Decode the Lingo: 20 Gambling Terms You Need To Know

Sometimes, you just scroll through Reddit threads and fail to understand what people are saying because they use all those jargon words you just don’t know. The gambling vocabulary is, indeed, rich and you may sometimes need help with it. Below is a glossary that puts together 20 must-know terms.

1. RPH

No, it’s not that we’ve misspelled RTP here. In gambling forums, you may sometimes come across RPH, which is “royalty points per hand.” This term is mainly relevant to casinos that offer loyalty programs (especially in card games like poker). Every time you play a hand, you earn royalty points based on factors such as

  • the game type
  • stakes
  • your activity level.

You can further exchange these points for rewards (e.g., bonus cash, tournament entries, etc.) or the points may unlock a new loyalty level with bigger loyalty perks for you.

2. High-Roller Bonus

This one’s for someone who likes to bet big, that is, for someone who deposits and wagers large amounts of money. In RocketPlayCasino, for example, you can get such a bonus for depositing anything over 200 euros. All in all, they give up to 1600 euros to high-rollers.

3. Reload Bonus

After your initial deposit and welcome bonus, casinos may offer additional bonuses when you top up your account. These are called reload bonuses. Usually, they include cash and/or free spins.

4. No-Wager Bonus

This is a bonus without any wagering requirements. It’s the most user-friendly casino reward (and a pretty rare one, too). The no-wager bonus is one of the few ways to play casino games truly for free. Another way is with the demo mode such as this free triple diamonds slot game.

5. KYC (Know Your Customer)

That’s the verification process. Legal casinos MUST have it. You might need to provide

  • a photo ID
  • proof of address
  • proof of payment method.

Don’t worry when they ask for it because, in fact, it’s good they have it (it means they’ve got a license, too).

6. Pass Line Bet

This one’s usually mentioned in relation to craps as it’s the basic and the most popular wager in this game. You’re betting that the person rolling the dice will win. On the first roll, you

  • win if the shooter rolls a 7 or 11
  • lose if they roll a 2, 3, or 12.

7. Video Poker

It’s poker but only partially because it has elements of slots, too. The game deals you five cards. You choose which ones to hold and discard. Then, you get new cards (to replace those you’ve discarded). Your payout is determined by the strength of your final hand.

8. Flat Bet

A flat bet means you wager the same amount on every game round, regardless of whether you win or lose. It’s a popular betting strategy.

9. Side Bet

Side bets are additional wagers you can place in some games. For example, in blackjack, you might place a side bet on whether your first two cards will be a pair. Side bets usually have higher house edges, so they’re riskier.

10. Lightning

You hear this when people are discussing live dealer games: Lightning Roulette, Lightning Blackjack, and so on. Now, “lightning” refers to random multipliers here. They are applied to certain numbers (or hands). If you bet on these numbers and win, your payout is multiplied.

11. Cold Streak

This is a period where you’re experiencing consecutive losses. It’s the opposite of a “hot streak.”

 12. Martingale System

This is a betting strategy. It suggests that if you lose, you double your bet after every loss. The idea is that this should help you recover from losses if you finally win. The wins aren’t guaranteed though.

 13. All-In

In poker, it means betting all your remaining chips on a single hand. Sometimes, you may hear “to go all-in” in relation to other games, too, meaning that you are going to spend all you have.

14. Comps

These are casino rewards. The more you play, the more comps you can earn.

 15. Tilt

These are frustration and/or confusion that cause players to make fast, often unwise decisions. This state is often triggered by a bad beat or a series of losses.

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