Depending on the version played, casino titles can have lots of in-game terminology. Sometimes, this vocabulary spills out into the wider world and becomes an everyday phrase or acceptance. There are many different words that have roots in casino culture, and you may not even realize you are using them.
Jackpot
When you hit the jackpot, it means that you have won big. This could be cash or any other kind of prize. It is also used to describe smaller, everyday wins in life. You could hit the jackpot by getting the last muffin on the supermarket shelf or hit the jackpot when you put your hand in your pocket and find a $20 bill you forgot about. Generally, it is used to describe good fortune.
The term comes from poker and can be traced back to 1879 when a player described the term to an Indiana court. Specifically, it comes from draw poker. In this version of the game, you need a hand of two jacks or better to open the pot and start betting. This gave rise to the term “Jackpot”.
Draw poker is still popular, but in the modern era, it has taken the second seat to Texas Hold’Em Rules and other variants like Omaha. The popularity of the game in general has boomed, due to the ease at which online poker games can be joined. Providing convenience, they let people play from the comfort of their homes. Benefiting from welcome bonuses, many people don’t even have to dip into their bankroll to get started.
Gimmick
In today’s parlance, a gimmick is a unique trick or spin used to market something. For example, a wrestler may have a gimmick playing the character of a gothic horror trope such as an Undertaker. A product may have a gimmick as its unique selling point, for example, a mobile phone may do a tie-in with another famous brand.
The earliest gimmick was known to have been a small gadget. Initially, these items were used to securely and dishonestly control a roulette wheel, influencing its outcome. There is also a theory that before this it came from an anagram of magic, and was used to describe the apparatus used by magicians.
Aboveboard
To say that something is aboveboard means it is legitimate. It signals that nothing untoward is going on, and everything is being done in accordance with legal and moral codes. For example, you may purchase a house and want to know that the deal is ‘aboveboard’ with no hidden activities tagged onto it.
The background of the word dates to the 16th century and is believed to have come from games of cards. If you held your cards above the table, or above the board, then people could see that you were not cheating.
You will find many other phrases and expressions that have their roots in casino culture. As new games emerge, and digital play takes over, we may even hear brand-new colloquialisms such as these.
