Starting out in the casino world or trying a new game can feel confusing, especially with so many new words and phrases.

That’s why we created our Gambling Glossary! It’s here to help you learn the meanings of casino terms, gambling slang, and even online chat abbreviations.

We update it often, so if you see a term you don’t know, check back, and you’ll likely find it here.

If there’s a word or phrase we missed, please contact us.

A

  • Action: The total amount of money wagered in a session or over time.
  • Ante: A small bet players make to enter a game, commonly in poker.
  • All-in: Betting all your chips or money in a single round, usually in poker.

B

  • Bankroll: The total amount of money a player has set aside for gambling.
  • Bet: The amount of money wagered on a game or event.
  • Blackjack: A card game where the goal is to reach a hand value of 21 without going over.
  • Bonus: Incentives offered by casinos, such as free spins or match bonuses, to attract and retain players.
  • Bonus Buy: A feature in slot games allowing players to buy into a bonus round directly.

C

  • Cash Out: To withdraw winnings or remaining funds from an account.
  • Casino Advantage: The statistical advantage that ensures the casino makes a profit over time, also known as the house edge.
  • Chips: Tokens used in place of cash for betting at table games.
  • Cold Streak: A period where a player experiences repeated losses.
  • Comp Points: Rewards players earn for wagering, redeemable for bonuses, cash, or other perks.

D

  • Dealer: The person who manages the game, deals cards, or spins the roulette wheel.
  • Deck: A standard set of 52 cards used in many casino games.
  • Double Down: A blackjack option where the player doubles their initial bet in exchange for one additional card.

E

  • Edge: The advantage one party has over the other in a game.
  • Even Money: A bet that pays out the same amount as the wager, such as 1:1.

F

  • Free Spins: Spins on a slot machine awarded as part of a promotion or bonus.
  • Full House: In poker, a hand consisting of three cards of one rank and two cards of another rank.
  • Flush: A poker hand containing five cards of the same suit.

G

  • Gamble Feature: A slot machine feature allowing players to risk winnings for a chance to double or multiply them.
  • Gaming License: Official authorization required for a casino to operate legally.
  • Grid: The playing field in a slot game, usually a grid of symbols.

H

  • Hand: The cards dealt to a player in a card game.
  • High Roller: A player who wagers large amounts of money.
  • Hit: In blackjack, requesting another card to improve your hand.
  • House Edge: The casino’s statistical advantage over players.

I

  • In the Money: Winning a payout in a game, particularly in poker tournaments.

J

  • Jackpot: The largest prize in a game, often progressive in nature.
  • Juice: A commission charged by the casino or bookmaker, also known as the vig.

K

  • Kicker: In poker, a side card used to break ties between hands of the same rank.

L

  • Lines: Betting options or odds offered on a sports event.
  • Live Dealer: A real dealer who manages online games via live video stream.

M

  • Martingale System: A betting strategy where the player doubles their bet after each loss to recover losses and make a profit.
  • Max Bet: The highest amount a player can wager in a single round or spin.
  • Multi-hand: A feature in table games allowing players to play multiple hands simultaneously.

N

  • Natural: A blackjack hand totaling 21 with the first two cards dealt.

O

  • Odds: The probability of winning a bet, often expressed as a ratio or percentage.
  • Outs: In poker, the cards that will improve your hand to a likely winner.

P

  • Payline: The line on a slot machine where a winning combination must appear.
  • Payout: The winnings awarded to a player based on their bet and the game’s rules.
  • Pit Boss: A casino employee overseeing the gaming area to ensure fair play.
  • Progressive Jackpot: A jackpot that increases over time as more bets are placed.

Q

  • Quads: A poker term for four of a kind.

R

  • Rake: The fee a casino takes from a poker game pot.
  • Reload Bonus: A bonus offered to existing players when they deposit more money.
  • Re-spin: A slot feature allowing players to spin specific reels again for a cost.
  • RTP (Return to Player): The percentage of wagered money a slot machine returns to players over time.

S

  • Scatter Symbol: A special slot symbol that triggers bonuses or free spins regardless of its position on the grid.
  • Slot: A game featuring spinning reels with symbols, often offering jackpots and bonus rounds.
  • Split: A blackjack option to split two identical cards into two hands.
  • Sportsbook: A platform or area for placing bets on sports events.

T

  • Table Limit: The minimum and maximum bets allowed at a casino table game.
  • Tilt: Emotional frustration leading to poor decision-making, commonly in poker.
  • Turn: In poker, the fourth community card dealt in Texas Hold’em.

U

  • Upcard: A dealer’s card that is face-up in blackjack or poker.

V

  • Variance: The level of risk in a game, indicating how often and how much a player can win or lose.

W

  • Wagering Requirement: The amount a player must bet before withdrawing bonus winnings.
  • Wild Symbol: A slot symbol that substitutes for others to create winning combinations.

Y

  • Yield: The return on investment for a player over time, similar to RTP.

Z

  • Zero: The green pocket on a roulette wheel, representing the house edge in the game.