Gambling Lingo - Gambling Terminology - Gambling Terms

Knowing what each gambling lingo term means can help explain terminology used in online gambling.

Action
Amount of money put into play (action) during a gambling session.
Ante
A compulsory bet of equal share that is placed into (for instance a poker hand) the pot before gambling continues.
Bankroll
Total amount of money a gambler has at their disposal when in a gambling session.
Betting Limits
Minimum and maximum wager (bet) that a gambler can place on a game.
Barred
Normally reference is when a player chooses to ban themselves from a casino or gambling establishment. This can be either land based or online casino or poker or sports book.
Banned
A gambler who has either barred them self from a gambling venue voluntarily or otherwise has been excluded by management. In normal circumstances management will only ban a person who has either been caught cheating or may hold a strong opinion that a person has been partied to dodgy, unacceptable behavior.
Blind Bet
The term "blind" is used as the player has not been dealt any cards, but has to make a bet. This term is used in Poker.
Bluff
To discourage players in a poker game. The player who uses the bluff may have a worthless hand but wants everyone to think they have a winning hand.
Boat
Slang term for a Full House.
Bug
A Joker.
Bump
Raising your wager in a Poker game.
Burn Cards
Cards removed from the top of a card deck after the cards have been shuffled.
Capping
Placing extra chips on top of your wager after the game commences. Not a highly regarded practice. On practice that will earn you a warning.
Card Counting
Used in blackjack to count the number of high cards left in the deck.
Card Shark
A professional card player.
Cold
Normally reserved for Video Poker or Slot machines. Meaning they are not paying.
Color Up
Exchange low chip denominations for higher chip denominations.
Comps
Complementary gifts given to players. Casino Comps are given for a period of gambling depending on the amount of money played through the casino over a given amount of time.
Croupier
Dealer meaning croupier in French.
Designated Dealer
Poker games such as Texas hold'em the gambler sitting left of the dealer bets first. In poker rooms where they have a static dealer, each player is a proxy designated dealer for each hand.
Dime Bet
A $1000 wager.
Dollar Bet
A $100 wager.
Dividend
Payout or return on any give wager or bet.
Down Card
A card not showing its face value.
Dont Come Bet
Craps - A wager placed on the Don't Come Bar. Same rules as the Don't Pass Line, except placed after the come-out roll.
Dont Pass Bet
Craps - A wager placed prior to the Come-Out Roll that a seven will be rolled before a point is repeated.
Dont Pass Line
Area on the layout where Dont Pass Bets are placed.
Double Up
Increase a bet on a hand after the first two cards are drawn.
Double Down
A second bet of equal value to the first on a blackjack hand. When a double down is bet the player receives only one card in addition to the players original cards.
Draw
All players hold the same or equal winning stake & no betting option to cover a draw is offered. The dividend of such a game is divided between those players who hold a draw.
Edge
Normally known as the "house edge" a term used to describe the percentage advantage the house holds on each gambling game. It also can be used to describe a player; that player over there has an edge over those at that table as he is a skilled gambler.
Even Money
Pay off 1 to 1
Expected Win Rate
Percentage of the total amount of money wagered that you can expect to win or lose over time.
Face Card
King, Queen or Jack of any suit.
Family Pot
When every player in the poker hand places a bet.
Fifth Street
In seven-card stud, the third round of betting is called fifth street because players have five cards. In hold'em , fifth street is the fifth card on board and the final round of wagering (betting).
Flat Top
No it's not a haircut. A slot machine where it has a fixed jackpot, as opposed to a progressive slot jackpot machine.
Flop
In a game of hold'em, the three cards dealt face-up in the center of the table.
Flush
A hand consisting of five cards of one suit. (Hearts, Clubs, Diamonds, Spades)
Fold
In poker, when a player declines a bet and drops out of the hand.
Foul
In pai gow poker, a hand is fouled when the two-card low hand is set higher than the five-card high hand, or when the hands are set with the wrong number of cards. A fouled hand is a losing hand.
Four of a Kind
Four cards of the same rank. Can also be named quads. EG Four Aces, Four 3's or four cards of the same denomination from each suit of cards.
Fourth Street
In seven-card stud, the second round of betting is called fourth street because players have four cards. In hold'em, fourth street is the fourth card on board and the third round of betting.
Full House
Poker or Video Poker, a hand consisting of a three of a kind and a pair. EG - Three Kings & two 3's would be a "Full House".
Get Even
Amount you need to win to break even, return to the bankroll you began your gambling session with.
Hard Hand
In blackjack, any hand that does not contain an ace valued at eleven.
Hardways Bets
In Craps Hard Six (two 3's) and Hard Eight (two 4's), pay 9 to 1, and Hard Four (two 2's) and Hard Ten (two 5's), pay 7 to 1. You win if the Hardway you are betting rolls before a 7 or a non-pair combination of the number bet.
High Roller
A gambler who wagers (bets) large amounts.
Hit
To take another card, usually common used in the game of blackjack.
Hole Card
The dealer's face down card.
Hot
A gambler experiencing a winning streak. Also used to describe a slot machine or video poker machine that is paying out.
Horn Bet
A one roll bet that combines the 2, 3, 11, and 12.
House Advantage
The casino percentage advantage in each particular casino game. Commonly gained by paying less than the odds.
Insurance
Allows those playing blackjack the opportunity to place a side bet if the dealer is showing an Ace. If the dealer hits blackjack the player/s who have taken out insurance are paid 2-1. If the dealer does not have blackjack the insurance bet is lost.
Juice
Bookmakers commission, also know as vigorish.
Klipper
A person who mills around casinos looking for free hand outs.
Let it Ride
Casino game based on Poker.
Load Up
To wager the maximum coins that a slot machine or video poker machine will allow.
Loose
A slot machine or video poker machine that often pays out.
Lumpy
A dealer called in to replace another dealer as the previous dealer was not dealing the cards smoothly.
Mechanic
Slang for a dealer who is crooked, dodgy or is known to cheat.
Monkey
Chinese term used in casinos for a card valued at ten.
Nickels
$5 dollar chips.
Non negotiable
Promotional chip/s that can not be exchanged for cash. However the proceeds of this chip/s can be exchanged for cash.
Odds
Percentage possibilities in gambling.
One Roll Bets
Wagers that will win or lose depending on the next roll of the dice.
Overlay
A good bet where the player has an edge over the casino.
Pay-Off
The return or payback a gambler receives based on their wager.
Pay Table
The chart that shows what each win pays. Normally associated to slot machines, video poker or keno.
Pallette
The flat paddle used on the baccarat tables to scoop the cards.
Pass Line Bet
A bet made prior to the come out roll that a point will repeat.
Pass Line
The area where a Pass Line Bet is placed.
Pit
Area of the casino where group of game tables are arranged. The center area is restricted to dealers and other casino personnel.
Pit Boss
Supervisor who oversees a gaming area. Usually supervises more than one table at the same time.
Point
Dice term for the number rolled on the come-out roll if a 4, 5, 6, 8, 9 or 10. The point has to be repeated before a seven rolls for the Pass Line bets to win.
Pocket Cards
Sometimes referred to as hole cards or down cards, these cards are dealt face down. A third card is dealt to each player face up. Face up cards are also called open cards or up cards.
Press a Bet
Adding the winnings over the current bet to 'let it ride'.
Probability
A mathematical equation to determine the possible outcome of a given event.
Proposition Bet
Dice bets on number combinations.
Push
A tie hand between a dealer and a gambler.
Quarters
$25 dollar bet.
Rated
Determination by the casino that a player's skill level is above average or on a professional level. A player's rating may be stored on computer and referred to the pit.
Right Bettor
A gambler betting on the pass line.