Baccarat Slang Phrases You Need to Know
Baccarat is a very simple game, but once you take your place at a table, either playing live online baccarat or in a land casino, you may hear a mix of French terms and casino slang. While understanding these phrases won’t change the cards you receive, it will help you follow the game and enjoy the table talk.
Below are some of the most common baccarat slang terms and how they are used.
Basic Slang Used at Most Baccarat Tables
Action
Casinos use this to describe the amount of money wagered during a session. If you play several hands in a row, your action adds up quickly.
Baccarat
The game’s name comes from the Italian word for “zero”. In the game, any hand worth zero points is the worst result.
Banco
Spanish for banker. It refers to the hand representing the house or dealer. In many games, the house controls this position.
Banker Bet
A wager placed on the banker’s hand winning. It pays even money, though in most forms of the game, the casino takes a 5% commission from winning bets.
Bankroll
The money a player sets aside for the session. It is important to budget carefully so that your bankroll is affordable.
Carte
French for requesting another card. Players may use this in some versions when they want to draw.
Coup
A single round of play in baccarat. One coup includes the deal and outcome of the hand.
Face Cards
Jacks, Queens, and Kings. They are worth zero points in baccarat and are often called “monkeys” in casual conversation.
Hand
The cards held by either the player or the banker in a coup.
La Grande
A natural nine, which is the best possible starting two-card hand.
La Petite
A natural eight. A good hand, though not as good as La Grande.
Natural
A total of eight or nine, with the first two cards. The hand automatically stands.
Player Bet
A simple wager on the player’s hand to win. Pays even money with no commission deducted.
Punto
Spanish for player. Punto is also a common nickname for the player hand in the variant Punto Banco.
Push / Standoff
When both sides have the same total, bets neither win nor lose and carry forward to the next round.
Tie Bet
A wager that both hands will end with the same total. The payout varies, often 8 to 1 or 9 to 1.
Slang and Terms Used in Live or Advanced Play
Banque
A European version of baccarat that is played across two connected tables. A single banker competes against players on both sides.
Burn Cards
Cards discarded at the start of a shoe to prevent prediction or cheating.
Caller
Casino staff who manage the flow of the game, such as turning cards and announcing totals.
Chemin de Fer
A classic French style of baccarat. Players rotate the role of banker.
Cheques
The chips that are used to place bets.
Dragon Bonus
A side bet that rewards big winning margins. The bigger the difference between totals, the larger the prize.
Flat Bet
Keeping the same bet each hand without adjusting for wins or losses.
House Edge
The casino’s advantage. One reason baccarat is popular is that the house edge on banker and player bets is low compared with many other table games.
Monkey
Slang for a card worth zero points, such as a ten or face card. You may hear players call for a monkey when they want the other side to bust or stay low.
Muck
Refers to the cards already used and placed aside in the discard area.
Palette
The long tool used by the dealer to move cards across the table.
Panda 8
A side bet that wins when the player’s hand makes a three-card total of eight and beats the banker. It has a large payout, but low odds.
Pass
A simple word for a win.
Pit
The roped-off casino area with higher stakes.
Run
A side bet covering several hands in a streak.
Shoe
The dealing device holds six or eight decks of cards.
Streak
Several consecutive winning results for the same side, such as a string of banker wins.
Super Pan Nine
A variant where each side starts with three cards rather than two.
Vigorish (Commission)
The fee a casino collects on banker wins.
Phrases You’ll Hear from Players
Fading
Betting against someone else’s pick. You are fading the table if the crowd bets banker and you choose player.
High Roller
A player who bets large amounts, often found in private or VIP baccarat areas.
Loss Bet
Any bet placed against the banker in specific variants with a higher house edge.
Upcard
A card that is shown to the table face-up.
If you master those baccarat slang terms, you’ll have no problem enjoying the game to the fullest. Always gamble responsibly and seek guidance from recognized US authorities such as the National Council on Problem Gambling (NCPG), which provides confidential help and resources for responsible gaming.
