Casino Terminology
Dealer: A dealer, also known as a croupier, is the man or woman who conducts the table games, following procedures, and ensuring that all guests comply with the procedures and rules of that game.
Dual Rate: This is basically a dealer who is training to be a supervisor. The dealer can be scheduled as a floor supervisor or as a dealer.
Floor Supervisor: This is the person who oversees a section of games, anywhere from one to eight or more depending on the casino and number of table games.
Their responsibilities include, but are not limited to:
Tracking money and checks, both coming and going.
Watching dealers for mistakes and/or not following procedures.
Watching players, making sure they're not cheating or breaking any rules set out by either the casino and/or gaming.
Resolving any disputes, or errors.
Handling challenging guests such as drunks, violence, or anything else that may pose a threat.
These are just a small number of tasks handled by a supervisor. They do much more, believe me.
Pit Boss: This is the name for a shift manager back in the old days. They monitored all of the floor supervisors, players and dealers.
Shift Manager: This is one who monitors all of the floor supervisors, players and dealers. They keep immaculate track of the number of decks of cards in each pit, do the scheduling for their shift. They have the authority to 86 someone, or any other disciplinary measures needed against a guest or staff member. They do a lot more, most of which I'm not aware of and are above my pay grade.
Shoe: This is a device that is made of heavy-duty acrylic that is used for dealing blackjack and some other games. There is a weighted wedge in the back that pushes the cards to the front, allowing a dealer to pull a card out of the shoe. They are used for six, eight, or sometimes, two decks.
Cut Card: This is a solid -color, plastic card. It is used to cover the bottom of the deck(s) and another to indicate the end of the shoe or deck, whichever is being dealt. When a dealer shuffles, they place a cut card on the bottom and then hand one to a player to cut, which means putting the cut card somewhere in the middle of the cards to indicate where the cards are separated.
Discard Rack: This is where the dealer puts the burn card at the beginning of a shoe, single or double deck blackjack game, and where they put cards not needed, such as folded hands, busted hands in blackjack, and the remaining cards after a hand.
Pitch: This is when the dealer deals the cards by hand as opposed to getting the cards from a shoe. They hold the deck(s) in their hand and pitch(toss) each card to the player(s) at the table. In a format like this, either one or two decks are used. Two decks are also known as a double-deck.
Hit: In blackjack, this is when a player wants to draw another card to improve their hand. If the card puts them over 21, they bust, thus losing the hand.
Double-Down: In blackjack, this is when a player can put a bet, equal to their original bet and takes one card-good or bad. If they win the hand, they get paid for all the money wagered. If not, they lose it all or push. Some double downs are better than others. If you're not sure, ask your dealer.
Stand: In blackjack, this is when a player doesn't want to take any more cards. They stay with whatever they have. The dealer has rules on whether or not they hit or stand and must follow those rules.
Split: In blackjack, this is when a player gets two cards of equal value. They have the option of making two hands out of those two cards. They do this by placing a bet equal to their original. The dealer separates the two cards and deals one card to the first card, and the hand is played as normal. If that card is one of equal value, the player may split again. Generally, players can split up to four times. If a player splits aces, they only get one card on each ace. Some casinos will allow aces to be split again, but not all of them do. If you're not sure, ask your dealer.
Break: In blackjack, this is when a player or dealer goes over 21. If the player does, they lose their bet. If the dealer does, the players left in the hand win automatically. This is also known as a bust.
Push: This is a tie. A player's hand is the same value as the dealer's. The player neither gets paid, nor loses their bet.
Insurance: In blackjack, if a dealer has an ace as his/her up-card and a player has a blackjack, they're offered even money. This means the dealer will pay an amount equal to their bet whether they have a blackjack or not. If the player declines even money and the dealer has a blackjack, it's a push. If they decline even money and the dealer doesn't have a blackjack, the player gets paid odds on the blackjack which is usually either 6 to 5 or 3 to 2.
Even Money: In blackjack, when a dealer has an ace as his/her up-card and a player has a blackjack, they're offered even money. This means the dealer will pay an amount equal to their bet whether they have a blackjack or not. If the player declines even money and the dealer has a blackjack, it's a push. If they decline even money and the dealer doesn't have a blackjack, the player gets paid odds on the blackjack which is usually either 6 to 5 or 3 to 2.
Surrender: This is an option, in some blackjack games, that allows a player to forfeit half their bet and not play the hand. Generally, this is not a good idea. If you're not sure, ask your dealer.
Checks Play: When a player makes a bet of $100 or more, the dealer calls out checks play, alerting their supervisor of it. There are a number of reasons for this, but they are beyond the scope of this page.
Clearing Your Hands: Whenever a dealer comes to or leaves a table, they must clap their hands together to show surveillance that nothing is in them. They must also do this when they handle cash or checks, and touch their faces or body, among other reasons. These are just the main reasons for the move.
Color Coming in: Whenever a player leaves a table, they color up. When this happens, the dealer calls out color coming in. It is not in any way, shape, or form, a racist comment. I have seen this happen when a young, African American walked to the table as a dealer called this out. He accused the dealer of being racist and made other derogatory remarks to him. When the dealer explained what it meant, the guy was embarrassed.
Coloring Up: Whenever a player leaves a table, they give their checks to the dealer in exchange for checks of a larger value.
Crossfire: This is when dealers turn toward each other and talk. It is against casino policy because it takes their eyes off of their rack and is unprofessional.
Cut Checks: This is when a dealer has a number of checks in their hand. They place a certain number of them, such as four or five, next to each other, until the checks in their hand are on the table.
Hand Signal: This is when the player indicates whether they want a card or stand, among other reasons. In blackjack, a player taps the table if they want a hit and waves their hand if they want to stay. There are other signals. Depending on the type of blackjack game, such as shoe or pitch, the signals change. If you're not sure, ask your dealer.
Relief Dealer: This is the dealer who taps out another dealer to go on a break. The relief dealer usually goes to three different games, dealing for twenty minutes on each game. That dealer then goes on break, then starts back with the first game.
Road Map: This is a piece of paper, usually kept at the podium, that has a list of all the dealers and which game they're on. It is used when dealers are on a rubber band (Defined below) or tables close and dealers are shuffled around.
String: This is a group of three games, sometimes two. The relief dealer goes on break right away, then taps out each dealer in that string for a twenty-minute break. After the dealer on the last game in the string returns from break, the relief dealer has dealt for an hour -3 games, twenty minutes each. The relief then goes on break, and then starts back at the first game in the string.
Rubber Band: This is when dealers are not on strings. Their names are listed on the road map. The dealers on the top of the list go on break first. When they come back from break, the next group of dealers on the list go on break, etc. Many times, dealers are on strings, then when games closed, they shift to a rubber band until the end of the shift.
Roll the Shift: This is the time between shifts when supervisors update the system to the new shift. That entails counting each rack, making sure the correct amounts are there. If not, they make the needed adjustments, so the new shift starts balanced. Security comes around and switches out the drop boxes, so the casino knows how much each shift dropped. Once the shift is rolled, supervisors go around and change the cards, if needed. Then, they go around and check if any of the games need a fill.
Fill: This is when a supervisor orders more checks for a game. Security brings the correct number of checks, and the dealer places them in their rack. The supervisor checks for accuracy both on paper and in the system. If anything is wrong-the amount is incorrect, or security accidentally brought it to the wrong game-the supervisor declines the fill and security has to go back and fix the error.
Rolling: When a dealer finishes a shoe and reshuffles, the cards are in a tall stack. When that dealer rolls the decks onto their long side, they call out rolling to alert the supervisor that they are in that step of the shuffle procedure. The supervisor usually walks over to watch and make sure the dealer doesn't make any mistakes with the rest of the process. Some casinos don't require a dealer to call this out when rolling.
Size Into: This is when a dealer takes some checks in their hand and pushes them into another stack, puts their finger on the stack they're pushing into and pulling the remaining checks from the top, leaving the same number next to the ones they pushed into. This can be done when cutting checks or paying a bet.
Tap Out: This is when a dealer relieves another dealer. They walk behind the dealer, to their left and tap the dealer on the left shoulder.
Walking Your Game: This is when a dealer moves their body to the left or right of the table as they conduct the game. This is to ensure they can see everything going on at the table. It allows them to make sure nobody is cheating or doing anything else they're not supposed to be doing.
Buy-In: This is the amount of money or checks that a player starts with when they sit down at a table.
Checks: Commonly called chips, there is a very distinct difference between the two. Checks are the ones a player can take to the cage and exchange for cash.
Chip: Like checks, chips are used for placing bets. Unlike checks, chips have no value to them and cannot be taken to the cage and exchanged for cash. Some examples of chips are the promo chips, chips used on roulette-the colored ones like pink, different blues, etc.
Capping a Bet: This is when a player adds checks to their original bet after they see either their cards and/or the dealers and know they have a winning hand. It is something done by cheaters and is illegal. People do go to jail for this. Please don't let that be you.
Pinching: This is the opposite of capping. Instead of adding more money onto your bet when you think you're going to win, you remove money from your bet when you think you're going to lose. This is also illegal, and you can go to jail for it.
Card Counting: This is done in blackjack where advantage (High-level) players keep a running count of the high cards and low cards that are dealt. Card counting is one thing but being able to adjust your bet accordingly and not get caught-that's another. It is not illegal, but if you are caught, you will be banned from playing blackjack at that casino.
Comp: Short for complimentary. These are rewards for play and are calculated differently between slots, table, and other games. Slots are given points and table games credits are awarded based on how long you play and your average bet.
Dead Game: This is any live table, meaning not closed, that doesn't have any players.
Dice: This is another name for craps due to the game using dice.
Early Out: There is a sheet that dealers can sign if they want to go home early. By signing, they are not guaranteed to get out. When tables close and there are extra dealers, anyone who signed the EO list goes home from the first to sign to the last. When a dealer does go home, they do not incur any points for attendance or any other disciplinary action. Also, they only get paid for the amount of time they work. Sometimes a dealer is even sent home before the shift starts. If no one signs the list and games close, dealers can be forced out, which means made to go home, even if they don't want to. This is usually done by seniority. The lowest in seniority will be the first to be forced out.
Early Push: This not the same as an early out. If a dealer gets tapped out for break twenty minutes before their shift ends, they can punch out and go home. They still get paid for eight hours because breaks are paid and some, not all, casinos won't make a dealer wait twenty minutes to punch out.
First Base: This is the first player from the left of the dealer. It doesn't necessarily mean that the player is in the first seat. In a game that's dealt left to right, which is the vast majority of games, it's the first person to get a card and/or make a decision on their hand.
Third Base: This is the opposite of first base. It is the last player before the dealer at the table to get cards and/or make a decision on their hand. In blackjack, this is considered the most important seat because the decisions that player makes can make or break a table.
George: This is a player who tips very generously. A dealer's paycheck is comprised of at least 70% of their tips. Usually, a dealer wants 10% of a player's winnings as a tip. Me personally, and this is even before I became a dealer, I tip first based on performance. If a dealer is nice and interacts with the players, they'll get something from me whether I win or lose, but more if I'm winning. If they're like a statue and all they do is deal the cards, or are rude and/or stand-offish, they won't get anything from me whether I win or lose. Generally, I try to stay away from those dealers.
Stiff: This is the polar opposite of a George. This player either doesn't tip at all, or tips very little in comparison to how much they've won. A player once won a jackpot in a game called Caribbean Stud. He won $275,000,00. Not only did he not give the dealer a penny for a tip, but he also didn't even say thank you. That's the consummate stiff and there's no reason for that. Let's say that if you win $500 and only give the dealer a couple dollars, that's the equivalent of giving a waiter or waitress a penny for giving you great service.
Up Card: This is in blackjack. When the dealer has dealt all the cards, they turn one up on top of the other. That card is called the up card.
Hole Card: This is in blackjack. When the dealer has dealt all the cards, they turn one up on top of the other. The card that is on the bottom, unexposed is the hole card. There was a game, and I don't think that it's around anymore, that was called double exposure blackjack. In this game, the dealer's cards were all dealt face up.
Marker: This is basically a loan. The casino loans checks, based on credit, to a player. How much they can get depends on their credit limit with that casino. The player signs a paper stating they will pay back the amount borrowed. When they do pay it back, it's called buying back the marker.
Monkey: This is called out by many players in blackjack, baccarat and other games, indicating that they want a ten, jack, queen, or king. For more on the origins of this, click here: https://www.casinocitytimes.com/frank-scoblete/article/on-the-origin-of-monkey-59432
Rack: This is where all the checks are kept on the table. It is located in front of the dealer.
Nickel: This is the term for a check worth $5.00.
Quarter: This is the term for a check worth $25.00, not the coin.
Past Posting: This is a late bet. When a dealer either calls out and/or signals no more bets and a player tries to place a bet anyway, that is past posting. Sometimes, a player isn't paying attention and does this. That's okay if the dealer catches it. You won't be allowed to place the bet, but you also won't get in trouble for it. A player who does this because of information that they've learned about the outcome, is illegal.
Pip: These are the symbols on a card that indicate the suit and the value of that card. on a card. The cards valued from one to ten are called pip cards and have the number of pips as the value of the card. If the card is a five, it will have five pips.
Pit: This is the section of the casino where the table games are located. Depending on how many table games the casino offers determines how many pits there are. The bigger the casino, the more pits they tend to have. Each pit has a varying number of tables and games. A pit with craps tables can be called the dice pit. A pit with blackjack tables can be referred to as a blackjack pit.
Things you may or may not know:
You enter a bustling casino, ready to try your hand at a table game. The atmosphere is filled with excitement as the dealers swiftly shuffle the cards and announce the bets. The supervisors oversee the games, keeping a watchful eye on the players and ensuring fair play. As you take a seat, you hear unfamiliar terms being thrown around – "hit," "stand," "double down." The intensity in the room grows as the players strategize and make their moves. Although you may not be familiar with all the jargon, you feel the adrenaline surge through your veins. The sound of clinking chips and the cheers of winning hands create an electrifying ambiance. As the night unfolds, you embrace the thrill of the casino and eagerly anticipate your own moment of triumph.
Blackjack Terminology:
Table Games Procedures:
General Terminology:
Team Terminology:
The terms listed below are ones you may or may not have heard or maybe even heard a different variation of it. Some of them, such as monkey, have a variety of theories as to their origin. In my 23 years+ of experience in gaming, these are the definitions as I know them. The definitions are not meant to insult anyone or be derogatory in any way. our text here...
General Terminology:
Checks Play:
Clearing Your Hands:
Color Coming in:
Coloring Up:
Crossfire:
Cut Checks:
Hand Signal:
Relief Dealer:
Road Map:
String:
Roll the Shift:
Rolling:
Size Into:
Tap Out:
Walking Your Game: