The world of casino gambling is very beautiful and exciting, but for beginners certain phrases and terms used in casinos, both earthen and online casinos, can be incomprehensible. Each casino game comes with a unique set of rules and terminology that accompanies them. This article will primarily benefit beginners, but also players who have been playing for a long time; it may be useful to remind them of certain gambling terms, as well as their meanings.
You’ve all heard of All In, but what does this term basically mean in a casino? All In is a term you will primarily come across in online poker, which is used when a player bets all his remaining chips in the game in his current hand. In No-Limit Poker, you can always “enter” All In, regardless of the current bet.
Ante
Ante is a gambling term derived from the Latin word meaning “before” and means a bet that a player makes before the deal begins. Ante is usually mandatory bets and you will come across them in casino poker.
Action
By placing money and chips down, big spenders bring ‘activity’ to the gaming tables. The ‘activity’ is the total amount wagered on a single event over a set period of time, generally at a sports book. Similarly, a dealer may remark, “The action is on you,” indicating that it is your turn.
Accumulator
An accumulator is a type of bet that is popular in sports betting and horse racing. It is used when a player chooses a number of alternatives to wager on during an event.
Any gains from the first bet are instantly transferred to the next, and so on – the bet only stands if each bet is correct.
Accumulators are sometimes known colloquially as a ‘Acca.’
Back on the game
When a person returns to the game after being away from it for an extended period of time – maybe in prison or while attempting to ‘get straight’ – they are back in the game.
Baccarat
Baccarat is a popular card game where the player can choose the hand he wants to play.
Blackjack
Blackjack is also a popular card game where players play against dealers and try to get as close as possible to number 21.
Backer
A rich individual who funds another player. Eddie Felson plays a brassy pool shark in Paul Newman’s classic The Hustler (1961). Felson’s affluent ‘backer’ is played by George C. Scott, while Jackie Gleason as famed Minnesota ‘Fats’.
Bankroll
Set aside money for gaming. Professionals use the term to refer to the funds they utilize for ‘work.’ When you win, your ‘bankroll’ grows, and when you lose, it shrinks!
Bet
A bet placed on a game of blackjack, roulette, a slot machine, or in a sports book. Some table games may have a minimum or maximum wager, or there may be no restriction at all for big rollers.
Buy-in
When players exchange cash for casino chips, the amount paid is referred to as their buy-in. The buy-in in poker refers to the cost of entering a tournament.
Chips
Chips are tokens used in casino table games. While considering their next move, poker players ‘riffle’ them.
Cold/Hot
When players are on a losing streak, the gambling tables get cold. Running hot is significantly more profitable.
Comped
Casino regulars that frequently bet large sums of money will get ‘comped’ 0 everything from accommodations, dinners, event tickets, and much more. Even low-stakes gamblers may anticipate free beverages.
Double or nothing
You double your money if you win your wager on red or black in roulette. You receive nothing if you lose.
Doubling down
A second gamble that, while potentially dangerous, improves your holdings. In blackjack, players double down after seeing their first two cards, with the need that one more card be drawn.
Down and dirty
In seven-card stud poker, this term refers to the final card of seven, which is dealt face down. The term “down and dirty” may also refer to aggressive betting and competitiveness.
Eight, Skate and Donate
A no-limit game with an $8 minimum stake is sometimes referred to as a no-limit game.
Eyes of Texas
A pair of aces in Texas Hold’em poker, especially when they are a player’s down cards.
High Roller
Big spenders with more money than the ordinary punter but less than a whale.
Juice
The commission charged by the house on games such as baccarat and craps.
Let it ride
The name of a card game at a casino. Let it ride is also a term used by roulette players who leave their winning chips on the table in the hopes of winning again on the same number.
Railbirds
Spectators who stand back and observe the high rollers and whales without dipping into their pockets to play.
Random number generator (RNG)
A random number generator is a device that generates unexpected and random numbers through a multi-step procedure to confirm that they are indeed random.
Return to Player
Return to Player (RTP) is a term used by casinos to describe the percentage of all wagered money that a VLT or slot machine will return to players over time. For example, if you place a hundred $1 wagers on a machine with an RTP of 90%, you would expect to earn roughly $90.
Toke
A gratuity from a player on a winning run, generally for the dealer. The means “token of gratitude.”
Whale
Individuals with uber-wealth don’t always care if they win or lose. They are only there to provide entertainment. ‘Comped’ whales usually pay nothing!
Zombie
A poker player who has no ‘tells,’ exhibits no emotion, and does not reveal what cards are in his or her hand.
When you don’t understand the jargon, gambling might be daunting. On the floor of a casino, for that matter – you’ll hear a lot of gambling words. And it might be difficult to keep up while you’re in the thick of a game. Knowing certain crucial words and phrases ahead of time will improve your play and give you a better understanding of what goes into each move.