There are some terms that are useful when playing casino games, so we’ve put together this useful glossary that contains the most common words and phrases.
Some of these terms refer to online casinos, while others are used in land-based casinos.
- Advantage Player: A player who has an advantage over the casino. Traditionally used for card counters in blackjack, but can also apply to online players who use bonuses to gain an edge.
- Ante: A bet that is required in some casino games before the hand / round starts.
- Banker: Another word for the dealer or the house.
- Bankroll: The amount of money a player has to play with.
- Bonus: A sum of money that a player receives from an online casino to meet certain requirements.
- Card Shark: An expert in card games.
- Cash Out: The act of withdrawing money from an online casino.
- Cashier: In a land-based casino where you exchange chips for money. In an online casino where you can deposit and withdraw money 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 offer players rewards, mostly money, depending 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 different denominations.
- Cold streak: An extended loss run.
- Color up: The process of exchanging chips with smaller denominations for larger ones.
- Comp Points: In most casinos, online and land based, you earn comp points whenever you play. These can then be exchanged for chips. In land-based casinos, comp points can also be used for eating, drinking or reduced nights.
- Croupier: French word for a casino dealer that is also used in other languages.
- Cut Card: A plastic card that is used to cut the deck in some card games.
- Dealer: A casino employee who is responsible for handing out the cards.
- Degenerate player: Someone who plays frequently and excessively.
- Deposit: Adding funds to your online casino account.
- Download Casino: A type of online casino where you have to download software to play the games.
- Edge: The advantage in a casino game. The vast majority of the time, it is the casino that has the advantage.
- Eye in the Sky: Term for the overhead cameras 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 (wrong) assumption that the outcome of a random event is influenced by previous events.
- High Roller: Someone who plays high-stakes casino games.
- Hot streak: An extended profit run.
- House: The casino is often referred to as the house.
- House edge: The mathematical advantage that the casino has over players.
- House rules: Rules that apply to a particular casino.
- Instant Casino: A type of online casino where you don’t have to download any software.
- Jackpot: A large prize offered for a particular outcome in a game. Usually offered in slot and video poker games.
- Layout: The surface of a game table where players can place their bets. Virtually reproduced in online casinos.
- Lobby: In the lobby in online casinos you will find all available games.
- Loyalty Program: A system offered by online casinos to reward players for their betting activities.
- Live dealer games: A type of online casino game that is played against real dealers via a live video stream.
- Marker: A promissory note from a player who receives a loan from a casino.
- Maximum bet: The highest bet that can be placed on a casino game.
- Minimum bet: The lowest bet that can be placed on a casino game.
- Multi-hand games: Casino games in which a player can play more than one hand at a time.
- Multiplayer games: Online games where you play with other real players and not alone.
- Non Sticky Bonus: A type of bonus offered by online casinos that can be withdrawn as soon as the necessary requirements are met.
- Payout Percentage: The approximate return paid by a casino over time is expressed as a percentage of the total bets placed. It can be applied to individual games or the entire casino.
- Payout Table: A table that shows you the relevant payout for any table game bet or combination of wins on slot machines and video poker games.
- Penetration: The percentage of a deck spent before shuffling.
- Phantom Bonus: A type of bonus offered by online casinos that is removed from a player’s account at the point of debit.
- Pit: The area of a casino between tables where only casino personnel are allowed.
- Pit Boss: The casino employee who is responsible for overseeing all employees and tables associated with a particular pit.
- Progressive jackpot: A type of jackpot that increases over time.
- Push: A tie result in casino games where neither the house nor the player wins.
- Random Number Generator: Software used by online casinos to generate a random result in casino games. For example, it determines which number will be spun next in a roulette game or which card will be dealt next in blackjack.
- Reload bonus: A kind of bonus offered to an existing customer in an online casino to make a new deposit.
- Schuh: The box from which cards are issued in casinos.
- Sign up bonus: A type of online casino bonus that is offered to new customers when they join. Also known as a welcome bonus.
- Stake: The amount you bet on the outcome of a casino game.
- Sticky Bonus: A kind of bonus that is offered by online casinos that cannot be withdrawn and “stays” in a player’s account until it is lost.
- VIP: A high value player who usually receives special treatment from a casino.
- Wager/Bet: Any bet made in an online or land based casino.
- Wagering Requirements: The amount of money that must be wagered at an online casino to either receive a bonus or to release a bonus to be able to withdraw it.
- Welcome Bonus: A bonus for new customers in online casinos. Also known as a sign up bonus .
- Whale: A high quality player who plays for big bets.