Full Glossary of Key Online Casino Terms in September 2025
Last Updated
:
Aug 29, 2025, 1:16 PM EDT
Whether your cup of tea is sports betting, seven-card stud, or slot games, understanding the terminology and jargon surroundingย online casinoย games is akin to an NFL head coach understanding and adjusting to audibles.
Don't worry, as we've gone ahead and created one of the most conclusive and definitive casino glossaries you'll find online. After reading and picking up essential gambling terms like 'same suit' and 'payout percentage', you'll be playing your favorite casino games with a smile, thanks to your new found mastery of igaming terms!
Most players tend to know the main terms associated with the online casino games they play the most, but increasing your casino term vocabulary will help expand your horizons and try new titles. Use this page as your master casino term glossary, and best of luck!
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๐ค Online Casino Terms: What To Know Before You Go
Before you spin the slots or push your chips in, please take a moment to brush up on your casino vocabulary. Whether you're looking to play online slots, table games, or even try your hand at sports betting, there are casino terms as well as key concepts you'd be better off knowing about.
Read on to learn about some of the most essential online gambling vocabulary around!
๐ช How To Sign Up
The first step to playing at a real money online casino is to sign up, whether you're new to igaming or looking for a new casino site to try. When ready, click on any of the links from our top recommended table above and follow these steps:
- Choose your preferred real money online casino.
- Click the link to navigate to the registration page.
- Fill out required personal information including your full name, date of birth, and email address.
- Verify your account by confirming your identity, which will require providing a piece of valid government-issued ID.
- Claim your welcome bonus and start playing your favorite casino titles! If you're ever playing a game and don't understand some of the terminology, refer back to this page to ensure you understand.
๐ค Different Types of Welcome Bonuses
From welcome offers to ongoing promos, there are a few differentย casino bonusesย that will help give your account balance a boost! Refer to the table below for a quick glance at each bonus.
| ๐ค Casino Bonus | ๐ Details |
|---|---|
| ๐ช Deposit Match Bonus | A deposit match bonus means a real money online casino will match a percentage of a new player's initial deposit up to a specified amount. For example, a 50% deposit match of up to $500 means a $500 deposit will earn $250 in bonus money. |
| ๐ช Reload Bonus | This type of bonus is exactly the same as a deposit match bonus, with the difference being that it's offered to existing players as opposed to new players. |
| ๐ช No Deposit Bonus | As it sounds, a no deposit bonus awards bonus money upon sign up without requiring any kind of real money deposit! This is the rarest bonus out there, and it is predominantly awarded to new players. |
| ๐ช Free Spin Bonus | Free spin bonuses (or simply 'free spins') can technically be a form of no deposit bonus, depending on how they're earned. For example, some are given just for signing up, whereas others are awarded as a part of a welcome bonus package that will involve some kind of deposit. There are also free spins earned during slot games, which can lead to extra spins with more valuable prizes within the game itself. |
| ๐ช Cashback Bonus | Cashback bonuses are subtle but valuable, returning a certain percentage of the total amount wagered by a player over the course of a game session or given time period. This is given back as bonus money. For example, a $100 net loss with a 15% cashback bonus would return $15 in bonus money. |
For more information about specific online casinos, check out ourย best online casino deposit methodsย page!
๐ Understanding Terms and Conditions
Before claiming or activating a welcome bonus (or any casino bonus for that matter), it's important to fully understand the terms and conditions of the offer itself. This is often referred to as 'wagering requirements', with the most important aspect typically being the playthrough mandates (aka how many times bonus money must be 'played through' before it can be withdrawn).
For example, if you were to earn $50 in bonus money through a promotion with a 2x playthrough requirement, you would need to wager at least $100 in order to make a withdrawal. To appease this rule while mitigating losses, we'd suggest playing games with a high RTP (return to player) rate, such as low volatility slots and table games with a smaller house edge.
Other terms and conditions can include game restrictions. For example, free spins can often only be used on a specific title, or on slot games that don't have progressive jackpots. Be sure to visit ourย terms and conditionsย page for a full breakdown of what to look out for.
๐ณ Cashouts and Payout Speeds
While casino games are fun in their own right, a big reason why we play is with hopes of cashouts. We'll preface this by saying that you should never play a casino game with the expectation of guaranteed profits, which is why you should always play within your financial means for entertainment purposes.
Simply put, cashing out is a casino term that refers to making a real cash withdrawal. As mentioned in the previous section, wagering requirements must be met before any real money can be withdrawn. Once fulfilled, you'll be able to cashout through your preferred payment method, however not all banking options can be used to make withdrawals. For example, you cannot take out money by using a credit card.
Another casino term that goes hand-in-hand with cashouts is payout speeds. As it sounds, this refers to how long you'll have to wait before the money you've withdrawn is sent to your bank account or digital wallet (e-wallet). Many real money casinos will give a window of 1-5 business days, with the timeframe of payout speeds depending on a variety of factors including the payment method you're making the withdrawal with. For example, e-wallets like PayPal and Skrill will often have quicker payout speeds than more traditional payment options like bank transfers.
๐ Master Glossary of Online Casino Terms
Learning a bunch of new casino-related words, and what they mean, can naturally be an overwhelming process. Fortunately, you can (and should) bookmark this glossary page, so that you can refer back to it whenever you encounter casino vocabulary you might not be too familiar with.
Refer to the table below for a comprehensive list of online casino terms all players should know (sorted alphabetically).
๐ From A-G
Here's a comprehensive list of online casino termsย allย players should know:
| ๐ฐ Online Casino Term | ๐ Definition |
|---|---|
| โ ๏ธ ACS (Automatic Card Shuffler) | When you step into a prime casino like in Atlantic City or Las Vegas, you might come across an automatic card shuffler. This device quickly shuffles the cards in a fair and random pattern to avoid mishandling by the dealer. Sometimes, when you play Draw Poker or another poker game, you might see other dealers in the background loading cards in the automatic card shuffler. Online casinos use virtual card shufflers, which have the same effect as physical shufflers. |
| ๐ฌ Action | The sum of the total amount of money wagered on a casino game, whether a solo game like slots or the collective total of all players betting on a live dealer game. |
| โ Add On | An extra chip amount that may be added to the initial fee when a poker tournament reaches the end of late registration. |
| ๐ Aggregate Limit | The total amount awarded to the winner of a given round of any casino game. The casino is obligated to pay this amount. |
| ๐ค All-In | Often associated with poker games, going all-in means wagering the rest of your available bet amount. After going all-in during poker, your hand must be face up for all to see for the rest of the round. While mostly linked to poker, you can go all-in during almost any table game where chips are being utilized to place bets. |
| ๐ All or Nothing | A wagering strategy where a player will go all-in every round. This is only advisable for high rollers. |
| โ Anchor | The anchor is the last player in the order sequence of a table game. The anchor is usually to the dealer's right, and has the advantage of seeing how every other players bets before making their own decision. |
| ๐ช Ante | In many poker variants, the ante refers to the minimum wager each player must make to stay in the current round before it begins. As such, the ante bet is mandatory before dealing hole cards or community cards. Failure to pay the ante means you must fold, which omits you from playing the round. |
| ๐ช Back Door | This term can have different meanings depending on the context. For example, a physical back door refers to a secret casino entrance, which is often only known to elite VIPs, celebrities, or high rollers. This allows prestigious players to enter a land-based casino through a special entrance away from the casino's front door, so as to not attract attention from the paparazzi or other undesirable followers. Alternatively, a 'back door' deal can refer to a unofficial (often shady) agreement involving a casino and some of its players. An excellent example of a back door deal is in the hit film 'Casino', starring Robert De Niro. |
| ๐ Bad Beat | Imagine having an independently strong poker hand that should win most rounds from a probability standpoint. When it comes time to show your cards, another player who started with a weaker hand ends up having a stronger hand than you thanks to community cards, thus making them the winner. This is known as a 'bad beat', as even though you might have started with a strong hand in a vacuum, another player wins thanks to the community cards. |
| ๐ฆ Banker | The term 'banker' is normally associated with a casino game like baccarat, but the banker can also play a part in some blackjack variants. In baccarat, the banker is a type of bet players can make. However, the banker can also be the one dealing shoe cards. For blackjack games where the 10 card is present, like Spanish 21, players can gamble on the banker having the winning hand by making a side bet (often referred as a 'banker bet'). |
| ๐ Bankroll | A player's bankroll is the total amount of available money a player has in their account balance to place bets with. A losing bet depletes your bankroll, while a winning bet adds to it. Promotions and deposit bonuses are other ways to add to your bankroll. If it hits zero and there are no available no deposit bonuses, you must make a deposit to keep playing. Never play with a bankroll you can't afford. |
| ๐ซ Barred | When a player is banned, meaning unable to participate in an online casino game due to their IP address or physical location |
| ๐ชต Barrel | If you've played poker, at some point or another, you've probably felt like you were under the barrel. In this context, a barrel bet is when a player bets the same amount (usually high) throughout the playing rounds. If done right, the barrel bet can make other players in the poker game feel uneasy, lose concentration, and ultimately make a mistake. |
| ๐คฉ Beginner's Luck | A popular global phrase used when a player enjoys wins at the very beginning of their gambling experience. Check out our guide for online casino beginners. |
| ๐ Betting Limits | Most table games have a betting limit. An online casino expects to have as many players as possible feel comfortable participating, so a betting limit is in place at virtual casino tables. Most casinos have special tables for those with deep pockets. Also, having a betting limit helps casinos stay in control of the house edge. |
| โ Betting Right | In a casino game like craps, the term betting right means rolling the dice or gambling on bets where the odds have a higher chance of success. For craps, to help offset the house edge, 'betting right' would mean sticking with the pass line and come bets. |
| ๐ช Blind Bet | If you're knee-deep into poker, you might better know a 'blind bet' as a 'forced bet'. Either way, this type of bet is required before any cards are dealt. The blind bet is one of the most important casino terms poker players should remember. In the casino world, there's both a small and a big blind. Small blinds are made by the first player to the dealer's left. The player sitting to the left of the small-blind player makes the big blind, which is also the minimum bet each player must then make to stay in during that round of betting. |
| ๐ Bluffing | Bluffing is one of the most searched casino terms for good reason. When the chips are down and you don't have a strong hand, you can still act like you do, which may convince the other players to fold if they think you're acting in a genuine manner. This can result in winning the hand, even if you shouldn't. For this reason above all, poker players are encouraged to develop posture and study other players in anticipation of this move. Blackjack players with an unfavorable or non-winning hand might also try to bluff. |
| ๐ฆด Bones | In the gambling world, bones is a dice game term that literally refers to the dice players roll. |
| ๐ธ Bonus | As we mentioned in the previous section, both land-based and online casinos will offer welcome bonuses and other ongoing promotions. This is done to attract new players, and to incentivize existing players to return. Bonuses given to all players can be offered daily, weekly, monthly, or even seasonally. Keep an eye on both the promotions tab and your email inbox to be sure you don't miss out. |
| โ๏ธโ๐ฅ Breaking the Bank | When a player either wins or loses a substantial amount of money. |
| ๐งฑ Brick | When a specific card in a player's poker hand has little to no value when it comes to determining the outcome of the round. For example, if a player has a low hole card that isn't a part of a strong outcome, it's considered a brick card. |
| ๐ Broadway | In poker, a Broadway refers to a winning hand with the highest possible straight, which is 10 through Ace. |
| ๐ฅ Burn Card | Sometimes, you might notice the dealer placing the first dealt card out of play without looking at it. This is known as the burn card. In games like Texas Hold'em poker, baccarat and blackjack, This is done to prevent edge sorting, which helps the player gain an advantage over the house edge. |
| ๐ช Buy-In | The amount that the house or game requires for a player to enter a game. |
| โน๏ธ Cage | This is where players go in a brick-and-mortar casino to exchange money for tokens and chips with a casino employee. The tokens work for their preferred slot machine, and the chips for the table games. Also, players can cash out their tokens and chips with a casino employee for real money. |
| ๐ Call | In poker, when a player decides to call, it means they're matching the current bet, which can involve raising their initial bet if they have already placed a wager that round. |
| ๐ด Card Counting | In a card game like blackjack, players keep tabs, either mentally or illegally, with another player at the table game to track which high-value cards, like aces and tens, have already been dealt and to whom. Even though you might be incredibly skilled, most casinos will throw out players that they suspect of card counting because it works against the house edge and dampens the payout percentage. |
| ๐ฆ Card Shark/Card Sharp | Depending on the casino world you play in, you might come across the expressions card shark and card sharp. โHowever, a card sharp is usually about a player that might have become adept at cheating in ways that you can see to win, while a card shark has mad skills. |
| ๐ฟ Card Washing | If you're playing with a live dealer or even at a high-caliber land-based casino, you might observe the dealer mixing and shuffling the cards several times and in different ways. |
| ๐ฐ Cascading/Collapsing Reels | A bonus feature in slots that generates only when the winning combination is found, which can lead to multiplied winning combos. |
| ๐ค Cashback | A common program provided by online casinos that give funds back to the player. |
| ๐ต Cashing Out | Cashing out is the opportunity that gamblers live for. Your strategy paid off, or that straight flush or the royal flush came on time and saved your bacon. Regardless of the game, once you win, you take your chips to a casino employee at the cash cage to get your money. Or, sometimes, the croupier at the roulette wheel or table game cashes in your chips for you. |
| ๐คต Casino (House) Advantage or Edge | An automatic advantage that the casino or house has over all players which is mathematically proven over the long term. |
| ๐โโ๏ธ Chasing | Because slot machines, other casino games, and sports betting are games of chance, losing comes with the territory. Sometimes, if you lose too much or too often, you might make reckless bets to win back what you lost instead of sticking with an even money bet to try to slowly recoup. |
| ๐ช Chips | The medium of exchange when playing casino games. |
| ๐ช Chopping the Blinds | "Chopping the blinds," is when players in a game, usually a high-stakes one, agree to get back their big blind bets without playing a betting hand. Sometimes, players change their minds, and everyone walks away from the table with no skin in the game. |
| ๐ฐ Class II Slots | Class II is a slot machine category found in many casinos in Vegas, Reno, and other locations. This particular slot machine plays like a bingo game, where players can actually view the draws on the machines. It's common to find these slots at casinos owned by Native American tribes. |
| ๐ฐ Class III Slots | In contrast, Class III is a category that most slot games fall under. These are the typical fruity three-reel games or progressive jackpot slots. Class III slot machines use a random number generator to satisfy audits to maintain transparency. |
| ๐งฅ Coattail | Riding someone's coattail also applies to the casino world. Sometimes, you might be around a player on a heck of a winning streak or a high roller. It's common for players to kiss up to them or try to befriend them in order to share their success. Or, because they were successful, you try to emulate their betting style, which is unwise. Riding someone's coattail in this regard is a gambler's fallacy that can have heavy consequences. |
| ๐ฅถ Cold Streak | Going on a cold streak is something every gambler dreads but will experience if they play long enough. A cold streak is a string of losing bets. |
| ๐ณ๏ธโ๐ Color Up | If you're ready to step up the amount of money to gamble, then color up your chips. The term color up describes how players or a high roller trade in smaller chips for larger value ones. At casinos, the different colored chips represent a specific value. |
| ๐ Color Out | If you need to exchange larger value chips for smaller ones, that process is called color out. Like you would for coloring up, coloring out leads to trading down for cash or smaller value chips. |
| ๐ Community Cards | The dealer deals five community cards face-up in poker games like Omaha Limit or No Limit. The players use these cards with their hole cards to build the strongest possible hand. |
| ๐ Comp Points | Most casinos, including virtual ones, have a rewards or loyalty program. The money wagered, win or lose, leads to comp points that are redeemable for cash or other perks like free hotel stays, luxury vacations, and more. |
| ๐คต Composition Dependent | If you play blackjack, your next move might hinge on the dealer's upcard compared to your hand. Simply put, composition dependent is where you ignore other game signals. When all else fails, or you're not using a specific strategy, the composition dependent method helps players remain on track with the original bet, or remain viable for an even money bet. |
| ๐ค Comp Hustling | It's one thing to work on building up points, but it's something else to try and con a casino for more comp points. Comp hustling is when some gamblers abuse bonuses and promotions that are meant to incentivize players to make bets. The goal is to build up enough points to make wagers without touching their money as much as possible. |
| ๐ด Continuous Shuffling Machine (CSM) | Depending on the game, a continuous shuffling machine is used to deal the cards. Some casino employees use a continuous shuffling machine in between playing hands to shuffle and deal the cards. |
| ๐ Corner Bet | In most roulette variants, the corner bet, also known as the square bet, involves gambling on four numbers. These four numbers, in essence, form a square, thus the term. If any of the numbers in that square hits, you win the bet. Players place their chips in the spot where the four numbers hit on the roulette wheel to signify this bet. |
| ๐คต Croupier | Often interchanged with the dealer, the croupier is usually associated with managing and accepting chips and bets in roulette. |
| ๐ค Deal | The process where dealers dole out cards to players and/or themselves. |
| ๐ด Deck | The cards being used for a casino game |
| ๐ด Deck Penetration | If you play blackjack, deck penetration is the count or the percentage of cards that the dealer has already passed out in the round. After each betting hand finishes, the cards return to the playing deck or are thrown out for a new and unused deck. |
| โฌ๏ธ Deposit | A process where players add funds to their online casino account. |
| ๐ด Draw | In poker, this type of hand is where a player needs either one or two distinct cards to make a straight or one of a suit to make a flush |
| โฌ Doubling Down | Blackjack players sometimes double their original bet based on their first two cards. Because they double down, they can get a third card but must stand during the rest of the hand. |
| ๐คทโโ๏ธ Double or Nothing | A betting style where players double their bet after losing a hand. |
| ๐ด Down Card | The down card, like a hole card, is the specific card the dealer deals face down. Only the player with the down card knows the value, unlike community cards in a poker hand. |
| โ๏ธ e-COGRA | Unlike legal online casinos like Caesars Palace Online Casino and bet365, which are licensed by state gaming authorities, e-COGRA oversees the best social casinos and regulates them. More specifically, e-COGRA stands for eCommerce Online Gaming Regulation and Assurance. This governing body works with some legal casinos to verify fair and accurate gameplay. |
| ๐ฒ Element of Risk | No matter how favorable the odds or how sound a strategy is, every casino game carries an element of risk. In other words, the element of risk is a gauge of how much you can lose in contrast to a favorable payout percentage. |
| ๐พ EPROM | EPROM, or "Erasable Programmable Read-On Memory," is a specialized chip that can still store and manage information, even if the switch or slot machine, for example, is turned off. |
| 2๏ธโฃ Even-Money Bet | An even-money bet is a 1:1 payout percentage. In other words, your bet pays the same as your original bet, so you draw even. |
| ๐ฆ Expanding Wilds | The bonus features offered by slot games. |
| ๐ Expected Win Rate | Sometimes known and referred to as expected value, it is a concept similar to ROI (Return on Investment), where a player can gauge how much or the amount of money they can win in the long run. Using a particular strategy like the Paroli, for example, helps influence the expected win rate. |
| ๐ Face Card | In card games like baccarat and poker, the face cards are the jacks, kings, and queens. These royalty cards don't have to be the same suit. Depending on the game, face cards count for different values. |
| ๐ Fixed Odds | In sports betting, where the money line, spread, and other bets fluctuate, fixed odds are usually determined in advance before playing certain games. Some sports bookies might have fixed odds, like in horse racing, to encourage sports betting. The advantage of fixed odds is that players know how much they stand to win or lose before playing. |
| ๐ฅฟ Flat Betting | Some gamblers, including a high roller, throw caution to the wind and wager the same amount of money through several playing rounds. Flat betting ignores strategies and odds. In other words, the player already has their mind made up. Flat betting, done right, can also be used to help avoid big losses. |
| ๐ด Flop | In some poker games, the flop refers to the community cards dealt for the second time. Specifically, these cards are also dealt face up for all players to see and use in their hands and hole cards. Players make their bets after the flop. |
| ๐งบ Fold | Sometimes, your poker hand is so weak that it's best to take your losses. So, rather than try to bluff, you fold your hand and game for another day. |
| ๐ฐ Free Spins | As it sounds, free spins give players a chance to play slot games and earn real money without spending any of their bankroll. Free spins can be awarded as a part of promotions, or in-game while playing the slots thanks to mechanics and mini-game features that may be available. |
| โ Gambler's Fallacy | The outcomes of games at reputable casinos are randomly determined, yet some players still choose to believe their actions can have influence. While things like lucky charms are a fun idea, there is nothing that can actually be done to change the outcomes of future events. |
๐ From H-P
| ๐ช Online Casino Term | ๐ Definition |
|---|---|
| ๐ค Hand | The cards held and used by each player during certain table games like blackjack and poker. |
| ๐งโ๐คโ๐ง Hold Percentage | After all betting sequences are complete, the casino tallies up all remaining revenue from those bets based on the house edge. Simply put, the hold percentage is the ultimate gauge when it comes to determine a casino's bottom line, or how profitable a casino game can be for both parties. |
| ๐ณ๏ธ Hole Card | In many poker games, the dealer deals each player a hole card. Hole cards are always dealt face down and for the player's eyes only until the showdown. |
| ๐ฅ Hit | The action of requesting an additional card in blackjack. |
| ๐ฉ High Roller | A player with a large bankroll who typically places maximum bet wagers. |
| ๐ฐ Hop Bet | If you play craps, the hop wager is a special one-roll bet where instead of wagering on the winning number, you gamble on which combination of numbers lead to the final result. While hop wagers tease higher payouts, the risks might not be worth it for most gamblers. |
| ๐ฏ Horn Bet | In craps, the horn bet involves hitting either a deuce, three, eleven, or a twelve after rolling the dice. Either you hit one of those numbers, or you lose. |
| ๐ฅ Hot Streak | Every gambler works hard for that elusive hot streak in sports betting or other casino games. A hot streak is a line of successful winning bets. |
| ๐คต Hot Table | If you're in the middle of a hot streak, your game table is called the hot table. This is when other players and onlookers will either gather to share in your fortune or try to join the table to stop your streak. |
| ๐ก House | The house refers to the casino itself, which is also sometimes known as the bank. Essentially, you're competing against the house to win any casino game. This is where the concept of RTP and house edge come into play. |
| ๐ช House Edge | The house edge is the percentage of bets that the casino holds onto each time a player places a wager. In other words, it's the polar opposite of the RTP. |
| ๐ House Rules | The set of rules created by a casino, aka 'the house'. |
| 1๏ธโฃ Initial Bet | When you play, you might hear it called the original or the first wager. The initial bet is the stepping stone to many betting strategies, like the Martingale. For example, if your first bet is a dud, the Martingale calls to double the next one. If you win, you return to the first bet placed. |
| ๐ Inside Bet | In most roulette variants, the inside bet is a gamble on a certain number combination placed to earn a chance at higher payouts. The inside bet could be betting on a number straight up, a split bet, street, corner, and basket wager. |
| ๐ธ Insurance Bet | A side bet created by the player in case the dealer hits blackjack after showing an ace. |
| ๐ฅณ Jackpot | There's nothing like the sound of a slot machine going off, dumping all those coins with flashing lights. While some table games have a jackpot, the jackpot is more for slot machines. Depending on the slot, you might have multiple fixed jackpots or a progressive pot that grows with each wager until someone hits it. |
| ๐ง Juice | Also known as the 'vig', this is a service fee charged by online casinos. |
| ๐ฆถ Kicker | The kicker is a poker term, referring to the highest-value card in a playing hand that doesn't necessarily play a role in winning. For example, if a round ends in a tie between multiple players, the kicker can be used to settle the pot winner. |
| ๐ช Ladderman | If you play baccarat, the ladderman is a designated casino employee who oversees the game. As a quality control associate, they manage the dealer and handle any misunderstandings and disagreements. |
| ๐ข Letting it Ride | 'Letting it Ride' is a betting method, usually used during Let It Ride Poker. In this instance, players make three identical wagers that aren't immediately used. As the game progresses and the cards are dealt, players can take back a wager or 'Let It Ride' for a chance to win big. |
| โ Limits | A restriction set for the highest amount players can bet or raise in a given game. |
| ๐คต Live Dealer Games | In 2019, Evolution Gaming changed the world of online gambling with the invention of live dealer play. Streamed in 4K resolution from a professional studio, players can now have the most authentic online casino possible, complete with a real-time dealer and other human players they can interact with. |
| ๐ค Lay the Odds | A player winning less than they initial bet at the beginning of the game. |
| ๐จ Lobby | The page of a casino app or site that shows available tables for all available game types. |
| ๐ชถ Martingale | The Martingale strategy is commonly associated with roulette and baccarat variants like Punto Banco. If your first bet or your last winning wager don't pan out, a Martingale play calls for players to double their next bet. If it is a winner, go back to the last winning wager. |
| ๐ฅ Match Play | To compete against their online counterparts like BetMGM and FanDuel, retail casinos often use match-play coupons that give players free credits to play certain table games. Usually, players have to create a membership account to qualify for a match-play coupon. |
| ๐ช Maximum Bet | The highest wager allowed by an online casino in an individual game. |
| ๐ช Minimum Bet | The smallest wager allowed by an online casino in an individual game. |
| ๐งน Muck/Mucking | Mucking involves folding cards face down and handing them to the dealer to bow out of the current playing round, without revealing them. |
| โ Multiplier | A slot feature that multiplies standard payouts by a predetermined amount. |
| ๐ Multi-Hand Games | Typically seen in video poker, these are games that allow players to play multiple hands at once. |
| ๐ฒ Natural | An unbeatable hand, such as a 21 in blackjack or an 8 or 9 in baccarat. |
| ๐ฅ Net Winnings | The amount of pure profit that players take home after losses and other deductions like the house edge. |
| ๐ฏ Non-Sticky Bonus | A promotional offer involving a bonus that does not have wagering requirements attached to it. This means you can withdraw real cash straight away. |
| ๐ฅ Nut Flush | Poker players in search of the royal flush can sometimes still win with a straight flush, or with the highest possible flush with the cards remaining from the community cards. |
| โ Odds | A player's statistical chance of winning a game or round. |
| ๐ญ Open | The initial pre-flop raise of a poker hand. |
| ๐ด Open-Limping | The first poker player to be the big blind is the open-limper. Open-limping is when the big blind player make the smallest possible wager, instead of raising or folding. |
| โฌ๏ธ Overlay | The guaranteed minimum payout of a casino game, meaning the house must pay the difference if the pot is short. |
| ๐จ Paint | Painting is a gambling term for both face cards and ace cards. These are the big money cards for blackjack. |
| โฉ Pass | The action taken when a player folds and decides to not continue participating in a round or game. |
| ๐จโ๐ฆฐ Pat | A blackjack hand that is worth 17 or higher. |
| ๐ต Payline | To win with most slot machines, players must get three or more of a like symbol to land on the payline. Some slots have a single payline, while others can have dozens, hundreds, or even thousands during megaways slot games. Players can adjust the number of paylines prior to each spin, which will raise or lower the wager amount. |
| ๐ค Payoff (Payout) | The total amount a player receives after winning a bet. |
| ๐ธ Payout Percentage | The overall percentage a casino pays out on the average bet. |
| ๐ฐ Payout Table | A table containing payout amounts for specific bets placed on a slot game. |
| ๐ฎ Penalty Card | Some card games introduce the penalty card, which can actually take away points if a certain card is drawn. |
| ๐ป Phantom Bonus | Online casinos might reward a specific promotion if a member completes certain actions. Like other promotions, phantom bonuses have wagering requirements that must be met. |
| ๐ฆโโฌ Pigeon | An unknowledgeable, ignorant, or naive casino player. |
| ๐ณ๏ธ Pit | The area of the casino that has been designated for table games. The pit is often in the middle of the casino, in order to draw the most attention and traffic. |
| ๐คต Pit Boss | The pit boss is the specific casino employee who manages all the dealers and monitors all the game action. The Pit Boss can throw out players they suspect of cheating, such as card counting and other infractions. |
| ๐ Pocket Cards | The face down cards that players receive during a game. |
| ๐ Pony Up | Simply put, to 'pony up' is to show you have the required bankroll to play at a given table. If you lose, you also have to 'pony up' the money to the winner. |
| ๐ฒ Pot | The total amount of money or chips that is awarded to the winner of a hand, in poker and other table games. |
| โ Probability | Probability is the statistical likelihood of winning or losing, determined by factors like the house edge and RTP. |
| ๐ Progression Betting | Some betting strategies require players to steadily increase their wagers under certain circumstances. For example, the D'Alembert strategy in roulette calls for players to increase wagers by a dollar if they win, while the Martingale calls for doubling wagers after a loss. |
| ๐ค Progressive Jackpot | A progressive jackpot bonus accrues with each wager, and is shown in real time to entice players to join in. They can be part of a local casino network or on a wider network. Some hit at a certain value or a specific time, while other reset following a win. There is always a minimum starting point, depending if it's a small or large jackpot. |
| โ๏ธ Provably Fair | An algorithm used to verify the authenticity and fairness of an online casino game. |
| ๐ซธ Push | If a player's bet ties with the house, the wager amount is simply returned. |
๐ From Q-Z
| ๐ช Online Casino Term | ๐ Definition |
|---|---|
| ๐ Rail | Railing involves watching others play the game. You might decide to stick around the hot table to pick up pointers to use in your personal strategy, or just watch for entertainment purposes. |
| ๐ข Random Number Generator (RNG) | Legal casinos, including virtual ones, must give players a fair shake to maintain their licenses. To meet this license requirement, they use a random number generator for fair and random results, ensuring games are not rigged. |
| ๐๏ธ Reload Bonus | An additional bonus in the form of cash or casino credit players are given when they deposit a certain amount into their account balance. This is the same as a deposit match bonus, except it's available to all players and not just new users, |
| ๐ง River | The last community card dealt in a typical poker hand, also known as the 'fifth street'. |
| ๐ Royal Flush | The royal flush is the best of the best of poker hands. Getting a royal flush involves getting an ace, king, queen, jack, and a ten in the same suit. |
| ๐จ Seven-Card Stud | Seven-card stud features the ante bet followed by four consecutive betting rounds. The fourth, fifth, and sixth playing rounds involve one more card, face up. The seventh playing round is called the river. Afterwards, the showdown begins. |
| ๐ Shoe | In baccarat games, the dealer or the banker has the shoe from which the cards are dealt. In Punto Banco, there is a designated banker. In Chemin de Fer, a player is in charge of the shoe. In Baccarat Banque, all the players take turns with the shoe. |
| โ๏ธ Showdown | The showdown is when the remaining poker players show their hands in variants like Texas Hold'em. In other words, if you didn't fold, you have to put up by showing your cards before the dealer and other players. |
| ๐ Side Bet | Some card games have side bets beyond the regular game bets. Baccarat, for example, has the Dragon Bonus and Super 6. Because of the insane house edge associated with them, they are not often worth the risk to pursue. |
| ๐ Sign-Up Bonus | A bonus or promotion that online casinos offer to incentivize players to sign up on their platform |
| ๐ค Skin | A slang term for money, used in expressions such as 'having skin in the game'. |
| ๐งป Soft 17 | In blackjack, a soft 17 is when the dealer's first two cards are aces, which counts as eleven and a six. In this scenario, the dealer must automatically stand. |
| ๐ฆ Splashing the Pot | When chips are thrown into the pot instead of placed, which can cause confusion if any chips land elsewhere. Generally, this is considered poor etiquette. |
| ๐ฅฉ Stake | The stake is a term for how much a player bets. For example, a $1 bet is a $1 stake. |
| ๐งStanding Hand | A hand that is valued at a 17 or higher in blackjack. |
| ๐ฏ Sticky Bonus | A bonus that is not removed from a player's account until they fail to meet the requirements to retain it. |
| ๐ Sticky Wilds | Wild symbols in slot games that do not move from their landing spot for the entirety of a free spin period. |
| ๐ Straight Flush | Getting a straight flush in poker involves getting five straight cards in ascending numerical order from the same suit. Only a royal flush is stronger in terms of poker hand rankings. |
| ๐งต String Bet | A string bet is when a player doesn't follow through smoothly with an action, like raising. Instead, they wait to do it at a later point. Casinos frown on this action because it can cause confusion during gameplay. |
| ๐คต Suit | The symbol seen on each card in a deck, with options including clubs, diamonds, hearts, and spades. |
| ๐ด Table Game | Card games like Texas Hold'em poker and roulette are considered table games because they require a dealer or croupier to orchestrate the game and take chips. That said, there are virtual table games featuring cyber dealers. |
| ๐ต Tapping Out | If your bankroll reaches zero, you have no choice but to tap out and leave the game. Simply put, tapping out means you have no more money to continue playing. |
| ๐๏ธ Total Dependent | In blackjack, a total dependent involves the total value of all cards, as opposed to the cards as individuals. The total dependent determines whether to hit, stand, or split if the variant allows it. |
| 3๏ธโฃ Trips (Three of a Kind) | A hand containing three of the same cards in terms of numeric value. |
| โ True Odds | When not using strategies or complex bets, true odds are the real odds associated with different wagers. |
| โฌ๏ธ Underplay | Occurs when a player chooses to play their strong hand slowly at the beginning of a poker hand. |
| โฌ๏ธ Upcard | The dealer's card that is showing in blackjack. |
| ๐ซฐ Vigorish (Vig) | The fee that online casinos take from player's wagers to give to the house. |
| ๐งโโ๏ธ Wager Requirements | A set of terms and conditions that must be met in order for players to withdraw their winnings. |
| ๐ Wild Card | Some card games introduce the joker card as the wild factor. Jokers can replace other cards with the same value. |
| ๐ฆ Wild Symbols | Symbols found in slot games that can provide different effects to maximize payouts. |
| ๐ณ Withdrawal | The act of taking money or earnings out of one's online casino account balance. |
๐ Legal States Offering Real Money Online Casinos
There are currently seven states that allow real money online gambling: Connecticut, Delaware, Michigan, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, and West Virginia.
Delaware broke the ice by becoming the first American state to legalize real money online casinos in 2012. That said, the available selection of igaming sites within the state remain limited, with the only options being state-run online casinos. The Delaware State Lottery Office is in charge of the state's gambling affairs and under their ruling, commercial operators still aren't permitted.
In 2013, former New Jersey Governor Chris Christie successfully lobbied and won against several state circuit courts, giving the Garden State the ability to launch online gambling. Today, New Jersey has around thirty online casino sites, with more added each year. Brands with the biggest in-state presence include bet365, BetMGM, and Borgata.
In 2017, the Keystone State capped a casino journey that began in 2004, when Governor Wolf first signed legislation permitting online gambling within the state. To this day, the Pennsylvania Gaming Control Board manages the licenses for fan-favorite casino brands like DraftKings and Golden Nugget. In fact, the Quaker State generates the most tax revenue apart from Nevada.
Rhode Island was the next state to enter the market, launching its first online casino in 2019. The journey for online gambling and sports betting began thanks to Governor McKee, when SB948 was signed into law. Currently, Bally Casino is the only option, and it is unknown when other online casinos may become available.
Michigan joined the online gambling party in 2019 after Governor Whitmer signed several bills legalizing sports betting and other igaming options, including online poker. The first sites went live in 2020 and since then, Michigan has continued to grow, with around 15 options currently available.
The West Virginia Lottery Interactive Wagering Act also became law in 2019. In July 2020, West Virginia formally opened its virtual doors to real money online casinos. Household brands like DraftKings were the first to the table, which wasn't surprising as West Virginia was already a sports betting powerhouse.
Next up was Connecticut, which made online gambling legal in 2021 thanks to HB06451, which was signed into law by Governor Lamont. โAt the moment, Connecticut only has three available online casinos in DraftKings, FanDuel, and Mohegan Sun.
Nowadays, other states like Alabama, Georgia, Maryland, New York, and Texas are lobbying hard to sanction online gambling. In 2018, after the Supreme Court overturned the PAPSA ban, New Jersey and other states opened online sports betting.
With sports betting now available in nearly 40 states, including around 30 states allowing access through online sportsbooks, the path has been partially paved for online casinos to follow.
To learn more about real money online casinos in any of the states where it is currently legal, please visit our state pages below!
โ๏ธ Responsible Gambling Resources
When playing games at casinos, whether online or in-person, it's just as important to play responsibly as it is to have fun. While nobody wants to lose control, it's possible to get caught up in dreams of winning big. As a result, gambling addiction is a very serious matter, and any reputable online casino will provide responsible gaming tools that can help you keep yourself in check. This includes time limits, wager limits, and self-exclusion.
What's more, states where igaming is legal have resources available to those who need them. Please don't hesitate to reach out to any of the following organizations if you suspect that you or a loved one may be suffering from a gambling addiction, regardless of severity.
- National Council on Problem Gambling: 1-800-522-4700
- Gamblers Anonymous: https://www.gamblersanonymous.org/ga/
- Gam-Anon: https://www.gamblersanonymous.org/ga/content/gam-anon-help-family-friends
โ Full Glossary of Key Online Casino Terms FAQs
Here are answers to some of our most commonly-asked questions concerning key online casino terms, as well as general information about online casinos and how to claim bonuses.
What are some of the most important casino terms to know?
What are the best real money online casinos to sign up for?
How can I earn a welcome bonus that can be used to play games?
Do online casino bonuses have terms and conditions?
Which states have legalized real money online casinos?
What should I do if I suspect that either myself or a loved one may be suffering from a gambling addiction?
