Deal Around
To exclude a player from a round, whether accidentally or deliberately. A player who wishes to site out a hand for whatever reason may ask to be dealt around, or the house may decide to deal around him, thus refusing him service.
Dealer
A casino employee who conducts table games. In Blackjack, the dealer conducts the game and all transactions, whereas with other games, there may be a number of dealers who each handle specific tasks.
Delivery
A method of providing cards to the player. This typically refers to whether the cards are delivered from a deck held in the dealer’s hands or in a shoe.
Dirty Money
Cheques that are left on the table from a previous hand rather than from a bankroll (asopposed to “Clean Money”)
Discard Tray
Also called a “discard rack,” this is a receptacle into which cards that have already been played are placed at the end of the round.
Discard
A card that is removed from play, usually because it has been exposed during play or accidentally. It can also be used in a general sense, “the discard,” to refer to all such cards.
Double-Dealing
A technique, generally cheating, when the dealer delivers cards out of order. This is a general term that includes “Bottom dealing” (dealing cards from the bottom of the deck) and “second dealing (dealing the second, rather than the first, card).
Double Down
An option that allows a player to double the amount of their wager, receiving only one additional card. Typically, this is done after receiving the first two cards (though some casinos allow a player to “double late” after taking hits). The amount of the additional wager can be less than the original one, though this is not common. In some casinos, the additional card is dealt face down and not exposed until the end of the round, hence “double down”
Double Up
To double the wager before any cards are dealt. This is not the same as doubling down, which is done during the course of the hand.
Double Exposure
A variation in which both of the dealer’s cards are dealt face-up. Other rules are changed (such as allowing the dealer to win some are all ties) in order to reclaim the edge the house loses by playing in this fashion.
Dragging
To reduce the amount of chips in the wagering spot. This can be done legally before the cards are dealt, otherwise it is considered cheating.
Drop (Box)
A container underneath the table into which paper currency is placed through a slot on the table’s surface. This usually refers to the box that holds the house’s money, rather than the dealer’s tips. The latter is called a “token box.”
Drop Cut
A technique used to create a smaller stack of cheques or cards by dropping them from a larger stack.
Drop Percentage
The portion of a player’s stake that the casino expects to win. The drop percentage includes all profits gained by the house advantage as well as the mistakes a player is expected to make. The drop percentage for Blackjack is an estimate, which tends to be 20% for most players (even though the house advantage is less than half that).

Early Surrender
An option or a player to fold a hand after seeing their first two cards and reclaim half their wager. “Early” is generally redundant, as this is the normal rules, but it may be used to differentiate a normal surrender from “late” surrender.
Edge
The mathematical advantage in a game, always expected to be to the house. This does not include any profit that is gained by mistakes or foolish wagers players may make.
Even Money
A one-for-one payoff. Even money is an option offered to players who are dealt a blackjack when the dealer is showing an ace—the player may accept even money (rather than the typical 3:2 payoff) immediately rather than risking a tie (hence no payoff) when the dealer’s hole card is checked.
Expected Win Rate
The percentage of the total amount wagered that the player can be expected to retain over time. It is almost always less than 100%.
Eye (in the Sky)
An observation post or camera used by the casino to observe and record the game.

Face Card
A king, queen, or jack of any suit. Sometimes abbreviated to “Face.”
Face Down
A card laid with the side denoting its value against the table (and its “back” showing). This also refers to a game where players’ cards are dealt face-down.
Face Up
A card laid with the side denoting its value exposed. This also refers to a game in which players’ cards are dealt face-up.
False Shuffle
A shuffle in which one or more cards are placed purposefully (rather than at random).
Fill
Cheques brought to the table from the vault, to be added to the table’s bankroll.
Fill Slip
A document that records a fill. This is checked, signed, and deposited in the drop box.
First Base
The player seated to the dealer’s left. This player will be the first to receive his cards and play his hand.
Flash
To expose the hole card to one or more players. This is usually, but not always, inadvertent.
Flat Bettor
A player who bets the same amount every hand.
Flat Payoff
A one-to-one payoff.
Float
Another name for the rack of chips on the dealer’s side of the table. The term “float” refers to the rack itself, the “float cover” a locking lid placed over the float when the table is not in use.
Floor
The area of the casino that is open to players. The floor excludes areas that are off-limits to guests.
Foreign Cheque
A cheque from another casino. A casino is not required to accept foreign cheques, though some will do so if it’s from another casino in the same vicinity.
French Deck
The original term for what has become a standard 52-card deck.
Front of the House
Areas of the casino in which players are welcome. The “front of the house” excludes areas that are off-limits to players. (See back of the house)
Gamble
To wager or play recklessly, wagering large sums at thin odds. Applied to a person, “gambler,” and to the practice, “gambling.” The term “gambling” is not neutral, but always derogatory. The term “gaming” is preferred when referring to the practice of playing for money.
George
A slang term for any player who tips generously.
Go Over
To exceed 21.
Green (Cheque)
a $25 cheque.
Grinder
A player who wagers small amounts of money over a long period of time.
Hand
Refers to a single player’s cards in a given round. It may also be used to refer to the round itself.
Hand Signals
The customary motions a player must make to indicate their desires to the dealer.
Hard Hand
A player’s hand that does not contain an ace, or in which all aces are counted as one rather than eleven.
Hard Total
The point total of a hand using the aces as a one-point rather than eleven-point cards. (Example: a four-five-ace is worth twenty, but has a hard total of ten.)
Head-On
Playing alone against the dealer.
Heat
The pressure placed on a winning player by the casino.
Heel
To place cheques unevenly, so that one protrudes at the bottom of the stack.
High Limit Game
A game in which the table’s minimum limit is considered to be high. Though “low” and “high” are relative terms, a blackjack table is typically regarded as “high limit” when the minimum wager is $500 or more.
High Roller
A player who gives the casinos a lot of action—either betting large sums for brief periods or moderate sums for extended periods. The high rollers are naturally the casino’s most welcomed customers.
Hit
To request an additional card.
Hold
The amount lost by the player, expressed as a percentage of the amount he staked at the game. This generally refers to the actual amount in a given situation. The terms “edge,” “advantage,” or “percentage” are used to express estimates or expectations.
Hole Card
The dealer’s face-down card that is not exposed intil the end of the game.
House
Synonymous with “casino,” both as a physical location and a business operation.
House Advantage
see “advantage”
House Edge
see “edge”
House Percentage
see “percentage”
House Rules
The rules that are in effect in a given casino. These may include the rules of conduct (on either side of the table) as well as the particular variation on the rules of play.
Hustle
To intimate or indicate a desire to be tipped. Casino employees are not permitted, in most operations, to hustle tips.