For a growing group of people, gambling is becoming an enjoyable pastime. However, if you are new to land-based or even online casinos, you can easily get confused. You may hear random words shouted by players and dealers at the top of their voices. Casinos can be confusing for newcomers.
It is quite obvious that the casino industry has developed a special slang over the years. Since casino operators benefit from processing as many players as possible in a single hour, many classic table games such as blackjack, roulette and craps are played very quickly.
To avoid feeling embarrassed if any of you use these phrases, let’s take a look at some of the most common phrases at the table:
Limit bet, also known as a “limit bet,” is a term used to describe a confident player who chooses the highest bet on a single round or spin.
Card counting (card counting): this is often discouraged in land-based casinos. You are likely to be politely asked to leave if you are caught counting cards in blackjack (you memorize how many cards the dealer has left). Card counting is not considered a sport.
Can I change the color? (Can I change the color?): a player in a casino asks the dealer to “change the color”. This means they exchange a large number of chips with a low denomination for a smaller number of chips, but with a higher denomination.
Freebies (fines): your neighbor can tell you that he loves casino “freebies”. Customer gifts include free drinks and food, as well as hotel nights.
A flat slot is a slot machine that pays out only a certain amount of money each time. Unlike progressive slots, it does not increase the jackpot.
A gold lode, also known as a hot lode, is a player who expects to win. If a slot pays regularly, it can also be called a “gold mine”.
Live casino: state-of-the-art online casinos are offering more and more opportunities for streaming with live dealers on real tables.
Charging is when a player puts the maximum number of coins on a spin that a slot machine can allow.
Pigeon (Pigeon): More experienced players may try to piss you off by calling you a pigeon to show how stupid or inexperienced a player you were.
A pit boss is the manager who controls all the tables in a casino.
Ghostbusting, also known as scaremongering, is a type of cheating for which you will be expelled from the casino. This means that you have to tell your friends at the table what cards you have while standing behind a blackjack player.
Tip for the Dealer: When players win chips to cash out, winning players reward the dealer with a tip.
Vigorish: Casino winnings or house edge is the term used to describe a casino commission.
Whale: players who bet more than their nearest competitors.
Knowing new casino sayings and phraseology is useful for both beginners and seasoned professionals. Remember that failure of preparation means preparation for it.
