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Imagine rolling snake eyes before you crap out? Perhaps you’re sitting under the gun (UTG) with a Dead Man’s Hand? Quit yanking on the one-arm bandit; it won’t change the RTP of the slot machine game. Or maybe you’re about to Surrender a pair of Pocket Rockets against the blackjack dealer?

What you just read above barely scratches the surface of the casino lingo you ought to know. This introduction is designed to whet your appetite. Lavish casinos, like any stylish form of entertainment, pursuit, sport, game, or vocation, are bubbling over with catchphrases, nuance, colloquialisms, slang, and idioms.

Pit Vipers – Snake Eyes & Crapping Out?

Snake eyes refer to rolling a pair of ones on six-sided dice. When viewed together, those ones staring at you look like a pair of snake eyes. Crapping out has nothing to do with your digestive system and everything to do with the game of craps. It typically means that you lose on a roll of the dice while playing craps. It originated during the riverboat gambling era of the 1920s.

Under The Gun is NOT Under The Weather

If you’re under the gun in poker – UTG – you are in a bad position. Why? Simply because it’s never a good idea to be the first player to act in poker. You don’t have any information to make betting decisions. This position references the pre-flop betting round, where you’re playing blind.

That means exactly what it sounds like. Now, a dead man’s hand is a term that goes way back to 1876. It’s a poker reference to the final hand played by legendary poker ace Wild Bill Hickok. It contains 2X black Aces and 2X black 8s. Unfortunately, Wild Bill was gunned down with that hand.

Are You Yanking One-Arm Bandits?

And if somebody tells you to quit yanking the one-arm bandit, they’re talking about the metal lever on the side of a slot machine game at a casino. You’re not yanking any one-arm bandits when you play at a top social casino because you simply push a digital button to spin the reels and win for real.

The one-arm bandit term was coined back in the day of mechanical slot games. These slot machines were extremely heavy and made of metal, including springs, drums, and other contraptions. The mechanism to activate these slots was the lever on the side of the machine. The complex contraption springs into action when you pull it, and the reels start spinning.

Surrendering Pocket Rockets – Bad Move!

Now, let’s turn our attention to surrendering a pair of pocket rockets. This is a clear reference to the game of blackjack. As you all know, blackjack is played against the dealer, even though other players are at the table. Players are tasked with compiling the strongest possible hand without exceeding 21.

You don’t need to form a hand value of 21 to beat the dealer – you simply need to beat the dealer. When you surrender your hand in blackjack, you fold. It’s game over. It’s probably foolhardy to surrender a pair of pocket rockets – Aces – because you could split them and play two hands, hoping for a 10-value card for a natural blackjack, a.k.a. 2 card 21.

What On Earth is an RTP?

The RTP of a slot machine game is a fairly simple term describing the return to player. Unbeknownst to many casino players, every game in the house has an RTP. This is actually measurable and can be audited by independent third-party authorities and regulatory bodies. The RTP of online slot games can range from the mid 80% to 99% range.

Most slots at social casinos have RTPs in the mid-to-high 90% range. This means that for every gold coin or sweepstakes coin you deposit, you can expect to win back in that 90% range. It’s a long-term statistical average and doesn’t necessarily hold true over the short-term.

New-Age Lingo at Social Casinos Online

But today’s casino lingo isn’t just about smoky poker rooms and one-arm bandits. There’s a whole new book of terms for the social casino crowd, and if you want to roll with the best, you’d better get acquainted. Here’s the lowdown on the lingo you need to know.

• Gold Coins (GC): These are your bread and butter in social casinos. They let you play the games, spin the reels, and try your luck, but they’ve got no real cash value. You can snag Gold Coins from daily bonuses, promos, or by straight-up buying them. It’s all about the thrill, not the payout.
• Sweeps Coins (SC): Now we’re talking. Unlike Gold Coins, Sweeps Coins can be redeemed for cash prizes—if you play by the house rules. You can’t buy them directly, but you’ll score some when purchasing Gold Coins or through giveaways. Play smart, and these might just turn into real money.
• Redeemable Balance: This is the pot of Sweeps Coins you’ve got that’s eligible for cash redemption. Not every SC in your account is ready for cashing out—you’ve got to hit the minimum playthrough first. Casinos set their own rules, so don’t get ahead of yourself just yet.
• Threshold Balance: This is the magic number you need to reach before you can turn those Sweeps Coins into cash or prizes. Some casinos make you stack up at least 100 SCs before you can cash out, while others let you go for gift cards with 50 SCs. Check the rules, or risk spinning your wheels.
• Game Coins: Same deal as Gold Coins, just another name some casinos throw around. They work the same way—play money for the fun of it, no cash value attached.

Get these terms under your belt, and you won’t just sound like a seasoned player—you’ll be one.