Casino culture exists on a spectrum. On one end, some simply go for the atmosphere or play for the occasional fun and risk. They enjoy the buzz of the sound effects, the blinding lights, and perhaps even the auxiliary experiences of shopping and dining at the establishment. On the other, some make a living out of it and see gambling as more than just a hobby. They’re familiar with the jargon, participate in VIP tournaments, and know exactly how to outsmart the house to their advantage.
In between, however, there are those who are curious about improving their gambling skills. Whether you’re hopping around Pennsylvania casinos online or find yourself in Las Vegas for a weekend, knowing your casino lingo can help you play with newfound confidence.
Why Learning Casino Terms Matters
Especially if you consider yourself new to the gambling scene, figuring out what the pros are talking about can feel like deciphering a made-up language in a movie. But why is it worth learning these terms in the first place? Is it not enough to learn the skills and show up? Well, let’s take a quick look.
- Feel more comfortable in a casino setting: A big part of climbing up the ranks and doing well in gambling is having the confidence and know-how. The more terms you know, the easier it will be to ask questions, understand what’s going on, and avoid panic in unexpected situations.
- Make smarter choices: Like with any game, the more you know how they work and how to play them, the better odds you’ll have to succeed. For example, if you were playing blackjack and could choose between tables with different rules, you might want to know what table favors the player over the house more. Rules might include “dealer hits on soft 17,” and if you have no idea what this means, it could mean trouble.
- Avoid mistakes that could cost you the prize: This leads us to our next reason—avoiding mistakes. When you confuse terms or aren’t knowledgeable enough about game-specific terms, you might as well wave your winnings goodbye.
- Spot opportunities: While learning casino terms helps you avoid losing, it can also help you spot opportunities you may never have noticed. That’s essentially what separates the professionals from the amateurs.
Learning these terms isn’t just about flexing your knowledge; it’s about improving your strategy and hopefully winning big and retiring early.
Casino Terms 101
Luckily, you won’t have to learn the ropes on your own. We’ve put together a list of essential casino terms you’ll want to study.
- House Edge: When we talk about “outsmarting” the house, we’re talking about the built-in advantage the casino automatically has over players. That’s the unfortunate reality of gambling, where every game is designed to give the casino or app the edge. Maybe it’s how the rules are structured or the odds; either way, it’s something all players are up against. Plenty of games offer the chance to reduce the house edge, but this is especially the case for more strategic games.
- Dealer: The dealer is a straightforward concept. It refers to the person running the game, whether literally dealing cards in poker or manually spinning the roulette wheel.
- Comps: Comps are an exclusively brick-and-mortar casino concept. The casino rewards players based on how much they spend at the establishment. These could be as exclusive as a hotel stay or as simple as a few rounds of slots or a free drink.
- Pit Boss: While the dealer runs the game, the pit boss monitors the table games. They’re essentially like the bouncers of the table, ensuring that players aren’t cheating, people are playing fair, and all questions are answered.
- High Roller: High rollers refer to players who frequently wager large amounts of cash and are specially recognized by the casino. They often enjoy access to more perks than the regular gambler, such as VIP treatment.
- Marker: Markers are usually reserved for high rollers and VIPs, as they act as a tab or line of credit that lets them borrow money for the purpose of gambling. Eventually, this tab has to be paid off, usually with interest added.
- Bankroll: Everyone has a bankroll. It’s the total money you’ve set aside for gambling, which could be what you’ve deposited in your online gambling account or what you’ve taken out of the ATM for the night. Having a bankroll is a smart idea because it helps you avoid overspending and stay in control of your experience.
- RTP: An acronym for “Return to Player,” this statistic is a percentage that tells you how much a game is expected to pay you back over time. For instance, if you have a slot machine with an RTP of 75%, it’ll return $75 for every $100 on average.
- Jackpot: The jackpot is the biggest and best prize you can get for any casino game or slot machine. When you hit the jackpot, you know you’re winning big.
Ways to Use These Casino Terms to Your Advantage
These essential casino terms are the best way to outsmart the house and improve your gameplay. Knowing them will allow you to choose games with better odds right off the bat rather than succumb to games with lower returns. You’ll be able to master those game-specific strategies and learn when to employ certain moves at useful times. Get even more comfortable with those advanced terms, and you can pinpoint others’ mistakes and capitalize on them faster than you can say “jackpot.”