Roulette Vocabulary 4,6/5 1964 votes
An independent and uncensored Roulette Forum community to discuss Roulette Systems, Strategy, Advantage Play, and more. Roulette Vocabulary and Jargon. How to pronounce roulette. How to say roulette. Listen to the audio pronunciation in the Cambridge English Dictionary. Promotional money used by a casino to entice new players in. For example, the £1000 Bonus From Betway. Covering a block of numbers on the roulette betting area. Note- this does not mean that the numbers are in a block on the wheel. Card Roulette is a variant that uses a standard pack of playing cards. Roulette is a gambling game, where a little ball rolls around a wheel and people bet on what number it will land on. Outside a casino, roulette can refer to an unnecessarily dangerous gamble.
Although roulette is a fairly simple game to play, there are dozens of different terms that are used in roulette that you may not be familiar with. These roulette terms appear again and again in writings about roulette, and you’ll also hear many of them when you’re at the roulette table.
Roulette has a long history and has been the subject of many myths and legends, so it’s no surprise that there is a lot of jargon and slang associated with the game. If you take a look at the site, you’ll soon get to grips with it, but if you need a quick introduction to the more common terms you’ll come across, then have a read through our glossary of terms.
Action
Being in a position to bet, e.g. in the Action. Or the total amount bet over a certain period.
Agent
An agent works with the croupier to cheat the casino on an “inside job”,
All-In
When a player bets his whole pot on one bet.
American Roulette
Also known as Double Zero Roulette. A variant with 2 zero pockets, a “0” and a “00”. The house edge in American Roulette is higher than in European roulette. Click here to find out why.
Ball Track
Or Back Track. The rim on the wheel where the ball is spun.
Biased Wheel
A wheel in a land-based casino or live roulette studio that is not balances and may have a skew to certain “hot zones”.
Roulette Bonus
Promotional money used by a casino to entice new players in.
For example, the £1000 Bonus From Betway.
Block Bet
Covering a block of numbers on the roulette betting area. Note- this does not mean that the numbers are in a block on the wheel.
Card Roulette
Card Roulette is a variant that uses a standard pack of playing cards with 2 jokers. The house edge is between European and American roulette.
Chip
Roulette chips are different from normal chips. They are not marked and come in different colours and usually come in one denomination, eg $10. This is to help the croupier work out whose chips are whose. The Ohio roulette Scam made use of this practice to con casinos out of their money.
Cold Numbers
Numbers that haven’t come up for at least 37 spins. Also Cold Table- where the house is winning.
Column Bet
A bet that covers almost one third of the wheel and which pays out 2-1.
Comp
When a casino gives yo something for free, like a suite or a free bonus in the case of online casinos.
Corner Bet
A bet on four numbers- your chip is placed at the corner of the numbers- this bet pays 8-1, with a 10.8% probability of winning on European Roulette. Also Carre in French roulette.
Croupier
The person who takes the bets, spins the wheel and pays out the winnings. French for dealer.
Call Bets
More exotic bets such as the Voisins Du Zero bet. So called, because you “call” them out at a casino, usually when the wheel is spinning. Mostly made up of Sector Bets.
Dead Table
An open table with no players.
Dolly
This covers the winning number. It’s removed when all of the winning bets have been paid out and a new game begins.
Double Up System
The Martingale, where you double your bet after a loss.
Double Zero
A pocket you only get on American roulette wheels. European Roulette only has one zero pocket and a lower house edge.
Dozens Bet
A bet, very similar to a Column Bet. There are three dozens:1 to 12, 13 to 24 and 25 to 36.
Drop
The amount deposited by a player.
En Prison
A rule in French Roulette where, when you have placed an even-money bet and the number 0 comes up, your bet rides over to the next spin In effect, you get an extra spin. If you lose a second time, you forfeit your bet, but if you win you get your bet back (but not the winnings). This take the house edge on even money bets down to just 1.35%.
European Roulette
Uses a wheel with only one zero pocket. This variant can be hard to find in some casino in Las Vegas. You should always look for it in preference to American roulette if you are playing online.
Even Money Bet
Also known as a Flat Bet. Bets that pay out 1:1, e.g. red/black. Note- your odds aren’t 50/50 as there is the zero(s) to think about.
Eye-in-the Sky
The security cameras above the tables, the CCTVs.
Flat Betting
Betting the same amount, every spin.
French Roulette
A variant of European Roulette which may offer La Partage or the “en prison rule“. The table layout is slightly different and the names of the sectors are in French.
Five Number Bet
A bet covering the 0, 00, 1, 2 and 3. Found only in American roulette- avoid it! The odds are terrible.
Gaffed Wheel
A wheel that has been rigged by the casino.
George
A player who is a big tipper
Green Pockets
The zero and double zero slots on the roulette wheel.
Grifter
A scammer or cheater.
Grind Joint
A casino with low betting limits- more likely to be found in Downtown Las Vegas than on The Strip, for example.
Heat
Attention from the casino management if you are winning too much.
High or Low
An even money bet on all the low numbers (1-18: low) or all the high numbers (19-36).
High Roller
Someone who bets a large amount of money. Also known as a Whale.
Hold
Or the Percentage. The percentage of the Drop that the casino keeps.
Hot
On a winning streak.
Hot Numbers
Numbers that hit more frequently than they should based on probability. Also Golden Numbers.
House Edge
How much the casino expects to make, on average, on every bet, usually expressed as a percentage. Over the course of an day, the casino can run at a loss (negative house edge), but if you take an average of multiple players over an extended period of time, they would expect to see a positive House Edge or advantage.
Inside Bets
Bets made on the inside of the betting grid (as opposed to Outside Bets like red/black etc). So single number bets, corner bets etc would all count as Inside Bets.
John
A good tipper. The bathroom, WC, etc.
Line Bet
A bet on six numbers, 2 lines of 3 numbers on the betting grid. Pays out 5-1, with a 16% chance of winning.
Martingale System
A famous system where you double your bet after a losing bet to claw back into profit. Be careful with this system- can ramp up quickly.
Mucker
A second croupier on a roulette table during busy times. Her or she helps with chips and double checks the dealer’s maths and helps to pay out the winning bets.
Negative Progression
A system where you increase your bet after a loss. Examples include the Martingale, the Fibonacci and the Super Martingale.
Neighbours
A bet (normally 3 numbers) centred on one number. You can increase the amount of neighbours you want to play off each number.
Odd
A bet on all the odd numbers. Pays 1:1.
Orphans
A bet on three numbers that are close together on the wheel but not on the table layout.
Outside Bet
Anything that is not an Inside Bet. Slide your chips onto the outside of the betting grid in the marked zones. Example include dozens, columns and the even money bets like red/black, odd/even etc
Parlay or Press
To let your bet ride after a win. Leave your original bet where it is and add your winnings for the next spin.
Past Posting
This is a fraudulent way of betting after the winning number has been announced. Fraudsters with a good sleight of hand may try this. It’s highly illegal.
Pinching
Removing your chips after a losing bet. The opposite of Past Posting, also illegal
Positive Progression
A system where you increase your bets after a win to accelerate profits on winning streaks.
Red Bet
An even money Outside Bet, probably the most famous bet in roulette (“stick it all on the red). Pays 1:1.
Roulette System
A methodology of laying bets at the table. Many systems claim to improve your odds in roulette. Don’t believe the hype. Systems can be a useful way of playing to a plan, but they will not lower the house edge.
Run
A streak of events, like 4 blacks in a row, or 2 of the same dozens in a row.
Sector Bet
A group of numbers within a sector of a wheel, also called a Neighbours bet.
Section Slicing
Diving the wheel into hot and cold zones. The ultimate aim of a players trying to spot biased wheels.
Single Zero Roulette
European Roulette.
Six Line Bet
A line bet on 6 numbers (inside bet).
Split Bet
A bet on 2 numbers that sit side by side on the table.
Square or Quarter Bet
An Inside Bet on 4 numbers. Pays 8:1.
A Stack
20 chips stacked one on top of another
Straight Bet or Straight Up Bet
A Single Number Bet, pays 35:1
Street Bet
A bet numbers on the roulette betting surface is called a street. These bets pay out at 11-1 and have an 8% chance of winning. Also Trio Bet.
Surrender
Similar to en prison, where your bet rides over for another spin if the ball lands in zero when you make an even money bet, like odd/even. Played on some American Roulette wheels.
A Tom
A stingy tipper, one with mothballs in his wallet. Opposite to a George.
Toke – or Zuks
These are the dealer’s tips. Tokes go into the Toke box.
Competitions where you compete for a prize against other players (eg Unibet Roulette tourneys). The top positioned players on the leaderboard win a share of the pot.
Wager
A bet.
Visual Wheel Tracking
Measuring the spin velocity and characteristics of a roulette wheel to get an edge. This often involves computing power.
Action: Having a wager on a game.
ATS ('against the [point] spread'): If a team is 5-2 ATS, it means it has a 5-2 record against the point spread, or more commonly referred to simply as the 'spread.'
Backdoor cover: When a team scores points at the end of a game to cover the spread unexpectedly.
Bad beat: Losing a bet you should have won. It's especially used when the betting result is decided late in the game to change the side that covers the spread. Also used in poker, such as when a player way ahead in the expected win percentage loses on the river (last card).
Beard: Someone who places a wager for another person (aka 'runner').
Book: Short for sportsbook or bookmaker; person or establishment that takes bets from customers.
Bookie: A person who accepts bets illegally and charges vig.
Buying points: Some bookies or sportsbooks will allow customers to alter the set line and then adjust odds. For example, a bettor might decide he wants to have his team as a 3-point underdog instead of the set line of 2.5. He has then 'bought' half a point, and the odds of his bet will be changed.
Chalk: The favorite in the game. People said to be 'chalk' bettors typically bet the favorite.
Circle game: A game for which the betting limits are lowered, usually because of injuries and/or weather.
Closing line: The final line before the game or event begins.
Consensus pick: Derived from data accumulated from a variety of sportsbooks in PickCenter. The pick, and its percentage, provides insight as to what side the public is taking in a game.
Cover: The betting result on a point-spread wager. For a favorite to cover, it has to win by more than the spread; an underdog covers by winning outright or losing by less than the spread.
Dime: Jargon for a $1,000 bet. If you bet 'three dimes,' that means a $3,000 wager.
'Dog: Short for underdog.
Dollar: Jargon for a $100 bet. Usually used with bookies; if you bet 'five dollars,' that means a $500 wager.
Edge: An advantage. Sports bettors might feel they have an edge on a book if they think its lines aren't accurate.
Even money: Odds that are considered 50-50. You put up $1 to win $1.
Exotic: Any wager other than a straight bet or parlay; can also be called a 'prop' or 'proposition wager.'
Roulette Vocabulary Game
Favorite: The expected straight-up winner in a game or event. Depending on the sport, the favorite will lay either odds or points. For example, in a football game, if a team is a 2.5-point favorite, it will have to win by three points or more to be an ATS winner.
Fixed: A participant in a particular game who alters the result of that game or match to a completely or partially predetermined result. The participant did not play honestly or fairly because of an undue outside influence.
Futures bet: A long-term wager that typically relates to a team's season-long success. Common futures bets include betting a team to win a championship at the outset of a season, or betting whether the team will win or lose more games than a set line at the start of the season.
Halftime bet: A bet made after the first half ended and before the second half begins (football and basketball primarily). The oddsmaker generally starts with half of the game side/total and adjusts based on what happened in the first half.
Handicapper: A person trying to predict the winners of an event.
Handle: The amount of money taken by a book on an event or the total amount of money wagered.
Hedging: Betting the opposing side of your original bet, to either ensure some profit or minimize potential loss. This is typically done with futures bets, but can also be done on individual games with halftime bets or in-game wagering.
High roller: A high-stakes gambler.
Hook: A half-point. If a team is a 7.5-point favorite, it is said to be 'laying seven and a hook.'
In-game wagering: A service offered by books in which bettors can place multiple bets in real time, as the game is occurring.
Juice: The commission the bookie or bookmaker takes. Standard is 10 percent. Also called the 'vig/vigorish.'
Layoff: Money bet by a sportsbook with another sportsbook or bookmaker to reduce that book's liability.
Limit: The maximum bet taken by a book. If a book has a $10,000 limit, it'll take that bet but the book will then decide whether it's going to adjust the line before the bettor can bet again.
Lock: A guaranteed win in the eyes of the person who made the wager.
Middle: When a line moves, a bettor can try to 'middle' a wager and win both sides with minimal risk. Suppose a bettor bets one team as a 2.5-point favorite, then the line moves to 3.5 points. She can then bet the opposite team at 3.5 and hope the favorite wins by three points. She would then win both sides of the bet.
Money line (noun), money-line (modifier): A bet in which your team only needs to win. The point spread is replaced by odds.
Mush: A bettor or gambler who is considered to be bad luck.
Nickel: Jargon for a $500 bet. Usually used with bookies; if you bet 'a nickel,' that means a $500 wager.
Oddsmaker (also linemaker): The person who sets the odds. Some people use it synonymous with 'bookmaker' and often the same person will perform the role at a given book, but it can be separate if the oddsmaker is just setting the lines for the people who will eventually book the bets.
Off the board: When a book or bookie has taken a bet down and is no longer accepting action or wagers on the game. This can happen if there is a late injury or some uncertainty regarding who will be participating.
Over/under: A term that can be used to describe the total combined points in a game (the Ravens-Steelers over/under is 40 points) or the number of games a team will win in a season (the Broncos' over/under win total is 11.5). Also used in prop bets.
Parlay: A wager in which multiple teams are bet, either against the spread or on the money line. For the wager to win (or pay out), all of them must cover/win. The more teams you bet, the greater the odds.
Pick 'em: A game with no favorite or underdog. The point spread is zero, and the winner of the game is also the spread winner.
Point spread (or just 'spread'): The number of points by which the supposed better team is favored over the underdog.
Proposition (or prop) bet: A special or exotic wager that's not normally on the betting board, such as which team will score first or how many yards a player will gain. Sometimes called a 'game within a game.' These are especially popular on major events, with the Super Bowl being the ultimate prop betting event.
Push: When a result lands on the betting number and all wagers are refunded. For example, a 3-point favorite wins by exactly three points. Return on investment (ROI): In PickCenter, ROI is the amount (according to numberFire) that a bettor should expect to get back on a spread pick.
Runner: Someone who makes bets for another person (aka 'beard').
Sharp: A professional, sophisticated sports bettor.
Spread: Short for point spread.
Square: A casual gambler. Someone who typically isn't using sophisticated reasoning to make a wager.
Steam: When a line is moving unusually fast. It can be a result of a group or syndicate of bettors all getting their bets in at the same time. It can also occur when a respected handicapper gives a bet his followers all jump on, or based on people reacting to news such as an injury or weather conditions.
Straight up: The expected outright winner of the money line in an event or game, not contingent on the point spread.
Teaser: Betting multiple teams and adjusting the point spread in all the games in the bettor's favor. All games have to be picked correctly to win the wager.
Total: The perceived expected point, run or goal total in a game. For example, in a football game, if the total is 41 points, bettors can bet 'over' or 'under' on that perceived total.
Tout (service): a person (or group of people) who either sells or gives away picks on games or events.
Underdog: The team that is expected to lose straight up. You can either bet that the team will lose by less than the predicted amount (ATS), or get better than even-money odds that it will win the game outright. For example, if a team is a 2-1 underdog, you can bet $100 that the team will win. If it wins, you win $200 plus receive your original $100 wager back.
Blackjack Vocabulary
Vig/vigorish: The commission the bookie or bookmaker takes; also called the 'juice.' Standard is 10 percent.
Wager: A bet.
Roulette Vocabulary
Welch: To not pay off a losing bet.
Roulette Vocabulary
Wiseguy: A professional bettor. Another term for a 'sharp.'