Live Casino Wordlist

New to the thrill of online casinos in South Africa and keen to get clued up on the lingo, or just need a quick refresher on casino terms? You've hit the jackpot! We've put together a comprehensive glossary of casino terms you'll want to know.

A

ACS - An acronym for Automatic Card Shuffler, a handy device for keeping the game moving.

Action - This refers to the total amount of money a player wagers over a specific period. It's how much you've got on the table!

Alias - When playing at a live casino, you may need to enter a username or 'Alias'. This is your chosen online persona for the game.

Android Casino - With so many South Africans using Android devices, most online casinos offer mobile-optimized games for these phones and tablets.

Ante - This is an initial bet required before a hand of cards begins, commonly seen in card games.

Auto-play - A popular feature on slot machines that allows you to set a predetermined number of spins to play automatically.

Automatic Card Shuffler - A machine that shuffles one or more decks of cards automatically, often used in live dealer settings.

Avalanche Function - Some video slots feature an 'avalanche' or 'cascading reels' mechanism, where winning symbols disappear and new ones fall into place, potentially creating multiple wins in a single round. You might find this in games like ELK Studio's Bompers slot.

B

Banker - In games like Baccarat, the Banker is a position that takes bets and pays out winnings. This role is typically handled by the dealer.

Bankroll - This is the total sum of money you've set aside for gambling. Managing your bankroll is key to responsible play.

Basic Strategy (Blackjack) - A mathematically proven approach to playing Blackjack that optimises your Return to Player (RTP). It's the foundation for smart Blackjack play. You can find more on Blackjack strategy here.

Bet / Casino - When playing any casino game with real money, you'll place a 'bet'. This is your stake on the outcome of a hand, spin, or round. It's the act of gambling money on a chance.Bet limits - Every game has minimum and maximum bet limits. For instance, in Blackjack at a South African online casino, you might find limits like R10 minimum and R5,000 maximum. These ensure fair play for all players.

Bet Max - On slot machines, this button lets you place the highest possible bet in a single spin. Use wisely!

Betting Layout - This is the area on a gaming table where players place their chips to make their chosen bets.

Betting Limits - The minimum and maximum amounts you can wager at a particular table or game. Crucial information for managing your stake.

Bonus - Online casinos in South Africa often offer bonuses as a fantastic perk! These can be free spins, bonus cash, or matched deposits, giving you more bang for your buck. Many are tied to deposits, but some no-deposit bonuses are available too.

Bonus Feature - Special features within slot games that are triggered during gameplay, often leading to bigger wins or extra rounds.

Bonus Symbol - Land at least three of these symbols on the reels to trigger a bonus game or feature in many slots.

Burn Card - The top card of a deck that is discarded face down before a card game begins. It's a way to ensure fairness and prevent cheating.

Bust - In Blackjack, if your hand's total exceeds 21, you 'bust' and automatically lose that round. The dealer can also bust!

C

Cage - In land-based casinos, this is the secure area where cash and chips are stored. Think of it as the casino's vault.

Card Counting (Blackjack) - An advanced Blackjack technique where players track the ratio of high to low cards remaining in the deck to gain a strategic advantage. It's a skill that requires practice!

Card Counting - A strategy, most famously used in Blackjack, to gain an edge by tracking cards dealt. Card Shark - A highly skilled card player who often wins consistently, sometimes by exploiting less experienced players. Card Sharp - Another term for a Card Shark. Card Washing - A manual shuffling technique involving spreading cards across the table in a sweeping motion.

Cashback - A great promotion offered by some online casinos where you get a percentage of your losses back. It's a nice safety net!

Cash Bonus - Extra funds awarded that can be withdrawn after meeting specific wagering requirements.

Cash Out - The option to settle a bet before the event concludes. This allows you to secure winnings or minimise losses.

Cashier’s Desk - In physical casinos, this is where you exchange cash for chips or cash out your winnings.

Chasing - A risky strategy of continuing to bet after losses in an attempt to recoup funds and break even. It's generally advised to avoid chasing losses.

Chip Tray - A tray used by dealers to hold casino chips and coins.

Chips - These are the colourful tokens used as currency in casinos, making betting easier and faster.

Coat Tail - A player who bets on the same numbers or outcomes as a recent winner.

Cold Streak - When luck isn't on your side and you experience a prolonged period of losing bets.

Comp / Complimentary - These are freebies or perks offered by casinos to loyal players. The value of comps often depends on how much and how long you play.

Comp Hustling - Players who linger to maximise their comp benefits, sometimes by searching for unused bonus vouchers.

Comp Points - A common loyalty program in online casinos where points are earned for gameplay, which can then be redeemed for rewards like bonus cash or other perks.

Continuous Shuffling Machine - A device used in live casinos to continuously shuffle cards, increasing the speed of play.

Croupier - This is another term for the dealer in a casino game, responsible for managing the table and bets.

CSM - An abbreviation for Continuous Shuffling Machine. See above.

Cut Card - A blank card used to separate decks of cards, often indicating where the shuffle will end.

D

Dealer - The casino employee who manages a game, deals cards, and oversees betting at a gaming table. Also known as a Croupier.

Deck Penetration - Refers to how many cards are dealt from a deck before it's reshuffled. Higher penetration generally gives the player a slight advantage.

Deposit - The act of adding funds to your online casino account to play with real money.

Deposit Bonus - A bonus awarded by an online casino when you make a deposit. Often a percentage match of your deposit amount, it's a great way to boost your playing funds.

Deposit Method - The various options available for funding your online casino account, such as credit/debit cards, EFT, or mobile payments popular in South Africa.

Dice Control - A controversial theory suggesting players can influence dice rolls to achieve specific outcomes. More common in land-based casinos.

Dirty Money - A colloquial term for money earned by the casino from losing bets.

Discard Tray - A container held by the dealer holding used or discarded cards.

Double Down - When playing Blackjack, players gets the opportunity to double their hand after the first two cards. If a player selects "Double", a gambler can only receive one more card.

Down Card - Cards dealt face down.

Download Casino - Online casino games that require downloading software to play.

E

eCOGRA - Testing and standards organization that specializes in online gambling (E-Commerce Online Gaming Regulation and Assurance)

Edge - Calculating a higher probability of occurrence for a bet than the odds you receive.

Encryption - Used by online casinos to protect money and information from hackers.

Even Money Bet - Wagering money when the odds are equal. The better can lose or win the same amount.

Expanding Wild - When playing slots, a gambler will come across all sorts of wild symbols and one of them is expanding wilds. This means that the wild symbol expands and gives gamblers more wilds on the board.

Expected Win Rate - The amount of money a player is expected to wine over a period of time.

Eye in the Sky - Closed circuit cameras used for monitoring a casino.

F

Face Card - Any jack, queen, or king card.

Face Down Card - See Down Card.

Face Up Card - Cards dealt face up.

Flash Casino - An online casino that uses an Adobe Flash plugin, where players can access games from a web browser.

Flat Betting - When a player bets the same amount each time.

Flush - When playing Blackjack a gambler can make a side bet. One of the side bets pays if a gambler receives the same suit on the first two cards together with the dealer's first.

Free Spins - A gambler can be offered a certain number of Free Spins in a welcome bonus. The opportunity to spin in a selected slot without having to bet any money. Sometimes the Free Spins come with wagering requirements and sometimes without.

Free bonus - A free bonus is a bonus that the casino gives to players without any deposit requirements, this is usually in connection with registering and opening an account with the casino.

G

Gambler’s Fallacy - A false belief that something is more or less likely to happen based on how many times it has happened before.

George - A term used by the Dealer for a big-tipping player.

Gross Winnings - The difference between how much a player bets and how much they win.

H

Hearts - One of the two suits of a deck of cards and one of the four suits.

High Roller - A player who consistently bets large sums of money.

Hit - When you play Blackjack, you always get two cards in your hand. If you want a third card say or click "Hit". The dealer then gives you a third card.

Hot Streak - When a player has a long-lasting winning run.

Hot Table - When players at a specific table keep winning.

House - Another term for Casino.

House Edge - The advantage a casino has to make money over players.

House Rules - Rules that are specific to a casino.

J

Jackpot - A large prize amount often associated with slot machines.

L

Layout - Markings on a game table dividing the surface into sections.

Live Dealer Games - An in-person casino game with a human Dealer, as opposed to an online casino game with a computer Dealer.

Lobby - Where players can see all games available in online casinos.

Loose Slot - A slot machine with a high payout.

Loyalty Program - A membership for casinos. Players can connect their cards to the membership so that when makes transactions, they can gain rewards.

M

Marker - Similar to a short-term loan or a line of credit, a player can borrow money from a casino to bet.

Maximum Bet - The highest a player can bet during a game.

Minimum Bet - The lowest a player can bet during a game.

Mobile Casino - A mobile casino is where you can play all online games on your phone.

Multi-Hand - Game When players use multiple hands at once during a game. A bet must be made from each hand.

Multi-Player Game - When players use only one hand at a time during a game.

N

Net Winnings - The amount a casino makes after prizes and winnings are distributed after a game is played.

No deposit bonus - A no deposit bonus is a bonus that you get without having to make a deposit.

O

Odds - The chances of winning or losing during a game.

Optimal Strategy - A “correct” way to play to give players a better chance at winning.

Open Card - When playing Blackjack, a player can choose a table where the dealer shows both his cards instead of one. This gives a clear advantage, but at the same time, the dealer always wins equally, which means that the player’s advantage quickly disappears.

P

Paint - Slang term for Face Card.

Payout - The money given to a player after a winning bet.

Payout Odds - How much a player will win from a bet, relative to the stake. This means for 3:1, a player will win $3 for every $1 put down.

Payout Percentage - How much money is returned to a player. For example, if a player’s payout percentage is 90%, for every $10 wagered, they will win $9.

Payout Table - Shows how much can be won on a specific game.

Payline - A pay line is the same as a paytable. It is a line where winnings are paid out in the game.

Pit - Areas that break up a casino. Each pit has a designated number of tables for games.

Pit Boss - An employee who oversees an individual pit.

Play Bonus - For online gambling, this can be used for wagering only. It can’t be withdrawn.

Play For Fun - For online casinos, games with no winnings that are offered to players who don’t put down any money.

Progression Betting - Broken into two styles. 1. Positive betting, which means when a player increases their stake after a win, and 2. Negative betting, which means a player decreases their stake after a win.

Progressive Jackpot - A Jackpot that grows until it is one.

Put - Slang for a Tie in a game.

R

Reload Bonus - The reload bonus is given to loyal players at a casino. It is granted when gamblers deposit more money in their casino accounts. A "top-up bonus" and means that you get an extra penny if you choose to top up your gaming account.

Re-spins - In some slots you can get re-spins. This means that you get a free spin if you succeed in fulfilling the function.

RTP - RTP stands for return to player and is the payback percentage. Most often you will find RTP in a slot and can see how much is refunded to players.

S

Shoe - A container that holds and dispenses cards at a game table.

Shuffle - When a dealer mixes the cards to keep the order anonymous.

Side Bet - A bet placed on an outcome not related to the result of the game. For example, betting that your first card is higher than 10.

Sign Up Bonus - For online casinos, incentive given to player when they first join.

Slots - A slot machine is a casino game that has spinning reels. The reels contain symbols on them. If the symbols line up, a prize is won. The price depends on where the different symbols land.

Stake - A bet size.

Sticky Bonus - Slang for Play Bonus.

Stiff -A term used by the Dealer for a player who doesn’t tip.

Split - When a player gets the same value on both cards when playing blackjack, there is an opportunity to split them. Another card on each will be dealt. Now there are two playing hands that must match the initial wager for the new second hand.

T

Table - Hold A gaming table’s profit after a set period of time.

Table Limit - The minimum and maximum amounts of money that players can bet on one hand.

Tilt - To play recklessly due to emotions, typically caused by losing.

Toke - Slang for tip given to Dealer.

True Odds - The odds of a bet based on probability.

Turnover Requirement - An expression that is used to describe the amount wagered. Meaning placing bets with the money that´s been deposited.

Tournament - Allows players to make bets with a minimum rate that competes with other players.

U

Up Card - See Face Up Card.

V

VIP Club - For the most loyal players, some casinos have VIP programs. The higher the VIP players climb in the VIP club, the better the rewards.
VIP Player - A player valued for betting regularly and/or for using high stakes at a casino.
VIP Program - For online casinos, how players can be rewarded for their activity.

W

Wager - How much money a player bets.

Wagering Requirements - For online casinos, it dictates how much a play must bet before making a withdrawal.

Welcome Bonus - If a player is new to a casino and opens an account, they are rewarded with a welcome bonus.

Whale - Players who bet thousands or millions of dollars in one night.

Withdrawal - When a player moves the money from their online account back to the payment of their choice.