Use the list to look up a word you see in a game's rules or on a table. For the maths behind house edge and RTP, see RTP in live casino games; for the games themselves, browse live casino games.
Live casino terms A–Z
- Ante
- A compulsory bet placed before cards are dealt in casino poker games such as Casino Hold'em and Caribbean Stud. So what: Your total risk per hand is more than the ante once you call or raise.
- Automatic card shuffler
- A machine that shuffles one or more decks between rounds. Live blackjack and baccarat tables use shufflers or manual shuffles under studio procedures. So what: Shuffle method affects how many cards are dealt before a reshuffle, which is why card counting rarely works live.
- Banker and player
- The two main bets in baccarat. They are positions on the layout, not people at the table. So what: The banker bet has the lower house edge, which is why it pays a commission or a reduced payout on some totals.
- Bankroll
- The money you set aside for gambling, separate from money you need. So what: Size each bet as a small share of it so normal losing runs don't end your session.
- Basic strategy
- The set of blackjack decisions (hit, stand, double, split) that loses least against each dealer upcard under a given set of rules. So what: Playing it keeps blackjack among the cheapest games in the live lobby.
- Bet behind
- A blackjack bet on another player's seated hand, available when all seats are taken. So what: You follow that player's decisions; choose a seat whose player follows basic strategy.
- Burn card
- A card removed from the top of the shoe before dealing begins. So what: Standard procedure; it has no effect on your odds.
- Bust
- A blackjack hand that goes over 21 and loses at once. So what: You can bust before the dealer plays, which is part of the house edge.
- Cashback
- A promotion that returns part of your net losses over a period, as cash or as bonus money. So what: Often easier to use on live games than a deposit bonus; check whether it carries wagering.
- Commission
- The share of a winning bet the casino keeps, most often 5% on banker wins in baccarat. So what: Commission-free tables change other payouts instead; read the paytable.
- Continuous shuffling machine
- A shuffler that returns used cards to the deck after every round. So what: With a continuous shuffler, card counting has no effect.
- Croupier
- Another word for dealer, used mostly in roulette and baccarat.
- Dealer
- The person who runs a live table: shuffles, deals or spins, announces results and reads the chat. So what: Dealers don't decide results or see your account.
- Double down
- A blackjack option to double your bet after the first two cards in exchange for exactly one more card. So what: Used at the right moments, it is one of the player's few advantages in blackjack.
- Even-money bet
- A bet that pays 1:1, such as red or black in roulette. So what: Even money still carries the house edge, 2.70% on a single-zero wheel.
- Gambler's fallacy
- The belief that past results change the odds of the next independent round. So what: A number that hasn't come up for 100 spins is no more likely on the next one. See our gambler's fallacy guide.
- Game show
- A live game built around a wheel, board or bonus rounds with a host, such as Crazy Time or Monopoly Live. So what: Game shows usually carry a higher house edge than table games; check the RTP per bet spot.
- Hole card
- The dealer's face-down card in blackjack. So what: Rules on whether the dealer checks the hole card for blackjack affect how much you can lose on doubles and splits.
- House edge
- The average share of each bet the casino keeps over a long run, the reverse of RTP. So what: At a 2.70% edge, $100 in bets loses $2.70 on average.
- Insurance
- A blackjack side bet offered when the dealer shows an ace, paying 2:1 if the dealer has blackjack. So what: Without card counting, insurance costs more than it returns.
- La partage
- A French roulette rule that returns half of an even-money bet when zero lands. So what: It halves the house edge on even-money bets.
- Lobby
- The page where a casino lists its live tables, with game type, limits and seats. So what: Filter by limits before you open a table.
- Lucky Number
- In Evolution's Lightning games, a number given a random multiplier for one round. So what: Multipliers are paid for by lower standard payouts on the same bet.
- Martingale
- A system that doubles the stake after each loss to recover it with one win. So what: A losing run eventually hits the table maximum or your budget; it doesn't change the house edge.
- Minimum and maximum bet
- The smallest and largest stakes allowed at a table, often per bet type. So what: Pick a table where the minimum is small relative to your session budget.
- Multiplier
- A random boost to the payout of a bet or segment in a live game. So what: The base payout is usually lower to pay for it, so the RTP doesn't rise.
- OCR
- Optical character recognition: camera software that reads cards, numbers and results so the game can settle bets. So what: It is why your screen shows totals and results automatically.
- Push
- A tie in blackjack: your bet is returned.
- Racetrack
- An oval roulette betting area that follows the wheel's number order, used for neighbour and call bets. So what: Call bets are combinations of ordinary bets with the same edge.
- RTP
- Return to player: the share of all stakes a game pays back over a long run. So what: An RTP of 97.30% means a 2.70% house edge.
- Shoe
- The box holding the decks that are dealt from in blackjack and baccarat. So what: Live tables commonly use multi-deck shoes.
- Side bet
- An optional extra bet on a specific outcome, such as a pair in blackjack. So what: Side bets usually carry a higher house edge than the main bet.
- Split
- A blackjack option to split two cards of equal value into two hands, with a second bet. So what: Basic strategy says which pairs to split against each dealer card.
- Squeeze
- A baccarat presentation where cards are revealed slowly by bending them. So what: It changes the pace, not the odds.
- Stand
- Taking no more cards in blackjack.
- Table limit
- The bet range of a table, from minimum to maximum. So what: VIP tables have higher minimums and maximums.
- Tilt
- Playing emotionally after losses, usually with bigger and faster bets. So what: A preset loss limit is the simplest protection.
- Wagering requirement
- How much you must bet before bonus money or bonus winnings can be withdrawn. So what: Live games often count less towards it, or not at all.
FAQ
What is the difference between RTP and house edge?
They describe the same thing from opposite sides. A game with 97.30% RTP has a 2.70% house edge.
What does bet behind mean in live blackjack?
A bet on another player's hand when all seats are taken. You win or lose with that hand and don't make decisions.
What is a Lucky Number?
In Evolution's Lightning games, a number given a random multiplier for one round. Standard payouts on that bet type are lower to pay for it.
What does push mean?
A tie in blackjack. Your stake is returned.
