Casino Glossary: Commonly Used Casino Terms

If you’re new to online gambling and casinos, there are lots of casino terms to learn. But with our A to Z glossary, you’ll find everything you need to get started. You’ll find information about online casinos, casino games, sports betting, slot machine bets and more.

Whether you’re looking to place your first initial bet or you’re interested in progressing to playing in a poker tournament, discover the most commonly used casino terms with CasinoCrawlers.

(If you think we’ve missed any terms that should be included, please don’t hesitate to contact us.)

A

ABC Poker: Refers to someone playing a style of poker that’s typically easy to predict.

Accumulator: Used in sports betting, this type of bet is made up of multiple selections. To win the bet, all selections need to win.

Aces: This term is used in a craps game when a player bets that the next roll will be a 2.

Across the Board: Used in horse race betting, placing a wager on a horse to win, place and show.

Action: Used in various games, including blackjack and roulette, meaning it’s the player’s turn to act.

Active Player: A term used in poker referring to a player who is still actively playing.

Ada from Decatur: This term is used in a craps game to indicate a hard eight outcome.

Add on: Refers to the additional amount of chips players can use in poker to purchase at specified points throughout a tournament.

Advantage Player: A player who can legally gain an advantage over the house. For example, a player who can count cards playing blackjack or knows how to gain the most value from various bonuses and promotions.

Against the Spread: This term is used in sports betting and refers to the result of an event that accounts for the point spread. It also refers to the act of taking points instead of betting with the spread.

Aggregate Limit: The total amount a casino has to pay out in a single round. Players may have to accept reduced winnings if the aggregate limit is reached.

All In: When a player uses all their remaining chips as a wager.

Ante: Relates to an additional bet required before beginning a hand. There’s usually a mandatory stake needed from each player to be dealt cards.

Arbitrage: In sports betting, there can be a variation in odds allowing gamblers to back both sides and still guarantee a win.

B

Baccarat: This card game is also known as Punto Banco and has several variants. Players bet on whether they or the dealer have a winning hand. The winner is the player who has the closest value to nine. There are no points associated with face cards or 10s.

Back Door: When you make a hand out of the final two cards dealt in a game of poker.

Backed: When a punter places a bet on a sports team, they’re said to ‘back’ that team to win.

Bad beat: When you have a hand that is expected to win, but you end up losing the hand in a game of poker.

Balance: The amount left in a player’s online casino or sports betting account that’s used to make a wager.

Banco: Otherwise known as ‘the bank’, or ‘the house’. It can also relate to the bet players make on the house winning if you’re playing baccarat. Or when a player places their total money on a single bet in roulette.

Banker: Usually, this position is held by the dealer and is responsible for paying out winnings to players and taking lost bets.

Bankroll: The amount of money you set aside for gambling. For example, how much total cash do you want to risk when visiting an online or physical casino? It’s particularly important for professional gamblers, to know how much they use for their ‘work’.

Barred: Occasionally, players can be banned from participating in an online casino game. This may be because of their physical location or due to their IP address if playing online.

Beard: When a friend or associate places a bet in poker to conceal the identity of the real bettor.

Bet: A bet can also be known as a wager. It’s how much you choose to stake on an online casino game, such as roulette, poker or blackjack. It’s also how much you wager on the outcome of a sports game or how much you spend per spin on a pokie machine.

Bet Limit: Some table games will have betting limits. For example, you might select a blackjack table where the maximum bet is $10.

Bet Max (Maximum Bet/Max Bet): The maximum bet a player is allowed to place on a game, usually set by each sports betting site or online casino.

Betting Layout: In a physical casino, this refers to the area of a gaming table where players put their chips when making their bets.

Beginner’s Luck: When a player who is relatively new to gambling gets a lucky winning streak, it’s known as beginner’s luck.

Bingo: A game you can place bets on where players match numbers on a card with numbers that a host draws out at random.

Bingo Board: The board shows the numbers as they’re called out by the host for players to see and check their cards.

Bingo Book: A set of bingo cards that have been joined together, where players play for each game at a bingo session.

Bingo Card: A card where you play the bingo game. Typically it’s a 5×5 grid card with 24 randomly numbered spaces and one blank space.

Blackjack: One of the most well-known online casino games, played with a two-card hand aiming to get as close to 21 points as possible.

Blind bet: Placing a wager before any cards are dealt.

Blinds: Mandatory wagers when playing Hold’em Poker.

Blocker: A poker term for when a player holds a card in their hand that another player needs.

Bluff: Making a play that appears as though you have a strong hand. But in reality, your hand is weak.

Bonus: An incentive such as cash, free spins or other type of promotion to encourage people to sign up or continue playing online casino games.

Bonus Hunting: When a player seeks out and takes advantage of online casino offers and bonuses.

Bonus Round: A special mode when playing a video slot machine that is triggered when specific combinations of symbols align. Players receive perks, including free spins or a side game and may activate a mini-game.

Bookmaker: The person who takes bets on sporting events.

Bottom Paid: During a poker game, when a pair is made using the lowest card on the flop.

Breaking the Bank: When a player wins a huge amount of money or loses an incredible amount.

Broadway: A poker term for a hand that has an ace-high straight.

Burn Card: The card that’s discarded in a game of poker instead of being dealt.

Bust: A blackjack term that refers to a hand that’s over 21, which is a losing bet.

Bottom: This relates to the player position in blackjack. The bottom player is the last to be dealt.

Burn Card: The card is taken from the top of the deck and discarded either after the shuffle or before the next round of cards is dealt.

Buy In: Before you can play, players must convert cash for casino chips. How much you spend is called the buy-in. In a poker tournament, the cost of entry is the buy-in. In some casino games, the casino has a set entry amount you must meet to be able to play.

C

Cage: If you make a profit when playing casino games in a physical casino, you take your chips to the cage. This is a secure area of the casino where you convert your winnings back to cash.

Calling: Calling is what you do to match the current bet during the game. It’s usually followed by the other player raising their existing bet if they have a strong hand.

Canadian Line: Used in sports betting, this refers to a money line and combination point spread in hockey.

Cap: In a round of betting, this is the limit on the number of raises allowed.

Card Counting: A tactic used to track the cards that have been dealt to understand which cards are likely to be still available.

Card Shark: An expert card game player, also known as a card sharp.

Card Washing: This used to be more popular before automatic shuffling machines were introduced in casinos. Refers to a dealer spreading the cards face down and mixing them up before shuffling.

Carribean Stud: A version of poker played against the house, instead of other players. It’s similar to Five-Card Stud and uses just one deck of cards.

Cascading/Collapsing Wheels: This bonus feature in a slot machine game is generated when there is a winning combination.

Cashback: Offered by online casinos as a type of promotion to refund money back to a player. It’s based on a percentage of the player’s gaming losses.

Cash Bonus: Otherwise known as a deposit bonus. This is free money given to new players who make a deposit into their online casino account for the first time. Cash bonuses come with terms and conditions which differ at each casino.

Cash Out: When a player withdraws their money from their online casino balance.

Cashier’s Desk: In a physical casino, this is where you can exchange your chips for cash. Online casinos also have a Cashier’s area where you can add or withdraw funds from your account.

Chalk: A term in sports betting that refers to the favoured athlete, team or horse.

Chase: When a player that’s losing continues to gamble, hoping to recoup some of their losses.

Check: When a player takes an action to stay in the hand during a poker match without betting but can call or raise later in the round.

Chemin De Fer: A similar game to baccarat that’s primarily played in France. Bets are placed against other players who take turns being the banker.

Chinese Poker: A variation of traditional poker that is played with a single deck of cards and has between two to four players. Each player is dealt 13 cards. They need to form three hands of five, five, and three cards, from their strongest to weakest hands.

Chips: Chips are used as currency in a casino to play casino games. They come in different colours and denominations in a physical casino. Online casinos may refer to chips when players make their wager.

Chop: When the pot is shared amongst players remaining in the tournament or the hand.

Choppy Game: Refers to a game of poker where the house and the players take turns winning and losing, going back and forth.

Circled Game: When a sports game maximum bet is limited due to bad weather or injured players.

Coat Tail: When you follow someone else’s betting patterns.

Cold: A pokies machine that isn’t paying out at a high rate.

Cold Streak/Hot Streak: If a player is running cold, it means they’re on a losing streak. As opposed to a hot streak, where a player is on a winning streak.

Colour Up: When a player requests to exchange smaller value chips for larger value ones.

Combination Bet: Betting on more than one team (or horse) to finish first and second (in either order).

Commission: The fee an online casino takes out of all winnings that are paid out by the bank to make a profit.

Community Cards: The cards dealt face up, that can be used by any player in the hand.

Comps: When you sign up for a rewards club at a casino, you can earn points, which are known as comps. These points can then be converted into rewards, such as cash or other prizes.

Complete: An action in poker where a bet is made after the bring-in, equal to the lowest betting limit.

Continuation Bet: An action in poker where the player who was the raiser pre-flop bets out on the flop.

Continuous Shuffle Machine: This machine is used in physical casinos to continuously and automatically shuffle cards during a game.

Corner Bet: A wager in roulette when a player makes four bets by placing chips in the corner of adjacent numbers.

Copy: When the dealer and a player have the same hand. The dealer always wins in this scenario.

Craps: A dice game where players predict the outcome of dice rolls. Two dice are rolled, and specific number combinations win or lose.

Credits: Some online casinos express bets in credits, where one credit is equal to one dollar.

Croupier: A French term for a table dealer in roulette.

Cut: Used in blackjack after the shuffle to divide the card deck into two parts.

Cycle: The average number of hands in a video poker game that passes between top payout wins. Usually through a royal flush.

D

D’Alembert: In roulette, the D’Alembert strategy is based on trying to make up your losses by doubling your bet after each loss.

Dead Heat: When two or more horses cross the line at the same time in horse racing.

Deal: When the dealer hands out the cards to players and themselves.

Dealer: The person responsible for dealing cards to each player.

Deck: The cards used in a casino game.

Deposit: When players add funds to their account to play games.

Deposit Method: The payment method a player uses to deposit funds into their casino account, such as an e-wallet, credit card or bank transfer.

Dime: A sports bet of $1,000.

Discard Tray: Typically located to the right of a dealer at the gaming table, for discarded or played cards.

Dollars: A sports bet of $100.

Dolly: In the game of roulette, this doll-shaped marker is placed on the table of the winning number. It’s useful for players to identify the winning number.

Dominate: Used in poker to describe a hand that beats another player’s because of a better combination of cards.

Don’t Come: In craps when you bet for the shooter to lose.

Double: A craps term when a player bets on a number from 1 to 6. To win, two out of the three dice need to display the chosen number.

Double Down: Refers to doubling the original bet and receiving one more card when playing blackjack.

Double or Nothing: A type of bet where if you win, you double your money. If you lose you lose it all. For example, betting on odds or evens, or red or black in roulette.

Dragon Hand: When the dealer deals a hand to an empty seat during a poker game.

Draw: In poker, a player needs either one or two specific cards to make a given hand.

Drawing Dead: In poker, when there are no remaining cards available in the deck to give a player a winning hand.

Drop Percentage: The percentage of a player’s money the casino wins due to the house edge.

Dry: Used to describe a hand in poker with no connected or suited cards. Also known as ‘ragged’.

Duo: In a craps game, when a player bets that two specific numbers will display on two of the three dice.

E

Easy: In a craps game, easy refers to a number combination that’s achieved by rolling dice with different values. For example, an ‘easy 6’ is made by rolling a 5 and a 1.

eCOGRA: Stands for E-Commerce Online Gaming Regulation and Assurance, which is an independent agency. They’re responsible for auditing online casinos to check games are fair and to check operating standards.

Edge: When you have the advantage over another player.

Eighty-Sixed: Refers to when a player is banned from a casino due to foul play.

En Prison: In roulette, this rule gives players a second chance. This is applied only if they make an even-money bet that lost to a 0 or a 00.

Encryption: How online casinos secure their software and online transactions. The process uses complex codes that make it extremely difficult for fraudsters to decipher.

Equity: In poker, equity refers to the pot amount a player is expected to win, based on the odds that they hold the winning hand.

Even: In a craps game, this is when a player bets that the total of the three dice combined will be an even number.

Even Money Bet: A bet that pays back the same value a player wagers.

Expanding Wilds: The bonus features available in various slot games.

Expectation: The amount (on average) a player expects to win. It’s based on the likelihood that a given hand usually wins.

Expected Win Rate: Refers to the percentage of the total amount wagered in sports betting that a punter can expect to win back.

Exposure: The maximum amount a sportsbook stands to lose on each game.

F

Face Cards: Refers to Jacks, Queens, and Kings, which are typically valued at ten.

Favourite: The team that’s expected to win in a match, tournament or other event.

Ficheur: Used in American Roulette to group chips by their colour.

Fill Up: In poker, if you get a card that completes a full house it’s known as a fill-up.

Fifty Cents: A bet with a value of $50.

Final: In roulette, this is a bet placed on numbers that all end in the same digit. For example, ‘final 8’ with three chips means betting on 8, 18, and 28.

Final Schnaps: When you place a bet in roulette on 11, 22, and 33.

First Base: In blackjack, this is the position to the far left of the dealer, who is first to be dealt cards.

First-Half Bet: When you place a bet that is only on the first half of the game.

Fish: A poker player who loses often and typically bets on each hand, regardless of their cards.

Five Card Stud: A version of poker with multiple betting rounds, that uses a single deck of cards playing against other players.

Fixed Odds: When there are predetermined odds, often in sports results betting.

Flat Betting: When a player consistently bets the same amount for every hand.

Flat Call: During a poker game, when a player calls instead of raising the bet.

Flat-Top: A pokie machine that pays a fixed jackpot amount, instead of a progressive jackpot amount.

Flop: The first three community cards that are dealt during a poker game.

Flush: When a hand in poker comprises all the same suit.

Fold: When a player releases their hand in a poker game, forfeiting the pot to another player.

Forecast: Placing a bet (sports betting) that predicts the first and second places for an event.

Fourth Street: This is the second round of betting in a poker game when players have four of the total five cards they’re dealt.

Free-Card: During a poker game, this is the round where all players check. So when the next card is dealt, no players have to put any money into the pot.

Free Spins: Various slot and pokie machines offer free spins as a bonus to attract new players.

Full House: When a hand in poker is made up of two cards of one rank and three cards of another rank. For example, two threes and three nines.

Futures: When bets are placed to predict the outcome of a future sporting event.

G

Gambler’s Fallacy: A gambler who believes that the outcome of a random event is influenced by a previous outcome. For example, the next spin on a roulette wheel will be black because the previous five spins were red.

Garbage Hand: A low-value hand in poker that is unlikely to win and therefore should not be played.

Goose: A device in Keno that’s used to mix up and draw the balls.

Grid: A matrix showing punters the different possible bets available to help them place, withdraw or confirm their bet.

Grind: Playing a lot of small-stakes poker games regularly to make a steady profit.

Gross Winnings: The total amount won from a winning bet/s including the initial stake.

H

Half-Time Bet: Placing a bet during a sporting match in the second half of the game.

Hand: The cards a player holds or uses to achieve the best combination of cards.

Handicapping: Using research in sports betting to attempt to predict the outcome of a match or event.

Handle: The total amount bet on a sports event or group of events.

Hard: In craps, when two dice are rolled with the same value, it makes a ‘hard’ value. For example, a ‘hard 6’ is made by rolling a 3 and a 3.

Hard Hand: A hand in a poker game that can only have one value. For example, no aces or a high enough value that aces are only worth one point.

Heads Up: When only one player is playing at the blackjack table.

Hedging: When you place wagers on the opposite side (in sports betting) to try to cut your losses or guarantee a minimum win.

High-Bet: Betting on all of the numbers from 19 to 36 when playing roulette.

High-Card: The highest card in a player’s hand during a poker game, when their hand is worth less than a pair.

High Roller: A player with a large bankroll, who plays higher stakes and risks losing more for a bigger reward.

Hi-Lo: Betting the next roll in a craps game will be either a 2 or a 12.

Hit: Requesting another card in blackjack.

Hole Cards: The facedown cards in blackjack that a player or dealer is dealt.

Home Side Advantage: The advantage a home team is expected to have in a sports game.

Hop Bet: A bet in a craps game that the next roll will be a specific dice combination.

Hot: A player on a winning streak, a pokie machine paying out at a high rate or a table where players are frequently winning.

House: Refers to the online or physical casino.

House Rules: The rules that are set by each casino.

House Edge: Every casino game is programmed in the house’s favour, to varying degrees.

I

Implied Odds: Odds that are calculated based on expected earnings rather than current odds.

Inside Bet: In a roulette game where users can bet on numbers 0-36.

Insight Straight Draw: A straight made with a single card, filling the gap the player needs to complete the straight.

Insurance Bet: A side bet that a player can take to protect themselves against the dealer having blackjack. It can only be taken after the dealer shows an ace.

J

Jackpot: The largest prize a player can win in a casino game.

Jacks or Better: A variation of video poker, where hands with a pair of Jack or higher win.

Joker: In poker, the Joker is sometimes used as a wildcard to complete a straight, flush or straight flush. Alternatively, it can be treated like an ace.

Juice: The commission a casino takes on certain games.

Junket: A group of high rollers flown in by a casino.

K

Keno: A lottery-style game where you can bet on numbers from 1 – 80. It’s popular in Australia and Canada.

King Ticket: A Keno ticket where a player selects a single spot (known as the ‘king’) and combines the king with other groups to form multiple tickets on the one ticket.

L

Lay The Odds: When a player wins less than their initial bet.

Limits: In poker, it refers to the restrictions set on how much players can bet or raise during a game.

Linemaker: The person who sets the betting lines in sports betting. Also known as the ‘oddsmaker.’

Live Dealer Games: games that replicate a physical casino by including a live dealer who hosts the game via live stream with live chat functionality.

Low Bet: Placing a bet on all of the first eight numbers during a round of roulette.

Low Triples: During a craps game, when a player rolls triples with the numbers 1, 2 or 3.

Loyalty Programs: A program where online casinos reward their loyal/repeat players, usually with free cash or promotions.

Lump Sum: A lottery payout that’s paid in a single lump sum.

M

Margin: The amount a team (or individual) finishes in front of another team during a match or event.

Marker: An amount that a casino may loan to a player to place a bet, assuming the player has a line of credit approved.

Martingale: A betting strategy where players increase their bet after each loss by doubling and adding one more.

Maximum: The highest wager a casino allows during a specific hand or game.

Minimum: The smallest wager a casino allows in an individual game or hand.

Middle: Betting on the underdog at one point spread and also betting on the favourite at a different point spread, so you get a win on both sides.

Multiplier: Feature on slot machines and pokies that multiplies standard payouts by a predetermined amount of money.

Multi-Hand Games: Usually in video poker, these games allow players to play multiple hands at once to try to win money.

N

Natural: An unbeatable hand. For example, 21 in blackjack, or 8 or 9 in baccarat.

Net Winnings: The total profit made by a player from a winning bet/s.

No Action: In sports betting, when there is no money lost or won in a wager.

No Deposit Bonus: Players receive a free cash bonus (or free spins) without having to deposit any money into their online casino account.

No Limit: When there is no bet size limit per round during a casino game.

Non-Sticky Bonus: A bonus that doesn’t come with any wagering requirements from the casino operator.

O

Odds: The direct chance of winning a game or a round.

Off The Board: A sports betting term that means the bookmaker isn’t taking any bets on a specific game or tournament at the moment.

Off Suit: Cards of different types of suits in a poker hand.

Omaha: A version of poker that’s similar to Texas Hold’em. Multiple betting rounds are allowed using only one deck of cards, and players share community cards.

On: When a player only needs one more number to get bingo.

Online Casino: An online version of a physical casino, where players can play their favourite online casino games from their computer, tablet or mobile.

Open: In a poker hand, this casino term refers to the original pre-flop raiser.

Open-Ended Straight Draw: A straight you can make with one of two cards to complete either end of a straight. For example, a 6 or an ace if a player holds a hand of 2, 3, 4 and 5.

Optimal Strategy: In some games, there’s a way to play that will give players a better chance of winning, or help to minimise the chance of losing.

Outdraw: Making a better hand in poker by drawing better cards.

Outlaw Line: Refers to the earliest line in sports betting.

Outside Bet: Refers to even money bets in a roulette game, like like black/red, even/odd, and high/low.

Over/Under: A sports betting term referring to betting on whether the combined total of the points or goals scored by both two teams will be more or less than a specified number (set by the bookmaker).

Overdrawn: A number in a bingo game that appears to be drawn more frequently than other numbers.

Overlay: Beneficial odds for a player during a casino game.

P

Pair: In a poker hand, when a player has two cards of the same rank.

Parlay: To bet on two or more games with the aim of reinvesting the winnings from your first win to the next wager. To win, all selections must be correct.

Pass: When a player folds and decides not to continue participating in a poker hand.

Pat: A blackjack hand worth 17 or more.

Payline: The line of symbols on a slots reel that pays out when a winning combination of symbols is hit. It can be a straight line across all reels or form various predetermined shapes depending on the casino game.

Payout: The total amount returned to a player after they win a bet.

Payout Odds: Used to work out how much a player will win from a winning bet against their initial stake. For example, odds of 2:1 means a player will win $2 for every $1 they bet.

Payout Percentage: The percentage (based on statistics) of every bet that will be returned to the player. For example, a 95% payout percentage is expected to pay out $0.95 for every dollar you bet. The rest is kept by the casino, representing the house’s edge.

Payout Table: Displays how much can be won for the winning combinations on a pokies machine, or for winning hands in a video poker game.

Pineapple: A variant of poker similar to Texas Hold’em. It features multiple betting rounds and one deck of cards. Players receive three hole cards and share community cards.

Pit: Physical casinos are divided into separate areas called pits, which have different
separate pits, with each pit containing a number of betting table stations. The central area of each is only for the players and casino employees.

Pit Boss: A casino employee who is responsible for overseeing fair play in the pit area.

Place Bet: A bet in a game of craps that wins if a certain number is rolled before the round ends. The bet automatically loses if the shooter hits the point (or a 7) before hitting the number.

Play for Fun: Many online casinos offer play-for-fun casino games, where players can play and try out the game without investing their own money.

Pocket Cards: The cards that are dealt face down during a game.

Points Spread: In sports betting, this term refers to the points given to a team that’s less likely to win to help even up its odds against the team that’s expected to win.

Position: The order in which a player acts throughout a round. For example, an early position player is the first to act, in contrast to late position players who only act after all other players.

Pot: The total amount of money or chips that is awarded to the winner during a hand of poker.

Powerball: A version of the lottery where the jackpot is won when you match five numbers as well as the bonus ball. Lesser prize money can be won by combining a lesser combination of numbers.

Progressive Betting: A style of betting that involves increasing your stakes after a win. Negative progression works by increasing your stakes after a loss.

Progressive Jackpot: A jackpot game that gets larger over time until it’s won. It’s often linked to a number of machines, and once it goes off, the machines go back to the starting amount.

Progressive Slot: A pokie machine game linked to other progressive jackpot machines that pool the prize across many online players.

Proposition Bet: In sports betting, this is a special wager that is offered on unique or different events, including politics, trial outcomes and more.

Punto: In a game of baccarat, it refers to the player. It’s also a bet that’s placed on the player winning and the hand that sits opposite the banker.

Push: Another way to say a tie in a game of blackjack, when no one wins.

Q

Quads: A poker hand comprising four cards of the same rank.

Quarter Bet: A bet on four numbers on the roulette wheel using a single wager.

Quick Pick: A lottery ticket where the numbers are automatically generated at random.

R

Rag: A card with little value in poker that doesn’t help to improve a player’s hand.

Railbird: A person watching a casino game from a safe distance, so they don’t influence the game or players.

Rake: A term in poker that refers to a percentage or a flat fee collected by the house for each hand played.

Re-bet: A bet that wagers the same amount as the previous game.

Re-buy: When a player is running low on money or chips (or has been knocked out of the hand), they can re-buy back into the game.

Reels: The rotating part of a pokie machine covered in symbols. Once a player places their bets, they spin the reels to see if the bet wins. Most online slots have five reels, although you can play games with three, seven, or nine reels.

Reload Bonus: A bonus given by an online casino in the form of money or credit when players deposit a certain amount into their account.

Reverse Tells: Refers to a player’s body language, expressions, or repeated actions that can intentionally give false information about their hand.

Random Number Generator (RNG): A system that generates random numbers, cards, and reels in casino games.

Roulette Wheel: The rotating wheel that determines which bets win and lose during roulette. Usually contains 37 or 38 distinct pockets.

Royal Flush: The best hand in a game of poker that is made up of the Ace, King, Queen, Jack, and ten of the same suit.

Royalties: Special bonuses that you can win for playing pre-determined hands.

S

Scalper: In sports betting, a scalper is someone who tries to profit from the differences in odds between bookmakers. They usually bet both sides of the game at different odds.

Scare Card: A perceived advantage in poker gained by an opponent from a single community card.

Scared Money: When the betting action is out of reach of your purchasing power.

Scatter Symbol: Refers to scatter symbol pokie machines which have various bonus features, including multipliers and free spins.

Scouts: In blackjack, used to describe someone who studies a table until it’s ready for a card counter to join at the right time for big payouts.

Semi-Bluff: This strategy relies on you having a hand with only a small chance of winning, semi-bluffing to give it more importance than it has.

Seven Card Stud: A popular version of poker where players don’t tap into a community pool of cards. Instead, they bet on multiple rounds, and the cards are dealt both face down and face up.

Sign-up Bonus: A bonus that’s available from online casinos when you sign up to their platform.

Shoe: A box that’s used to hold and dispense cards at a gaming table.

Shooter: The person who rolls the dice in a game of craps.

Shuffle: Randomly mixing the cards so the order is uncertain.

Side Bet: A bet that can be placed on an outcome not directly related to the game’s result. For example, placing a side bet in blackjack on whether the total value of your first two cards is higher or lower than 13.

Short Stack: In poker, a player who enters the game with a smaller stack than the other players.

Short-Handed: Fewer players in the game than is usually recommended.

Showdown: The final stage in a round of poker when each player reveals their hand.

Shut Out: When you’ve tried to place a bet too late. For example, the game has already started.

Sic Boc: A dice game with three dice where players try and guess the outcome of the roll.

Side Pot: Formed when a player decides to go all-in. Creates a separate large pot to be won.

Simple Bet: Betting on one number in a craps game, with the payout changing depending on how often the number has been rolled already.

Slot Machine: A video game terminal, known as a pokie machine in NZ. Designed to pay out winnings when you hit specific combinations.

Smooth Call: In poker, a smooth call is when you call a bet but don’t raise it. Also known as a flat call.

Soft Hand: A hand in blackjack containing an ace, allowing players to be a little more flexible.

Split Hand: When you split your two cards in a game of blackjack to create two hands (and two separate bets). There can be different rules about when you can split hands depending on game and casino rules.

Split Pair: In Seven Card Stud, this is when a down and up card are a match (therefore forming a pair).

Sportsbook: The casino or online bookmaker that offers markets on sports, entertainment, politics and more.

Spread: A point spread relates to sports betting. It’s the points you think a team is going to win or lose by. If you cover the spread, your bet wins regardless if the team loses.

Staggered Payout: When a pokies or slot machine pays out more the more you wager.

Stakes: Generally refers to the betting limits in various casino games.

Standing Hand: A hand in blackjack that’s valued at 17 or higher.

Standoff: In poker, this refers to when both hands are of equal value.

Sticky Bonus: A type of bonus that can be bet but can’t be withdrawn. This bonus combines your deposit and bonus. And you need to fulfil the wagering requirements before you can withdraw your deposit or any winnings.

Straight Bet: The term is found in roulette when a player bets on a single number with the highest payout. Also used in sports betting when you back a team, player or horse to win.

Street Bet: In roulette when you place three numbers at the same time.

Stud Poker: A poker variation where you play with cards up and down.

Suit: The symbol on playing cards that include clubs, diamonds, hearts, and spades.

Super Stud: This version of poker is similar to Caribbean Stud, but players benefit from a progressive jackpot.

Surrender: Used in blackjack when a player withdraws from a round and loses half of their current stake.

Symbols: The numbers, letters and icons on a pokies or slot machine.

T

Table: Used in poker, indicating all the cards are face up during the last stage of the hand.

Table Hold: The total profit made by a casino table game over a set period of time.

Take Odds: If a player makes this type of bet, they’re betting at odds that don’t favour the other side. Typically used in betting exchanges.

Taking The Points: In sports betting, when a player backs up the underdog on a point spread.

Tap Out: When a player is finished playing and betting. It can also mean when a player has no money left in their account to continue playing.

Tank: To take your time thinking about how a scenario plays out before acting.

Teaser: A type of accumulator bet where the fixtures slightly favour the bettor.

Tells: When other players can read what your cards are during a live game of poker, or other types of games that require player interaction. For example, you scratch your nose when you have a strong hand.

Texas Hold Em: One of the most popular versions of poker to play in an online casino.

Three of a Kind: Refers to having three of the same cards in a hand of poker.

Tie: When two teams end up with the same score at the end of a game.

Toke: An alternative term for a tip for the dealer.

Tournament: A common gambling term for a competition with a prize pool and entry fee.

Triple: A bet in a craps game predicting all three dice will show the same number.

True Odds: The actual odds of a bet winning, based on mathematical probability.

Turn: When the fourth card is revealed during a poker game.

U

Under: A bet that the total points scored will be under a specific number, usually pre-determined by the online bookmaker.

Underplay: A player plays their strong hand slowly at the start of a poker game.

Up Card: The dealer’s card that’s showing in a game of blackjack.

Up the Ante: To increase the basic bet required in a game of poker to receive cards.

V

Value: Betting at the best possible odds for a sports bet, against the smallest possible house edge.

Value Bet: A bet on an event that’s been mispriced by the sportsbook.

Video Poker: A version of poker played on a machine like a slot machine. Players only play against the house, which typically has a very low house edge. Learn how to play video poker in our comprehensive guide.

VIP Player: A player by a casino as high value, typically because they spend regularly or bet high stakes.

VIP Program: A reward program online casinos use to recognise and reward players for their gambling activity.

W

Wager: A bet.

Wagering Requirements: The requirements set by a casino that a player must meet before they can withdraw their winnings. This means betting a certain amount of a player’s own money.

Whale: Super-wealthy players who spend vast amounts of money at online casinos and don’t care about whether they win or lose.

Wheels: A five-card straight in a poker game that starts with an ace through to five.

Wild Card: A card that can substitute for any card, usually the Joker.

Wild Symbols: In pokies and slot games, these symbols provide different effects to help maximise player payouts.

Withdrawal: Taking money or earnings out of an online casino account.

X

X-Factor: In a game of poker, the unknown trait of a player can swing the outcome of a game in another player’s favour.

Y

Yankee: Refers to a four-section sports bet consisting of 11 individual wagers, split through doubles, four trebles and a single four-fold accumulator.

Yield: The amount a player has been able to win during their gambling session. Calculated by the amount spent vs. net winnings.

Yo: In craps, this bet is placed on 11 with an expected outcome of rolling either 5-6 or 6-5.

Z

Zero Sum Game: When the amount that’s won by one side equals the losses of the other side.

Now that you’ve got the lingo down, why not test it out at New Zealand’s best online casinos?

References:

• eCogra. “iGaming Testing & Inspection”, https://ecogra.org/testing-inspection/
• Wikipedia. “Gambler’s fallacy”, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gambler%27s_fallacy
• Wikipedia. “Martingale (betting system)”, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Martingale_(betting_system)