Author: Robert Kazinsky, Last Updated: March 12th, 2023

Baccarat Terms: Learn the Most Widely Used Casino Lingo

• Action – A term used to describe the total amount of money wagered by a player during a gambling session.
• Baccarat – The name of the game, which means “zero” in Italian. A hand of cards with zero value (10s, Kings, Queens, and Jacks) is also called a Baccarat.
• Banco – The Spanish word for “bank” or “banker.” In Baccarat, the player who has the shoe and deals the cards is called the Banco.
• Banco Prime – A privilege given to the player nearest to the dealer’s right to match the stake wagered by the bank if more than one player has called Banco.
• Banker Bet – One of the three possible bets in Baccarat, in which you bet on the banker’s hand to win.
• Banque – A Baccarat variation played at two conjoined tables, where the Banker sits in the middle and plays against two Player bets, one at each table.
• Bankroll – The total amount of money a player intends to spend on gambling.
• Burning – The discarding of the top three to six cards, after shuffling and before starting a new game.
• Caller – A casino staff member who turns the cards, calls out the points, and deals additional cards according to the third card draw rules in Baccarat.
• Carte – The French equivalent of “Hit me,” used to request another card from the dealer.
• Chemin De Fer – A variation of Baccarat, also known as European Baccarat, where a player deals the cards and takes bets, acting as the bank.
• Cheval – French for “across.” A Cheval bet is won if both active players win the bets.
• Cheques – Special chips called Cheques used in land-based casinos to play Baccarat.
• Commission – The 5% commission charged on Banker bets in Baccarat.
• Coup – A French term used to describe a round of Baccarat where one Banker hand and one Player hand are dealt.
• Croupier – A French term for the dealer.
• Cut – Cutting the cards means dividing the deck of cards in half after the cards have been shuffled.
• Cut Card – A special plastic card used for cutting the deck once the cards have been shuffled.
• Dealer – The person who deals the cards, draws extra cards, and ensures the game runs smoothly.
• Deux Tableau – Another name for Baccarat en Banque.
• Discard Tray – Where discarded cards are placed after being burned before dealing.
• Down Card – A card turned face down.
• Dragon Bonus – A popular side bet in Baccarat that allows players to also wager on the number of points with which the winning hand will crush the other one.
• Edge Sorting – A technique which allows identifying card values based on small differences in the pattern on the back of the cards as a result of the manufacturing process.
• Face Cards – All cards which have portraits on them are called face cards, including Jacks, Queens, and Kings of any suit.
• Fading – Placing bets against a person.
• Flat Bet – Wagering the same amount no matter if the hand is a winning or a losing one.
• High Roller – A bettor who plays with high stakes.
• House Edge – The margin inherent to the game which gives the casino the advantage of making a profit regardless of the outcome of the round.
• Ladderman: A casino employee who oversees the Baccarat game and supervises the other dealers.
• La Grande: A natural hand totaling 9, the best possible hand in Baccarat.
• La Petite: A natural hand totaling 8, the second-best possible hand in Baccarat.
• Layout: The physical layout of the Baccarat table and the designated betting areas for players to place their wagers.
• Loss Bet: A bet made against the bank in Baccarat, which has a higher house edge compared to the other two possible bets.
• Match Play: A type of casino bonus offered to players that allows them to double their actual cash bet without doubling their wager in certain even-money games, including Baccarat.
• Mini Baccarat: A smaller version of the traditional Baccarat game played on a smaller table with lower table limits and a faster pace.
• Monkey: A slang term used to refer to a 10-value card in Baccarat, including face cards and 10s.
• Muck: A discard pile in Baccarat games that contains used or burned cards.
• Natural: A hand in Baccarat that totals either 8 or 9 with the first two cards dealt, resulting in an automatic win.
• Palette: A long wooden tool used by the croupier to move cards around the Baccarat table.
• Pass: A win in Baccarat.
• Pit: An exclusive area in a casino reserved for high-rollers playing Baccarat at high stakes.
• Player: One of the three possible bets in Baccarat, where a player wagers on the player’s hand to win.
• Punter: A British term used to refer to a Baccarat player or bettor.
• Punto: The Spanish term for player in Baccarat.
• Punto Banco: The most popular variation of Baccarat, also known as “Player Banker”.
• Push: A tie in Baccarat, where the bets are returned to the players.
• Railroad: A Baccarat variation similar to Chemin de Fer that was popular in France during the 19th century.
• Run: A side bet option in Baccarat that allows players to bet on a series of hands.
• Shills: Casino employees, usually attractive women, who are employed to attract and entice players to play Baccarat.
• Shoe: A device used to hold and distribute cards in Baccarat games.
• Shooter: Another term used to refer to the bank in Baccarat.
• Shuffle Up: An early shuffling of the cards by the dealer before the start of the Baccarat game.
• Skill: A humorous reference to a player’s good luck or winning streak in Baccarat.
• Standoff: A tie in Baccarat between the player and the bank.
• Streak: A run of consecutive results in Baccarat, such as multiple wins or losses in a row.
• Super Pan Nine: A variation of Baccarat popular in poker casinos in Los Angeles where players are dealt three hands-down cards that are scored like in traditional Baccarat.
• Table of Play: A set of rules in Baccarat that determines the scores needed for players to receive a third card.
• Tie: One of the three possible bets in Baccarat where the player wagers on a tie between the player and the bank.
• Upcard: A card dealt face-up in Baccarat.
• Vigorish: The percentage of winnings that the casino takes from a player’s bet in Baccarat
• VIP: An acronym for a very important person. In casinos, this term is used to refer to high rollers.