Casino Games
We’ve split this section into general game terms and terms for specific games, including pokies, blackjack, roulette, poker, and baccarat. Whatever your game of choice, we’re here to help you play with confidence.
Chips: These are a kind of virtual currency used in place of real money at an online casino. These chips provide a convenient and standardised way to wager and track bets. Each chip is assigned a predetermined monetary value.
At most online casinos the word ‘chip’ or ‘free chip’ is used interchangeably with ‘bonus credit’ or ‘bonus cash’, using the same dollar value as a regular deposit, but with wagering requirements and other restrictions attached.
Comp Points (CP): Loyalty points you can earn by logging in, depositing and playing at an online casino. These are usually tied to the structure of a loyalty program.
The accumulation of Comp Points is typically tied to the amount of money wagered or the frequency of gameplay (e.g. 1 CP for every $1 wagered), and they can be exchanged for bonuses, cashback, and other rewards.
Croupier: This is the person who oversees a casino game, typically a dealer or roulette wheel operator. Responsible for shuffling and dealing cards, placing bets and handling payouts, regulating the pace of the game, distributing winnings and ensuring fair gameplay.
Free Play: Also called ‘demo mode’, this is a gameplay optionthat allows you to explore and experience casino games without the need to wager real money.
It serves various purposes, primarily acting as a risk-free environment to practise skills, test strategies, or simply enjoy the entertainment value of casino games without financial implications.
House Edge: The house edge in online casinos refers to the mathematical advantage that the casino has over players in any given game. It’s essentially the percentage of each bet that the casino expects to retain as profit over the long run.
For example, if a game has a house edge of 5%, it means that, on average, the casino expects to keep 5% of all bets wagered on that game as profit. This doesn’t mean that every player will lose exactly 5% of their bets, but rather that over a large number of bets placed by all players, the casino will end up with approximately 5% of the total amount wagered.
Different casino games have different house edges, and some games offer better odds for players than others. Read our article dedicated to the house edge.
Live Dealer Games: A category of online casino games that offer a more immersive and authentic gaming experience by integrating real dealers and real-time video streaming.
These games aim to bridge the gap between traditional brick-and-mortar casinos and online gaming platforms, providing you with interactive gameplay from the comfort of your home or on the go. Check out our live dealer casinos page for tested bonuses and recommended casinos.
Multi-Hand: A gameplay option that allows you to play multiple hands at the same time in card games like video poker and blackjack. The number of hands that can be played concurrently varies and is often customisable, allowing players to choose the level of complexity they prefer.
Progressive Jackpots: These are a type of jackpot where the prize grows over time as more people play the associated game. A small portion of each bet made by players contributes to the jackpot, causing it to increase until someone wins it.
When you play a game with a progressive jackpot, you have the chance to win a much larger prize than with a fixed jackpot game. This is because the jackpot continues to grow until it’s won, potentially reaching millions of dollars.
Random Number Generator (RNG): A computer algorithm used to ensure that game outcomes are entirely random and not influenced by any external factors. RNGs are used in all non-live casino games, including pokies, video poker, virtual card games, and more.
Get techy and learn more about RNGs in our dedicated article.
Return to Player (RTP): The percentage of all wagered money in a game that you can expect to receive back over time. This is only a theoretical measure and not a guarantee of returns.
However, aiming for an RTP of 96%+ gives you a better chance of more returns. Learn more with our guide to RTP.
Tournaments: Competitive events where you go up against other players for prizes in various casino games. Tournaments can be organised for various casino games, such as pokies, poker, blackjack, and roulette. Prizes can include cash rewards, bonus funds, free spins, or even physical items and tickets to events.
Volatility (Variance): A measure of the risk associated with a given casino game (usually pokies). High volatility means less frequent wins but potentially higher rewards, while low volatility games tend to give out more stable but smaller wins. Read our guide to volatility for more information.
Pokies
Avalanche Feature: The same concept as cascading reels, this feature involves symbols falling into place on the reels rather than spinning. When winning combinations are formed, the winning symbols disappear, making way for new symbols to fall from above. This process can continue, creating multiple opportunities for consecutive wins within a single spin.
Bonus Feature: Special gameplay elements or bonus round triggered by specific symbol combinations. These features often include free spins, where players can spin the reels without wagering additional funds, as well as other bonuses such as multipliers, additional wild symbols, or mini-games.
Bonus Round: A special segment on a pokie typically triggered by specific symbols or a combination of symbols and offers players the chance to earn extra rewards. Bonus rounds often include unique features, mini-games, or free spins, enhancing the overall entertainment and potential winnings in a pokie.
Cascading Reels: A feature in some pokies – after a winning combination is achieved, the winning symbols disappear, and new symbols cascade or fall into the vacant spaces, potentially creating additional winning combinations. This process continues until no more winning combinations are formed.
Coin Size/Value: The denomination of the coins used to place bets on a pokie. You can often adjust the coin size to control the overall wager per spin. This allows you to customise bets based on preferences and strategies without changing the number of coins or paylines.
Expanding Wilds: Special symbols in pokies that, when appearing on the reels, expand to cover the entire reel. This can significantly increase the chances of forming winning combinations, as the expanded wild symbol acts as a substitute for other symbols.
Megaways: Developed by Big Time Gaming, Megaways slots feature a unique reel mechanic that provides thousands or even tens of thousands of ways to win on each spin. The number of symbols appearing on each reel changes with every spin, leading to a variable number of ways to win.
The most common configuration for Megaways slots features six reels, with each reel displaying a variable number of symbols per spin, usually between two and seven symbols. The total number of ways to win is calculated by multiplying the number of symbols on each reel.
For example, if each reel displays seven symbols, the total number of potential winning combinations would be 7x7x7x7x7x7, resulting in 117,649 ways to win.
Megaways slots often include features such as cascading reels, where winning combinations are removed from the reels and replaced with new symbols, allowing for multiple consecutive wins on a single spin.
Multipliers: Symbols or features in pokies that multiply the winnings by a specific factor. For example, if you land a winning combination with a 2x multiplier, the payout for that combination is doubled. Multipliers can be part of the base game or incorporated into bonus features.
Mystery Symbols: Special icons in pokies that, when landed on the reels, transform into a random, predetermined set of symbols. These symbols can contribute to creating winning combinations and add an element of surprise and excitement to the gameplay.
Payline: A line on a pokie where winning combinations align. You can bet on multiple paylines within a single spin, and winning combinations must appear on activated paylines to be considered valid. Increasing the number of paylines typically increases the chances of landing winning combinations.
Payout Table: A chart or display that outlines the potential winning combinations and their corresponding payouts in a pokie. It provides information on the value of each symbol, the rules for triggering bonus features, and details about the game’s overall structure.
Pick and Click: A type of bonus feature where you are presented with a selection of items on the screen and must choose one or more to reveal instant prizes. This adds an element of choice and engagement, often leading to bonus credits, multipliers, and other rewards.
Reels: The vertical columns on a pokie that spin independently of each other, each displaying a set of symbols. Traditional pokies typically have three reels, but modern video pokies can have five or more reels. The arrangement of symbols on the reels determines winning combinations, and various features such as wilds, scatters, and bonus symbols may appear.
Scatter Symbol: A special symbol in pokies that can trigger payouts or bonus features such as free spins, bonus rounds, or interactive mini-games, regardless of their position on the reels. It often doesn’t need to align on a specific payline.
Sticky Wilds: Special symbols that remain in place for a designated number of spins or until certain conditions are met. These symbols also act as wilds, substituting for all other symbols, excluding certain special symbols like scatters or bonus symbols, to create winning combinations.
Wild Symbol: A symbol in pokies that can substitute for other symbols, excluding certain special symbols like scatters or bonus symbols. Wilds help to form winning combinations and can enhance the chances of winning on a payline.
Win Ways: A feature that replaces traditional paylines. Instead of requiring symbols to align on specific paylines, Win Ways allow wins to be formed when matching symbols appear on adjacent reels, regardless of their exact position to increase the number of potential winning combinations.
Win Both Ways: A feature in certain pokies where winning combinations can be formed not only from left to right on the reels but also from right to left. This increases the opportunities for winning combinations, as the sequence of matching symbols can start from either end of the reels.
Blackjack
Ace Poor: Refers to a situation in blackjack when the remaining cards in the deck are perceived to have a lower ratio of aces. This may influence you to adjust your strategy, as the likelihood of receiving a strong hand with an ace decreases.
Ace Rich: Indicates the opposite scenario, where the remaining cards in the deck are considered to have a higher ratio of aces. In this case, you might adjust your strategy if you anticipate a greater chance of receiving a hand with an ace.
Anchorman: A term for the last player to act before the dealer plays out their hand. If you are the anchorman, you can see all the other players’ actions before deciding whether to hit, stand, double or split. Knowledge of the dealer’s single upcard also helps form the anchorman strategy.
Blackjack: The best possible 2-card hand that contains an ace, counted as 11 points, and any 10-point card like a 10, Jack, Queen or King. The 2-card 21 point hand pays out more than any other hand, typically 3:2 or 6:5. Landing a blackjack against the dealer’s lesser hand is the top goal of blackjack players.
Box: The betting area or spot on a blackjack table where you place your cards and chips while playing hands. Each player at the table has their designated box where they place their bets.
Burn Card: The first card from a freshly shuffled deck that is discarded before dealing cards in a card game. This practice is intended to prevent players from gaining an unfair advantage by tracking specific cards from the previous round.
Bust: A bust occurs when a player’s hand exceeds a total value of 21, resulting in an automatic loss for that hand. A busted hand is considered to be out of the round and loses the bet.
DAS: An abbreviation for Double After Split, a rule variation that allows you to double down on one or both hands after splitting a pair. This favours players by increasing the value of splitting strong pairs like aces or eights compared to prohibiting doubles after splits.
Double Exposure: A variant of blackjack where both of the dealer’s initial cards are exposed. This provides players with additional information to make strategic decisions but often comes with adjusted rules to maintain balance in the game.
Double Down: A strategic move in blackjack where you double the original bet after receiving the first two cards, usually with the intention of taking only one more card.
Even Money: An option offered to a player when they have a natural blackjack and the dealer’s face-up card is an ace. Instead of taking the risk of a tie if the dealer also has a blackjack, the player can choose to take even money, receiving a 1:1 payout immediately.
Five Card Charlie: A rule in some variations of blackjack where a player automatically wins if they manage to draw a hand consisting of five cards without going over 21. Even if the dealer has a higher hand or a blackjack, the player with this hand wins.
Hard Hand: A hand that does not contain an ace, or if it does, the ace is counted as 1 to avoid busting. For example, a hand with a 10 and a 4 is a Hard 14. The term distinguishes this hand from a Soft Hand, which includes an ace counted as 11.
Heads Up: In this variation of blackjack, each player competes solely against the dealer’s hand instead of other players at the table. Online blackjack is usually always heads up.
Hit: The action a player takes when requesting an additional card from the dealer. Players can continue to hit until they decide to stand, reach a total of 21, or bust by exceeding 21.
Hit 17: A specific rule in some blackjack variations where the dealer is required to take an additional card when their hand has a total value of 17, including a soft 17 – an ace counted as 11 and a 6.
Hole Card: The dealer’s single face down card that stays hidden until the end of the round when all players have acted. At the end of the round the dealer reveals their hole card and plays out their hand.
Insurance: A side bet option in blackjack that becomes available when the dealer’s upcard is an ace. Players can choose to make an additional bet, up to half of their original wager, to protect themselves against the possibility of the dealer having a natural blackjack. If the dealer does have a blackjack, the insurance bet pays out at 2:1.
Natural Blackjack: This occurs when a player is dealt an ace and a 10-value card as their initial two cards. It is the strongest hand in blackjack and is sometimes referred to simply as a blackjack. In standard rules, a natural blackjack typically pays out at 3:2, unless the dealer also has a blackjack.
NRSA: Stands for “No Re-Splitting of Aces” and is a rule in blackjack that some casinos may impose. It restricts players from splitting a pair of aces again if they receive another ace after the initial split.
Pat Hand: A hand with a total value of 17 to 21 that does not contain an ace. It is considered a relatively strong hand, and players often choose to stand rather than risk busting by taking additional cards.
Push: A tie between the player and the dealer, resulting in the return of the player’s wager without any additional winnings or losses. For example, if a player and the dealer both have a total of 17, it is a push, and the player’s bet is returned.
Side Bet: An additional wager separate from the main bet on the outcome of the game. Side bets often involve predicting specific scenarios, like getting a pair or a certain card combination. These bets can offer higher payouts but are usually associated with higher house edges.
Soft Double: A player’s decision to double down on a hand that includes an ace. This option is available in blackjack when a player has an initial hand that can be improved by receiving only one additional card.
Soft Hand: A hand that includes an ace that can be counted as either 1 or 11 without busting the hand. For example, an ace and a 6 can be either a soft 17 or a soft 7, depending on how the player chooses to count the ace.
Split: The option to split becomes available when a player is dealt a pair of cards of the same rank. This pair can be split into two separate hands, each with its own bet, and the player continues the round by playing each hand independently.
Stand: A player’s decision to decline any additional cards and keep their current hand. When a player chooses to stand, they indicate to the dealer that they are satisfied with their current card total and do not wish to receive any more cards for that particular hand.
Stand 17: A rule requiring dealers to stand on all hands totaling 17 points, whether hard or soft, is more advantageous for players compared to a rule that mandates dealers to hit on soft 17s.
Stiff: A hand that is at risk of busting if the player chooses to take an additional card. A stiff hand typically falls in the range of 12 to 16 and can be challenging to play due to the risk of exceeding the total of 21.
Surrender: Allows a player to forfeit their hand and lose only half of their original bet, giving up the opportunity to play out the hand. This is a strategic move that players can use if they believe their chances of winning the hand are low.
Up Card: The dealer’s face-up card that is visible to all players at the table. It provides valuable information for players when making decisions about how to play their own hands, such as whether to hit, stand, double down, or surrender based on the likelihood of the dealer having a strong or weak hand.
Roulette
American Roulette: A popular variation of roulette played in the Americas. It features a wheel with 38 pockets, including numbers 1 through 36, a single zero, and a double zero. The double zero increases the house edge compared to European Roulette.
Bet on the Layout: Placing wagers on specific numbers, groups of numbers, colours, odd or even numbers, or other available options on the betting layout. Players can choose various bets based on their preferences and strategies.
Block Betting: Placing bets on a group or block of numbers on the roulette table. This could involve bets on adjacent numbers or a combination of specific numbers that form a block on the layout.
Column Bet: Wagering on one of the three vertical columns of numbers on the betting layout, each containing 12 numbers. If the ball lands on any number within the chosen column, the player wins a 2:1 payout.
D’Alembert System: A betting strategy based on adjusting bets, with the goal of gradually reaching a balanced state. It’s a mild progression system that involves increasing wagers by one unit after a loss but decreasing by one unit after a win.
Double Zero: In American Roulette, the wheel features a double zero (00) in addition to the single zero (0). The double zero increases the house edge compared to European Roulette which only has a single zero.
Dozen Bet: A type of bet where a player wagers on one of the three groups of 12 numbers each. These groups are divided into the first dozen (1-12), the second dozen (13-24), and the third dozen (25-36).
European Roulette: A variant of the roulette game mainly played in Europe. It has a wheel containing 37 pockets, numbered 1 through 36 and a single zero (0). Compared to American Roulette, European Roulette has a lower house edge due to the absence of the double zero – so it’s more favourable to players.
Inside Bet: Placing bets on specific numbers or a small group of numbers on the inside area of the roulette layout. This often yields larger payouts, but players are less likely to win.
Martingale System: A betting strategy that involves doubling the bet after each loss, with the aim of recovering previous losses and gaining a profit equal to the initial wager. The strategy relies on the assumption that a win will eventually occur to offset the losses.
Orphans: A bet covering the orphan numbers 6, 34, and 17 which are placed next to each other on the wheel but further apart on the layout. This type of bet is only available in certain European casinos.
Outside Bet: Placing bets on larger groups of numbers or characteristics such as red/black or odd/even on the outside area of the roulette layout.
Pockets: The numbered slots on the roulette wheel where the ball may land. The pockets are numbered from 1 to 36, and in the case of American Roulette, there are additional pockets for 0 and 00.
Six Line Bet: Involves placing a bet on two adjacent rows of numbers, covering a total of six numbers. This bet is placed at the intersection of the two rows on the betting layout and offers a 5:1 payout.
Split Bet: Betting on two adjacent numbers by placing chips on the line dividing them on the betting layout. If the ball lands on one of the two chosen numbers, the player wins. Pays 17:1 for hitting either number.
Straight Bet: Placing a bet on a single number in roulette. This has the highest payout at 35:1 but the lowest probability of winning.
Street Bet: Betting on a horizontal row of 3 numbers by putting chips along the edge of that row. Pays 11:1 if any number in the selected row wins.
Zero: The 0 pocket displayed on all roulette wheels. This number represents the house edge as all losses go to the 0. American roulette features a double zero (00) which means a higher house edge.
Poker
Action: The total amount wagered by players during a betting round or poker hand. It refers to bets made and any raises. The pot which contains the collective action is pushed to the winner at the showdown.
Action also refers to the betting and decision-making that occurs during a hand. It includes moves and wagers made by players, such as betting, raising, calling, or folding.
Add On: An extra option available in some tournament formats that gives players the chance to purchase more chips to boost their stack. This is separate from the initial buy-in and typically occurs after the first break.
Aggregate Limit: The maximum total amount that can be bet or raised by a player during a betting round. For example, a $30 aggregate limit means no more than $30 can be bet and raised combined, slowing down runaway pots.
All-In: When a player bets all of their remaining chips in a single wager. When a player goes all-in, they are committing all the chips they have left to the pot. If other players wish to continue betting in the hand, a side pot may be created for additional bets beyond the amount of the all-in player.
Ante: A forced bet, around 1-5% of the minimum bet, that all players are required to place into the pot before the start of a hand. Antes are commonly used in tournament poker to stimulate action and build the pot, and increase in later tournament rounds. Typically occur before the flop in games like Texas Hold’em.
Blinds: Forced bets made before the flop by one or two players, a small blind and big blind, to create initial action. Blinds rotate each hand between players, stimulate betting, and compensate players for not having early position.
Draw: A hand that is not yet complete but has the potential to improve significantly with the addition of one or more specific cards. Players might aim to complete a draw on the next community card to make a stronger hand.
Call: An action where a player matches the current bet made by another player. By calling, a player remains in the hand without increasing the bet amount. It is a way to stay active in the game and see the next community card without committing additional chips.
Flop: The first three community cards dealt face-up in Texas Hold’em and Omaha, part of the five community cards used by all players. Reveals part of each player’s hand strength and is crucial for evaluating hands.
Fold: A player’s decision to discard a weak hand and forfeit any further involvement in the current hand. By folding, a player chooses not to invest additional chips in the pot and gives up the chance to win that particular hand. This can help prevent large losses.
Full House: A hand that contains three of a kind and a pair. For example, having three 7s and two Jacks in the same hand forms a Full House. It ranks higher than a regular three of a kind and lower than a four of a kind.
Hole Cards: Private, face-down cards dealt to each player in games like Texas Hold’em and Omaha. These cards are unique to each player and are not revealed to opponents until the showdown.
Kicker: The highest unpaired card that helps determine the winner. For example, if two players have the same pair, the one with the higher kicker wins.
Multi-Hand: A style of play where a player can play multiple hands simultaneously. This can occur in online poker or in certain live games where a player plays multiple seats.
Open: The player who makes the first bet before the flop, placing the first chips into play. The bet must be called, raised, or folded to by other players.
Pocket Cards: The same as hole cards.
Pot: The total amount of chips accumulated from all players’ bets on a given hand. The pot goes to the winner or split if there are shared hands. The pots increase through betting rounds.
River: The fifth and final community card in games like Texas Hold’em and Omaha. It is revealed after the turn, and players use these five community cards to make the best hand possible.
Slow Play: A strategy where a player intentionally acts passively or bets less aggressively with a strong hole card hand, aiming to deceive opponents and encourage them to bet more. This allows the pot to increase before the player goes all-in for optimal value.
Trips: A term for three of a kind. This means having three cards of the same rank in your hand.
Turn: The fourth community card in games like Texas Hold’em and Omaha, revealed after the flop. Players use the turn and flop cards to get the best hand possible.
Baccarat
Action: The overall money wagered by a player over the course of a baccarat session. Refers to the sum of all bets made on player, banker, and tie hands across gameplay. The higher the action, the more revenue the casino generates.
Baccarat: The worst possible hand, worth zero points. It contains no face cards or 10s and is a losing hand.
Banco: The player who controls the shoe and deals cards in mini-baccarat. They go against the punters betting on hands dealt by the bank.
Banco Prime: The player closest to the dealer’s right to match the bet amount wagered by the banco if multiple punters want to bank. This determines which punter controls the bank.
Banker: The dealer position in baccarat. Players can bet on the banker’s hand winning.
Banker Bet: A specific wager with slightly better odds placed on the Banker’s hand. If the Banker’s hand wins, players who placed Banker bets are paid out, typically minus a small commission of 5%.
Banque: Another variation of baccarat where one player takes on the role of both the banker and the player, facing off against other players. This two-table version is less common than traditional Baccarat, especially in the U.S. It’s more popular in European countries.
Player: The opposing position to the banker in baccarat. Players can bet on their own hand to win.
Player Bet: The most common wager in baccarat, placed on either the player or banker hand to win the next hand. You bet either the player hand or banker hand will be closer to 9 when the hands are totaled. Relatively even odds and pays out 1:1 on the winning hand.
Tie Bet: A wager made on the player and banker hands achieving an equal total in the next round. This bet predicts that the combined points of the player hand and the banker hand will be identical, resulting in a tie. Although less frequent than betting on the player, a tie bet offers a higher payout of 8:1 due to the infrequency of ties in the game.