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.


Mastering this slang ensures you know exactly what is happening during fast-paced games.

Basic Betting and Money Slang

A 'bankroll' is the total amount of money you have specifically set aside for your gambling session.


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
Game-Specific Terminology

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


At the craps table, rolling a seven after the point is established is known as 'sevening out'.

Slang WordContextMeaningEye in the SkySecurityThe network of cameras watching the floorEdgeMathematicsThe casino's statistical advantage

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