Casino Terminology

Overview

Being new to anything can be challenging, especially when there's a lot to learn. Online casino gaming can be somewhat easier if you're already familiar with the common terms and phrases. However, if you're not familiar with them, it can be a bit overwhelming when you don't know what half of the words mean.

This guide provides an overview of the most important terms and vocabulary you may need as an online casino player.

Casino Terminology

A

• ABC Player – Refers to a player with a predictable style, often used in poker.
• All-in – When you wager all the remaining chips you have.

B

• Bankroll – The funds you have available for betting activities online.
• Bet – A wager you place during game rounds.
• Bones – A term for dice used in casinos.
• Bonus – Offers given to new and existing players, providing extra funds to play without spending more of your own money.

C

• Cash-out – When you withdraw your winnings or available funds from your balance.
• Cashback – A percentage of your losses returned to you after a certain period.
• Cashier – The section of the casino where you can deposit or withdraw funds.
• Cold Streak – A period where you're continuously losing without wins.
• Comp Points – Also called reward points, part of the loyalty or VIP program, which can be exchanged for prizes or cash.

D

• Dealer – The person who hosts or guides live dealer games.
• Deposit Bonus – A reward received after making a deposit, often in the form of cash or free spins.
• Drop Percentage – The percentage of money the casino takes due to the house edge.

E

• eCOGRA – An independent agency that audits online casinos to ensure fair game operations and random outcomes.
• Edge – When a player has an advantage over the opponent.
• Eighty Sixed (86'd) – A term for being banned from the casino due to foul play.
• Encryption – A security measure used in casino software and online transactions to protect sensitive information.

F

• Figure – The total amount owed to or by a bookmaker.
• Fixed Odds – A term in sportsbooks referring to predetermined odds.
• Flash Casino – An online casino that allows instant play through your browser without any downloads.
• Flat Betting – Betting the same stake size on every game round.
• Free Odds – A term for bets where the casino has no edge over the player.

G

• Gambler's Fallacy – A common misconception where players believe previous results will affect future game outcomes.
• Grinding – Playing many smaller-staked poker games over time to achieve a steady profit.

H

• Hand – The cards you're holding to create the best possible outcome.
• High Roller – A player who wagers large amounts in high-stakes games.
• Hot Streak – A period where you're winning consistently.
• House Edge – The advantage a casino has, as reflected in the RTP or odds.

I

• Instant Win – Fast-paced games such as Bingo, Lottery Tickets, and Scratch Cards.

J

• Jackpot – The prize pool or maximum payout a slot or casino game offers.
• Junket – A group of high rollers specially flown in by a casino.

L

• Limit – The fixed limits on your betting size for each round.
• Live Dealer Games – Casino games hosted from a live studio with real dealers, accessible on desktop and tablet devices.
• Lock – A term for someone who easily wins.
• Longshot – Someone with a low chance of winning.

M

• Max Bet – The maximum bet allowed when you’ve claimed a bonus.
• Max Win – The most you can win when playing a specific game with an active bonus.

N

• Nickel – A bet size of $500 or more.
• No Limit – Games or wagering options without restrictions on minimum or maximum bets.
• No-Deposit Bonus – A bonus you receive without needing to make a deposit, often with wagering requirements before withdrawals.
• Nosebleed – Refers to stakes that are extremely high.
• NP – A casino term meaning either "Nice Play" or "No Problem."

O

• Odds – The ratio of potential profit or loss.
• Off the Board – Refers to games where no betting is currently taking place.
• Online Casino – A platform accessible via desktop or mobile browsers offering games typically found in land-based casinos.

P

• Parlay – Using winnings from a previous bet on the current wager. Involves betting on two or more games and reinvesting winnings.
• Paytable – Displays the payout options based on winning symbols or game hands.
• Payline – The line of symbols on a reel that awards a payout when winning symbols land.
• Payoff – The winnings received from a bet.
• Payout Percentage – The theoretical amount paid out to players across all gaming activity on a slot, often less than 100%.
• Playthrough Requirement – The amount of wagering required before you can withdraw winnings from a bonus.
• Pot Limit – A game where the bet size is limited to the current pot amount.
• Press – To wager more than your normal amount.
• Press a Bet – Adding winnings from a previous bet to your current wager.
• Progressive Jackpot – A prize pool that grows with every bet placed on the qualifying games.
• Prize Pool – The total money pot available in certain promotions, missions, or tournaments.

Q

• Quick Pick – A term used in Bingo, Lottery, or Sports, where the computer selects numbers for you.

R

• Rail – Watching a game without participating.
• Random Number Generator – A system used in slots to ensure random and fair outcomes.
• Re-Bet – An option to make the same wager as the previous round.
• Reload Bonus – Bonus funds awarded for making additional deposits.
• Return – The total winnings from a bet.
• Roll – Another term for bankroll or available betting funds.

S

• Scared Money – Refers to money you can't afford to lose or stakes that are too high for your bankroll.
• Shill – A player paid by the casino to fill tables or tournaments.
• Slot Machine – A game with reels, different features, and payout possibilities, usually a large part of a casino’s game library.
• Stakes – The minimum and maximum betting limits in a casino game.
• Sticky Bonus – A bonus that can't be cashed out, meant to boost your bankroll and extend gameplay.

T

• Tank – Taking time to think before making a decision.
• Tapped Out – Running out of funds or options.
• Teaser – A bet involving two or more teams, where the line on each team is adjusted in your favor, similar to a parlay.
• Tells – Signs that reveal your next move, often seen in Poker or Blackjack.
• Tilt – A losing streak where a player’s performance worsens.
• Tournament – A competition among players, usually to earn points and win prizes.

U

• UTG – "Under the Gun," a poker term referring to the position immediately to the left of the blinds.

V

• Variance – The risk-reward ratio of a game, indicating how often and how much a game is likely to pay out.
• Virtual Casino Games – Online games operated by a computer using random number generators to ensure fair outcomes.

W

• Wad – Another term for bankroll or funds available for betting.
• Wager – A term for placing a bet, often used in both casino and sports betting.
• Wagering Requirements – The amount you need to bet before withdrawing funds from a bonus.

Y

• YHS – A slang term for "Your Hand Sucks," used in friendly games to express when someone has a bad hand.