Casino Glossary

New to casinos? Learn the language of gambling with our comprehensive glossary of terms used in land-based and online casinos.

General Terms

Action
The total amount of money wagered by a player during a gaming session.
Bankroll
The total amount of money a player has set aside for gambling.
Cage
The cashier area in a casino where chips are exchanged for cash.
Comp
Complimentary items or services given to players by the casino (meals, rooms, shows).
Edge
The mathematical advantage the house has over players, expressed as a percentage.
High Roller
A player who consistently wagers large amounts of money.
House
The casino or gambling establishment.
Marker
A line of credit extended by the casino to a player.
Pit
An area of table games supervised by pit bosses.
Pit Boss
A casino supervisor who oversees table games in a specific area.
RTP
Return to Player - the percentage of wagered money a game pays back over time.
Toke
A tip or gratuity given to casino dealers.
Whale
An extremely high-stakes gambler who bets very large sums.

Table Games

Ante
An initial bet required before cards are dealt in some games.
Blackjack
A hand totaling 21 with the first two cards, typically an ace and a 10-value card.
Box Cars
In craps, a roll of double sixes (12).
Bust
In blackjack, to go over 21 and lose the hand.
Come Out Roll
In craps, the first roll of the dice to establish a point.
Double Down
In blackjack, doubling your bet in exchange for receiving only one more card.
Even Money
A bet that pays 1:1 - win the same amount wagered.
Hit
In blackjack, to request another card from the dealer.
Natural
A blackjack (21) dealt with the initial two cards.
Push
A tie between the player and dealer where the bet is returned.
Snake Eyes
In craps, a roll of double ones (2).
Split
In blackjack, dividing a pair into two separate hands.
Stand
In blackjack, to refuse additional cards and keep your current hand.
Surrender
In blackjack, forfeiting half your bet to end the hand early.

Slots

Bonus Round
A special feature in a slot game offering additional winning opportunities.
Free Spins
Spins awarded without requiring additional wagers.
Jackpot
The top prize in a slot machine game.
Max Bet
The maximum amount that can be wagered on a single spin.
Payline
A line across the reels where matching symbols must land to win.
Progressive
A jackpot that increases over time as more players contribute.
Scatter
A symbol that pays regardless of position and often triggers bonuses.
Volatility
How often and how much a slot pays out; high volatility means bigger but rarer wins.
Wild
A symbol that substitutes for other symbols to complete winning combinations.

Poker

All-In
Betting all of your remaining chips.
Blinds
Forced bets placed before cards are dealt to start action.
Bluff
Betting or raising with a weak hand to make opponents fold.
Call
Matching the current bet to stay in the hand.
Check
Passing the action to the next player without betting.
Flop
The first three community cards dealt face-up in Texas Hold'em.
Fold
Surrendering your cards and forfeiting your bets.
Muck
To discard your hand without showing it.
Pot
The total amount of chips wagered in a hand.
Raise
Increasing the current bet amount.
River
The fifth and final community card in Texas Hold'em.
Turn
The fourth community card in Texas Hold'em.

Online Casino

Bonus
Extra funds or free spins offered by online casinos as promotions.
Deposit Match
A bonus that matches a percentage of your deposit amount.
KYC
Know Your Customer - identity verification required by online casinos.
Live Dealer
Real dealers operating games via video stream in real-time.
No Deposit Bonus
A bonus given without requiring a deposit.
RNG
Random Number Generator - software ensuring fair and random game outcomes.
Wagering Requirement
The number of times you must bet a bonus before withdrawing.
Withdrawal
The process of cashing out winnings from your casino account.