Casino Gambling Glossary UK – Gambling Terms and Lingo Guide

Gambling can be an exciting and entertaining way to pass the time, but it’s essential to understand the terminology and lingo that comes with it. Regardless of your experience level, having a solid grasp of gambling terms and phrases is vital for maximizing your chances of success at UK online casinos, where gambling laws and regulations are strict and constantly evolving.

Here is a comprehensive glossary of gambling terms commonly used in the UK market.

👉A

Action

The amount of money wagered on a particular game or event.

All-in

All-in is used in poker when players bet all their remaining chips.

American roulette

This is a variation of the game of roulette, where the wheel has an extra double-zero pocket, increasing the house edge.

Ante

Ante means all players must place a bet before a game begins, usually in poker or blackjack.

👉B

Baccarat

This card game aims to have a hand that is as near to nine as possible.

Banker

The person who deals cards in baccarat.

Bankroll

The total money a player has set aside to gamble with.

Bet

An amount of money placed on the outcome of a game or event.

Blackjack

The goal is to have a hand with a value of 21 or close to 21 but not higher than it.

Blind

A forced bet placed by a player who has yet to see their cards in games like poker.

Bonus

A reward online casinos offer players, such as free spins or extra funds added to their accounts.

Bonus game

A different game or round within a slot machine or video poker game where players can win additional prizes.

Burn card

The top card of the deck is discarded facedown before the start of a new game.

Bust

In blackjack, when a player’s hand exceeds 21, they lose their bet.

👉C

Card counting

A strategy used in blackjack to keep track of the cards that have been dealt to gain an advantage over the casino.

Cashier

The section of an online casino where players can deposit and withdraw funds.

Casino advantage

The mathematical edge of the casino over players in a particular game.

Casino hold’em poker

A poker game where players play against the casino instead of each other.

Chemin de fer

A variation of baccarat where players take turns being the banker.

Chips

The tokens are used to represent bets in a casino.

Come out

The first dice roll in a game of craps.

Comps

Short for “complimentary,” comps are rewards that casinos offer players, such as free meals, drinks, or hotel rooms.

Craps

A dice game in which the results of the roll are gambled upon.

Credit

The amount of money available in a player’s account for betting.

Croupier

The person who oversees the game and handles the chips and payouts.

👉D

Deposit

The act of adding funds to a player’s account in an online casino.

Double down

In blackjack, when a player doubles their initial bet and receives one more card.

👉E

eCOGRA

An independent organization that tests and certifies online casinos for fairness and safety.

European roulette

A variation of the game of roulette where the wheel has a single-zero pocket, offering better odds for players compared to American roulette.

👉F

Face cards

The face cards refer to the King, Queen, and Jack in a deck of cards. These cards usually have a picture or face rather than a numerical value.

Fish

A term used in poker to describe an inexperienced player who is likely to lose.

Flush

A five-card poker hand in which every single card is from the same suit.

Fold

In poker, when a player forfeits their hand and gives up their bet.

Four of a kind

In a standard deck of playing cards, four of a kind refers to a hand that contains all four cards of the same rank, such as four Kings, four Queens, or four Aces. They are typically the highest-ranking cards in the deck and often have unique values in certain card games like blackjack or poker.

French roulette

A version of the classic roulette casino game played with a wheel with 37 pockets, ranging from 0 to 36. French roulette is similar to European roulette but has a few additional rules that can give players slightly better odds of winning.

Full house

A hand in card games, such as poker, contains two cards from one rank and three from another. For example, a full house could be three Aces and two Kings or three Queens and two Jacks.

👉G

Gambling Commission

The regulatory body overseeing gambling in the UK and ensuring that operators comply with regulations and standards.

👉H

Hard hand

In blackjack, a hard hand is a hand that does not contain an Ace or where the Ace is counted as 1 to avoid busting.

Hit

In blackjack, to “hit” means asking the dealer for another card to improve your hand.

Hole card

The card dealt face down to the dealer in blackjack is known as the “hole card,” which is not exposed to the player until the end of the round.

House edge

The house edge is a casino’s statistical advantage over a player in a particular game. It is expressed as a percentage of wagered over time.

House rules

House rules are the specific rules that a casino or gambling establishment sets for a particular game or type of betting.

👉I

Inside bet

In roulette, an inside wager is a bet placed on one or more specific numbers inside the betting layout.

Insurance

In blackjack, insurance is a side bet that can be placed if the dealer’s card is an Ace. It pays out at 2:1 if the dealer has a blackjack, but the player loses their original bet.

👉J

Jacks or Better

This is a type of video poker where the minimum qualifying hand is a pair of Jacks.

Jackpot

A jackpot is a large cash prize that can be won in certain games or slot machines.

Joker

A Joker is a wild card representing any other card in certain card games.

👉K

Keno

In the lottery-style keno game, participants select a set of numbers hoping to be picked randomly.

👉L

Live dealer games

Live dealer games are online casino games played with a live dealer and streamed to the player’s device in real-time.

Loose

In gambling, “loose” refers to a game or machine that pays out frequently or has a high payout percentage.

Live chat

Many online casinos and gambling sites offer live chat, allowing players to chat with customer support representatives in real-time.

Layoff Bet

A Layoff bet is a wager placed by a bookmaker to offset the potential losses on a large bet placed by a player.

Lock

In gambling, a “lock” is a situation where a bettor is confident that they will win a particular bet.

Longshot

A longshot is a bet with a low probability of winning but offers a high payout if it does win.

Lottery

A lottery is a game of chance where players purchase tickets with random numbers in hopes of matching them to the outcome.

Legal Gambling Age

In the UK, the minimum gambling age is 18. It means that anyone under 18 cannot participate in any form of gambling, including online betting, casino games, and sports betting. It’s important to note that gambling establishments must verify their customers’ age, so be prepared to provide identification if requested.

👉M

Martingale Betting System

This common strategy is used in casino games like roulette, where the goal is to double your bet after every loss. The idea is that, eventually, you will win back all of your losses and make a profit. However, this strategy can be risky, as it requires a large bankroll and assumes you will eventually win.

Max Bet

The maximum bet is the highest amount a player can wager on a particular game or betting market. The casino or bookmaker sets this limit which can vary depending on the game or event. Knowing the maximum bet when placing wagers is essential, as going over this limit can result in disqualification or voided bets.

Multiplier

A multiplier is a feature in some slot games that increases the value of a player’s winnings by a predetermined amount. For example, a 2x multiplier would double the money won on a particular spin. Multipliers can vary in value and are often triggered by specific symbols or combinations.

👉O

Odds

Odds are a way of expressing the likelihood of a particular outcome in a betting market. They can be described as fractions, decimals, or percentages and are used to calculate potential winnings. For example, odds of 2/1 would mean that a successful £1 bet would return £2 in winnings plus the original stake.

Outside Bet

An outside bet is a wager placed on the outcome of an event that is not directly related to the result. For example, in a roulette game, an outside bet could be placed on the color of the winning number or whether it will be an odd or even number. Outside bets typically have lower odds but higher chances of winning.

👉P

Pai Gow

Pai Gow is a casino game from China played with tiles. The game aims to create two hands – one with five tiles and one with two tiles – that beat the dealer’s hands. Pai Gow can be played in both land-based and online casinos.

Pair

A pair is a hand in a card game comprising two cards of the same rank. In some games, pairs can form stronger hands, such as three-of-a-kind or a full house. For example, a pair of aces would be two in a player’s hand.

Pay Line

A pay line on a slot machine determines the payout for winning combinations. Pay lines can be horizontal, vertical, or diagonal and can vary in number depending on the game. It’s essential to be aware of the pay lines when playing slots, as certain combinations may only pay out if they appear on specific lines.

Paytable

The paytable is a chart or list that shows the payouts for winning combinations in a particular game. Paytables can vary depending on the game and the casino. This information can be helpful when deciding which games to play and how to maximize potential winnings.

Payout percentage

The percentage of money a casino routinely pays players is called the payout percentage. For instance, if a slot machine has a payout percentage of 95%, this means that over time, the machine will pay back 95% of the money that players have wagered. This term is essential to understand, as it can help you determine which games offer the best potential returns.

Pot

The pot is the total amount of money being wagered on a particular game or hand. In poker, for example, players often bet on a central pot, with the winner taking home the entire amount.

Progressive jackpots

Progressive jackpots increase in value over time as players wager on a particular game. A small portion of each wager is added to the jackpot, and the prize pool can often grow to be quite large before it is won.

Punto Banco

Punto Banco is a popular baccarat variant commonly played in casinos. In this game, players bet on whether the player or banker’s hand will win or whether the game will end in a tie.

Push

A push occurs in a game when the result is tied or inconclusive. In some games, a push will return the bet to the player.

👉R

Rake

The rake is a casino’s commission on each hand of poker or other table game. This commission is typically a small percentage of the total pot.

Royal flush

A royal flush is the highest-ranking hand in poker, consisting of a 10, Queen, Jack, King, and Ace of the same suit.

RNG

RNG stands for a random number generator, a software program that ensures that the outcomes of casino games are fair and random.

👉S

Scatters

Scatters are symbols in slot machines that can pay out regardless of their position on the reels. They often trigger bonus features like free spins or multipliers.

Scared Money

Scared money is a term used to describe money that a player is hesitant to bet or risk, often due to fear of losing.

Scratch

Scratch cards are a popular instant-win game that involves scratching off a panel to reveal a prize.

Spread Betting

Spread betting is where the player wagers whether a particular outcome will be above or below a predetermined spread.

Shark

A shark is a slang term for an experienced, skilled player who preys on weaker players.

Shoe

A shoe is a device that holds and dispenses playing cards in table games like blackjack and baccarat.

Showdown

A showdown occurs in poker when all remaining players reveal their hands, and the winner is determined.

Sic bo

Sic bo is a popular Chinese dice game commonly played in casinos. Players wager on the result of a roll of three dice.

Split

A split is a move in blackjack where the player splits their hand into two hands, each with its bet.

Stand

In blackjack, standing is a decision to stop taking additional cards and play the hand as is.

Straight

This poker hand consists of five cards in sequential order, regardless of suit.

Straight flush

This poker hand consists of five cards in sequential order and of the same suit.

Surrender

Surrender is a blackjack rule allowing players to forfeit their hand and receive half of their bet back. It is typically allowed if the player believes they have a poor hand and are unlikely to win the game.

Symbols

Symbols are images that appear on the reels of slot machines. These symbols can be anything from fruits to animals to movie characters. The aim is to get a combination of matching symbols to win a prize.

👉T

Three of a kind

This refers to a poker hand that consists of three cards of the same rank. For example, three aces would be a three-of-a-kind.

Tight

Tight is a term used to describe a conservative player with their bets and only plays with strong hands. Tight players typically play fewer hands but have a higher chance of winning when they do.

Tapping Out

Tapping out refers to when a player has exhausted all their available funds or credit and can no longer place bets.

Terms and Conditions

Terms and conditions (T&Cs) are rules and regulations that govern an online casino or betting site. These can include information on bonuses, promotions, and wagering requirements.

Tilt

Tilt is a term used to describe a player who becomes emotionally agitated after losing a hand or experiencing a losing streak. It can cause the player to make irrational decisions and can lead to further losses.

Tronc

Tronc is a term in the UK to describe the tip jar used to collect dealer tips in casinos.

Theoretical Hold Percentage

The theoretical hold percentage is the money a casino expects to keep from a player’s bets over time, which is calculated based on the house edge of each game.

👉U

UK Gambling Commission

The UK Gambling Commission is a government regulatory body overseeing all forms of gambling in the UK. It includes online and offline gambling, as well as the National Lottery.

Underlay

An underlay is a bet on an event where the odds favor the player. This bet is typically placed with the hope of securing a small profit if the player wins.

👉V

Video poker

A video poker casino game is played on a machine. Players aim to create the best possible poker hand using the cards they are dealt.

Video slots

Video slots are slot machines that use a video screen to display the reels. These machines typically have multiple pay lines and bonus features.

VIP

VIP stands for “Very Important Person” and describes high rollers and loyal players to whom a casino gives special treatment. It includes access to exclusive promotions, events, and bonuses.

👉W

Wagering requirements

Wagering requirements are the conditions that must be met to withdraw bonus funds from an online casino. These requirements typically require players to bet a specific sum before they can withdraw their bonus funds.

White Meat

White meat is a term used to describe money won at a casino without risking any of the player’s funds. It can include winnings from a free spin or a no-deposit bonus.

Washing

Washing is a term that describes exchanging smaller chips for larger ones at a casino. Typically, it is done to make carrying larger amounts of chips easier.

Wilds

A wild symbol can be used in place of any other symbol to form a winning combination on the reels of a slot machine. For example, if you have two matching symbols and a wild on the pay line, the wild will act as the third matching symbol, and you’ll win a payout. Some slot machines feature expanding wilds, which increases your chances of winning big by spreading to cover entire reels.

Withdrawal Methods

Withdrawal methods are the different ways to take your winnings from an online casino account. The most common withdrawal methods include bank transfers, e-wallets, and credit/debit cards. It’s important to note that not all withdrawal methods are created equal. Some methods may take longer to process, while others may have associated fees. Always read the terms and conditions before selecting a withdrawal method to ensure you get the best deal.

Wide-Area Progressive

A wide-area progressive is a type of slot machine connected to a network of machines across multiple casinos. It means that a small percentage of every bet placed on these machines goes into a shared jackpot, which can grow to be worth millions of pounds. Wide-area progressives are some of the most popular machines in casinos, as they offer the chance to win life-changing sums of money with just a single spin.

Final Thoughts

Whether you’re a seasoned gambler or just starting, understanding gambling terms is crucial to enjoying your gaming experience fully. Wilds, withdrawal methods, and wide-area progressives are just a few of the many terms you’ll encounter when playing casino games. By learning these terms and phrases, you’ll be better equipped to make informed decisions and enjoy your gaming experience.

At PayGamble, we offer various payment methods for your online casino needs, including e-wallets, bank transfers, and more. Our blog section is also an excellent resource for learning about online gambling, with articles on everything from responsible gambling to the latest casino promotions. Check out our website today to learn more.