Casino gaming has undergone quite a transformation in the past 20 years or so. Traditionally, casinos have been presented as places of mystery and perhaps a little danger. Hollywood certainly has its part to play in perpetuating the mythology of the casino with movies like Casino Royale, Ocean’s Eleven and Molly’s Game.
Today, of course, casinos are far more accessible. Anyone can register to join an online casino, and with the exception of a few of the most exclusive private clubs, most land based casinos will let anyone join on the spot. However, stepping through the doors for the first time – whether real or virtual – can still cause some trepidation, not least because of the secret language that is spoken around the tables and the machines. Here, we provide a glossary of some of the most common terms to get you off to a flying start.
Ante
An initial bet that must be made to initiate a game. It’s common in games like 3-card poker. You pay the ante, in order to be dealt your cards. Then after looking at your hand you decide whether to “up the ante” by doubling it in order to play, or to cut your losses, throw in your cards and lose the ante.
No deposit bonus
Online casinos offer a range of bonuses and promos to tempt you in, and one of the most tempting is the no deposit bonus. It simply means a sum of money that is added to your gambling account when you join. It is added without you having to add any of your own and it’s effectively free gambling money. Just be aware that a no deposit bonus will have a wagering requirement and probably other conditions attached, so always read the small print.
Bankroll
This is the money you have in your hand that is set aside for your gambling. It’s important to keep track of your bankroll, and also to accept that some days, when things go bad, you must just walk away and hope your luck will be better next time.
House Edge
The advantage the casino has over the player in a specific game. This is the difference between the odds paid out and the true odds of winning, and it is how the casino makes money to stay in business. The house edge in a single zero roulette wheel, for example, is 2.6 percent.
RTP
The return to player is the flip side to the house edge. A game with a 2.6 percent house edge has an RTP of 97.4 percent. It means that for every $100 that is wagered on that particular game, the machine pays out $97.40 on average – sometimes it will be more and sometimes less, but over time, it will zero in on that figure.
Wagering requirement
Bonuses and especially no deposit bonuses, come with a wagering requirement. This states that your “free money” and whatever winnings it yields, must be re-wagered a set number of times before you can withdraw the winnings as cash. For example, if you are given $20 and the wagering requirement is x50, you must place $1,000 in wagers before you can cash out.
