House Edge, Return to Player, and 6 Other Casino Terms to Learn Before Placing Your Bet

In this day and age, online casino games are enjoyed by millions of people around the world. Ever since the first gambling sites started to appear back in the 1990s, the popularity of online gambling has been continuously rising. The reasons for that are numerous, but the most important one is the fact that virtual betting is more convenient than its traditional counterpart.

But as important as convenience is, the opportunity to win it big is even more so. To put it simply, no matter how user-friendly an online casino is, you will not enjoy it if you keep on losing money. In order to win, you need to have a basic understanding of not only the rules but also a number of terms associated with gambling.

Below, you will find definitions of numerous casino-specific terms that you should understand before placing a bet, such as return to player, buy-in, a whale, a railbird, the cage, the bankroll, and the pit boss. Read on and familiarize yourself with the specifics of the gambling jargon!

House Edge

House edge is the amount of money that the casino will get from every bet placed. For example, if a casino has a house edge of 0.5% on the blackjack table, it means that for every $100 you bet, you will lose $0.50. But the majority of players do not mind and are willing to take that risk, as the casino gives each player an opportunity to win big.

There is no need to be angry with gambling sites for doing it. If the practice was abolished, it would not take long for casinos to start closing down. However, you can look for games with a low house edge. The lower the house edge is, the less money you will lose!

In order to find a casino game with a low house edge, you should check the list of the best online Canadian casinos and visit a few of the best casinos. That way, you are guaranteed to find a few games with an incredibly low house edge!

Return to Player (RTP)

RTP is a term used to describe the percentage of wagered money that a video lottery terminal/slot machine will pay back to players over time. For example, if the RTP of a slot machine was 95%, it would pay you back $95 for every $100 that you bet. In order not to lose your hard-earned money, you should look for terminals and slot machines with a high RTP.

Buy-in

Buy-in is a term that refers to the process of exchanging cash for casino chips. In a tournament, you exchange cash for tournament chips that are not redeemable for cash. Each modern poker game has a minimum buy-in. In a game with a blind, the minimum buy-in tends to be ten times the big blind. In a game without a blind, the minimum buy-in tends to be ten times a small bet.

Whale

A whale is a term that can be traced back to the poker scene. It refers to an extremely rich gambler who bets enormous sums of money but does not win much. The meaning of the term has broadened to include incredibly bad players, regardless of the stakes.

Railbird

A railbird is an observer who watches other people play and bet. It is a term that originated from horse racing, where a railbird is a person who watches a horse race from the railings along the track. In the poker world, it is a somewhat derogatory term.

Cage

The casino cage is a nickname for the casino cashier, who is required to interact with customers in a courteous and professional manner. The purpose of the cage is to give each player an outlet where cash can be exchanged for chips and chips can be exchanged for cash.

Pit Boss

A pit boss, also known as a pit manager, is a casino employee who is in charge of employees who work in the casino pit. If a serious gaming discrepancy occurs, such as duplicate cards being found in a deck, it is the responsibility of the pit boss to sort it out. Because of that, if you happen to spot a cheater, it is best that you tell a pit boss about it.

Bankroll

A bankroll is the amount of money that you intend to spend on gambling. It is important that you manage it correctly, as it is the only way for you not to overspend. If you do not want to lose a fortune, you should limit yourself to spending a specific amount of cash on gambling each month and stick to that limit.

In Conclusion

To sum up, if you want to go to a casino, it is essential that you understand essential casino terms, such as house edge, return to player, buy-in, and whale. If you familiarize yourself with the terms listed here, you should be able to become a successful gambler in no time!

If you tend to confuse a few of the terms, do not worry! It is natural for a beginner gambler not to know the definition of each essential casino term by heart. Instead of freaking out about it, take it easy. With time, you should be able to learn each and every definition. Good luck, and may Lady Luck be with you!