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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Table Stakes

A system that limits players to wagering by not allowing any player to wager more chips than they have at the table, and purchase or remove chips in the middle of a hand. This allows a player to go all in rather than being forced to fold by another player who has higher wagers than the entire stack of money or coins a second player has.

Taking the Odds

Together with Laying the Odds, the two are the main forms of gambling. Taking the Odds means placing a wager that is smaller in amount than the payoff, if indeed the wager is successful and the player wins.

Target Tournament

A type of tournament where the player(s) earn their seat by winning a satellite tournament.

Telegraph

A form of cheating where two players use a pre-determined verbal or non-verbal code in order to give information to their partner.

Telephone Support

A helpdesk telephone line used to speak directly to customer support agents who handle questions, problems or requests.

Tells

A type of behavior unique to a player's persona that will reveal information about his or her cards, whether consciously or subconsciously. They can come naturally to the player or be learned from books on the subject.

Tens or Better

Similar to the Video Poker game Jacks or Better, Tens or Better pays off for a pair of tens.

Texas Blackout

A fast-pace version of bingo, in which the first number called is followed by erasing all the numbers on the bingo cards, by all the players, which are accordingly odd or even. For example, if an odd number is drawn, then all odd numbers are Wild Numbers and can be covered. The game continues as a Blackout game.

Texas Holdem

A poker game where players are dealt 2 personal cards facedown, with 5 cards being dealt up and accessible to the whole table. The goal is to combine any of their 2 cards with the shared cards in order to make the highest ranking 5 card combination.

Three of a Kind

Any hand that contains three cards of the same value. It ranks below a straight and above two pair.

Tight

Describing a player or or table where one or more of the players frequently folds even when it's advisable to stay in the pot.

Time

Used in games where there is a time limit on how long a player can make a decision on what to do, this is a request to the dealer to keep track of the time. Example: "Dealer - the player is slowing down game play --time please" or "This is a difficult decision to make dealer. Time please." It is also used as a fee collection period, where there is no rake in place.

Time Out

Used in timed limit games, this is the point a player has reached when they have no more time to act.

Toke

Used in land based casinos or cardrooms, this is a tip given to an employee of the establishment, usually the dealer. Can also be called a 'zuke.'

Token

Also called a chip, it represents a certain monetary amount.

Totals

Sports bet on whether the combined number of points or goals scored by the two teams will be over/under a given mark.

Tournament

A multi-player competition for a set duration of time. Tournament rules often vary considerably from regular play.

Poker tournaments, for example, are such a multi-player setting, in which only one player walks away with any chips, though other top finishers may be compensated with prizes. No cashing out is allowed in the middle of the game and the chips are good only for the tournament, not for any other casino games.

Tournament Chips

Instead of having a cash value, these are chips used to keep score in a tournament.

Trap

A move where a player convinces the other player(s) that they have a weak hand, therefore ensuring the other player bets and increases the amount in the pot to be won.

Turn Down

Also called folding, this is where the player turns down all their cards and is out of the game.

Twist

Used in stud or draw games, this is an extra card dealt to a player in exchange for another addition to the pot.

Two Pair

A hand that contains both a kicker and two pairs of two cards with the same value. Example: K-K-7-7-2. Ranks below a three of a kind and above a pair. In the case where more than one player has two pair, the winner is the one with the highest pair. If their highest pairs are also the same, then the second highest pair is ranked and if necessary, then the kicker is ranked until a winner has been found.

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Visit the Industry Timeline for a crash course on the history of the online gambling world, and of our site.

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