Glossary

The Gambling Dictionary

Entering an online casino, a poker room or any other Internet gambling site is like crossing into a new world in many ways. Although no passport needs to be stamped and even currency does not need to be converted, there is a new lingo to learn. Gambling terms, professional vocabulary, insider references and technical terminology are all listed in this section. Find the meaning of a new term you learn, scan for new terms you didn't know exist, or sort via the advanced tag search option for a variety of convenient browsing options.

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Sandbag

A strategy where the player will indicate that their hand is weaker than it really is, in the hopes that it will encourage the other players to bet aggressively.

Save Bets

Also known as push bets, it is an agreement between players to return the money that each person won to the person who bet the money in the first place. It ensures no one inside the agreement is competing against each other.

Scarne Cut

As opposed to a traditional cutting of the deck, this cut involves pulling a group of cards from the middle and then placing them on top.

Scoop

To win both the high and low portions of the pot in a high-low game. It happens when the player has the best high or low hand in play or when the player wins the high hand but no one else is eligible to compete for the low hand due to stated restrictions.

Scramble

A way of completely randomizing the deck by placing all cards face down and then mixing them together before piling back into a deck formation.

Seat Charge

Used instead of a rake, this is a fee collected by the establishment based on the length of time player or the number of hands played from the player.

Secondary Jackpot

These slot machine jackpots are hit more frequently than primary jackpots and do not payout such large prizes.

See

Calling or matching all bets made previously without raising anything. Example "I see your $50".

Semi-Bluff

Wagering aggressively with a moderately good but unlikely to win in a showdown hand. It is intended to cause other players to fold while still having the possibility to win.

Seven-Out

When a player rolls a seven in craps before the point was rolled again, the player loses and is out.

Shark

A highly skilled player who intends to decieve. It is also a loans person who provides black market loans with high interest.

Shooter

The person rolling the dice in Craps.

Shootout

A tournament where multiple tables have players stay at the same table until every table has a winner, then each of those table winners compete against each other to determine the final winner.

Short

Traders sell currencies they think will go down. You are 'short' in a currency you are selling.

Short Call

A wager that is all-in because the player has insufficient funds to match any opponents bets, raises and reraises.

Short Pair

In a game that requires a value to be opened, this is a pair whose value is lower than needed to be able to place the first wager.

Showdown

The conclusion of a poker game when active players show their cards and reveal the winner of the game and the pot.

Side Pot

Separate from the main pot, this is where certain player(s) have not contributed and they are therefore not eligible to win. Occurs when a player goes all-in and the opponents continue to wager more than the all-in player has.

Sign-up Bonus

Used by online casinos and poker rooms, this is a promotion which tempts visitors to make their first real money deposit.

Single

As the name suggests, nothing complicated is meant by this term. A single is a simple bet, also called straight bet, on only one event or selection.

Single Limit

Used in draw games, this is a fixed limit that does not increase after the draw.

Sit-and-go Backgammon Tournament

Backgammon tournaments that begin only after a certain number of players have joined.

Slot

Leaving a single checker on the backgammon board, planning or hoping to cover it in the near future.

Slots

Slots, or Slot machines, are gambling machines that operate by inserting coins into a narrow opening and pulling on a lever, or in online Slot machines simply pressing a button. Slot machines are simple to operate and little strategy can be applied.

When at the Slot machines, you are in the hands of luck. As such, Slot machines are arguably the simplest casino game available and one of the most popular ones too.

Small Blind

Blind bets, the forced bets pre-flop, are not all equal. While the person in the first position in the game places a Small Blind, a lesser amount, the player in the second position is forced a Big Blind, larger in size.

Smooth

Used in games of lowball, this is the lowest possible kicker cards in a hand. In direct opposition to rough cards.

Snake Eyes

A dice roll of two in craps.

Snap Off

Winning a weak or decent hand by defeating a bluff, weaker hand or by receiving cards which significantly improve a player's hand.

Soft Hand

A hand in Blackjack containing an Ace that may be counted either as 1 or as 11.

A Soft 17, for example, is a hand in Blackjack that can be counted as 7 or 17 points by adding a 6 and an ace. Blackjack game rules vary in whether the dealer must hit or may stand on a Soft 17. The dealer standing is to the player's advantage.

Spanish 21

A variant of Blackjack, more liberal in its rules. One can double down any number of cards while surrendering only one wager; Spanish 21 offers special payouts for special hands of 21, such as 6-7-8 and 7-7-7; a player's Blackjack always beats the dealer's; and no 10 cards are included in the deck.

Splash the Pot

Considered bad etiquette in a land based casino, this is when a player directly puts their money or chips into the pot instead of in front of themselves or the edge of the pot. It makes hard work for the dealer as they have to confirm the correct amount going in and it slows down game play.

Split

If the cards in a hand of Blackjack are of equal value, the player can split. This results in doubling the wager and receiving each card as the first card in a new hand. This is usually limited to 2 hands, but may happen a third time as well.

Split the Blinds

Used in a multiple blinds game, this is returning the blinds to the players who posted them originally and playing a new hand, rather than continuing the current hand in play.

Sportsbook

The person, shop or website who accepts bets.

Spread Limit

A wager limit that has a minimum and maximum amount and players can choose to match the set amounts or anywhere in between.

Stack

A pile of chips that are usually separated into their common monetary value.

Stand

Stay with the current hand and be dealt no additional cards.

Stay

Remain with the current hand, the same as 'stand', and be dealt no additional cards.

Steal

A bluff; this is where a player will make a bet or raise in the hopes of convincing one or more players to fold. Usually played from the late position when the only money or chips left in the port are the antes or blinds.

Straight

A hand that contains five cards of the same suit in consecutive value. It is immediately above three of a kind and directly below a flush.

Straight Draw

In a series of five cards, this is where one card is still left to be dealt but the other four cards are in consecutive value. Example 7-8-9-10.

Straight Flush

The highest value poker hand that includes five cards of the same suit in sequence. It is a rare hand, but in case two get it, the hand ranks by the top card. An ace through 10 of the same suit cards, an especially high combination, is called a royal flush.

Straight Slots

Straight slots, in direct contrast to progressive slot games, have a set amount as the first prize. Straight slots also go by the terms 'flat tops' and 'static slots'.

String Bet

Wager made by using multiple motions to put chips into the pot. Many cardrooms forbid this type of betting.

String Raise

A raise made in the same form as a string bet is made.

Structured Limit

Like a fixed limit, all bets, raises and reraises must be made in specific amounts. Usually starts low for early rounds and gradually gets higher the more rounds are played.

Stud Poker

In this variation of poker, each player is dealt a face up card and a face down card, which only the player may look at. The one with the highest value face up card starts the betting round. Then another card is dealt face up, with a betting round following, and again until each player has four cards showing and one face down. The highest five card hand wins in the end.

Suit

Cards in a card deck come in one of four suits, or types: Clubs, Spades, Hearts and Diamonds.

Symbols

Symbols are the pictures and numbers that appear on the reels of slot machines and the objective is to stop the reels with a particular arrangement of symbols.

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Find a glossary of terms at the site's School section. At the glossary, you can find the explanation, meaning and even examples for any gambling-related term.

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