Online Casino Glossary

  • Action: general term referencing the total amount of money you wager within a specific time period.
  • Banker: Whomever books the action of tablemates during a card game.
  • Card counting: keeping track of every card that has been played since the shuffle.
  • Dealer: Trained casino worker skilled at dealing cards at poker, blackjack, baccarat and other card tables.
  • Edge: The advantage one player has over either an opponent or the house; the advantage a casino has on a given wager.
  • Freeplay: A gaming opportunity offered by some online casinos that gives players the chance to bet without putting any actual money on the line.
  • Grinder: Conservative gamer willing to bet only small amounts.
  • Handicapper: A person trained to study, analyze, and rate gambling at sporting events.
  • Insurance: Side bet made during blackjack that’s wagered only when the dealer’s card is an ace. Synonym: Even money.
  • Junket: Gambling trip organized/underwritten by casinos to attract groups of players.
  • King: Highest face card in the deck.
  • Layout: Gaming table surface graphics showing where to place bets.
  • Marker: An IOU written by a player with a line of credit during a game to replenish his cash.
  • Nut: An amount of money a gambler decides to win in a day or the cost of running a casino business.
  • Odds: Ratio between the amount wagered on a game and what’s paid out to the winner.
  • Pit: Physical areas within casinos that are home base for professionals supervising/overseeing the action.
  • Queen: The only female face card.
  • Rack: Tray used exclusively by casinos to organize, carry and count coins, tokens and chips.
  • Shill: A casino employee who pretends to be an average player in order to fill seats at gaming tables.
  • Tell: Any hint a player unintentionally gives about the makeup of the hand he’s holding.
  • Up card: The initial card, placed face up, a Blackjack dealer gives himself.
  • VIP: Very important person; denotes the special treatment given to frequent or famous players.
  • Wise guy: A successful and knowledgeable player or sports handicapper.