Our casino and gambling glossary is very useful, you will find every term used so that the next time when you are sitting among friends playing cards, craps or any other table game; you will certainly be well-aware and versed with all the different casino terms. Make our gambling dictionary your companion and watch as you build your vocabulary. Slots Dictionary: Definitions of slot machine related terminology & lingo. 02:25 Jul 17th, 2018 Games Online Gambling, Slots. Action- Slot action refers to all of the slot machine playing time accumulated by a.
Playing games and gambling in casinos has been a pastime of people for many centuries. In its impressive and varied history casinos have grown and expanded with the number and types of different games available growing year upon year. As the casino business has developed so has its language with many interesting terms and jargon being used to describe games, betting types and actions commonly found in the industry. In modern times the industry has enjoyed continued growth, and now you don’t even have to enter a casino to play the games with a wealth of them available to play online, either by yourself, or interacting with other players from across the globe.
If you are an avid casino game player you may be familiar with some of the terms that are used, whether specific to a particular type of game such as poker or blackjack, or more general terms used in the gambling world. However those who are new to the thrill of the casino may not be so familiar, and it is easy to get confused when these terms are used, so it’s good to familiarise yourself with them to make sure you stay on top of your game! Below we have listed some of the most common slang terms used in the casino which you can study, memorise, or print out and keep with you to use as a handy reference guide when playing. You can also visit onlinecasinobluebook.com for more casino explanation on terms and slang! Once you have studied up on your casino slang terms why not take the Lingo of the casino quiz with Ladbrokes?!
Action – this is a casino term used to describe the placing of bets by player(s) in a game. It is most commonly used in card games and is easily remembered as the betting is the ‘action’ that the players have to make to be in the game. Alternatively a dealer in a poker card game can use the term to refer to which player is now in a position to bet.
Ante: This is a very useful phrase to know when it comes to gambling! The Ante is a bet that a player must make before other players can bet, so there is always money in the pot. It is used to force action by other players and keeps the game moving. Without the anti no one would be forced to bet so hands could be played where no money is won or lost which is not the point of the game!
Bankroll: It’s a good idea before you enter a casino or start playing online to have a bankroll. This refers to the entire sum of cash that you are willing to gamble with. A top tip is to never go over this to ensure you are always gambling within your means! If you don’t do this you might be referred to as a Pigeon, Plunker or Steamer – a person who continues to chase his or her losses.
Betting Limits -a fairly self explanatory term used to describe the specific limit that a player can bet with. Slotting machines often have betting limits i.e. 10/20 cents or $1 a go, and the ‘max bet’ is the multiple of this that you can bet up to, for example there may be a betting limit of $1 and the max bet is 5 x this, so $5.
A Blind bet -another easy term to remember that you will often hear in poker games where a player bets without knowing what card will come up next.
The Cage -this is where the casino keeps all its money!
ColourUp – this refers to chips you get at a casino to use in a variety of games. If you colour up, you are asking the dealer to exchange smaller value chips for larger ones. Often people do this at the end of their games to make it easier to exchange their chips for cash!
Eye-in-the-sky – these are the surveillance cameras that keep an eye on everything going on in the casino. Although casinos have many staff members and security guards who watch over players ensuring that they spot anyone who may be cheating, or behaving inappropriately, surveillance cameras are used as an extra measure to keep everything safe and secure.
Fish – if you are new to gambling you may well be referred to as a ‘fish’. It is a cheeky (but affectionate) way of describing someone who is new to the gambling world.
Hit me – used in blackjack to indicate to the dealer that the player wants another card
Junket – if you hear this term being used then keep your eyes peeled! A junket refers to a group of big, experienced, high rolling players who have been flown in especially on a charted plane at the casinos expense.
Overlay – if you hear this word you are in for a treat! Overlay means that the gambling situation is in favour of the gambler i.e you are more than likely to receive more money than you bet, if you win.
Shill – this is an interesting one. Essentially a shill is a filler player. They are paid by the house to sit in on games to make up numbers. They are commonly used in poker games. This is also called a ‘prop’ or ‘proposition player’.
Toke -A tip for the dealer. This is customary in larger casinos, and is expected if you have done pretty well while gambling at that particular table. Often dealers make the majority of their wages this way, so it is important to remember that if you leave with a good return on your investment. You might also hear someone being referred to as a George which means they tip well, or a Stiff for someone who does not!
Whales – a fantastic term used to describe players that are so rich they can happily lose millions in the casino seemingly without a care in the world. You rarely see a Whale around a regular casino playing table, and, as with actual Whales they are a very rare breed with only around 250 in the world!
Turkey – another term that you certainly don’t want to be called in the casino, or anywhere for that matter! A Turkey refers to someone who acts unpleasantly towards the dealer, usually because they are losing or think they know the rules better!
86’d (eighty-sixed) – Let’s hope you don’t hear this term being used too often! To be 86’d means getting thrown out of the casino for underhand or undesirable behaviour!
Of course these are just some of the most commonly used slang terms you may hear while in a casino, or playing online. While there are many others, hopefully by understanding these you will have a better idea of how to play the most popular games and what to look out for to make your gambling experience an even more enjoyable and successful one.
Every visit to Las Vegas can become an educational experience for gamblers.
Whether you’re trying a new game for the first time, hitting a casino you’ve never been to before, or diving deep into Sin City’s history, you’ll definitely learn something new whenever you’re here.
And one of the most common lessons learned in Las Vegas concerns the various slang terms used by gamblers and casino staff when the games get underway. After nearly nine decades offering an oasis of legalized gambling for all Americans to enjoy, Las Vegas has developed a language all its own.
Chips are widely known as “checks,” a team favored to win by the sportsbook is called “the chalk,” tips handed out to the dealer are actually “tokes” – you get the idea.
As a lifelong Las Vegas local, colloquial phrases like this have become embedded in my brain, so much so that I barely notice them any longer. But when I spent some time taking a few pals from out of town on a tour of my favorite gambling halls, I struggled with expressing myself in ways they could easily interpret. For a while there, my buddies even thought I was making a few of the slang terms up on the fly.
That experience made me realize just how much I take my “insider” info for granted living in here. With that in mind, I figured putting together a full glossary of commonly used casino gambling phrases might help visitors feel more comfortable during their next trip to Las Vegas.
86’d (or Eighty-Sixed) – A term used to describe property bans handed out to cheats, excessive drunks, and other undesirable patrons. If you’ve been directed to avoid entering all Caesars Entertainment properties, for example, you’ve just been 86’d.
The origins of this phrase are quite murky, but most people believe that the 86 stems from Sin City’s days as a haven for mobsters, most of whom had no reservations about driving victims 8 miles out into the desert, before burying them 6 feet under the sand.
Action – A term with many meanings, action is typically used to describe any pending wager (i.e. “You placed the chip forward sir, so that bet will be considered action win or lose.”) Gamblers also speak about staying “in action” when referring to getting back in the game. A table game with many people placing large bets is also said to have a lot of action.
Aggregate Limit – Casinos use aggregate limits to put a cap on their liability within any given game or wager. In the case of a 1,000 to 1 bonus jackpot on a game like Let It Ride, for example, the aggregate limit might be set at $100,000. In this case, a player betting $100 on the bonus would win the full share, but if two or more players do so successfully, they’d be forced to split the aggregate limit amount evenly amongst themselves.
All-In – In a poker game with no betting limits, such as No Limit Texas Hold’em, going all-in refers to the act of wagering every chip you have in play.
Although it’s used less often in the table game pit, a player is ostensibly going all-in whenever they bet the last of their chips.
Ante – The initial bet required to enter a table game like blackjack or baccarat. Alternatively, at the poker table, an ante is any forced bet all players must contribute before the cards can be dealt.
Bankroll – The money a gambler keeps on hand at all times, usually separate from their non-gambling spending money, to use on the tables, machines, or sportsbook.
Bad Beat – Typically used in poker, a bad beat refers to any loss in which the losing player had a higher probability of winning than their opponent. Holding pocket Aces only to lose to an inferior pocket pair like 5-5 would be deemed a bad beat. Similarly, holding a 20 in blackjack only to see the dealer run out five cards to make 21 would be a bad beat.
Beard – When somebody has been 86’d from the casino or sportsbook, they often resort to using a “beard” – or a trusted third party who places bets on their behalf – to stay in the action.
Burn Card – In games like poker or blackjack, the burn card is any card taken from the top of the deck and placed face down before the actual card in play is dealt.
Burn cards are a holdover from the “Wild West” days of Las Vegas when cheaters ran rampant.
By burning a card before revealing the next one, players and dealers alike ensure that a stacked deck won’t work in the cheater’s favor.
Capping – This term has two meanings, the first of which is simply short for “handicapping,” or the process of picking winners at the sportsbook. Another use for capping involves an act of cheating in which players attempt to “cap” a winning bet with additional chips to increase their payout.
Carpet Joint – Taken from the pre-1950s era when Las Vegas gambling halls had wooden floors sprinkled with sawdust. In 1951, Benny Binion opted to install plush carpet throughout his Horseshoe casino, creating the city’s first carpet joint, in hopes that the luxurious trappings would help to attract high-rollers.
In modern times, a carpet joint typically refers to the ultra-chic 5-star luxury casinos that cater to high-rollers.
Chalk – Whichever side is favored to win a sports bet is often referred to as the chalk.
Check (or Cheque) – As a noun, check or cheque refers to the casino chips used in lieu of cash. As a verb, to check is an action taken at the poker table in which the player declines his option to place the first bet.
Cold Call – At the poker table, cold-calling refers to the act of calling a raise when you haven’t made an initial bet. In other words, when one player in front of you bets, and a second player raises, calling the raise is considered a cold call.
Color Up – Whenever a player or dealer exchanges smaller denomination chips for higher denomination chips of a different color, they’ve colored up. You might slide the dealer a stack of 20 red $5 chips to color up for a single black $100 chip.
Comp – As a noun, a comp is short for “complimentary” and refers to any freebie handed out by the house to reward regular play.
Rooms, buffet meals, and tickets to the in-house show are all commonly awarded comps.
As a verb, to comp is the act of distributing these perks to the player.
Credit – A term used on gaming machines, such as video poker and slot machine games as a substitute for coin denominations. If you slide a $100 bill into a $0.25 video poker machine, you’ll start the game with 400 credits.
Crossfire – A term referring to the small talk made by dealers, either with fellow staff members of players at the table. Often, a dealer mistake will be made in the midst of an intense bout of crossfire which causes them to become distracted.
Croupier – The French word for “dealer,” a croupier is typically found spinning the wheel in the French table game roulette.
Cut Card – In games where a deck of cards, or a shoe containing multiple decks, is used, the dealer uses a special card to cut them after a shuffle. From there, the dealer slides their cut card on the bottom of the deck to prevent players from seeing it when the deck is lifted off the felt.
Dark – As a noun, a dark bet refers to any bet (typically in poker) made before seeing one’s starting hands and/or the community cards. As a verb, dark betting refers to the same action.
Dime – Shorthand for any wager equal to $1,000.
Dirty Stack – Any stack of chips which contains one or more off-colored chips.
If you have 19 of the $5 red chips in a stack, but one of the $1 white chips stuck in the middle somewhere, that stack is said to be dirty.
Dollar – Shorthand for any wager equal to $100
Double Down – A play used in blackjack, typically on 10 or 11 value starting hands, wherein the player adds a second wager equal to their original wager. From there, the dealer gives the double down player one more card, with winning hands receiving the full 2x payout.
Double Up – Any successful bet which pays out at even money odds to produce a 2x payout. In poker, a player who goes all-in and wins a matching amount from their opponent has doubled up.
In video poker, many machines offer a Double Up side game after winners which allows the player to choose a high card at random in hopes of doubling their initial profit.
Down – Shorthand for the shifts, usually 30 minutes in duration, where a dealer is tasked with running a certain table. If your favorite dealer isn’t at this particular table, waiting a down or two will usually bring them by in short order.
Drop – In casino gambling, the drop refers to any chips collected by the casino after player losses.
Medical Term Dictionary
In poker, the drop refers to chips deducted from the pot – which is also known as the “rake” – to pay the poker room’s overhead or build the bad beat jackpot.
Edge – Shorthand for any advantage held during a gambling game. In its most common usage, the house edge refers to the inherent advantage offered to the casino based on a game or wager’s win probability vis a vis its payout. Card counters in blackjack are capable of nullifying the house’s edge, lending themselves a rare player edge in the process.
Even Money – Any payout which is exactly equal to the amount wagered.
Gambling Terms Dictionary
Blackjack bets are always paid out at even money, as are the Player bet in blackjack, the “outside” (Red or Black, Odd or Even, Low or High) bets in roulette, and the minimum payable hand in most forms of video poker.
Casino Terms And Definitions
Eye in the Sky – This term refers to the network of overhead security cameras which are trained on the gaming floor at all times. When the floor staff wants to scrutinize a suspected cheater’s playing habits, they’ll call on security staff to use the eye in the sky.
Conclusion
That does it for the A – E segment of my casino gambling glossary, but be sure to check back with the F – M and N – Z pages as well to complete your education. The world of Las Vegas slang can be a bit difficult to wrap your mind around at first glance, but once you’ve studied this three-part glossary, you’ll be betting like a “reg” (that’s clearly short for regular) in no time flat.