Decoding Casino Slang: A Glossary For New Players

Walking into a casino can feel like entering a foreign country where everyone speaks a completely different language.


Before sitting down at a high-stakes table, you should familiarize yourself with these common phrases.

Common Financial Terms in the Casino

Your 'bankroll' is your gaming budget, and protecting it should be your top priority.


If someone refers to a 'whale,' they are talking about an incredibly wealthy player who bets massive amounts.

A 'marker' is basically an IOU or a line of credit extended by the casino'Action' refers to the total amount of money wagered over a specific period'Vig' or 'Vigorish' is the fee the house takes on certain bets
Important Phrases for Specific Games

In Blackjack, 'busting' means your card total has exceeded 21, resulting in an automatic loss.


For slot machines, a 'loose' machine is one that supposedly pays out more frequently than others.

TermGameDefinitionShoeBlackjack/BaccaratThe box that holds the decks of cardsPit BossAll Table GamesThe supervisor monitoring a group of tables

While it seems overwhelming at first, you will pick up this vocabulary very quickly once you start playing.