If you’re new to casino gaming, it can be difficult to get to grips with the casino terminology that more experienced players regularly use. They might as well be speaking a foreign language, such is your confusion around what’s being said. And it’s no wonder, as terms like ‘hit frequency’ or ‘en prison’ aren’t exactly self-explanatory unless you already know what they mean.

Below, we’ll discuss some of the more common casino terminology used in different areas of casino gaming. Whether you enjoy crypto slots or table games like roulette and blackjack, understanding the lingo not only helps you enjoy the games more but can also sharpen your strategy.

What is Casino Terminology?

Casino terminology refers to the slang or traditional language/vocabulary used in a casino setting. While experienced players will have a complete understanding of their meaning, newer players may struggle to comprehend some of the terms.

The terminology can range across all aspects of casinos. It can relate to games and betting, while others can be more general casino phrases.

While some phrases may be self-explanatory or easy to understand, others can be the opposite. For instance, a ‘cold table’ has nothing to do with temperature, and you’re not required to get up out of your seat when you ‘stand’ in blackjack.

General Casino Terminology

If you’ve ever wondered what terms like ‘wagering requirements’ or ‘pit boss’ mean, you’re not alone. There are many general casino terms that some of you may not understand that other players and staff use in equal measure.

Here, we’ll break down some of the most common general terms you might hear at casinos, whether online or land-based.

Bonus Related Casino Terminology

If you live for casino bonuses as part of your iGaming entertainment strategy, then understanding casino bonus terminology will help you better understand the rules. Also, understanding how each

Deposit Match: Used to describe a casino bonus that gives players a percentage match of their deposit as bonus funds.
Wagering Requirement: Also known as a rollover requirement, this refers to the number of times the bonus cash must be wagered before it is transferred to a real money balance.
Cashback: A type of promotion or loyalty program perk that gives players cashback on their losses or bets.
Maximum Bonus Bet: Look out for this one because it dictates the maximum amount you can bet per spin or betting round while your bonus is active.
Game Weights: When betting with bonus money, depending on the game you play, a set percentage of your bet counts towards the wagering requirement. For example, Slots 100% / Table Games 10% / Video Poker 5% / Jackpots 0%.

Common Casino Terminology

For newbies to the iGaming scene, there are a few phrases that may not be exciting, but they are nonetheless handy to have in your iGaming vocabulary.

Deposit Turnover: This refers to the number of times you must wager your deposit before the funds become available for withdrawal. The reason deposit turnovers exist is part of the licensing requirements for anti-money laundering (AML) laws.
Lobby: Each casino divides its games into lobbies. For example, the slot lobby will show online slots and the table game lobby, which can be a mix of virtual or live dealer games or a section dedicated to one or the other.
Pending Time: The time it takes for the casino to approve your withdrawal.

Betting Related Terminology

You may also come across some of the following terms used in relation to betting and general casino gaming:

Bankroll: The total amount of money you set aside to gamble. For example, you might deposit $200 at an online casino but decide that the bankroll for your session is $100.
Break Even: This occurs when you have previously lost some of your bankroll but have regained it to reach a break-even point.
Comps: Freebies or rewards that land-based casinos give players, like free bets or meals.
House Edge: The mathematical advantage the casino has over players in its games. For instance, the house edge of European Roulette is 2.7%, while online slots can have a house edge ranging from 1% to 7%.
RTP: This is the opposite of house edge and relates to the return to player percentage of a game. The RTP is the percentage of the money it has taken that it will pay back over the long term. Using European Roulette again, its RTP is typically 97.3%, calculated by subtracting the house edge (2.7%) from 100%.
Betting Limits: Betting limits are a term most often used in casinos. It describes the maximum and minimum amount a player can bet during a game.

Winner Winner Chicken Dinner: A term that is often used to describe a big win or huge slice of luck.

Common Slot Machines Casino Terminology

As the most popular type of game at casinos, it’s no surprise to learn that there are lots of terms and phrases specific to slot machine gaming. For one, slots have different names depending on a player’s preference or where they are from.

International Terminology For Online Slots

Fruit Machines or Fruities: In the UK, players are fanatical about slots! They refer to games as either fruit machines or fruities, which derives from the symbols themselves, such as cherries, plums, and
Pokies: The term ‘Pokies’ or ‘Online Pokies’ refers to video slots—players in Australia and New Zealand predominantly use this terminology.
One-armed Bandits: Although outdated, some people still call slot games bandits or one-armed bandits. The name derives from the first land-based Liberty Bell slot games that required players to pull a lever to spin the reels. The lever is the one arm.

Common Online Slot, Fruit Machine & Pokie Terminology

In this section, we’ve provided some of the more common slot machine terminology, but there are many other phrases you might hear over time that you’re not sure what they mean.

Reels: These are the vertical columns that spin when you hit the spin button. Classic slots usually have 3 reels, but modern video slots can have 5 or more.
Reel Mechanics: The mechanics of the reels can vary depending on the software provider. Typically, a slot mechanic refers to the way the reel forms a combination win. E.g., Paylines, Cluster Pays, Ways to Win, No Payline, Megaways, and in the case of Yggdrasil slots, you also have Infinity Reels.
Paylines: These are the lines hidden beneath the reels that determine winning combinations.
Volatility (or Variance): This tells you how often and how big your wins might be. A low-volatility slot will payout more frequently, but in smaller amounts. Alternatively, a high variance slot pays out bigger amounts but less frequently.
Scatters: Scatter symbols usually trigger the bonus games on slot machines. More often than not, you need to land 3 or more anywhere in view. Some scatters also have a payout value.
Multipliers: The term ‘multipliers’ usually refers to multipliers that can appear on reels or wild symbols. Their value can be anywhere from 2x to 1000x and will apply to qualifying winning combinations. Another example is win multipliers that can grow progressively in bonus games.
Hit Frequency: This refers to how many spins out of every 100 that a slot will usually land a win.
One-Liner: This is the term for a one-payline slot machine that requires players to line up three matching symbols to win.
Win-Both-Ways: Some slots allow winning combinations to form from both directions. Those combos can start from the left-most reel and move right, and from the rightmost reel and move left.

Common Blackjack Terminology

There’s also a lot of terminology used for blackjack. You’ll find slang for everything from the actions you can perform to the hands you can hold.

Basic Strategy: The holy grail of becoming a proficient Blackjack player is understanding basic strategy. These charts determine whether you should hit, stand, double, or split based on your hand total versus the dealer’s face-up card. The mathematical formulas behind them effectively help you maximize your winnings and minimize your losses.
Hit: Ask for another card to get closer to 21 without going bust.
Stand: Keep your current hand and end your turn.
Double Down: This is an action in Blackjack where you double your initial bet, but are only allowed to receive one more card. It’s a risky move with big reward potential.
Split: If your first two cards are of the same value, you can split them into two separate hands and play each independently. For example, if you have 10 and 10, you can split them into two separate hands and continue playing.
Bust: This refers to the moment you lose the game by holding a hand that has a higher value than 21.
Soft Hand: This is a hand containing an Ace that is counted as 11 without busting. For example, an Ace and a 3 are counted as a soft hand.
Insurance: This is a side bet offered when the dealer shows an Ace. It’s betting that they have blackjack. Usually not recommended!
Five-Card Charlie: A term that describes a five-card hand that has a value of less than 21.

Common Roulette Terminology

Roulette is another hugely popular casino game, both online and off, but there’s certain terminology you should learn before playing.

Inside Bets: Bets on specific numbers or small groups of numbers on the roulette table. For example, straight up bets (single numbers) and corner bets (a group of four numbers) are inside bets.
Outside Bets: These are lower odds bets on larger groups, such as red or black, odd or even, or dozens of numbers.
Straight Up: A bet placed directly on a single number.
En Prison: A rule in some European Roulette games where if the ball lands on zero, even-money bets are ‘imprisoned’ for the next spin. Essentially, you’re given a second chance to win your bet.

Croupier: The name given to the person operating the game. While blackjack and other card games have a dealer, roulette has a croupier.

Coup: This is the act of when the croupier spins the roulette wheel and drops the ball.

Pockets: These are the sections on the roulette wheel beneath each number that the ball can land.
Marker: This is the small marker the croupier places on the winning number after a spin. Until it’s removed, players must wait before placing any new bets for the next round.

Final Thoughts

We have covered a handful of common terms used in casinos and specific casino games. As you gain experience, you’ll likely hear and eventually understand many more phrases and words used in both land-based and online casino settings. Armed with the knowledge of these terms, if you are ever chatting in a forum or on the mBitcasino community chat, or if you are in a land-based gambling venue, you now have some of the lingo as part of your gambling vocabulary.