Live Casino Wordlist

New to the online casino scene in Kenya and want to get a grip on the lingo, or just need a quick refresher? You've landed in the right spot! We've put together a comprehensive glossary of casino terms just for you. Let's dive in!

A

ACS - Stands for Automatic Card Shuffler. A machine used to mix up decks of cards, mostly seen in physical casinos.

Action - This refers to the total amount of money wagered by a player over a specific period. It's how much action you've seen.

Alias - In live dealer games, you might be asked to create an 'Alias' – a nickname you'll use at the table. Pick one you like!

Android Casino - Just like iPhones, many Android users in Kenya enjoy mobile casino gaming. Most top online casinos offer dedicated apps or mobile-optimized sites for Android devices.

Ante - This is an initial bet required before a hand or round begins, commonly seen in card games like poker.

Auto-play - A handy feature on many online slots that allows the machine to spin automatically for a set number of rounds. Saves you some clicking!

Automatic Card Shuffler - As mentioned under ACS, this is a machine that shuffles one or more card decks automatically. Primarily used in land-based casinos.

Avalanche Function - Found in some modern slots, this feature causes winning symbols to disappear and new ones to fall into place, potentially leading to consecutive wins within a single round. You might find this in slots like ELK Studio's ‘Bompers’.

B

Banker - In games like Baccarat, the 'Banker' is a position that takes bets and pays winnings. It's usually managed by the dealer.

Bankroll - This is the total amount of money you've set aside for playing at online casinos in Kenya. Managing your bankroll wisely is key to a good gaming experience.

Basic Strategy (Blackjack) - In Blackjack, Basic Strategy is a mathematically proven approach that tells you the optimal move for every hand based on your cards and the dealer's upcard. Following it maximizes your Return to Player (RTP).

Bet / Wager - When you play any casino game with real money, you need to place a bet or wager. It's the stake you put on the line for a chance to win. In Kenya, this will often be in KES (Kenyan Shillings).Bet Limits - Every game has minimum and maximum bet limits. For instance, a table might have a minimum bet of KES 50 and a maximum of KES 5,000.

Bet Max - Commonly found on slot machines, this button lets you place the highest possible bet for that spin.

Betting Layout - This is the area on a gaming table where players place their chips to make their chosen bets.

Betting Limits - The minimum and maximum stakes allowed at a gaming table. Important for managing your gambling funds.

Bonus - A fantastic perk offered by online casinos in Kenya! A bonus can come as free spins, free cash, or other rewards to boost your gameplay. Many are tied to deposits, but some no-deposit bonuses are also available.

Bonus Feature - In slots, this refers to special in-game rounds or features that can lead to bigger wins. Often triggered by specific symbols.

Bonus Symbol - Landing a certain number of these symbols (usually three or more) on the reels is often the key to unlocking a slot's bonus round.

Burn Card - The first card dealt from a shuffled deck is often removed and discarded without being shown. This is to prevent any advantage from marked cards.

Bust - In Blackjack, if your hand's total exceeds 21, you 'bust' and automatically lose the round. The dealer can also bust.

C

Cage - In land-based casinos, this refers to the secure area where cash and chips are stored for transactions.

Card Counting (Blackjack) - An advanced Blackjack technique where players track the cards that have been dealt to gain an edge. This is often frowned upon in physical casinos.

Card Counting - A strategy used in some card games, notably Blackjack, to gain an advantage by tracking dealt cards.Card Shark - A highly skilled card player, often one who can take advantage of less experienced opponents.Card Sharp - Another term for a Card Shark; someone adept at card games.Card Washing - A shuffling technique where cards are spread and mixed on the table.

Cashback - A popular offer at Kenyan online casinos where you get a percentage of your net losses back. It's a great way to soften the blow of a losing session.

Cash Bonus - Bonus funds that can be withdrawn as real money once you meet the wagering requirements.

Cash Out - An option some online casinos offer to settle a bet before the event concludes, allowing you to secure winnings or cut potential losses. Common in sports betting, but sometimes seen in other games.

Cashier's Desk - In land-based casinos, this is where you exchange cash for chips or vice versa.

Chasing - This is when a player keeps betting more money after a string of losses, desperately trying to win back what they've lost. It's generally not a recommended strategy.

Chip Tray - A tray used by casino staff to hold and manage chips, coins, and tokens.

Chips - Small, coloured tokens used as currency in casinos. They represent the real money you're betting with.

Coat Tail - A player who bets on the same numbers or outcomes as a recent winner, hoping to follow their luck.

Cold Streak - When a player experiences a prolonged period of losing bets. It happens to everyone!

Comp (Complimentary) - These are freebies offered by casinos, especially to regular players. Comps can range from free drinks to bonuses, depending on your activity.

Comp Hustling - This involves players trying to get extra comps by extending their playtime or finding bonus offers.

Comp Points - Online casinos often have loyalty programs where you earn points for your wagers. These points can often be redeemed for cash, bonuses, or other rewards.

Continuous Shuffling Machine (CSM) - A machine that continuously shuffles cards, ensuring a random game. Common in many online and live card games.

Croupier - The person who manages a casino game, collects bets, and pays out winnings. Essentially, the dealer at a table game.

CSM - Abbreviation for Continuous Shuffling Machine. See above.

Cut Card - In card games, a blank card used to separate the deck at a specific point before shuffling is completed. It helps determine where the cut is made.

D

Dealer - The casino employee who oversees a game, deals cards, or spins the roulette wheel. Also known as a Croupier.

Deck Penetration - Refers to how many cards a dealer uses from a shoe before reshuffling. Higher penetration can benefit players in some games.

Deposit - Adding funds to your online casino account. Kenyan players can use various methods like MPesa, Airtel Money, bank transfers, or e-wallets.

Deposit Bonus - A bonus awarded when you make a deposit. Often a percentage match of your deposit amount, giving you extra funds to play with.

Deposit Method - The various ways you can add money to your online casino account, such as credit/debit cards, mobile money services like MPesa, or bank transfers.

Dice Control - A controversial theory suggesting players can influence dice rolls to achieve specific outcomes. Mostly relevant in craps.

Dirty Money - This slang refers to money earned by the casino from players' losses.

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.