Live Casino Wordlist

New to the casino scene in Zimbabwe and need to get a grip on the lingo, or just want a quick refresher? You've landed in the right spot! We've gathered all the essential casino terms you need to know, right here for our Zimbabwean players.

A

ACS - Short for Automatic Card Shuffler.

Action - This refers to the total amount of money a player wagers over a given period.

Alias - In live dealer games, you might need to fill in a name to play. You can pick an Alias of your choice.

Android Casino - With Android phones so popular in Zimbabwe, most online casinos ensure their mobile games are fully compatible.

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

Auto-play - A handy feature on many slot machines that lets you set a predetermined number of spins to play automatically.

Automatic Card Shuffler - A device that shuffles one or more decks of cards automatically. You'll find these more in physical casinos.

Avalanche function - Some slot games feature an avalanche function where winning symbols vanish and new ones tumble down, potentially creating more wins within the same round. You might see this in slots like ELK Studio's Bompers.

B

Banker - Usually the dealer, responsible for managing bets and payouts.

Bankroll - The amount of money you set aside specifically for gambling.

Basic Strategy (Blackjack) - In Blackjack, this is the mathematically optimal way to play every hand based on your cards and the dealer's upcard. It's the foundation for maximising your RTP. Learn more about Blackjack here.

Bet / Casino - To play any casino game with real money, you need to place a bet. This is the action of gambling money on an outcome. For example, you might bet on a certain number, a colour, or a player's hand. Bet limits - Every casino game has bet limits, meaning there's a minimum and maximum amount you can wager. For instance, in a game of Blackjack, you might find limits of, say, $5 minimum to $500 maximum.

Bet Max - On slot machines, this button lets you place the highest possible wager in a single spin.

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

Betting Limits - The minimum and maximum stakes permitted at any given gaming table.

Bonus - A bonus is a special offer or perk from a casino. Bonuses can give you free spins or extra cash to play with, enhancing your gaming experience. Many online casinos in Zimbabwe offer various types of bonuses, often tied to deposits, but sometimes available as no-deposit offers.

Bonus Feature - An exciting element within a slot game. Activating a bonus game or feature often unlocks special ways to win.

Bonus symbol - To trigger a bonus mode in a slot, you typically need to land at least three bonus symbols on the reels.

Burn Card - The first card dealt from a shuffled deck, which is then discarded without being used in play. It's often done to ensure fairness.

Bust - In Blackjack, the aim is to get as close to 21 as possible without going over. If your hand total exceeds 21, you 'bust' and lose the round.

C

Cage - In land-based casinos, this is where money is securely stored, much like a vault.

Card counting (Blackjack) - A more advanced Blackjack strategy where players track the cards dealt to estimate the probability of remaining cards. This can give players an edge over the house.

Card Counting - A tactic often used in Blackjack to gain an advantage.
Card Shark - Someone who's exceptionally skilled at card games, often winning consistently against less experienced players.
Card Sharp - Another term for a skilled card player.
Card Washing - The act of spreading out cards on a table in a sweeping motion to shuffle them.

Cashback - A popular feature with many online casinos in Zimbabwe where you get a portion of your losses back. It's a great way to reduce risk.

Cash Bonus - Extra winnings that can be withdrawn once you meet the casino's wagering requirements.

Cash Out - The option to end a bet before the final outcome is known, allowing you to secure winnings or cut potential losses.

Cashier’s Desk - The place in a casino where you can exchange money for chips or cash out winnings.

Chasing - When a player keeps betting in an attempt to recover lost money after a series of losses.

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

Chips - Small, coloured tokens used as currency within a casino.

Coat Tail - A player who bets on the same numbers or outcomes as a previous winner, hoping to repeat their success.

Cold Streak - Experiencing a long run of bad luck or losing bets.

Comp Complimentary - Perks offered by casinos to reward players. Comps can vary based on your playing time, bets, and game choice. Examples include free drinks, meals, or even room upgrades in land-based venues.

Comp Hustling - A player who tries to get more comps than they're entitled to, perhaps by lingering longer or searching for unclaimed bonuses.

Comp Points - In online casinos, these are points earned through gameplay that can often be redeemed for bonus cash or other rewards.

Continuous Shuffling Machine - A machine designed for continuous shuffling of cards, often used in live dealer games.

Croupier - Another term for the dealer; the casino employee who manages the game and handles bets.

CSM - Abbreviation for Continuous Shuffling Machine.

Cut Card - A blank card inserted into a deck after shuffling to indicate where the cut should be made, often used in card games.

D

Dealer - The casino employee who runs the game at a table, dealing cards or managing spins.

Deck Penetration - In card games, this refers to how many cards from a deck are used before the dealer reshuffles.

Deposit - Adding funds to your online casino account. This is typically done using methods like mobile money, bank transfers, or cards.

Deposit Bonus - A common online casino offer where you receive bonus funds or free spins when you make a deposit into your account.

Deposit Method - The various ways you can fund your online casino account, such as using local mobile money services, bank transfers, or cards.

Dice Control - A debated theory suggesting players can influence dice rolls to achieve specific outcomes. It's more commonly discussed in relation to physical dice games.

Dirty Money - The money a casino earns from players' losing bets.

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.