Knowledge of the gambling glossary is important for every casino player. It helps to understand the world of gambling and makes the gaming process easier and faster. Here you have the 20 most common and useful casino terms explained.
There are a large number of special words and phrases that are used to describe gambling processes. For this list, we have collected the 20 most popular and common terms you can see at all online casinos. If you are a beginner gambler, this is the background you should have to start playing real money casino games online.
20 most common casino terms explained
Below you will find the 20 words and phrases with explanations and some examples from the casino terminology.
Action
Action can refer to two things. The first one is the player’s move in any casino game. When the dealer says “Action!” he/she means that it’s your turn. The second meaning refers to the total amount of money put into play.
All-in
All-in is a popular option in most table games. It means a betting action that players can make to place a bet using all chips or money they have.
Bankroll
Bankroll is basically your virtual budget. This is the money stored in your account and available for playing casino games.
Betting limits
Each casino sets its own betting limits. Limits show the lowest and the highest sum of money you can bet in a single game. Also, casinos may set limits for players for a certain period of time, not for one game.
Bonus
Players can receive various types of bonuses at online casinos. They are rewards given to new and loyal players for making certain actions (e.g. depositing money or referring a friend). With the help of the best online casino bonuses, players can save their own money and play games for free.
Buy-in
Buy-ins are used in most table games. They are amounts of money you must pay to enter a casino game or tournament. Amounts of buy-in sums vary from one game to another and from one casino to another.
Casino advantage
Casino advantage shows how likely the casino is to win money. House edge for each game is calculated as the ratio of the expected player loss to his initial amount of bet. The lower the house edge, the higher are the chances of winning for players.
Chips
Chips are rounded pieces of plastic or any other material that are used to replace cash in casinos. All chips have their own values – it depends on the color of each chip. Before players start playing games, they must exchange their money for chips. Online casinos use virtual chips in various games.
Comp points
Comp points, comps, or reward points are added to a player’s account as a part of any bonus program or for fulfilling any casino requirements (e.g. making a deposit). These points can be later exchanged for various prizes, real or virtual cash.
Dealer
The dealer is an employee at an online casino or in a land-based casino. He or she is responsible for accepting bets, distributing cards, spinning the roulette wheel, and other functions that take place during the gameplay.
Deposit
Deposit is the money all players have to put into their casino accounts. If they don’t do it, they won’t be allowed to play games. Some online casinos let their players try out playing games for free and even win. However, to withdraw your winnings, you must make a deposit following the casino regulations. Each casino has its own rules about deposits and deposit bonuses.
Hand
A hand is a set of cards each player holds in his hands. Each game allows players to make a hand of various combinations, and values, and use different numbers of cards for that. For example, blackjack requires players to make a hand from two cards, in most poker games – from five to seven cards, and so on. Here you can learn about winning poker hands.
High roller
Have you heard about VIP players? High rollers have a bit lower level at online casinos than VIPs. High rollers are players who place big bets at online casinos or deposit large amounts of money on a permanent basis. In return, these players receive a high roller status that brings along various rewards and bonuses.
House edge
House edge is another name for casino advantage. As the house edge is used as frequently as a casino advantage, you should know that both denote the likelihood of the casino winning.
Jackpot
Jackpot is the biggest money prize the player wins. There is no limit for online casino jackpots, especially if you play progressive jackpot games. Jackpots are present mostly in slots; in other games, the cash prize is called a prize pool or pot.
Live dealer games
Live dealer games are common casino games (poker, roulette, craps, etc) played online but with a human dealer. The game takes place in a real casino or studio and the gameplay is broadcast in real-time. Players follow and participate in the live game via live chats at their online casinos. Read more about live casino games and how they work.
Odds
Odds are used to show the player’s chances of winning this or that game. The higher the odds, the lower the chance of winning is there and vice versa. Odds are used not only in casino games but also in betting.
Table
A casino table is specifically designed for playing casino games. It is featured in most games including roulette, poker, baccarat, and craps. Probably, the only game that doesn’t use the table is slots. A typical casino table has a green (rarely blue or red) surface with a layout with all possible betting options.
The cage
The cage is a special place in the casino where players can exchange their winning chips for real money. This is applicable mostly to land-based casinos as online gambling sites send your winnings directly to your account. To withdraw them, you need to choose which option fits you best: bank transfer, card-to-card transfer, or you want your money to be sent to your e-wallet.
Tournament
A tournament is a consecutive series of games in poker, baccarat, slots, and some other casino games. In casino tournaments, players compete against each other until someone scores the most points or one player is left at the table. Usually, the winner of the tournament takes the whole prize pool, but in some tournaments, players from the top-10 are also rewarded. The World Series of Poker is the most popular tournament in the gambling world.
