Live Casino Wordlist

New to the casino scene in Ghana? Want to get a handle on the lingo, or just need a quick refresher on common casino terms? You've landed in the right spot! We've gathered all the essential casino jargon you need to know, right here.

A

ACS - An acronym for Automatic Card Shuffler.

Action - Refers to the total amount of money a player wagers over a specific period.

Alias - In live dealer games, you might need to enter a chosen name (Alias) to play. It's your chosen online identity for the game.

Android Casino - Most Ghanaian players use smartphones, and Android devices are very popular. Hence, many casinos offer mobile games optimized for Android phones and tablets.

Ante - An initial bet required before a hand begins, common in card games.

Auto-play - A handy feature on many slot games that allows the machine to spin automatically for a set number of rounds.

Automatic Card Shuffler - A device that shuffles one or more decks of cards automatically. More common in physical casinos.

Avalanche Function - Found in some online slots, this feature makes winning symbols disappear and new ones fall into place during the same round, potentially leading to more wins. Some ELK Studios slots, like Bompers, feature this.

B

Banker - In games like Baccarat, the 'Banker' is the hand that the player bets against. In other contexts, it can refer to the dealer managing bets.

Bankroll - The total amount of money you've set aside for gambling. Good bankroll management is key to sustainable play.

Basic Strategy (Blackjack) - In Blackjack, this is a mathematically proven strategy that optimizes your chances of winning based on the cards you and the dealer have. It's the foundation for maximizing your RTP (Return to Player). You can learn more about Blackjack strategies here.

Bet / Casino - When playing any casino game with real money, you need to place a bet. This is the stake you put on the line for a chance to win. Bets can be placed on anything from a single spin of a slot machine to the outcome of a hand.
Bet Limits - Every casino game has bet limits, meaning there's a minimum and maximum amount you can wager. For example, a Blackjack table might have a minimum bet of GH₢10 and a maximum of GH₢1000.

Bet Max - On slot machines, this button allows you to place the highest possible bet in one spin.

Betting Layout - The designated area on a gaming table where players place their chips to make their bets.

Betting Limits - The minimum and maximum stakes permitted at a specific gaming table.

Bonus - A bonus is essentially an extra perk or promotional offer from a casino. These could be free spins, bonus cash, or other rewards that enhance your gameplay. Many Ghanaian online casinos offer various bonuses, often tied to deposits, but sometimes available without one.

Bonus Feature - These are special elements within slot games that can boost your winnings. Often, triggering a bonus feature leads to a mini-game or special rounds with enhanced winning potential.

Bonus symbol - To unlock a bonus mode or feature in a slot machine, you typically need to land a specific combination of bonus symbols on the reels.

Burn Card - The top card of a deck is often removed and discarded before play begins, especially in card games like Blackjack, to ensure fairness.

Bust - In Blackjack, the goal is to get as close to 21 as possible without going over. Going over 21 means you 'bust' and automatically lose the hand.

C

Cage - In land-based casinos, this refers to the secure area where large amounts of cash and chips are stored.

Card counting (Blackjack) - This is an advanced strategy where players track the cards played to gain an edge. It involves knowing which cards remain in the deck before the next shuffle. While effective, it's often discouraged by casinos.

Card Counting - A strategy often associated with Blackjack, used to gain a statistical advantage.
Card Shark - A skilled card player, often one who takes advantage of less experienced players.
Card Sharp - Another term for Card Shark.
Card Washing - The action of spreading cards across the table to shuffle them.

Cashback - A popular offer with online casinos in Ghana, cashback means you get a percentage of your losses back. It's a great way to soften the blow of a losing streak.

Cash Bonus - An extra amount of money awarded to a player, often contingent on meeting certain wagering requirements before withdrawal.

Cash Out - In sports betting, this feature allows you to settle a bet before the event concludes, either to secure winnings or cut your losses.

Cashier’s Desk - The place in a physical casino where players exchange cash for chips and vice versa.

Chasing - This is when a player continues betting aggressively after a series of losses in an attempt to win back their money and break even. It's often a risky strategy.

Chip Tray - A tray used by dealers to hold casino chips, coins, and cards.

Chips - Small, colored tokens used as currency in casinos for betting.

Coat Tail - Betting on the same outcome as a previous winner, hoping for similar luck. It's like riding on someone else's winning wave.

Cold Streak - When a player experiences a prolonged period of losing bets.

Comp (Complimentary) - These are freebies or perks offered by casinos to loyal players, like free drinks, meals, or even hotel stays, often based on your play.

Comp Hustling - This refers to players who linger in casinos or actively seek out bonus vouchers to maximize the complimentary offers.

Comp Points - Online casinos often have loyalty programs where you earn points for playing. These points can usually be redeemed for bonus cash, free spins, or other rewards.

Continuous Shuffling Machine - A machine that continuously shuffles cards, often used in live dealer games to speed up play and prevent card counting.

Croupier - This is simply another term for the dealer at a casino table, responsible for managing the game and bets.

CSM - An abbreviation for Continuous Shuffling Machine.

Cut Card - A blank card used in card games to indicate where the deck should be separated after shuffling.

D

Dealer - The casino employee who manages a game, deals cards, spins the roulette wheel, and oversees bets.

Deck Penetration - In card games, this refers to how many cards the dealer goes through before reshuffling the deck. Better penetration usually favours the player.

Deposit - Adding funds to your online casino account using various payment methods available in Ghana.

Deposit Bonus - A common welcome offer at Ghanaian online casinos, where the casino matches a percentage of your deposit with bonus funds.

Deposit Method - The various ways you can fund your online casino account, such as mobile money, bank cards, or e-wallets popular in Ghana.

Dice Control - A controversial theory in craps suggesting players can influence the dice roll for specific outcomes. Most players accept craps as a game of pure chance.

Dirty Money - This term is generally not used in legitimate casino operations; casinos operate on house edge, not 'dirty money'.

Discard Tray - A container held by the dealer holding used or discarded cards.

Double Down - When playing Blackjack, players gets the opportunity to double their hand after the first two cards. If a player selects "Double", a gambler can only receive one more card.

Down Card - Cards dealt face down.

Download Casino - Online casino games that require downloading software to play.

E

eCOGRA - Testing and standards organization that specializes in online gambling (E-Commerce Online Gaming Regulation and Assurance)

Edge - Calculating a higher probability of occurrence for a bet than the odds you receive.

Encryption - Used by online casinos to protect money and information from hackers.

Even Money Bet - Wagering money when the odds are equal. The better can lose or win the same amount.

Expanding Wild - When playing slots, a gambler will come across all sorts of wild symbols and one of them is expanding wilds. This means that the wild symbol expands and gives gamblers more wilds on the board.

Expected Win Rate - The amount of money a player is expected to wine over a period of time.

Eye in the Sky - Closed circuit cameras used for monitoring a casino.

F

Face Card - Any jack, queen, or king card.

Face Down Card - See Down Card.

Face Up Card - Cards dealt face up.

Flash Casino - An online casino that uses an Adobe Flash plugin, where players can access games from a web browser.

Flat Betting - When a player bets the same amount each time.

Flush - When playing Blackjack a gambler can make a side bet. One of the side bets pays if a gambler receives the same suit on the first two cards together with the dealer's first.

Free Spins - A gambler can be offered a certain number of Free Spins in a welcome bonus. The opportunity to spin in a selected slot without having to bet any money. Sometimes the Free Spins come with wagering requirements and sometimes without.

Free bonus - A free bonus is a bonus that the casino gives to players without any deposit requirements, this is usually in connection with registering and opening an account with the casino.

G

Gambler’s Fallacy - A false belief that something is more or less likely to happen based on how many times it has happened before.

George - A term used by the Dealer for a big-tipping player.

Gross Winnings - The difference between how much a player bets and how much they win.

H

Hearts - One of the two suits of a deck of cards and one of the four suits.

High Roller - A player who consistently bets large sums of money.

Hit - When you play Blackjack, you always get two cards in your hand. If you want a third card say or click "Hit". The dealer then gives you a third card.

Hot Streak - When a player has a long-lasting winning run.

Hot Table - When players at a specific table keep winning.

House - Another term for Casino.

House Edge - The advantage a casino has to make money over players.

House Rules - Rules that are specific to a casino.

J

Jackpot - A large prize amount often associated with slot machines.

L

Layout - Markings on a game table dividing the surface into sections.

Live Dealer Games - An in-person casino game with a human Dealer, as opposed to an online casino game with a computer Dealer.

Lobby - Where players can see all games available in online casinos.

Loose Slot - A slot machine with a high payout.

Loyalty Program - A membership for casinos. Players can connect their cards to the membership so that when makes transactions, they can gain rewards.

M

Marker - Similar to a short-term loan or a line of credit, a player can borrow money from a casino to bet.

Maximum Bet - The highest a player can bet during a game.

Minimum Bet - The lowest a player can bet during a game.

Mobile Casino - A mobile casino is where you can play all online games on your phone.

Multi-Hand - Game When players use multiple hands at once during a game. A bet must be made from each hand.

Multi-Player Game - When players use only one hand at a time during a game.

N

Net Winnings - The amount a casino makes after prizes and winnings are distributed after a game is played.

No deposit bonus - A no deposit bonus is a bonus that you get without having to make a deposit.

O

Odds - The chances of winning or losing during a game.

Optimal Strategy - A “correct” way to play to give players a better chance at winning.

Open Card - When playing Blackjack, a player can choose a table where the dealer shows both his cards instead of one. This gives a clear advantage, but at the same time, the dealer always wins equally, which means that the player’s advantage quickly disappears.

P

Paint - Slang term for Face Card.

Payout - The money given to a player after a winning bet.

Payout Odds - How much a player will win from a bet, relative to the stake. This means for 3:1, a player will win $3 for every $1 put down.

Payout Percentage - How much money is returned to a player. For example, if a player’s payout percentage is 90%, for every $10 wagered, they will win $9.

Payout Table - Shows how much can be won on a specific game.

Payline - A pay line is the same as a paytable. It is a line where winnings are paid out in the game.

Pit - Areas that break up a casino. Each pit has a designated number of tables for games.

Pit Boss - An employee who oversees an individual pit.

Play Bonus - For online gambling, this can be used for wagering only. It can’t be withdrawn.

Play For Fun - For online casinos, games with no winnings that are offered to players who don’t put down any money.

Progression Betting - Broken into two styles. 1. Positive betting, which means when a player increases their stake after a win, and 2. Negative betting, which means a player decreases their stake after a win.

Progressive Jackpot - A Jackpot that grows until it is one.

Put - Slang for a Tie in a game.

R

Reload Bonus - The reload bonus is given to loyal players at a casino. It is granted when gamblers deposit more money in their casino accounts. A "top-up bonus" and means that you get an extra penny if you choose to top up your gaming account.

Re-spins - In some slots you can get re-spins. This means that you get a free spin if you succeed in fulfilling the function.

RTP - RTP stands for return to player and is the payback percentage. Most often you will find RTP in a slot and can see how much is refunded to players.

S

Shoe - A container that holds and dispenses cards at a game table.

Shuffle - When a dealer mixes the cards to keep the order anonymous.

Side Bet - A bet placed on an outcome not related to the result of the game. For example, betting that your first card is higher than 10.

Sign Up Bonus - For online casinos, incentive given to player when they first join.

Slots - A slot machine is a casino game that has spinning reels. The reels contain symbols on them. If the symbols line up, a prize is won. The price depends on where the different symbols land.

Stake - A bet size.

Sticky Bonus - Slang for Play Bonus.

Stiff -A term used by the Dealer for a player who doesn’t tip.

Split - When a player gets the same value on both cards when playing blackjack, there is an opportunity to split them. Another card on each will be dealt. Now there are two playing hands that must match the initial wager for the new second hand.

T

Table - Hold A gaming table’s profit after a set period of time.

Table Limit - The minimum and maximum amounts of money that players can bet on one hand.

Tilt - To play recklessly due to emotions, typically caused by losing.

Toke - Slang for tip given to Dealer.

True Odds - The odds of a bet based on probability.

Turnover Requirement - An expression that is used to describe the amount wagered. Meaning placing bets with the money that´s been deposited.

Tournament - Allows players to make bets with a minimum rate that competes with other players.

U

Up Card - See Face Up Card.

V

VIP Club - For the most loyal players, some casinos have VIP programs. The higher the VIP players climb in the VIP club, the better the rewards.
VIP Player - A player valued for betting regularly and/or for using high stakes at a casino.
VIP Program - For online casinos, how players can be rewarded for their activity.

W

Wager - How much money a player bets.

Wagering Requirements - For online casinos, it dictates how much a play must bet before making a withdrawal.

Welcome Bonus - If a player is new to a casino and opens an account, they are rewarded with a welcome bonus.

Whale - Players who bet thousands or millions of dollars in one night.

Withdrawal - When a player moves the money from their online account back to the payment of their choice.