Pit Boss Responsibilities. The job has changed greatly over the years. The pit boss was originally the casino manager or one of the managers. Today's 'pit boss' may be responsible for watching a few table games, running a pit of a dozen games, or running several pits of table games and all the floor supervisors who are watching games and dealers in those pits. A casino dealer runs the games of chance in gaming settings, as he interacts with players, explains the odds and methods of play, and runs the game according to the 'house' rules. Most professional.
* A to F . G to Q . R to Z
A
Action - The amount of money wagered (put into action) by a player during an entire playing session.
Active Player - In poker, one who is still in play.
Add-on - In poker, the facility to buy additional chips in tournaments.
Aggregate Limit - Total payout liability of a casino during any one game.
Aggregate Winnings - Cumulative or total winnings.
All-in (Also known as 'Going All-In') - In cardroom poker, to call with (to bet) all your chips. If another player bets more chips than you have in a No Limit game, you can go All-in and stake your total stack against an equivalent amount of your opponent's stack.
All or Nothing - In Keno, a ticket that only pays if either all picked numbers are drawn or none of the picked numbers are drawn.
Ante - In card games, a bet required to begin a hand. The initial compulsory bet before you receive your cards in Casino Stud Poker.
Arcade Casino - See 'Automat Club' below
Arm - A term used in the game of craps to denote a player who is so skilled at throwing the dice that they are able to alter the conventional odds of the game. Such a player is said to be 'an arm'. Whether or not such individuals actually exist or are simply the product of game legend is debatable. However, it is worth noting that the casino craps dealers are very adamant about the dice being thrown against the far wall of the table to ensure a completely random outcome.
Automat Club - Also known as Videomat Casino, Arcade Casino, Slot Hall, is a gambling hall that offers automatic games that do not require a casino operator. Examples: slot/video machines, electronic touch-bet roulette, electronic Derby horse racing, etc. They are normally open 24 hours or from 10am daily, entry is free, no registration required, the dress code is casual, and there is an in-house bar or snack bar.
B
Baccarat - Also called Punto Banco and Chemin De Fer (similar to Baccarat but requires skill). A table game using 6 or 8 decks of cards which does not require skill. See Baccarat on this site.
Banca Francesa - Literally means French Bank, is a dice game common in Portuguese casinos. The game is played with three dice on a large table. In a way it is similar to the card game Punto Banco or Baccarat. There are only three types of bets you can place: 'Big' or 'Small' or 'Aces'. Big is when the total points of the three dice is 14, 15 or 16. Small is when the total points of the three dice is 5, 6 or 7. Aces is when the total points of the three dice is 3 (one dot per dice). The dealer will be re-rolling the dice until one of these results shows up. Big and Small both pay even money while Aces pays 61 to 1.
Banker - In card games, the dealer. In some card games, each player becomes a banker/dealer in turn.
Bankroll - Also known as 'roll' or 'wad' (colloquial). It pertains to the total money that either the player or the casino has on hand to back their wagering activities. A player's bankroll can be classified as existing on several different levels. At the highest level it pertains to all money specifically set aside to support all gambling activities. A subset of this bankroll is the players traveling bankroll, or the amount of money carried along to support gambling on a particular trip. The traveling bankroll can be further divided into a specific lesser amounts for each day of the trip, or into even smaller amounts called table sitting or session playing stakes which predetermine how much will be risked during any given session or table sitting. These different types of bankrolls often figure into the overall money management strategy the player uses to keep control over their gambling cash activity.
Barred - Same as Banned. Not allowed to enter the casino premises permanently.
Beef - A dispute or claim involving a player and his bookmaker or a casino dealer. A dispute over the outcome of a bet. A problematic situation involving a bet.
Example of usage: In many casinos, putting paper currency on the pass line (craps game) indicates to the dealer that the cash is betting, and when the dice roll turning a losing outcome, you have got little recourse and are at the mercy of the person manning the box convincing him that you wanted to exchange the money into chips. If the dealer takes the bank note you dropped in front of you on the layout as a lost bet, but NOT on any of the other possible wagers, then you have a legitimate beef. The casino film recording can be reviewed but that does not immunize you for your failure to tell the dealer you want chips in exchange for your currency.
Beginners Luck - In gambling, new players often are on a winning streak when they start gambling. Also known as the 'Honeymoon Period'.
Bet - Wager.
Betting Limits - In a table game, the minimum and maximum amounts of money that a player can wager on one bet. You cannot wager less than the minimum or more than the maximum amount posted. Some casinos, in special cases, may extend the maximum limit at a table on request by the player.
Bingo - Bingo is a prize game played in halls. Basically, players buy cards with numbers on them in a 5 x 5 grid corresponding to the five letters in the word B-I-N-G-O. Numbers such as B-2 or 0-68 are then drawn at random (out of a possible 75 in American Bingo, and 90 in British and Australian Bingo) until one player completes a 'Bingo' line with five numbers in a vertical, horizontal or diagonal row on one of their cards and wins the prize. Bingo rules and payouts and play variations vary from place to place.
Black Book - The list of undesirable people who are forbidden to enter any casino in Nevada.
Blind Bet - In poker, a bet posted without the player sees any of his/her cards.
Blinds - A forced bet in Hold'em Poker.
Brit Brag - A 3-card poker game, with variations. Has many combinations and options open to the player.
Bonus - Money that could be given to you for free for various reasons such as when signing up to an online casino.
Boule (La Boule) - Originally referred to as the 'little game', Boule is basically a simplified version of Roulette, popular in French casinos. The game features a table and a wheel with only 9 numbers and 3 different colours on which you can bet. The wheel is spun and a small rubber ball bounces around the wheel before settling into one of the coloured holes to determine the outcome. The game is simple and fast.
Boxing - In horse racing, a single ticket comprised of more than one parlay.
Break-Even Point - The break-even point is the point at which if you played forever, the bets you made would approximately equal the payoffs you would receive.
Brick - A card that appears not to help a player's poker hand. A 'blank' in 7-card stud poker.
BritBrag - A poker game with a three-card hand played against the casino, also known as 3-card Casino Brag and 3-card Poker.
Buck - A $100 wager.
Bug - A joker.
Bump - To raise.
Burn Cards - Remove cards from the top of the deck, not to be dealt, and place them in the discard tray after a shuffle and cut.
Buy in, Buy-in - Converting cash into chips. The amount of cash used to purchase casino chips before entering a table game: blackjack, poker, craps, roulette, etc.
C
Call - In Poker, to call is to match the current bet.
Camouflage - Anything a skilled gambler does to conceal their activities from the casino. Camouflage can include mixing in playing and betting behavior that mimics typical gamblers, or using disguises, appearing to be drunk, or any number of other possible ploys intended to throw the casino's scrutiny off.
Capping - Referred to capping of bets. Placing extra chips on top of initial bet after the deal has begun. It is a serious form of cheating by a player.
Card Counting - Used in blackjack game. Recording (in memory) played cards (usually high cards) so as to establish a conditional probability advantage on the remaining cards against the dealer.
Card Sharp - A person who is an expert at cards.
Card Washing - A card shuffling technique where the dealer spreads the cards on the table face down and then proceeds to mix them around with his hands flat in a face-washing-like action before gathering them up and performing a more normal shuffle. Card washing is intended to remove any consistencies in the sequencing among the cards that new decks of cards have, or that were produced in play prior to the present shuffle. In standard table poker the cards are washed after every hand before they are subjected to a more conventional shuffling. In blackjack and baccarat, the the cards are washed when old decks are taken out of play and fresh new decks brought in to replace them.
Caribbean Stud Poker - Also called 'Casino Stud Poker', A casino table game based on the standard 5-card stud poker game played on a Blackjack-type table. Some casinos also offer a progressive jackpot paid to high ranking hands. This table game is played with one deck of cards.
Carousel - A group of slot machines that are positioned in a ring, enabling a change person (to change bank-notes into coins) to stand in the center.
Carpet Joint - US slang for a luxury gambling casino.
Case money - Emergency money.
Cashcheck - A feature used by some online casinos software that allows you to review your financial transaction history.
Cashier’s Cage - The casino cash desk for cashing in the chips.
Casino - The word 'casino' initially meant a public music and dance hall. By the second half of the 19th century casinos developed into a place with gambling halls. The best example of a casino as a gambling location is Monte Carlo in Monaco. Casino Monte Carlo was opened in 1863 and since that time it has been an important source of revenue for the small state of Monaco.
Casino Advantage - The edge that the House (casino) has over the players.
Casino Hold'em Poker - A card game based on Texas Hold'em poker, the difference is that players bet against the house (the casino) rather than against other players.
Casino Rate - A reduced hotel-room rate (price) that the casinos offer to good customers.
Catch - In keno, to catch a number means that a number you have marked on your keno ticket has been drawn.
Chase - Having lost money on a bet, 'chasing' is having another bet simply to try and get back the loss.
Check - In casino gambling, a check is another term for a chip. In poker, a player can 'check' in order to stay in the game but not bet.
Chemin De Fer - (French) A table game using 6 or 8 decks of cards, similar to Baccarat but requires skill. See Chemin de fer on this site.
Chip, Chips - Round plastic discs. Casinos require that you use chips for betting. They are purchased at the gaming tables and exchanged at the cashier's booth or cage.
Chip Tray - The tray in front of a dealer that holds that table’s inventory of chips.
Chips - Round tokens that are used on casino gaming tables in lieu of cash.
Coat-tail - Bet the same numbers as someone who is winning at the moment.
Cold - A player on a losing streak, or a slot machine that is not paying out.
Color Up - When a player exchanges smaller denomination chips for larger denomination chips.
Combination Way Ticket - In keno, a ticket in which groups of numbers are bet several different ways, allowing the player to spread money over more combinations.
Comps - Complimentary gifts given by the casino to entice players to gamble. Typical comps include free hotel room, meals and beverages.
Copy - In Pai-Gow Poker, when a player and the banker have the same two-card hand, or the same five-card hand. The banker wins all copies.
Cracking The Nut - Making enough money on a gambling venture to cover all expenses plus a reasonable net profit.
Craps - Casino dice table-game.
Credit - In online casinos, wagers are expressed in credits. 1 credit equals to 1 unit.
Credit Button - In slot machines or video machines, the button that allows players to bank coins in the form of credits.
Crossroader - An old term used to denote a cheat originated in the Old West practice of cheating at saloons located at crossroads. The term is still used today for casino cheats.
Croupier - French word for Dealer, used in the games of baccarat and roulette.
CSM - Continuous Shuffling Machines, introduced by casinos as an anti card counters in Blackjack.
Cut - In card games following a shuffle before the start of a new round of play, when the dealer or player divides a deck into two parts and inverts them, using a cut card (see below).
Cut Card - A faceless card of different color, usually red or black, that is used to cut a deck of cards.
D
D'Alembert System - A staking plan where one unit is added for a losing bet and one deducted for a winning bet.
Deal - To give out the cards during a card game.
Deposit - A payment you make usually to online casinos using a credit card, a web wallet or one of the online payment systems, in order to play casino games for real.
Deuce - A two in dice.
Dice - Two identical numbered cubes. (see Die below)
Die - Singular for dice, a cube with numbers on each side, 1 to 6.
Dime Bet - A $1,000 wager.
Discard Tray - A tray on the dealer’s right side that holds all the cards that have been played or discarded in card games like Baccarat, Blackjack and Poker.
Dollar Bet - A $100 wager.
Dolly - Unlike the French roulette where the croupier simply points with the stick on the winning number on the table, in the American roulette the croupier uses a marker made of wood or plastic and places it on the table in the square of the winning number. The score marker is called 'dolly' because it has the outline that looks like a doll. Its functionality is primarily to help the players know the winning number until all winnings are paid.
Double Or Nothing - An even-money bet. A bet that pays off exactly the amount wagered.
Doubling Down - A betting option in blackjack where the player's opening two-card hand is turned face up and player's original wager is doubled. The player is then dealt one additional card only, to complete the hand. In the event that the player beats the dealer's hand or the dealer busts, then the player wins twice the amount of their original wager. If the player loses, then the player loses twice the amount of their original wager.
Doubling-up - The basis of some widely used systems. After a loss the player doubles the size of his previous bet hoping to win back the money lost and make a profit. Also known as the Martingale System.
Down Card - A face down card.
Down to the Felt - Totally out of money, broke.
Draw - Relates to the poker games. Basically it means to draw a card (e.g. if you need a card to make a straight, you are on a 'straight draw' or are 'drawing to a straight'. In 'draw poker' game, it means the second round of cards that are dealt. The word draw has slightly different meanings in different contexts, although generally it has something to do with receiving more cards, with the hope of improving your hand. Draw games are games where at some point during the hand you are allowed to discard some or all of your cards, to be replaced from the deck. Drawing two is thus exchanging two of your cards. 'The draw' is the point during the game at which players may do this. By default, when someone asks you if you want to play some draw, they usually mean five card draw. In other poker games, drawing simply means staying in the game with the hope of improving your hand when more cards come. When you stay in a hand with the hope of improving, you are said to be 'on a draw'.
Drop - Money lost.
Drop Box - On a gaming table, the box that serves as a repository for cash, markers, and chips.
Casino Dealer Definition Us History
E
eCOGRA - (e-Commerce Online Gaming Regulation and Assurance) eCOGRA provides player assurance and online casino regulation by ensuring that eCOGRA approved online casinos deliver an honest and professional service. eCOGRA's Seal, displayed on the homepage of approved sites, shows that the casino and poker room operator is committed to player protection, fair gaming and responsible conduct.
Edge - An advantage over an opponent.
Encryption - A software security measure taken by online casinos to ensure that online transactions are safe from hackers.
En Prison - (French word) The stake left on the table in roulette for another spin after backing an 'Even-money' bet and the outcome was zero or double zero. It is like a bonus, offered in some casinos.
Even Money Bet - A bet with odds of 1:1. A bet that pays you back the same amount that you wagered, plus your original wager.
Expected Win Rate - In slot machines, the percentage on the total amount of money wagered that you can expect to win back over time.
Eye in the Sky - Slang for video surveillance cameras used by casinos, usually placed on the ceiling above the gaming area.
Face Cards - The Jack, Queen, and King of any suit of cards.
F
Ficheur - In the American Roulette each player gets chips with different colours so that they do not mix. The croupiers have at their disposal a sophisticated mechanism, also known as Ficheur, which is able to mechanically separate coloured chips making them always readily available to use.
Fifth Street - In seven-card stud, the third round of betting is called fifth street because players have five cards. In Texas Hold‘em poker, fifth street is the fifth card on board and the final round of betting.
Fill - In poker, to draw a card that makes a five-card hand (straight, flush, full house, straight flush).
Fill up - In poker, to fill a full house.
Finales - A type of group bets on numbers ending with the same digit. Examples: Final 7 means bet on the numbers 7, 17 and 27 (three chips). Final 2 means bet on the numbers 2, 12, 22 and 32 (four chips).
Finale Schnaps - In French roulette, an order given to the croupier to place a bet on numbers 11, 22 and 33.
Firing - Betting a lot. A player who is Firing is wagering large sums.
First Base - At the blackjack table, the position on the far left of the dealer is considered to be first base and is the first position dealt with.
Fish - A player who loses money. (It is said that 'If you can't spot the fish at the table, YOU are the fish.) See also 'Shark'.
Flash - A type of no-download casino software where you can play instantly.
Flat Betting - A way of betting where the same amount is bet on each wager. For example, if a player always bets $10 on each hand or spin and never raised or lowered their bet, they would be said to be flat betting.
Flat Top - A slot machine whose jackpot is always a fixed amount, as opposed to a progressive.
Flea - An annoying person who wants something for nothing. One who expects to be comped for a small wager.
Flop - In poker games, such as hold'em and omaha, where five community cards are dealt. The first three of these cards are dealt all at once, face up, and are called the flop. Games with a flop can be called flop games.
Foul - In Pai-Gow Poker, a hand is fouled when the two-card low hand is set higher than the five-card high hand, or when the hands are set with the wrong number of cards. A fouled hand is a losing hand.
Fourth Street - In Seven-card Stud poker, the second round of betting is called fourth street because players have four cards. In Texas Hold‘em poker, fourth street is the fourth card on board and the third round of betting.
Front Money - Cash or bank checks/cheques deposited with the casino to establish credit for a player who bets against that money.
* A to F . G to Q . R to Z
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Glossary of Casino Terms
By the Vindicator© 2004 Blackjack Forum Online
B comp. Free beverage comp
Big. A term for $100, as in five 'big' = $500
Beans. Slang for cheques
Bet spread. The difference between a player's lowest and highest wagers
Bird dog. See 'Shill'
BFA. Black female adult
Black Book. See Excluded List
Bleed. The slow draining of the float or cheques tray by an advantage player
Bleeder. A winning player suspected of being an advantage player
BMA. Black Male Adult
Body talk. Non-verbal communication used by counting teams
Bone. A term used to describe a $1 value cheque, usually white in color
Brush. See 'scratch'
Bullet. An ace card
Burn card. The first card off the top of a new shuffle that is sacrificed and not played (goes straight to the discard rack)
Burn joint. A casino where, due to the game rules or reputation of the dealers, a player should expect to get burned (get a bad game or run into cheaters)
Bust-out man. A dealer who cheats
Camouflage. An act to appear less of an intelligent player so as to remain welcome at a casino’s tables
Candy Store. A casino that tolerates advantage players due to ignorance or open-minded executives
Case bet. A last big bet in which a player bets all his remaining chips on a hand in an attempt to come back from losses
CC. Card counter
Cheques play. What's said by a dealer to the pit boss when a player wagers black cheques or higher.
Clay. A chip or cheque
Curfew. An agreed-upon time for team players to end a play session
Dame. A card of the rank of queen
Daub. A foreign substance used to mark cards, can be anything from professionally-made color tinge to human body oil to ashes from the ash tray
Dead hand. A round called dead by a pit boss due to a complaint, misdeal, etc.
Deal me out. A term used to tell the dealer that you do not wish to play this round, as in 'Deal me out this round.'
Decisions per hour (DPH). The number of decisions (win, lose, or tie) that a player makes during 60 minutes. DPH x # of players = HPH (hands per hour for a casino)
Defensive wager. A wager to reduce one's potential loss
Desirability index. Win rate divided by the standard deviation x 100 = The D.I.
Discard rack. Plexiglas housing (usually smoke or red in color) used to hold discards
Double down. A blackjack play in which the player may bet an additional amount up to his initial wager to receive one, and only one, more card on his initial two-card hand
Double up. To increase your wager to twice the previous amount
Drop. The total funds removed from the table games' drop boxes
Drop box. A self locking box locked to a games table that the dealer places all incoming funds into (outside cheques, cash, fill slips)
Drummer. A player who is tight with his or her money
Duffer. An inexperienced player, a.k.a. a ploppy
Dummy up. What pit bosses used to tell dealers when they wanted them to be quiet and deal
Dump. Said of a dealer who pays losing hands or gives away the hole card or hit card (intentionally). Also a term used by players to describe a table that is losing money to the players
Edge. The percent advantage, either for the player or the house. That is, the percentage of the amount wagered that the player or house can expect to win or lose, over time
EOR. Effects of removal
Even money. An offer of insurance from a dealer when a player has a blackjack and the dealer has an ace showing. Not always a sound wager. Also, a wager that pays 1:1.
Excluded list. The 'black book,' maintained by the state, of players who are not permitted to enter or play in a casino in that state
Eye. A respectable term used to describe the surveillance department or surveillance camera
F comp. Free food comp
Face chaser. Said by casino personnel of a player who increases his wager after numerous small cards (non-tens) have been dealt. Also a term used by advantage players to describe Griffin agents
Fade. Slang for covering action or accepting a bet, as in to 'fade' a bet
False cut. When a dealer falsifies a cut to cheat a player
False shuffle. When a dealer mimics the motions of a real shuffle but retains a clump or the entire preshuffle composition of the cards
Fill. The act of replenishing the cheque rack on a table game with more cheques
Fill slip. The paperwork that must accompany the above-mentioned fill
First base. The first spot (furthest seat on the right) on a blackjack table
Fish. A ploppy or someone easily 'hooked.' A patsy
Fixed limit. The max wager a casino will allow or book on that game. Most states require casinos to post the table minimums and the fixed maximums.
Flagged. A player who is suspected of advantage play is 'flagged' to be watched whenever he returns
Flasher. Said of a dealer who exposes his or her hole or hit card, sometimes on purpose to an agent
Flat store. A casino that cheats
Float. Cheque tray on a table game
Floor supervisor. A person placed in charge of a certain game area. Usually monitors four table games
Fluctuation. A term used to describe the roller coaster ride one's bankroll may experience during a session or multiple sessions
Foul hand. A misdealt round that gets called off
Front loader. A dealer that exposes her hole card when burying it beneath the top card
Front loading. A play that takes advantage of a front loader dealer
Gallery. Non-playing spectators
Gambler. A player willing to wager without an advantage
Garbage. The discards
GCB. Gaming Control Board.
Gorilla. A 'big player,' a.k.a. 'money man'
Grand. Slang for $1000
Grave. The first shift of the day for casinos (starts at the end of the previous day, usually around 4:00 a.m.)
Gravy. A team's or player's overall winnings
Green. A $25 value cheque
Grifter. A term used to describe a cheater
Grift sense. That sixth sense good crossroaders have as to whether to continue with a plan or abandon it
Grind. Winning in a slow, small incremental manner so as not to draw any attention and make a profit over time
Gross revenue. Net win
Hand. The cards held by a player in one round of play
Handle. Total amount wagered in a casino
Hands per hour (HPH). The number of hands that a dealer can deal in 60 minutes, including to herself. HPH divided by (# of players + dealer) = DPH
Hard hand. A hand that can have only one total value, for example, a ten and a 7 = hard seventeen
Harrigan shoe. A shoe with a shield or horse-hair (bristle) covered opening
Heads up. Playing one on one with the dealer
Heat. Extra unwanted attention from a pit boss to a player who appears to be winning by means of advantage play
Heel peak. A method by which the dealer can peek the top card
HFA. Hispanic female adult
HMA. Hispanic male adult
High roller. A premium player, a.k.a. a 'whale'
Hit. To request or deal another card to a hand. Also see 'scratch'
Hold out. To hold out a card, a.k.a card mucking. Means to withhold a card illegally
Hold out device. A mechanical cheating device
Hold percentage. A casino's table games' win divided by the drop (buy-in) = hold
Hole card. The dealer's face down card
Hop. A cheating method in which cards are cut in such a way as to return them to their original pre-cut state
Hot hand. A run of high valued cards
House. Another term for the casino
Humps. A.k.a. 'belly strippers,' cards that have been altered by shaving the edges. Used in cheating to find specific cards
Hustle. Said of a dealer who solicits tips
Independent. A lone or solo card counter
Index. The printed values on the playing cards (2, 3, 4, 5, etc). Card counters also use this term to denote the count at which their playing strategy for a given hand changes
Index number. Card counter jargon used to identify the count for specific strategy deviations.
Insurance. A side bet that the dealer has a 10-value card in the hole when showing an ace for a top card. Pays 2:1
Jog. A method in which a cheating dealer marks a position in the deck or shoe; used to guide an agent to the place to cut
Juice. A term used to describe a casino employee who carries political weight or influence within the organization, as in 'That boss has a lot of juice. ' Also used as a verb, as in 'He was juiced into his job.'
K. Slang for thousand
Key card. A playing card used to predict an upcoming card or slug of cards, such as an Ace or clump of 10's
Key employee. A casino executive
Kibitzer. A non-stop talking spectator
Knave. A Jack
Knock off. A playing card marked by sandpaper (for cheating purposes)
Lammer. A chip used to identify the dollar amount given to a player under credit conditions for taking or paying back markers
Large. A term for $1000; ten large = $10,000
Layout. The green felt cover on the table made of a nylon weave with a silk screened custom monogram showing the casino’s name, rules, etc.
Limit. The maximum wager a casino is willing to book. Usually displayed on the table game plaque.
Locator. One who plays to the 'Key Card,' a.k.a. location play
Lock it up. Placing the cheques from a player’s lost wager into the tray.
Longevity. The amount of time measured in minutes, hours, days, weeks, or years before a casino gets wise and bars you
Luminous reader. Cards marked by special ink or substance that can only be seen with special glasses or contact lenses. Cheating
Marked cards. Cards that have been altered from factory standards in order to aid a cheater
Marker. A counter check made payable to the casino in exchange for cheques. Used for 'playing' credit
Marker play. A player who plays against his own front money or previously established credit arranged at the cage
Martingale. A very old method of progression betting. A systems player.
Master report. The 'rip sheet,' or summary sheet, of all wins, drops, fills, markers, etc. per table. This report includes a report on each individual game
Mechanic. A dishonest dealer
Milker. A tight wad player
Money man. See B.P., a.k.a. Big Player
Money manager. A player who makes calculated wagers according to bankroll size, edge, etc.
Monkey. An Asian term for a 10 card
Mucker. A player who switches cards on a table--a cheating move
Mug shot. A picture of a suspected advantage player, shot taker, or cheater, maintained in a file by casinos and official authorities
Multi-deck. A blackjack game that has more than 1 deck in play at the same time, as in double deck, 6 deck, 8 deck
Mystic. An irrational, unreasonable player
Natural. A two card total of 21 in blackjack
Negative deck/shoe. A deck or shoe with extra high cards depleted so that the count has swung below neutral
Negative swing. A losing period
Nickel. A $5 value cheque, a.k.a. red cheque
No dice. Casino term for No Deal, no way, not going to happen, etc.
Nurser. A player who 'sweats' his cards; a card fondler
Nut. The casino's overhead
Odds. A probability ratio, as in your odds of liking the movie 'Stacey's Knights' are slim to none at best!
Office. A signal given by a cheat to his partner
OMA. Oriental male adult
On the square. On the up and up, fair, honest. Not crooked or flat
Opener. A table card used to counter/verify the cheque inventory when the table was closed. The opener and the closer should match
Original. The first two 'original' cards dealt to a player
O.T.T. Off the Top, the first round after a shuffle
Our cheques. Said of a player who is wagering with money he or she won from the casino, as in 'She's playing with 'our cheques'
Outsider. A non-employee that works with an employee to embezzle/steal cheques from the table
No peek reader. An electronic card-reading device mounted on a blackjack table so that a dealer can check for an ace or ten hole card without seeing the actual value of the card
Pack. Deck of cards
Paddle. The clear plexiglas device used to push the currency (from buy ins and lost cash wagers) and fill slips into the drop box
Paint. Face card
Palming. Another term for mucking, mucker
Pan handler. A dealer who attempts to embarrass a player into toking
Partial insurance. To insure your bet for less than the full amount
Past post. To make a wager after the conclusion of the event wagered upon. Illegal cheating move
Pat. A strong two card total of 17(hard) or better, as in 'a pat hand'
Payoff. The monetary amount one expects to receive upon winning the bet
PC. Hold percentage
Peek. To view the top card of the deck prior to dealing it. A cheating move
Pen. The area of the deck or shoe where the 'sweat' or shuffle card is placed, a.k.a. penetration
Picture card. Face card
Pigeon. A sucker, easy mark
Pincher. Player who removes cheques from his wager after losing but before the dealer can pick up the lost bet. A cheat move
Pips. The spots on the face of the cards indicating their value
Pit. The area in which gambling is conducted; a.k.a. the Arena
Pit boss. An employee entrusted to oversee numerous Floor Supervisors in a pit
Pit clerk. Data entry clerk in charge of printing fill slips for the supervisors, marker input, player rating input, etc.
Ploy. A system or stratagem
Plus count. A term used to indicate that the composition of the deck favors the player due to an excess of ten value cards
Policy. A casino’s way of doing things: 'It's not our policy to take personal checks'
Power of the pen. Having the authorization to comp at the expense of the department or the casino
Press it up. To increase your wager, a.k.a. double your wager
Presser. Player who adds cheques to his/her winning wager after knowing the outcome is in their favor
Procedure. A casino’s written rules that employees must adhere to
Progression. A playing system that entails increasing or decreasing your wager after winning or losing a hand
Prove hand. An action requested by a floor supervisor (or higher) for the dealer to 'back out' the cards from the discard rack and restore them to the correct players
Pull through. A false shuffle
Punter. An Australian term for a player
Puppy print. The Ace of clubs
Quarter. A $25 cheque. Also see 'green'
Quitter. A player who loses and leaves
R comp. Free room comp
Rabbit hunting. Part of the procedure a dealer goes through to check new cards prior to putting them in play--to check the front and back of new cards
Rag, or rags. To a card counter, low cards
Rail thief. Someone who steals cheques from casino players at the tables
Rat holer. A player who secretly pockets chips in order to hide his winnings from a casino
Readers. Marked cards
Red. A $5 cheque, also see 'nickel'
RFB comp. Free room, food, and beverage comp
RFBA Comp. Room, food, and beverage unlimited
Rider. A player who stands behind a seated player and wagers on the same spot. In some countries, the larger bettor controls the decisions on the hand
Rim. Slang for a marker or credit player
Rim Card. An index card used to track a premium player's 'rim' play
Ring In. To introduce an unfair deck into play to aid the casino, a.k.a. a 'ringer'
Rip off. Slang for a ruse or sting
Risk of ruin. The risk or likelihood of a player losing all of his or her bankroll
Rolling. An expression called out by a dealer before turning a freshly shuffled deck on its side for squaring, as in 'rolling the deck'
ROS. 'Rule of Six.' Applies to single-deck games. Dealer will deal 5 rounds to 1 player, 4 rounds to 2 players, etc. Always adds up to 6.
Rover. A player who roams around looking for an empty seat so that he can play
Rummy. An inebriated player tolerated only because he has funds
Run. A long or unusual winning streak
Run up. Any type of deck stacking (cheating)
Runner. A cheater who fails to execute his move correctly and therefore must make a run for it
Running count. A count of the card values as the cards fall before converting to a true count
Ruse. A plan or means of deception
Sanded deck. A deck that has been marked with sandpaper for cheating purposes
Sawbuck. A $10 bill
Scratch. An old term used to describe the action that a player performs to request a hit
Second base. A term used to indicate the playing position at the center of the table. There is a difference between a base and a spot.
Shaved deck. A deck of cards that has been altered for cheating purposes
Shift boss. A key employee in charge of all pit activity during his or her shift. The shift boss reports to the casino manager
Shill. A player who is paid by the casino and bankrolled by the casino to play at empty games in order to attract others into playing
Shiner. A mirror like device used by a player to catch the image of the dealer's hole card. Illegal under the device law
Shoe. A device used to hold multiple decks of freshly shuffled cards for dealing
Short lived play. Same as 'short ‘n sweet' except that the player wins and then departs rather quickly. Also see the surveillance glossary at this Web site
Short ‘n sweet. A term used to describe the play session of a player who loses a lot of money rather quickly
Single Deck. A game dealt from only one deck
Snake bend. A card that has been marked for cheating purposes by quickly bending it from the upper left corner to the lower right corner
Snapper. In blackjack, any two card combination that equals 21
Soft double. A two card total that includes an ace that is doubled down on
Split. A rule option afforded by some casinos in which a player may take two identical value cards and split them into two hands (and wagers)
Spooking. Two players gaining an edge by having one see the dealer hole card (usually from behind the dealer) when the dealer peeks, then communicating the info to the other player.
Spot. The betting area or box in front of a player. First spot is to the dealer's left; then go clockwise to spot 6 (or more)
Spotter. A member of a count team who grinds away at a table and signals in the Big Player when the count is high
Stand. To refuse any further hits on your blackjack hand.
Standard deviation. A mathematical term for describing the variance of a game
Steamer. A player who is chasing his losses
Stiff. In blackjack, a two-card hard total from twelve to sixteen
Stiff sheet. A folded up sheet carried by the CSM (Casino Shift Manager) showing his or her shift's totals. Also see 'Master'
Sting. See Ruse
Store. A casino
Stuck. To have lost money gambling, to be down, as in 'We’ve got him stuck for $20K'
Suit. Slang for a casino pit employee
Sweat card. A plastic red, green, yellow, purple, or other color card used to mark the end of the portion of cards to be dealt in a deck or shoe. Indicates the 'penetration'
System. To casinos, wagering or money management patterns erroneously employed by players to gain an advantage, in contrast with legitimate methods like card counting (casinos love systems players)
Table hopper. A player who hops from table to table to play fewer hands at a disadvantage
Tapped off. A dealer gets 'tapped out' when relieved for a break
Tapped out. To have lost all your money
Tell. A facial expression (face dance) or gesture that gives a clue to an opponent
Theoretical hold. Percentage of wagering buy-ins that the house expects to keep on any given game or machine based on the house's mathematical advantage and game speed. Always an estimate
Third base. The last possible spot to the dealer's right on a blackjack table, a.k.a the last spot, or anchor
Tip. See toke
Toke. A tip (token of appreciation)
Tray. The float or tray on the table in front of the dealer that holds the house cheques
True count. Running count divided by the number of undealt decks
Truncating. To remove the decimal portion that follows an integer
TTO. This Trip Only is said when a player asks for an extension on a maxed out account. The casino may agree, but TTO
Turn. An action performed by a player to distract (turn) a casino employee. 'Turning' is used for both legal and illegal purposes
Underdog. A player with a very small starting bankroll who builds it up to a small empire
Unit. Another term used for cheques or chips; 5 units could be 5 red, green, black, etc.
Vigorish. Slang for 'commission,' a percentage of a win that the house takes to get its advantage in some games
Walk. To leave a table game
Walked with. Said of the amount a player leaves a gaming table with, part of a dealer's report to a pit manager or higher, as in 'He walked with $5K'
Warp. Cards that show a distinctive bend due to the dealers having to manually peek the hole card
Wash. A procedure that requires the dealer to 'pizza wash' cards newly introduced to a game. The act of mixing the cards before shuffling by spreading and smearing them around on the table
Wave. The hand motion a dealer makes to offer insurance or the chance to wager prior to dealing a round
Wave off. A hand motion a player is required to make to show that he or she wishes to stand and wants no more cards
WFA. White female adult
Whale. Term for a premium player, a.k.a. high roller
Whiz machine. A fill, credit, and marker slip dispenser. It's like a Pez dispenser, except it dispenses casino documents
Whole 9 yards. A slang term for a 'case' bet
Win. Gross revenue, also see 'net win'
Win rate. The amount the house or a player expects to win per hour, based on game speed, dollars wagered, and advantage
WMA. White male adult
X-Ray. Said of a player (cheater) who can read the cards from the backs, based on such marks as lime shade, nicks, etc.
Yard. A $100 bill, also see Benji, C-Note
Zebra. Radio call sign for the surveillance department, as in 'Security Officer Williams to Zebra One'
Zoo lander. Also a 'Lookie Lou,' that is, a non-playing, non-drinking, aisle-blocking, over-the-shoulder player who thinks he knows it all and tries to help you play your hand
Zuke. A tip, a.k.a. a 'toke' ♠
Casino Dealer Means
[For a book with more information on casino personnel and procedures, see The Card Counter's Guide to Casino Surveillance by D.V. Cellini, an Arnold Snyder Professional Gambling Report.]
Casino Dealer Definition
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