Gambling Glossary Guide

All games and gambling establishments, whether online or off, develop a universal language that can confuse a new initiate. That is why the team at Fruity King NZ put together this gambling glossary guide. 

Easy to use, all the commonly used terms are set in alphabetical order with a brief description alongside it. Now, if you need clarification on a word or term, you can easily find it. Of course, there are many words and phrases that we have yet to include, but what we have should be enough to help you feel comfortable and confident when playing casino games. 

A

Action

The action is the wagering of cash during a game or the betting action other gamblers make. 

All-in

All-in is wagering your remaining chips or cash in a single bet. 

American Roulette

One of the variations of roulette adds an additional zero to the standard 0-36 configuration of European roulette. With its double zero, American roulette gives the casino a more significant house edge. 

Ante

The ante is a mandatory wager that players make before the game begins. 

B

Baccarat

One of the most popular card games in which players hold two or three card hands. It is a comparing card game played between the player and the banker. 

Banker

The banker refers to the dealer in most games. In some baccarat variations, you can choose to be the banker as one of your betting options. 

Bankroll

The bankroll is the money you have set aside to gamble. Remember always to have a bankroll that you do not mind losing (bankroll management). 

Bet

Your bet is the amount of money you are wagering on a single hand, spin or roll of the dice. 

Blackjack

Blackjack is the name of a card game where 21 is the highest hand. The player aims to beat the dealer’s hand as a comparing game. Blackjack is also used when you are dealt an ace (value 11 or 1) and a card with a value of ten. 

Blind

Blinds are forced bets made in some poker variations like Texas Hold’em. Blind bets are paid before any cards are seen. 

Bonus

A bonus is a cash, free spins or other rewards given to players as an incentive to sign up with an online casino and make a deposit. 

Bonus Game

Bonus games occur as special pokies features and are a side game from the main. You can win free spins, extra cash or other prizes during a bonus game. 

Burn Card

The burn card is discarded from the top of the deck before the dealer deals out the cards, and it is done to help prevent cheating. 

Bust

The term “bust” is used when a player’s cards add up to more than 21. Going bust means an instant loss. 

C

Card Counting

Card Counting is a mathematical system (strategy) used by blackjack players who attempt to keep track of the remaining cards in the deck to gain an advantage over the house. Although card counting is legal, it is frowned upon by land-based casinos, which can ban a player caught doing so.

Cashier

The cashier is the area of an online casino where you can deposit funds and withdraw winnings. When you register at an online casino, you will choose which depositing method to use. At bricks and mortar casinos, the cashier refers to the cage or other area of the casino where you can exchange your chips for money or buy chips. 

Casino Advantage

The casino advantage is also known as the house edge and is a mathematical edge that all casinos have over players. 

Casino Hold’em Poker

Casino Hold’em Poker is a simplified version of Texas Hold’em that pits you against the house rather than other players. 

Chemin de Fir

Chemin de Fir is the original French version of the game baccarat. 

Chips

Chips are tokens of varying colours and values used in place of currency at the tables. 

Come Out

The “come out” is the name given to the first roll in a craps game. 

Comps

Comps are perks given to players at a land-based casino that can range from free parking, hotel rooms, meals, drinks, gifts, airfare and more. 

Craps

Craps is the name of a popular casino dice game played with two dice where a throw of 7 or 11 is a winning throw, and 2, 3, or 12 is a losing throw. 

Credit

Credits, also known as coins, are pokies machines betting units. 

Croupier

A croupier is another word for a dealer, the person who is responsible for running the action. A croupier is usually used in roulette and is the name of the person who spins the roulette wheel. 

D

Deposit

To make a deposit means that you add money to your casino account. The best online casinos offer a wide range of depositing options. 

Double Down

The double down is a blackjack betting option which lets you double your original bet and receive one additional playing card. 

E

eCOGRA

eCOGRA is an independent testing agency that resolves disputes, tests online gambling software and protects players. 

En Prison

En Prison is similar to a bonus in some casinos. With En Prison, the stake stays on the roulette table for another spin following an even money bet if the outcome is zero or double zero (American roulette). 

Even Money Bet

An even money bet is where the odds are 1:1.

European Roulette

European roulette is the popular game version, which features 37 numbers ranging from 0 to 36 (single zero). 

F

Face Cards

The face cards are the Jacks, Queens and Kings. 

Flush

A flush is a hand where all the cards have the same suit.

Four of a Kind

A four-of-a-kind is where four cards have identical numbers or faces. 

French Roulette

French roulette is a version of European roulette with a unique table layout and betting options. 

Full House

A full house is a hand of cards that consist of three of a kind plus a pair. 

G

Going All-In

Please see All-In

George

George is a name given by dealers for a big tipper. 

Grease

A term for a bribe. 

H

Hit

Landing on symbols in a pokies/slots game. Alternatively, asking for a hit is to ask for an additional card in blackjack and other card games. 

High Roller

A high roller is a term given to players who spend a lot of money. 

Hole Card

Hole cards are those that are dealt face down. 

Hot

Hot is a name given to a player experiencing win after win. Alternatively, it is a name given to a pokies/slots machine consistently paying out. 

House Edge

The mathematical advantage that all casinos hold over players. The house edge is how all casinos make a profit. 

House Rules

The house rules vary by casino or game. For instance, in blackjack, the house rules dictate when the dealer must hit. 

I

Inside Bet

An inside bet in roulette is made on the inside numbers of the table. 

Insurance

A blackjack side bet that pays you if the dealer lands a blackjack. 

IVT

Interactive Video Terminals. 

J

Jacks or Better

Jacks or Better is a video poker variation where the minimum qualifying hand is a pair of jacks.

Jackpot

The jackpot is the largest prize available on a pokies/slots game or other games. 

Joker

The jokers are two cards in a deck depicting a court jester. Jokers are typically used as wild cards. 

Junket

A junket is a trip offered to VIP players by casinos. The casinos usually pay for flights and hotels. In exchange for this, players put down a certain deposit amount and commit to playing a certain number of hours at the casino. 

K

Keno

Keno is a lottery-style game that features numbered balls. 

L

Layout

The layout shows players where to place bets on the cloth or the screen.

Live Dealer Games

Live dealer games are online casino games that take place in real-time and are streamed from a casino studio via webcast technology. Games take place in real-time and feature human croupiers. 

Loose

Loose is a term given to games, typically pokies/slots. That offer better-than-average payouts to players. 

M

Martingale Betting Strategy/System

A popular betting technique requires players to double the amount of their bet whenever they lose. 

Maximum Bet

The maximum bet is the most you can wager in a game. The maximum bet can apply to a single bet (pokies/slots) or the total of all bets. In poker, the maximum bet limits how much you can bet or raise on a particular round. 

Minimum Bet

The minimum bet is the direct opposite of the maximum bet, and the least a casino will allow you to wage in a game. 

Multiplier

A multiplier is a pokies/slots machine feature that increases the amount of your payout by a designated number. 

N

Natural

A natural is a two-card hand of a specific figure. In baccarat, it is 8 or 9, and in blackjack, it is 21. 

Negative Expectation

The negative expectation is the loss you can expect to see over the long term whilst playing a particular game. 

O

Odds

The odds are your chance of winning and how much you stand to win.

Open

The first player to place a bet in a poker game. 

Outside Bet

In roulette, outside bets are placed on the numbers located on the outside of the table.

P

Pair

A pair is a name given to two cards of the same numerical value.

Pay Line

The pay line is where qualifying symbols need to appear in a pokies/slots game for you to trigger a win.

Pay Table

The pay table is the casino’s list of payouts for different results in a given game, and the casino can alter odds which will affect the size of payouts. 

Payout Percentage

The payout percentage is a numerical value showing how much you have wagered over the long term that will be paid back.

Pot

The pot is the prize pool that is available to be won

Progressive Jackpots

A progressive jackpot is a top prize which grows over time until won. Once the jackpot is won, it begins to grow again. 

Push

A push is a draw in a game. 

R

Rake

The rake is a small fee paid by players to the poker room for hosting the games. 

Random Number Generator (RNG)

The RNG is software online casinos use to produce a random, unpredictable string of numbers.  In gambling, they predict the results of virtual dice, cards, wheels and reels.

Royal Flush

A royal flush consists of a ten, jack, queen, king, and ace of the same suit. 

S

Scatters

Scatters are pokies/slots machine symbols that can pay out or trigger a bonus round, free spins, or other features, even if they do not land on an active payline. 

Session

A session is time spent playing a game. 

Shoe

The shoe is a container that holds the decks of cards used during a game.

Showdown

The showdown is the culmination of the game, where all the remaining players must reveal their hands. The showdown determines the winner. 

Slot/Pokies Machine

A game in which players spin reels to match combinations of symbols over pre-determined paylines. Modern pokies/slot machines use video displays, whilst older-style machines use mechanical or electronic reels.

Soft Hand

A soft hand is a blackjack hand with an ace valued at 11. 

Split

When you spit in blackjack, you turn a pair of cards into two hands.

Stand

When you stand in a blackjack game, choose not to receive any additional cards. 

Straight

A straight is a hand that features cards in numerical order. 

Straight Flush

A sequential hand where all the cards are of the same suit. 

Stand

To stand in blackjack and other card games like baccarat, you play with the hand you have without taking more cards.

Symbols

Symbols are the icons found on pokies/slots machine reels. 

T

Three of a Kind

Three of a kind is a hand with three cards of the same rank. 

Tight

The term tight is used for games that have worse-than-average payouts. 

V

Video Poker

Video poker is the term given to the electronic game of five-card draw poker and other variations. 

Video Slots/Pokies

Computerised slot/pokies machines have no moving parts, unlike machines in a land-based casino. All internet slot/pokies games are technically video slots. 

VIP

Short for Very Important Person, a VIP receives special perks and access to restricted areas of the casino. VIP status is also given to players online, who will be offered higher bonuses and other rewards. 

W

Wagering Requirement

The wagering requirement is the amount of money a player must bet before they can cash out their bonus. 

Welcome Bonus

The welcome bonus is offered to new players who register with an online casino. The bonus can be in the form of matching a player’s first deposit, free spins on a designated pokies/slots game or a combination of perks. 

Wilds

A wild is a pokies/slots machine symbol that takes the place of other symbols to help players complete paylines. Wilds also apply to cards in video poker games.