Gambling Terms Dictionary

Let’s learn some Gambling Terms.
They sure do talk funny in a casino, don’t they? What do they mean by that expression?
Well my gambling friends, you are about to learn the lingo of the casinos, heard often at the tables and sports books.
Some of these gambling terms have a long history and will surely add some fun to your next casino experience.
 
Betting and Money Gambling Terms:
Barber Pole: The colorful name used for more than one denomination in a stack of chips.
Cage: The friendly casino cashiers and lots of moolah are located here.
Case Bet: A player’s bet that contains all remaining chips on the table or ‘all in’.
Cheques: Correct gambling terms for playing chips used at a table.
Coloring Up: When you take those five-dollar chips and exchange for larger denominations, possibly hundred-dollar chips, then you are coloring-up.
Dime: You are betting $1,000.
Dirty Money: The losing bets gathered by the dealer.
Exposure: Maximum number of dollars, a sports book stands to lose.
Foreign: These are cheques from another casino.
Grind: This term is used for playing it out on a consistent basis at the tables. This player is ‘grinding’ out planned bets based on knowledgeable probabilities of the game.
Handle: Total amount of money bet.
Hold: Betting monies that are placed in the gaming table slots. The dollar value is generally stated as a percentage.
Nickel: You are betting $500.
Sleeper: A forgotten table bet originally wagered by the player and/or dealer.
Toke: More than a ‘tip of your hat’, this is the gratuity paid to a dealer or casino employee.
Vigorish: The casino’s fee/commission paid during specific wagers in the games of baccarat, craps and/or sportsbook.
 
Gambling Terms: The Player
Back Counter: A card counter lurking in the background checking out the deck and/or shoe
for opportunities then biding his time to play when the count is positive.
Chalkeater: A player who bets only favorites at the sports book.
Eighty-six, 86: You are outta there, man. Casino rules allow the exclusion and/or eviction of undesirable gamblers.
Front Loading: A player’s peek at the value of the hole card, generally caused by a newbie or inattentive dealer.
George: A generous tipper both to table dealers and other casino employees.
Handicapper: Someone who does the research beforehand to make knowledgeable bets. This data includes statistics, news, weather and injuries.
Mechanic: The term used for a dice/card cheat who utilizes sleight of hand while playing.
Ploppy: A newbie player who is not practicing sound strategy nor making correct decisions, however is not above coaching other players about what they should do.
Railbird: An observer who hangs around a gaming table. His intention may be to ‘lift’ chips from other non-suspecting players.
RatHole: A player who slowly puts away chips during play to give the appearance that he/she is not ahead of the game.
Scamdicapper: Player with outlandish claims about win percentages and game expectations.
Sharp: Pro sports bettor.
Shill: Describes a casino employee who plays the tables to garner business for the casino.
Spooking: A team member who gets a peek at the dealer’s hole card from the back, then relays a sign to his buddy at that particular table. That player then makes an informed call.
Square: Rookie sports bettor.
Tom: On the other hand, is a non-tipper.

And More Gambling Terms...
Cold Turkey: When the first two cards dealt are both face cards.
Color: BJack--picture card consisting of either a jack, queen or king.
Comp: As in freebie, these are the dining, beverage, hotel rooms and benefits received by casino players based on their wagering and time played.
Crossfire: Not the TV program, but the dealers chatting it up about everything else but the live game that is ongoing in front of them.
Croupier: It is French, mon ami, for the dealer of the gaming table. Mais oui!
Daubing: Utilizing a dab of oil or other element to ‘mark’ the back of the cards for easy recognition during the game. This cheating tactic is not meant to offend the many bingo players worldwide who practice daubing on a regular basis. :-)
Dolly: The device used by the dealer to mark a winning number at Roulette.
Eye in the Sky: Watches the action as the casino staff surveys the floor.
Pips: The spades, clubs, hearts and diamonds found on a deck of cards. The kings, jacks and queens sure are pretty, but the lone Ace gets the top prize, don’t you agree?
Sawdust Joint: Name used for a not so elegant casino offering low table and slot betting minimums. Yes, it’s a dump, but you can play cheap!
Snapper: BJack--term used when two cards are dealt comprising of an ace and a ten-value card.
Stiff: Your completed blackjack hand totals 12 through 16. Nightmares are made of this.
Street: Three numbers that run across the roulette table layout, e.g., 16, 17 and 18 at the game of Roulette.
 
From Gambling Terms, return to Gambling Tips and Strategies

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