Casino Terms, Lingo & Jargon at Gamerisms

We created this all inclusive series for people to understand the unique words and phrases used by passionate players for their real money games. The casino terms published here will educate both newbies and veteran players alike.

New players can impress their game-playing friends, while veterans are sure to find some distinctive casino lingo where they can exclaim, I did not know that! Casino players are about to learn about casino jargon often heard at the tables, slots and sports books. Most of these casino terms have a long history and will surely add a unique quality to your next casino experience. These are general casino terms only.

For players who want to explore their favorite games, there are 8 other casino gamerisms units at this site, including blackjack, poker, slots, video poker, roulette, craps, bingo and sportsbetting. Each of the glossaries presents casino terms, rules, graphics and an introduction to include strategy tips.

Links for these casino money games are provided below. Be sure to check out our page on how to find the best casinos online.

Casino Terms Lingo & Jargon

Casino Terms Lingo & Jargon A

Action
term for play on the casino floor including table games and slots. A full service casino will also offer sportsbetting and bingo. Either way, casino players can count on plenty of action.
Aggregate Limit
refers to the casinos' total payout liability for any casino game.
Aggregate Winnings
terms for total winnings.
All or Nothing
refers to a Keno ticket where the payout occurs only when all picked numbers are drawn or alternatively, none of the picked numbers are revealed.
Automat Club or Videomat Casino
encompasses a gambling venue like an arcade, bingo hall or slot hall that provides automatic games where there is not a necessity for a casino operator. Examples
slot video machines or horseracing.

Casino Terms Lingo & Jargon B

Bankroll
term for total funds available to support betting action.
Barber Pole
jargon used for more than one denomination/color in a stack of chips.
Bet
term for a wager on a casino game.
Betting Limits
set by the casino, the minimum and maximum monies that players can bet.
Black Book
in Nevada, a directory of players who are banned from entering the casinos.
Buck
lingo for a $100 bet.
Bug
slang for the Joker card.
Buy-in
monies converted to casino chips before playing casino games.

More About Casinos Online

Casino Terms Lingo & Jargon C

Cage
refers to the location of the friendly casino cashiers.
Capping
cheating at the tables by placing additional chips on top of the original bet once the game round has begun.
Card Sharp
expert card player, found at the money games like poker, blackjack and baccarat.
Card Washing
term for procedure of shuffling the cards where the cards are placed face down on the table by the dealer and ‘sloshed around' like a washing machine before dealing a new game.
Carpet Joints
casino terms referring to 5 star luxury casinos.
Case Bet
a player's bet that includes all remaining chips on the table or all in.
Cashier's Cage
term for casino cash area where you redeem your chips. May you visit often.
Casino
origin of the word refers to a public music and dance hall.
Casino Advantage
casino or house edge when playing the games, usually reported as a percentage. Example
the casino advantage for double-zero roulette is 5.26%.
Chase
after losing, casino players will attempt to get back monies with additional bets.
Cheques
the historical, correct term used in reference to playing chips.
Chips
round discs with designated currency denominations and colors that are played instead of real money. Obvious tip here--they are real money!
Chip Tray
holds the chips stock placed nearby the dealer—another case of real money.
Coat-tail
jargon for using the same betting strategy/techniques as a winning player hoping for same results.
Cold
term for a player, craps table or slot machine that is no longer on a winning streak.
Coloring Up
when you take those five-dollar chips and exchange for larger denominations, possibly hundred-dollar chips, then you are coloring-up.
Comp
as in freebie or points, these are the dining, beverage, hotel rooms and benefits received by casino players based on their wagering and time played. See listing of US Mega club cards for several properties under letter U in this casino terms glossary.
Cracking the Nut
casino lingo for a net profit after all gambling expenses deducted.
Credits
1 credit is equal to 1 cash unit. Example
1=a quarter or 1=a dollar.
Crossfire
the dealers chatting it up about everything else but the live game in front of them.
Croupier
it is French, mon ami, for the dealer of the gaming table.

Casino Terms Lingo & Jargon D

D'Alembert System
a bankroll strategy of adding one unit after a losing bet while one unit is deducted after a winning bet.
Dime
casino jargon for betting $1,000.
Dirty Money
the losing bets gathered by the dealer.
Discard Tray
term for the tray placed on the dealer's right where the played cards or discards are stacked. Game examples are Baccarat, Blackjack and Poker.
Dollar Bet
lingo for a $100 bet.
Double or Nothing
wager that pays out the original bet or even-money.
Down to the Felt
busted or broke in casino terms.
Drop
amount of monies lost by players or casinos.
Drop Box
located at a gaming table, it holds all cash, markers and chips.

Casino Terms Lingo & Jargon E

Edge
advantage over the casino or other player.
Eighty-Six or 86
you are outta there, man. Casino rules allow the exclusion and/or eviction of undesirable gamblers.
Eye in the Sky
watches the action as the casino staff surveys the floor.

Casino Terms Lingo & Jargon F

Face Cards
casino jargon for kings, queens or jacks.
Firing
casino lingo for betting large amounts at money games.
Fish
losing player.
Flat Betting
a method of betting wherein the player bets the same amount each time, neither raising nor lowering. Not known as a wise strategy.
Flea
irritating player who has high expectations for casino comps and benefits while not deserved.
Foreign
these are cheques from another casino.
Front Money
cash/checks deposited to establish credit for play.

Casino Terms Lingo & Jargon G

George
casino jargon for a generous tipper both to table dealers and other casino employees.
Grind
this term is used for playing it out on a consistent basis at the tables. This player is ‘grinding' out planned bets based on knowledgeable probabilities of the game.

Casino Terms Lingo & Jargon H

Handicapper
player who does the research beforehand to make knowledgeable bets. This data includes statistics, news, weather and injuries at sportsbetting.
Handle
total amount of money bet at money games.
High Roller
big time bettor in casino terms.
Hold
betting monies that are placed in the designated gaming table slots. The dollar value is generally stated as a percentage.
Holding Your Own
casino player who is staying on an even keel or breaking even.
Honeymoon Period
also known as Beginners Luck or Winning Phase, this term refers to those players who begin their casino experience with a winning streak.
Hot
a winning player—congrats to you!
House
refers to the venue, be it a casino property, bingo hall or online website where casino games are played. The owners/operators are also known as the House.
House Edge
refers to the casino advantage on table games and slot machines, usually improved by paying less than the odds

Casino Terms Lingo & Jargon J-L

Jackpot
a big time win, often at progressive slot machines.
Juice
lingo for the commission received by the house. See Vig. or Vigorish.
Junket
casino comp trips generally for VIP players and cardholders. Usually include air, hotel, dining entertainment and other free amenities. Players in turn agree to play and pay a minimum deposit in advance to the sponsoring casino.
Laying or Taking Odds
laying odds can result in receiving less than the amount bet if odds are favorable. Taking the odds occurs when originally betting less than the winning payout received.
Layout
displayed at table games where bet descriptions are printed on the felt or cloth.
Load up
casino lingo for playing max coins/spin at slots or video poker.

Casino Terms Lingo & Jargon M-O

Marker
player IOU approved by the casino for betting/wagering at the money games.
Martingale
a wagering system where the player doubles up after every loss.Not highly recommended.
Maximum Bet
highest allowed wager at table games or maximum coins/spin at slots.
Mechanic
term used for a dice/card cheat who utilizes sleight of hand while playing.
Net Winnings
total payout minus your bets placed.
Nickel
casino jargon for betting $500. at money games.
Odds
possibility of a player win as determined by the casino, usually calculated as a %.
On Tilt
in casino terms refers to player(s) reacting to a losing bet with wild play afterwards.
Overlay
casino lingo for a player advantage bet

Casino Games Terms P

Payoff
monies received by a player after the win.
Payout or Payback %
based on a slot or video poker machine, it is the programmed result determined by deducting the casino advantage.
Pigeon
casino jargon for a player who is not knowledgeable about the games.
Pips
the spades, clubs, hearts and diamonds found on a deck of cards. The kings, jacks and queens sure are pretty, but the lone ace gets the top prize, don't you agree? Also refers to the dots or spots on the dice in a craps game.
Pit
table games are grouped in this area of the casino and the center area is reserved for casino employees managing the games.
Pit boss
games manager or supervisor.
Ploppy
casino lingo for a newer player who is not practicing sound strategy nor making correct decisions, however is not above coaching other players about what they should do.
Press a Bet
upping your bet with additional funds after a winning bet, a recommended wager.
Progression Betting
adding or changing bets as play continues.

Casino Games Terms R

Rack
term for a container used to move and count high valued coins, plastic chips and tokens within the casino.
Racinos
horseracing and casino under one roof where the expression, play games includes horsing around.
Railbird
casino jargon for an observer who hangs around a gaming table. His intention may be to ‘lift' chips from other non-suspecting players
Rated
casino estimate of a player's skill level and bankroll used to determine comp value.
Rathole
a player who slowly puts away chips during play to give the appearance that he/she is not ahead of the game.
RFB
best comp value that includes free room, food and beverages while playing money games.

Casino Games Terms S

Sawbuck
casino lingo for 10 dollar bet.
Sawdust Joint
name used for a not so elegant casino offering low table and slot betting minimums. Yes, it's a dump, but you can play cheap!
Scamdicapper
casino player with outlandish claims about win percentages and game expectations.
Session
time spent playing casino games.
Shark or Sharp
lingo for a competent player who may appear to be a fish early on.
Shill
describes a casino employee who plays the tables to garner business for the casino.
Single or Straight-Up Bet
term for a single bet at 1 game. Example
specific number at Roulette, as with the number 29 straight-up.
Skin or Skoon
jargon for a single dollar.
Sleeper
a forgotten table bet originally wagered by the player.
Soft Count
refers to a slot machine count in connection with monies inserted by cash or ticket receipt.
Soft Count Room
lingo for area for soft counting.
Slot Club Card Member
cardholders who accumulate points for comps to include rooms, meals, cash and gifts or special promotions. Table game players are also comped by most casinos.See listing of US Mega club cards for several properties under letter U.
Spinner
term for a winning session. Congrats to you.
Streak Betting
term for system of betting, also known as progressive betting, that is based on previous wins or losses. For the next round, the player either increases or decreases his/her bets.
Stripping or Card Stripping
term for shuffling that turns around the sequential order of the cards in the deck.

Casino Games Terms T

Table Hold
term for value of monies won at a casino table game by players for an 8 hour shift.
Tapping Out
casino jargon for losing it all.
Toke
more than a ‘tip of your hat', this is the gratuity paid to a dealer or casino employee.
Tom
on the other hand, is a non-tipper.
Tournament
is the challenge arranged by the casino for a group of invited players for a game. There are poker, slots, video poker, blackjack and craps tournaments both online and off. Tournaments are ongoing in most casinos and is certainly the most popular promotion. While there is one winner left standing at the end of the competition,prize money is usually distributed among many of the participants.

Casino Games Terms U

Underlay
casino lingo for a bad bet.
Units of Betting
term to describe the smallest amount of money bet on wagering without identifying the actual currency amount. While, a playing chip may be available in $1, $5 or $100, denominations, the casino determines this same chip as one betting unit.
US Casino Megaclubs
many US casinos have merged to combine several casino properties under one named club card to form a Mega club This info is included in play casino games terms to remind players to take advantage of this benefit when playing the games. Casino players can use their cards at all participating properties to accumulate points. Listed below are eight Megaclubs and name of the club card.
  1. Harrah's: Total Rewards
  2. MGM Mirage: lilayers Club
  3. Resorts Destination Casino Club
  4. Isle of Caliri: Isle One
  5. Station Casinos: Boarding liass, Las Vegas
  6. Fiesta: Amigo Club, Las Vegas
  7. Ultimate Rewards Club, Las Vegas
  8. Coast Clubs, Las Vegas

Casino Games Terms V-Z

Vigorish
the casino's fee/commission paid during specific wagers in the games of baccarat, craps and/or sportsbook.
VIP
casino jargon for very important person.
VLT
abbreviation for Video Lottery Terminal
Wager
refers to any bet or betting.
Whale
player who bets very large and is a VIP to the casinos.
White Meat
casino lingo for gambling profit.
Withdrawal
term for a player asking that he/she receive monies from their account.