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Gambling 101


Glossary of Casino Terms

Baccarat

A card game where the winning hand totals closest to 9, discounting all units of 10.  It is a game that is very popular with Oriental players.

Bad Bills

Another name for counterfeit money

Barney

Slang for $500.00 chips. So named because of their purple colour.

Barring

Also known as banning. Expelled from a casino permanently for various reasons and not necessarily signifying cheating or illegal actions. Barring is not legal in some jurisdictions.

Cage

A high security section of the casino where the cashier sells chips.

Chase

A gamblers attempts to make up previous losses by additional gambling; a common symptom of problem gambling. Chasing usually involves taking greater risks and/or making larger bets

Chips

Name given to the pieces used as money at the gaming tables.

Color Up

Exchange smaller denomination chips for larger denomination chips.

Comp

Complimentary items that the casino offers to attract clients. May include dinners, shows, and rooms. These are based on the level of play of the player; i.e.: amount of money wagered.

Croupier

Term mainly used when referring to roulette and sometimes baccarat dealers.

Eye in the Sky

Slang for video surveillance cameras in a casino. Used to detect cheaters and as a security measure for players and employees. Often hidden in large plastic bubbles in the ceiling and are able to record almost every hand of cards dealt. Also used to view all other areas of casino such as slot machines, etc.

Floor Man

A casino employee who is part of the management team who are responsible for the games in the casino. They are usually positioned behind tables to observe the games played.

George

A good tipper.

High Roller

Name given to a player who is known to play for large amounts of money.

MBPTW

An acronym for must be present to win. Commonly refers to draws and contests that are used to attract clients to a casino.

Matchplay

A complimentary coupon given out by casinos usually for even-money wagers on table games.

NNBPTW

An acronym for need not be present to win. Commonly refers to draws and contests that are used to attract clients to a casino.

Nickels

$5 chips.

Palette

The flat paddle used on the baccarat tables to scoop the cards.

Pit

Area of casino where table games are placed.

Pit Boss

Casino employee who oversees the Table Games Supervisors.

Preferential Shuffling

A situation where the Dealer is permitted to shuffle the cards at any time. This could occur when the deck favours the players or vice versa. To avoid controversy, many casinos have installed continuous shuffling machines at Black Jack tables.

Professional Gambler

A person who gambles to make their living or significantly supplement another job. Characterized by limited risks, restraint and discipline, the professional gambler should not be confused with the problem gambler. Should chasing behaviour develop, the professional begins the process of developing a problem with gambling.

Quarters

$25 chips.

RFB

RFB stands for room, food and board. Limited RFB refers to free room and meals. Full RFB includes services such as airfare, limo service, room service etc.

Room Offer

Free or discounted room rates distributed to out-of-state slot club members approximately three months after a casino visit. Offers vary depending on how much a player wagered per day during a previous visit.

Server

Casino employee who serves drinks to players. Most casinos do not charge for these drinks. Some jurisdictions do not permit free alcohol to be served to customers.

Shoe

Device used to hold multiple decks of playing cards that are dealt by dealer. Usually seen at Black Jack and Baccarat tables.

Singles

$1 chips.

Stickman

The dice dealer who calls the numbers rolled and controls the stick.

Table Games Supervisor

Casino employee who oversees dealers and the playing of the table games in a pit.

Tilt

A term gamblers sometimes use to refer to the process of losing control over gambling.

Toke

A tip usually given to the dealer or other employee after winning the pot or jackpot.

Token

The casino coins used to play slot machines. They are usually made of a cheap metal alloy.

Vigorish (Vigs)

House commissions taken on a bet.

Whale

Name given to a player who is known to play for large amounts of money.


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