house or the player wins.
Random Number Generator (RNG):
Software used by online casinos to generate a random outcome in casino games. For example, it will determine which number is spun next in a roulette game or which card is dealt next in blackjack.
Reload Bonus:
A type of bonus that’s offered to an existing customer at an online casino for making a new deposit.
Shoe:
The box from which cards are dealt in casinos.
Sign-Up Bonus:
A type of bonus at online casinos that’s offered to new customers when they join. Also known as a welcome bonus.
Stake:
The amount wagered on the outcome of a casino game.
Sticky Bonus:
A type of bonus offered by online casinos that cannot be withdrawn and “sticks” to a player’s account until it’s lost.
VIP:
A high-value player that will typically get special treatment from a casino.
Wager:
Any bet made in an online or land-based casino.
Wagering Requirements:
The amount of money that must be wagered at an online casino in order to either earn a bonus or release a bonus to be withdrawn.
Welcome Bonus:
A bonus offered to new customers at online casinos. Also known as a sign-up bonus.
Whale:
A high-value player that plays for big stakes.
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