The world of online gambling comes loaded with its own extensive vocabulary full of specialized slang and terminology that can be confusing or intimidating to new players. Mastering some key gambling glossary terms before you hit the virtual felt gives you a solid foundation to build your skills and confidence.
This guide will decode 37 essential words and phrases for fledgling online gamblers at 21bit. Consider it your primer to talk, understand, and win like a seasoned pro.
Getting Started with Key Online Gambling Terms
When you’re new to online gambling, even common vocabulary can mystify you at first. Before you put real money on the line, get familiar with these fundamental terms.
Players
Fish – A weak or unskilled player who becomes prey for more experienced opponents. You might hear them called “donkeys” or “donk bets” too.
Shark – A dangerous predator at the tables – an extremely competent, crafty player who sniffs out weaker competition.
Whale – A high roller who wagers large sums of money frequently. Casinos roll out the red carpet service for these heavy hitters.
Reading the Board
Flop – In card games like Texas Hold’em that deal community cards all players use, the flop means the first three cards turned face up on the table.
River – The final community card revealed in Hold’em and other flop games. Players must make the best 5-card hand using their hole cards and the board.
Tell – Subtle but revealing body language or playing patterns that offer clues about a player’s hand or strategy. Spotting opponents is a big skill.
Making Bets
Ante – A mandatory opening bet all players must contribute before being dealt cards to build the pot.
Blinds – Forced bets that two players must post before seeing their cards to catalyze action. Common in Hold’em and Omaha.
Check – When it’s your turn to act pre-flop or on the flop, checking declines to make a bet but keeps you in the hand.
Poker Vocabulary 101
While you can gamble on all kinds of card and casino games online, poker remains one of the most popular choices for its competitive spirit and skill factor. These key terms often come up for new poker players:
All About Position
Early Position (EP) – Being one of the first players to act pre-flop when there’s been no chance to gather information. Tougher spot.
Late Position (LP) – Getting to act after more players have tipped their hand so you can make informed decisions. Much more preferable.
Out of Position – When you must act before players who have more knowledge of the strength of hands in play. Significant disadvantage.
In Position – Just the opposite – when later action allows you to react to opponents based on more available information.
Betting with Purpose
Continuation Bet (C-bet) – Making a standard bet on the flop after raising preflop to represent strength and continue aggression. Very common move.
Slow Play – Underplaying a strong hand on earlier streets by checking or calling instead of betting to lure opponents into making worse hands that you can extract more value from later. Advanced play that carries risk if you don’t nail the timing.
Squeeze Play – When a player re-raises after one player has already raised and perhaps gotten callers pre-flop. Forces middle players to consider folding hands they might pay too much to see.
Going All-In
Coin Flip – When two players get all their chips in the middle preflop with hands that each have close to a 50% chance of winning. Classic race scenario.
Cooler – When a strong hand runs into an even bigger monster hand, forcing a player to get their entire stack in the middle from an unfortunate situation that couldn’t easily be avoided.
Other Gambling Games: Key Terms
While poker dominates the online gambling landscape these days, you’ll also find all types of card games, slots, and other casino action on the internet. Here are some important words that come up:
Blackjack Basics
Hard Hand – Any blackjack hand that does not contain an Ace being counted as 11 is called a Hard hand. These hands have no flexibility for the player to change their value.
Soft Hand – When a blackjack hand contains an Ace counted as 11 instead of 1, it creates a Soft hand. This gives the player flexibility to change later decisions.
Insurance – A side bet in blackjack you can make when the dealer shows an Ace. You’re betting the dealer has a natural blackjack. Pays 2:1 but is rarely a good wager.
Rolling the Dice with Craps
Point – The number rolled on a come out roll. To win a Pass Line bet, you need to re-roll this Point number before a 7. Make the key target number.
Stickman – The casino employee who controls the Craps table with a stick used to move the dice around. They call out roll results with a signature style.
Buy Bets – Wagers that let craps players bet on specific Point numbers for more potential profit if those numbers hit. Require an additional fee or “buying” the bet.
Conclusion
So whether you feel like bluffing your buddies in some Hold’em, rolling hot on the craps table, or spinning slots, walk into any online casino with confidence now that you can talk the talk. Use this gambling glossary as a quick reference to master the lingo.
It may feel intimidating at first, but a few key phrases unlock everything. Before you know it, you’ll be yelling “Fish on a heater!” and “Ship the whole enchilada!” with the best of ’em.
Good luck out there!
