A
Ante
A bet that is required before starting a hand or round in certain casino games
All-In
All-in is a term used in poker to bet all your chips. During a No-Limit game, if another player bets more than what you have then you can use everything you have by going 'All-In'. They will bring down their bet to match yours.
American Roulette
American Roulette is a roulette variant with a wheel that has 38 pockets, one of which is the double zero (‘00’).
Arbitrage
Arbitrage is a sports betting term where a variation in odds available allows a bettor to back both sides and guarantee a win.
B
Banker
Another word for the dealer or the house.
Bankroll
A term used to denote the amount of money a player has to gamble with.
Baccarat
Baccarat is one of the most popular casino games. Baccarat involves comparing cards played between the “banker” and “player”. The goal of the game is to get the highest dealt number and avoid the lower numbers.
Blackjack
Blackjack is a table game where players try to beat the dealer by getting a hand closer to 21 points without exceeding it. Over 21 will make you go bust.
Bonus
A bonus is a promotional offer or incentive available from most online casinos, extended to players for signing up and/or making the first deposit. Match-up bonuses are the most common type, which means the size of the bonus depends on the amount you deposit, up to a maximum amount stipulated by the casino. It is possible to get bonuses for most online gambling, including free sports betting bets, bingo bonuses, poker bonuses and slots bonuses.
Beginners Luck
A phrase used when a new player experiences a 'winning streak'.
Bet Max
Max bet refers to the maximum number of coins that get placed to activate all paylines. The highest possible bet within a slot machine/casino game.
Bet Min
The minimum possible bet amount when gambling online.
Betting Exchange
Also known as a “betting intermediary” means a person who provides a service designed to facilitate the making or acceptance of bets between others.
Bonus Hunting
Bonus hunting is a term used to describe casino players that take advantage of casino bonuses and promotions to build a bankroll. Bonus hunting's main aim is to build a big bankroll with as minimal play as possible, before the objective: cashing out.
C
Card Counting
Card counting is a mathematical system used by blackjack players that keeps track of the remaining cards in the deck to gain a winning advantage/outcome.
Credit Card Ban UK 2020
From April 14 2020, businesses in the U.K. have been barred from accepting credit cards from consumers placing bets, Britain’s government-run Gambling Commission (UKGC) enforced the ban after extensive research into the welfare of problem gamblers in the UK and the correlation of problem gambling and to also raise all-round industry standards and further improve UK gambling regulation. The ban is applied to all forms of gambling, with the exception of National Lottery tickets. As such, UK bettors cannot use Credit Cards at any online gambling sites in the UK, nor can they use credit cards to fund their wallets like Paypal to deposit either.
Chemin De Fir
The earliest French version of Baccarat.
Croupier
Croupier is another word used for a casino games' dealer.
Cascading/Collapsing Reels
Cascading reels are known under numerous names and titles across the online slots industry. You may hear them referred to as 'Rolling Reels' or an 'Avalanche' feature. Cascading reels offer players a chain reaction of wins within a single spin. Instead of just winning once and ending the game, this feature means you can win multiple times through numerous combinations made with just one bet. Reels/icons will tumble/fall with new icons taking their place, which could create another winning outcome.
Caribbean Stud
A poker game variant played similar to five-card stud, using one deck of cards. It's played against the house rather than other players.
Casino Hold’em Poker
Casino Holdem Poker is a simplified version of Texas Hold’em Poker, which pits you against the house rather than other poker players.
Craps
A popular dice table game
Corner Bet
A Corner Bet is to wager on four bets made by placing chips on the corner of adjacent numbers. Also known as Carré in French roulette.
D
Dealer
A dealer is a casino employee that's responsible for dealing cards to players and controlling the all-around flow of the game. Games like baccarat, blackjack, and poker usually require dealers. When playing at online casinos, live dealer casino games have their own dealers. You can interact with live dealers via controls on your desktop / mobile device.
Deposit
Adding money to your online gambling account. Top UK gambling sites offer various deposit methods to cater to all customers. Deposits can usually be completed by Debit Card, Instant Bank Wire Transfers, or via e-wallets such as PayPal, ecoPayz and Skrill. See our casino payments guide for more information.
Dolly
The doll-shaped marker that's placed on the table in the square of the winning number. A Dolly helps players identify the winning number and remains in place until all winning wagers are paid.
Down To The Felt
A player who is out of money and bankroll.
D’Alembert Betting System
A betting system strategy was created by Jean Le Rond D’Alembert, a mathematical genius, in the 18th century. The D'Alembert betting strategy is a profitable system that can be used at online casinos by players.
Doubling Up: Martingale System
The Martingale System is one of the best known and oldest gambling strategies in the world. The system was named in the 18th century after John Henry Martingale who owned several gambling houses at the time. Similar to D'Alembert's betting system (see above), Martingale's system is a negative progressive system. In other words, the system progresses each time you lose. It's a popular system in Roulette and is relatively easy to grasp.
Drops & Wins Slots
Drops & Wins slots and tournaments are specific games chosen to incorporate Pragmatic Plays' Drops & Wins Game engine. Slots and live games can vary depending on the month's promotions, but games that offer Drops and Wins will offer players random cash prizes awarded when playing, plus give players the chance to compete in Drops & Wins Tournaments which have a leaderboard full of monthly prizes.
E
eCOGRA
eCogra is an acronym for e-Commerce Online Gaming Regulation and Assurance. eCOGRA is a UK based organisation that's been approved by the UK Gambling Commission to monitor online casino games and slots, resolve disputes and protect players. eCogra provides online casinos and gambling sites with reputable seals of approval, after ensuring that a casino and its entire game catalogue is fair. eCogra was originally established by Microgaming. Casino software companies are also regulated by eCogra.
Esports
eSports refers to betting on eSports, a form of competition using video games.
Eye In The Sky
A term used to name the overhead cameras used in land-based casinos to monitor the gaming tables.
Edge
The House Edge is a mathematical advantage that the house/casino has over you in a game as you play over time. It's a measure of the percentage that a casino would expect to retain, on average, from each hand or spin, given normal patterns of play.
Eighty-Sixed (86'ed)
Getting banned from a land-based casino.
Encryption
A web security coding feature that online gambling sites and casinos use to protect gamblers' details online. Gambling sites that are secure have a padlock symbol present in the web browser.
F
Fixed Odds
A wager in which your odds or dividend are fixed and unchanging, and is based on the time that your bet was placed. You are paid what's stated on your ticket, no matter what oscillations occur later.
Futures
Futures is a type of bet that is placed to predict a future outcome. Futures can be used for predicting which team will win a division or even a championship at a later date.
French Roulette
A version of European roulette that offers a unique table layout and occasionally en prison and la partage rules, which improve your overall odds and chances of winning.
Flush
A poker term that's used to describe a hand comprised of all cards from the same suit. It usually denotes a strong hand in a game of poker.
Free Spins
A Free Spins bonus is a common casino bonus given to players that give free spins on a selected slot game. Free Spins can be given as no deposit free spins (no deposit required) no wagering free spins (where the free spins have no wagering requirements attached) and deposit free spins (given when you make a minimum deposit). Free Spins can also describe a slot feature where an online slot will give you free spins when you trigger the right combination.
G
Gambling Act 2005
The Gambling Act 2005 is the primary legislation that governs a unified regulatory network for the regulation of all forms of gambling in the United Kingdom, except the National Lottery.
Gaming
Gaming is playing a game of chance for a prize. It includes a game that involves both an element of chance and an element of skill, a game that involves an element of chance that can be eliminated by superlative skill, and a game that is presented as involving an element of chance, but does not include a sport.
Grind
To 'Grind' is an online poker term. To play a large amount of smaller staked poker games, over a large number of hours, on a regular basis to make a steady profit. A person who does this is called a grinder.
Grand
Used to describe a £1,000 wager. Also called a Big'un. Often used by Highroller players and VIPs.
Grid
A table that displays the possible bets with an online sportsbook.
Getting Down
Making a bet/ getting started gambling.
GAMSTOP
GAMSTOP is a government-backed program that lets players put active controls in place to restrict their online gambling activities. Once a bettor has successfully signed up for the service, they will be prevented from carrying out any activity on gambling websites and any gambling apps run by companies that are licensed in Great Britain, for as long as they choose.
H
Hole Card
Cards that are dealt face down.
House
When talking about the House in gambling, it generally means the casino.
High Roller
A High Roller is a player who plays at high stakes tables and places large bets per hand. High Roller players are also referred to as Whales or Cheetahs. High Rollers are gamblers who consistently wagers large amounts of money. High rollers often receive extravagant "comps" from casinos to lure them onto the gambling floors, such as free private jet transfers, limousine use and use of the casinos' best suites. The same goes for online casinos, often High Rollers or VIP's received lavish gifts, dedicated account managers and huge casino bonuses.
I
Insurance
Insurance is a Blackjack term. Blackjack insurance is a side bet offered to the player if the dealer's up-card is an ace, as insurance against the dealer's hand being 'blackjack'.
J
Jackpot
A big win in a casino. Online slots often have an inbuilt jackpot that can be triggered with the right payline combinations. Progressive jackpots are those pooled together from all casinos offering the game. A portion of a players wager will contribute to the pot. One winner usually wins the progressive jackpot when it has built up enough over time
Jacks or Better
A variation of video poker where only hands that have a pair of Jack or higher will win.
K
Keno
A popular online game that is similar to a lottery. Players choose numbers before a drawing and hope to match them to the numbers drawn by the casino.
L
Low Roller
A casual, small stakes player. Opposite to High Roller.
Live Dealer Games
Live dealer games are online casino games are run by real human dealers. Players can see the dealers and games on their devices using a live-streaming video link. Players can also communicate with the dealer using live chat and buttons on the screen.
Long Odds
Long Odds is a sports betting term which means Odds generally greater than 10:1.
Line Maker
The person who sets the original and subsequent betting lines. Linemakers are also known as "oddsmakers."
Link & Win
A term used for a feature in Microgaming slots. A Link & Win feature is essentially a respin feature that resets each time you land a specific symbol. It can be triggered by landing 6 to 14 special Link & Win symbols on the screen in any position.
M
Martingale System
The Martingale system is a well-known negative progression betting strategy that says you should increase your bet after each loss by doubling and adding one unit. For example: (Original bet) 2 + (Martingale bet) 2 + 1 = (New bet) 3.
Money Line
A bet on the winner of an event with no point spread odds.
N
No Deposit Bonus
A free casino bonus that doesn't require an initial cash deposit from the player. No deposit bonuses are usually given to new players who create a new account. Often no deposit bonuses come with higher than average wagering requirements.
Nina From Pasadena
A Craps term meaning betting that the next roll will result in a combination of 9.
O
Off-Course
Off-course refers to betting which is conducted outside of a racecourse or track (eg in a betting shop).
On Course
On-course refers to betting which is conducted at a racecourse or track.
Outside Bet
Roulette term: Even-money bets like black/red, even/odd, and high/low.
Overlay
Sports betting term. Odds that are higher than they should be and favour the player.
Over/Under
Sportsbetting term. A bet on whether the combined total of the points/goals scored by the two teams will exceed or be less than a specified number.
P
Pitboss
A member of staff standing at a station near the dealers. A Pitboss' job is to oversee fair play at all times.
Progressive Jackpot
A progressive jackpot is a slot machine that has a prize that increases progressively with every play.
Parlay Bet
Sports betting term. Parlaying is when a punter makes multiple wagers (at least two) and ties them together into the very same bet. If any of the bets in the parlay loses, the entire parlay loses. However, if all wagers win, the outcome will be a bigger payout.
Pat
Blackjack Term. A Pat is an unbusted hand worth at least 17 points and is when the player takes no more cards.
Payline (Slots)
The line of symbols on a slot reel will payout when a winning combination is hit. There can be as little as three paylines (classic slots) or as many several hundred thousand (check Megaways slots that are infamous for doing this). A payline can be a straight line across all the reels or it can take the form of a variety of predetermined shapes, depending on the type of slot game you're playing.
Pocket Cards
A Poker term. Pocket cards are the facedown cards that a player or dealer gets.
Pokies
Pokies is a slang term often used by Australian and New Zealand casino players when they are talking about slots.
Punto Banco
Punto Banco is another name for the table game of Baccarat.
Pool Betting
Pool betting is generally regarded as any form of betting which is not at fixed odds. It differs from fixed odds betting in that it may not be possible for the punter to know at the time he/she makes a bet, what his ultimate winnings may be.
Push
A tie situation where neither the house nor the player wins or loses. In this case, the player's bet is returned and nothing further happens.
Payout Percentage
The payout percentage is the statistical percentage of every bet wagered that will be returned to the player. A payout percentage will always be less than 100%. The lower the percentage, the more profitable the slot game or casino game is for the casino. As an example, a game with a 96% payout percentage is expected to pay out £0.96 for every pound wagered. The other £0.04p is kept by the casino and represents the house's statistical edge. See also RTP %.
Pigeon
The newbie to the gambling world, or a gambler who lacks sophistication and finesse.
Q
Quarter Bet
Quarter Bet is a Roulette term. It means to bet on four numbers with a single wager. Similar to a corner bet.
Quads
Quads is a poker term and mean a hand that is comprised of four cards of the same ranking.
R
Random Number Generator (RNG)
A random number generator (RNG) is a device used to produce unpredictable and random numbers using a multi-stage process to ensure all online casino games are actually producing random outcomes
RTP %
RTP is the abbreviation for Return to Player Percentage which are the rewards a player can expect to win from playing online slots. See also Payout %. A game RTP % represents the percentage of bets that a player can expect to win back over their entire time playing that game. However, this figure is just an average and doesn’t convey the exact amount a player may win per his/her game session.
Roulette
Roulette is a game that's played with a wheel and ball where the ball can fall into one of the pockets. Players can place several bets that try to predict the pockets the ball falls into. This game has many different variations though they all stem from 3: American Roulette, French Roulette and European Roulette. The latter has better odds than America Roulette.
Railbird
Railbird(s) is a term to describe people watching games played in a casino. As a rule, they must be at a safe distance so as not to influence the game or players in any way.
Royal Flush
A poker term which means the top-ranked hand comprising of the Ace, King, Queen, Jack, and ten of the same suit.
Reload Bonus
Bonus money players get for subsequent deposits. After an initial sign up/welcome bonus, top casinos offer their existing player base reload bonuses.
S
Shark
A Poker term meaning expert card player.
Short Stack
To have a short stack means having a smaller number of chips compared to the other players in a game. Usually less than 100 times the big blind.
Sic Bo
Sic Bo is a three-dice game where the player predicts the outcome of the roll of the dice.
Slot Machine
A slot machine, which is also known as a fruit machine or 'fruities' for short, is a gambling machine with three or more reels that spin when a button is pushed. To win, symbols on the reels need to make a winning combination as per the slots paytable.
T
Toke
Land-based gambling reference. A toke is another term for a tip. It’s considered polite to sometimes tip the dealer during a winning streak in blackjack, or after a good pot in poker.
The Cage
The name given to the place/area where the casino keeps its money.
True Odds
The real odds of something happening.
U
Under
Sports betting term where a wager that the total points scored by two teams will be under a certain figure.
Underdog
The team that's perceived to be most likely to lose. Also known as the "dog" for short.
V
Video Poker
A game that simulates the action of five-card poker games. Players choose to discard and replace cards from their starting hand and if they make the minimum hand needed to win, then they're paid out winnings. Popular video poker games include Jacks or Better and Deuces Wild.
VLT
Video lottery terminal
Variance
Variance determines the behaviour of an online slot game and refers to the frequency of the payouts, the amount paid out and the level of risk involved. Variance indicates whether the slot you want to play is a high risk, medium risk or low-risk game.
Volatility
Volatility (also called variance- see above) is a measure of how often a slot is likely to hit a winning combination and consequently, its average payout size. It also determines how risky the slot is. Online slots are usually low, medium and high in volatility.
W
Wagering Requirement
A wagering requirement is the number of times you have to stake your deposit or bonus (or both) when you play with a casino bonus or offer that an online gambling site gives you. A common wagering requirement is x35. Naturally the lower the wagering requirement the better. Some casinos are known to offer no wagering bonuses which have no requirement at all.
Wild Symbol
A wild symbol is a term that usually describes a particular symbol used in slot games. Just like a wild card, it can substitute for any of the symbols that appear on the slot grid to help form winning paylines.
Whales
Wealthy players who bet big and can afford to lose. In poker, the term is often used to describe a rich player that lacks the skill to perform well (but can also afford to lose)
Wise Guys
A knowledgeable handicapper or bettor.
Whitelabel Casino / Gambling Site
Whitelabel is a term referring to a service or a product produced by a company, which is then supplied wholesale to another company, which in turn, sees the product being re-branded as their own. Whitelabels are an “out of the box” solution though there are pros and cons to running a Whitelabel casino or gambling site.
Y
YHS
Abbreviation of 'Your Hand Sucks. Used mostly when players are chatting to each other in the live chat at online casinos.
