Common Gambling Terms

Here are the most common expressions from D to H to help you in the casinos.

• 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.
• Edge - An advantage over an opponent.
• 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.
• 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.
• 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.
• Front Money - Cash or bank checks/cheques deposited with the casino to establish credit for a player who bets against that money.
• Grease - A bribe.
• Gross Winnings - The total payout (including your stake).
• Hand - Refers to the cards that you hold, or to everything that happens in a card game between shuffles of the deck.
• Hard Count - Activity in which coin (hard) currency is counted. It is usually done in a special room under tight security. Counting the change from slot machines.
• Hard Hand - In blackjack, any hand that does not contain an Ace valued at 11. (You can value an Ace 1 or 11 to suit you).
• High Poker - Standard poker, as compared to low poker or lowball. In high poker, high hands win.
• High Roller - A player that wagers big bets.
• Hit - In blackjack, to take another card. The card received is also called a hit.
• Holding Your Own - Neither winning nor losing, just breaking even.
• Hot - A player who is on a winning streak, or a slot machine that is paying out.
• House - A casino or gambling center/centre. Also the operators of a gambling game.
• House Edge - The casino in-built advantage, usually gained by paying less than the odds.