Glossary of Baccarat Terms and Slangs

Welcome to our glossary of baccarat terms — your ultimate guide to the lingo, terminology, and slang used at the baccarat table. Whether you’re a complete beginner or an experienced high roller looking to sharpen your understanding, this list will help you feel confident when you play. From the basic structure of the game to the insider jargon dealers and seasoned players use, each term is explained in plain language.

Once you’ve familiarized yourself with these terms, put your knowledge to the test and play online baccarat at Las Atlantis. It’s a thrilling way to practice your new vocabulary and enjoy the excitement of this classic casino game.

A

Action - This refers to the total amount of money a player wagers during a game or over a period of time. Casinos often track a player’s action to determine comps or rewards.

B

Baccarat - A popular card game played in casinos where players bet on whether the Player or Banker hand will come closest to a total of nine, or on a tie between them.

Banco - Spanish for “bank,” this is another word for the Banker hand in baccarat.

Banco Prime - A rule in Chemin de Fer that allows the player sitting closest to the dealer’s right to match the entire Banker wager when multiple players want to bet on Banco.

Banker Bet - A wager placed on the Banker hand to win. It has a slightly lower house edge than the Player bet, making it the most statistically favorable bet.

Banque - A variation of baccarat, especially popular in Europe, where a single banker plays against two separate player groups on either side of the table.

Bankroll - The total amount of money a player has set aside specifically for gambling.

Burning - The act of discarding (burning) several cards from the top of the shoe before a new shoe begins, done to prevent card tracking or cheating.

C

Caller - An assistant at large baccarat tables who announces the results of each hand and oversees card placement.

Carte - French for “card.” A player may request “carte” to ask for another card in certain baccarat variants like Chemin de Fer.

Chemin De Fer - A French version of baccarat where players take turns acting as the banker and can decide whether to draw a third card.

Cheques - Casino chips used for placing wagers at baccarat tables.

Cheval - A rare side bet found in some European versions of baccarat, where a player bets on two hands winning together.

Commission - A small fee (usually 5%) charged by the casino on winning Banker bets to offset the Banker’s advantage.

Coup - A single round or hand of baccarat, including the dealing and outcome.

Croupier - The dealer or casino employee who handles the cards and manages bets during a game.

Cut - To divide the deck before play, usually done by a player to randomize card order.

Cut Card - A colored plastic card inserted into the shoe to indicate where the dealer should stop dealing and reshuffle.

D

Dealer - The casino employee who handles the dealing of cards, collects losing bets, and pays out winnings.

Deux Tableau - French for “two tables.” A version of baccarat similar to Banque, where the banker faces two separate player groups.

Discard Tray - A container on the table where used cards are placed after each coup.

Down Card - A card dealt face down. These are sometimes used in Mini Baccarat for suspense.

Dragon Bonus - A common side bet where players wager on a hand winning by a large margin or hitting a natural.

E

Edge Sorting - An advantage play technique where players try to detect subtle card-back patterns to predict the value of upcoming cards. This practice is controversial and often banned.

F

Face Cards - The King, Queen, and Jack cards. In baccarat, these are worth zero points.

Fading - A slang term meaning to bet against another player’s wager, essentially “fading their bet.”

Flat Bet - Betting the same amount on every hand without increasing or decreasing the wager.

H

Hand - The set of cards dealt to either the Player or Banker side.

High Roller - A player who wagers large amounts of money. High rollers often play in VIP areas or high-stakes baccarat rooms.

House Edge - The statistical advantage the casino has over the player, built into the rules of the game.

L

Ladderman - In large baccarat games, the official who oversees play from a high chair to monitor the action.

La Grande - French for “the big one.” Refers to a natural nine, the highest possible hand in baccarat.

La Petite - French for “the little one.” Refers to a natural eight, the second-best possible hand.

Layout - The printed design on the baccarat table showing betting areas and rules.

Loss Bet - A wager made in an attempt to recover from previous losses, often part of a betting system or progression.

M

Match Play - A type of promotional casino coupon that lets a player place a free bet matched by the casino.

Mini Baccarat - A smaller, faster-paced version of baccarat played at a table similar to blackjack, usually with lower limits.

Monkey - Slang for any 10-value card (10, Jack, Queen, King) in baccarat. Players may shout “Monkey!” hoping for the dealer to draw a zero-value card.

Muck - The pile of used cards that have been played and are placed in the discard tray.

N

Natural - A two-card total of eight or nine. If either side gets a natural, no further cards are drawn.

P

Palette - A long wooden stick used by the dealer to move cards around the table without reaching across it.

Panda 8 Bet - A side bet that wins if the Player hand gets a total of eight with three cards.

Pass - Choosing not to bet or participate in a particular round.

Pit - The roped-off area in the casino where table games are located and supervised by pit bosses.

Player - One of the two main hands in baccarat that players can bet on. It does not refer to the gambler personally.

Punter - British slang for a gambler or bettor.

Punto - Spanish/Italian for “point.” Another name for the Player hand in baccarat.

Punto Banco - The most widely played form of baccarat, where the casino banks the game and players choose to bet on the Player or Banker side.

Push - A tie between the player’s wager and the result, meaning no money is won or lost on that bet.

R

Railroad - Another name for the Chemin de Fer version of baccarat, referencing the fast movement of the shoe.

Run - A streak of consecutive wins by either the Player or Banker.

S

Shills - Casino employees who play with house money to keep games active and attract real players.

Shoe - A device that holds multiple decks of cards and allows for smooth dealing during the game.

Shooter - In some baccarat slang, this refers to the dealer or the player dealing cards in variants like Chemin de Fer.

Shuffle Up
A term used when the dealer reshuffles the cards earlier than expected to prevent card counting or tracking.

Skill - Although baccarat is largely a game of chance, “skill” may refer to bankroll management or betting strategies players use.

Standoff - Another word for a tie, when both Player and Banker have the same total.

Streak - A series of consecutive wins for either the Player or Banker side.

Super Pan Nine - A baccarat-style game played with a reduced deck, where the goal is also to reach nine points.

T

Table of Play - A printed chart showing the drawing rules that determine when a third card is drawn for either hand.

Tie - A betting option where you wager that the Player and Banker hands will end with the same total. It pays high odds but is rare.

U

Upcard - A card that is dealt face up for all players to see.

V

Vigorish - Also called “vig,” this is the commission or fee the casino charges on certain winning bets, especially Banker bets.