Casinos have a language of their own. And as a newcomer, even the most beginner-friendly casino games can sometimes involve terms that seem confusing at first.
Whether you’re stuck on the difference between RTP and volatility or the functions of Scatter symbols and Wilds in slot games, knowing the basics can make a big difference. We’ve summed up the most basic casino terms that everybody should know, from general casino terms to online slots, crash games, and even basic table games.
Ready to add some new casino lingo to your vocabulary? Then keep reading.
General Casino Terms
We’re going to kick things off with some general terms that apply to almost all casino games. No matter where you decide to start, you’re most likely going to need to know most of these terms. So, they’re a good foundation for getting started.
- Bankroll: The money you set aside for betting.
- Bet/Wager: These two terms are used interchangeably to refer to a gambling action or prediction that you make. They aren’t the same thing as actual amount you’re betting.
- Dealer: The dealer is the member of casino staff (or an online game) that manages live table games.
- Hand: A player’s current set of cards in table games.
- House Edge: The mathematical advantage, shown as a percentage, that represents the average money the casino expects to keep from wagers over time. For example, with a house edge of 5%, the casino theoretically retains an average of R5 for every R100 wagered over time.
- Maximum Bet: The highest amount you can wager in a round.
- Minimum Bet: The lowest amount you can wager in a round.
- Multiplier: A number that multiplies with the value of a win. In some slots and crash games, multiplier values increase as you play.
- Odds: The likelihood of an outcome occurring. This is usually expressed as a ratio.
- Payout: The money received after winning a bet or wager.
- RTP: Short for Return to Player, the RTP is the theoretical percentage of wagered money that a casino game returns to players over a long period.
- Stake: The amount of money placed on a particular bet or wager.
- Volatility: A measure of the frequency and amount of casino game payouts. High volatility means less frequent, but larger payouts. Low volatility means smaller payouts that happen much more often.
Common Online Slots Terms
Now, let’s move on to something a bit more specific. Slot games come with plenty of their own terminology that are interchangeable between online and in-person versions. You’ll see this most often while you’re looking through the slot rules and paytable, or simply exploring its features.
Some of these don’t apply to every slot game you’ll play, but there is usually some variation of the following terms.
- Bonus Round: A special feature or round in select slot games that is triggered during the base game that can lead to more Free Spins, prizes, or other benefits.
- Cascading Reels/Tumbles: A slot feature where winning symbols disappear, and new wins take their place without needing to place another bet. This potentially creates multiple wins from a single spin.
- Free Spins: Feature that allows you to spin the reels without requiring a new wager. Free Spins may be awarded through bonus features or purchased in some games.
- Payline: A fixed line or pattern on which matching symbols can form a winning combination.
- Progressive Jackpot: Unlike a fixed jackpot which has a predetermined amount to win, a progressive jackpot can increase as the player makes qualifying bets. Once a progressive jackpot is won, it resets.
- Reels: The vertical columns containing symbols in a slot game.
- Respins: Additional spins awarded or triggered by certain game features.
- Rows: The horizontal lines or positions containing slot symbols.
- Scatter Symbol: Scatters, or Scatter symbols, are special symbols that can trigger features like Free Spins, bonus rounds, or instant rewards. This happens when there are a qualifying number of Scatters on the reels.
- Ways to Win: A slot mechanic that allows you to create winning combinations without following traditional paylines.
- Wild Symbol: A special slot symbol that can substitute for other symbols to improve the chances of winning combinations.
Common Crash Game Terms
Next up, we have crash games. These are a bit of a newer development in the online casino scene, with games like Chicken+ and Aviator taking up a place in many new players’ hearts. They have mechanics that are easy to understand and don’t require any complicated strategies or lingo, so they’re a fantastic place for casino newbies to start.
There aren’t many terms you need to remember, but here are just a few of the main ones.
- Auto Cash Out: A setting that can automatically cash out your winnings based on your chosen settings. For instance, at a certain multiplier.
- Auto Bet/Auto Play: Automatically places bets according to the settings you select beforehand. For instance, you can choose to use auto play for 50 rounds in a game, regardless of wins or losses.
- Cash Out: When you end your bet before the crash point and receive a payout based on the multiplier you’re on.
- Crash Point: This is the random point in the game where the game “crashes” and you lose your bet and any multipliers you’ve accumulated.
Common Table Game Terms
It would be nearly impossible to cover every single word or phrase used in all table games that casinos offer. So, to keep things concise, we’re going to cover common terms in four of the most popular table games. These include blackjack, roulette, baccarat, and poker.
Each game has its own set of rules (which won’t be covered here) and vocabulary you need to know. These basic terms are a good place to start and should allow you to have a good go at your first few rounds.
Blackjack Terms
- Ace: The Ace card has different values depending on the game situation. It can either be the value of 1 or 11, whichever outcome best suits the current hand. E.g., if your current hand is 20 and the dealer gives you an Ace, the value will be applied as 1, as it’s the most beneficial.
- Blackjack: This term encompasses the ultimate goal of the game. Blackjack refers to a two-card hand, one being an Ace and the other a card with the value of 10 (10, Jack, Queen, or King) where the total adds up to 21.
- Bust: Bust refers to the point when your current hand value goes over 21.
- Double Down: An action where you can double your original bet and receive one additional card from the dealer.
- Hit: During the round, you can ask the dealer to “hit” which means they will add another card to your hand.
- Split: When players separate two cards of the same value to create two individual hands. An additional bet is required for the second hand.
- Stand: When you keep your current hand and take no additional cards.
Roulette Terms
- Corner Bet: A wager that covers four number in the corner of a betting table.
- Inside Bet: Bet placed on individual or small combinations of numbers. These are specific wagers that are harder to win but have higher payouts. Includes straight up, split, street, corner, and six-line bets.
- Outside Bet: This is a bet placed on broader outcomes that are more likely to win. These include Red or Black, Odd or Even, High or Low, Dozens, and Columns.
- Split Bet: A bet placed on two adjacent numbers on the betting table.
- Straight-Up Bet: A wager placed on a single number.
- Street Bet: A bet covering a row of three numbers.
Baccarat Terms
- Player Bet: This refers to a wager placed on the player to finish with a winning hand total.
- Banker Bet: The opposite outcome in baccarat is to bet on the banker (or dealer) finishing with the winning hand.
- Natural: This is called when the initial hand has two cards with a total of 8 or 9.
- Shoe: The shoe is another name for the container containing the cards that are dealt throughout the game.
- Tie Bet: A wager that the player and banker will finish with the same hand total.
Poker Terms
- All-In: This action refers to when you bet all chips you currently have.
- Call: When the player matches the amount of the current bet.
- Check: This is when the player keeps their hand without placing a new bet, when there’s no existing bet to match.
- Fold: When you see that your hand is likely not to win and give up your hand and not continue the round.
- Raise: This refers to when a player increases the amount of the current bet.
Play Casino Games With playTSOGO
There you have it. Now that you know the most basic terminology, you’re ready to put your knowledge of casino games to the ultimate test. Just log in or register an account with playTSOGO, find the games that interest you the most, and get started today.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
What are the most important casino terms for beginners?
Beginners should learn terms that apply to almost all casino games, as these will be used most often. Some of these general terms include bet, stake, payout, RTP, house edge, volatility, and betting limits (minimum and maximum).
Are RTP and house edge the same thing?
No. RTP and house edge are different concepts used in casino games. RTP focuses on what the player can expect to get back from their bets over a long period of betting. The house edge refers to what the casino expects to keep of the players’ bets. Both are theoretical long-term figures and neither predicts what will happen in each game session.
What is the difference between paylines and ways to win?
Paylines are pre-determined, fixed patterns in certain slot games. Matching symbols must land on these lines for winning combinations to be achieved. Ways to win is a slightly different mechanic. This removes paylines entirely and awards payouts based on different symbol sequences and frequency outlined in the game rules.
What is the difference between a bet, a wager, and a stake?
Bet, wager, and stake are often used interchangeably in casino games, but they differ slightly. A bet or a wager is the gambling action or prediction for a particular outcome. For example, in roulette you could place a bet or wager on “Red.” Stake, on the other hand, is the actual amount of money you put on that bet. E.g., you would bet on “Red” with a stake of R50.
