The Casino Glossary M to P
Continuing our series of terms online gambling fans are likely to come across in internet casinos and UK casinos.
If you can think of any terms beginning with M to P that we've missed out, or of any words or phrases you'd like to know the meaning of, Email Us.
M to P
Maiden: A horse that hasn't won a race yet.
Martingale: A betting strategy in which you double your stake after every loss. The theory is that your first win will recoup all your losses, plus your original stake. Experienced gamblers tend to be scathing about martingale systems.
Maverick: A poker term used to mean holding Jack and Queen hole cards.
Mechanic: A poker player who cheats.
Microgaming: The leading software provider for online casinos.
Middle pair: In poker, pairing the middle-ranked card on the flop with a hole card gives you a middle pair.
Mini-baccarat: In this version of baccarat there are fewer players and dealers, but the rules are same as the regular game. Like baccarat, the object of the game is to make a hand that adds up to nine or less.
Morning line: In horse racing, the morning line is the approximate odds before betting determines the exact odds.
Muck: In poker, to fold.
Natural: In blackjack, a natural is a two-card hand containing an ace and a 10. In baccarat, a natural is a two-card hand adding up to eight or nine.
Net winnings: The total payout on a bet, minus your stake.
Nose: The smallest margin a horse can win a race by.
Nut: Casino overheads or the sum a player decides to win in a day.
Nuts: In poker, an unbeatable hand.
Odds: Balance of probability in favour of or against the same result.
Odds-on bet: Definitions vary depending on what country you're betting in. In the UK, in an odds-on bet your winnings are less than your stake - although obviously, you get your stake back. In the US, an odds-on bet is a bet worked out in reverse and in Europe, an odds-on bet is less than 2:1.
Omaha: A poker variation in which players are dealt four pocket cards and have to use two pocket cards and three community cards to make the best high hand. In Hi/Low Omaha, there can also be a low-hand winner.
On tilt: Wild, uncontrolled play or betting.
Outsider: Not expected to win.
Outside bet: An outside bet in roulette is one made outside of the 37 numbers in the main play area, eg: red or black, high or low, and odd or even. Other outside bets are made on the columns at the end of the 37 numbers, or on dozens - the first, second or third dozen numbers.
Palette: The wooden baton used in baccarat to move cards on the table.
Picture cards: Ace, king, queen or jack.
Pigeon: An inexperienced, naïve player.
Pineapple/Crazy Pineapple: Poker variations similar to Hold 'Em.
Pit: A part of a casino containing table games, where the centre area is restricted to casino staff.
Pit boss: A casino employee who supervises a gaming area, usually containing more than one table.
Pocket cards: The cards dealt to players face-down in poker.
Poker: A game online gamblers love to play. There are many versions of poker but most involve the ranking of hands and betting rounds.
Pot: The money in the middle of the poker table. The winner of each hand wins the pot.
Price: Quoted odds.
Punter: UK term meaning someone who places a bet.
Punto Banco: A very similar game to baccarat, except that cards are dealt to a set of fixed rules and there are no optional plays.
