Using English at a Casino
Casino words and phrases
Vocabulary for casino gaming
Table games, gaming floor, the pit, players, gamblers
Roulette, blackjack, three card poker, casino stud poker, casino brag, punto banco, punto 2000, bacaraat, dice, craps, big six, sic bo
Poker, 3 card poker, brag, 5 card stud poker, texas hold ‘em, omaha
Dealer, croupier, inspector, gaming floor manager, pit boss, cashier, cash desk, pit desk
Payout, winnings, losses, maximum bet, minimum bet, table maximum/minimum
General casino phrases you may want to use
Can I cash these chips, in please?
I think there has been a mistake with my payout
Where can I change my money/chips?
Where is the cash desk?
Could I speak to the pit boss, please?
Can I bring a guest?
How do I become a member?
What is the minimum bet?
Can you explain the rules to me, please?
What time does the poker start?
Is this table open?
Casino table games
Tables games in England usually consist of American roulette with a European wheel (a wheel with a single zero), blackjack, three card poker (sometimes called casino brag) and casino stud poker. Punto banco (bacaraat), sic bo and big 6 may also be on offer. Dice is sometimes available in larger casinos in the main cities. Roulette is probably the most popular table game, followed closely by blackjack. Roulette is not so popular in the United States, with Americans preferring blackjack. However, dice (craps) is very popular in America, much more so than in the UK.
All of the games have a specific vocabulary attached to them. Below are some examples of commonly used words and phrases associated with some of the casino table games:
Roulette vocabulary
Chips, colour chips, cash chips, stack of chips, plaque, betting, bets
Roulette wheel, spin, layout, cashing in, chip change, colour change, money/cash change
On the number / straight up (35-1), split (17-1), corner (8-1) , street (11-1), six line (5-1)
Neighbour bet, section bet, voisins du zero, tier, orphelins (orphans)
Columns, dozens, even, odd, high numbers, low numbers, red, black, zero, even chances
| Phrases you may want to use | |
| Colour please | Can I have 3 stacks of colour please |
| Colour at 50p please | Can I have 2 ponies (£25) with that please |
| Can I change this | Can you place this on zero for me |
| Cash me in please | Zero and the neighbours |
| How much is that in cash | Tier / Voisins / Orphans by 5 |
| Phrases you may hear | |
| Place your bets please | No bet |
| Finish betting please | That’s below the table minimum |
| Final bets | That’s over the table maximum |
| No more bets thank you | Change after the spin |
| Thirty-two, red | Can you take your glass off the layout please |
| Paying out of order | Please don’t touch the wheel |
| Last spin | No spin |
Blackjack Vocabulary
Blackjack shoe, deal, cards, shuffle, change cards, hole card, box, hand
Split, double down / double, stand, stick, stay, hit, card
Insurance, even money, perfect pair, coloured pair, mixed pair
| Phrases you may want to use | |
| I’d like to split / double please | Can I double on that? |
| Card / hit (or twist in pontoon) | I’ll take even money please |
| Stick / stay | Can I play more than one box? |
| How much is there? | Can I play behind / on the back on this box? |
| Phrases you may hear | |
| Would you like another card? | Too many |
| Double or draw? | This box is free |
| Blackjack! | Please don’t touch the cards |
| Perfect pair! | You need to be seated to play |
| Would you like even money / insurance? | There’s no writing allowed at the table |
Using English when Playing Poker
Poker and Card games vocabulary
Dealer, dealer button, hand, pot
Raise, re-raise, check, fold, bluff
Ace, King, Queen, Jack, Joker, wild card
Aces are high, aces are low
Card suits, hearts, clubs, diamonds, spades
High card, pair, two pair, three of a kind, flush, straight, full house, four of a kind, straight flush, royal flush
Flop, turn, forth street, river card
Card change, shuffle, deal