Casino Glossary

• Outside Numbers

  Craps

  An expression for 4, 5, 9 and 10, as opposed to the inside numbers (5, 6, 8 and 9).

• S17

  Blackjack

  Code that indicates the dealer stands on all hands totaling 17. This includes soft 17, e.g. A6. This rule favors the player.

• Straight

  Poker

  Five cards which are in sequence by rank and not all of the same suit. E.g, 76543.

• Flush

  PokerVideo Poker

  A hand where all the cards are of the same suit.

• Mystery Jackpot

  Slots

  A random jackpot that can be won regardless of whether the spin is otherwise a winning or losing one.

• Short/Partial Pay Tables

  Video Poker

  A payout schedule that is unfavorable to the player, i.e. pays less than full pay ones.

• On tilt

  Casino

  
  

  Tilt is a poker term for frustration. A player who loses control of their emotions (usually after losing badly), becomes aggressive towards the fellow players and bets wildly is said to be "on tilt".  

  Placing an opponent on tilt or dealing with being on tilt oneself is one of the crucial aspects of poker. Some players deliberately choose the tactics of placing the opponents on tilt by pretending to be drunk, annoying the players by making strange noises or stupid comments, blaming the players for bad hands, etc. In theory, this tactics is supposed to have monetary positive expectation as the players on tilt tend to play poorly. Poker experts recognize the situation when they are close to being on tilt and try to avoid it. For the new player, a skill to minimize being on tilt is one of the most important improvements that can be made in play.

  Examples:

  After losing the third hand in a raw, John went on tilt and got his whole bankroll taken.

  When I feel close to being on tilt, I quit the game and go home.

   

• Press a Bet

  Casino

  Increase the amount of a bet, especially in craps.

• Cold

  Description of a player who is losing a lot, or a machine or table where the players are losing.

  Antonym: Hot

• Blackjack

  Blackjack

  An ace and a face card or 10, dealt as the first two cards to a player or the dealer. An unbeatable hand that pays 3 to 2 to the player (as long as the dealer doesn't also have a blackjack).