Gambling terms, explained straight

A–Z index

Gambling terms beginning with H

43 terms under H, each with a one-line summary. Follow a term for the full explanation.

Handicap 0 2 meaning football Sports betting
Handicap 0 2 in football betting is shorthand for an Asian handicap line where one team is at 0 and the other at -2 or +2.
Handicap 0:2 meaning Sports betting
Handicap 0:2 means a team is given a two-goal deficit before settlement, so the bet wins only if that team wins by more than two goals after the ac…
Handicap 1 meaning soccer Sports betting
In soccer betting, handicap 1 is a whole-goal line that gives one team a one-goal head start or deficit before the match result is applied to the bet.
Handicap betting Sports betting
A handicap bet adjusts the final score by giving the underdog a virtual lead or the favourite a deficit, so the bettor wins or loses based on that …
Handicap betting rugby explained Sports betting
A rugby bet where the bookmaker gives one team a virtual points lead or deficit before kick-off, and the result is decided on the score after that …
Handicap horse racing Racing
A handicap race is a horse race where each horse carries a different weight based on its assessed ability, intended to give every runner an equal c…
Hard hand blackjack Casino games
A hard hand in blackjack is any hand that contains no ace, or contains an ace that must be counted as 1 to avoid going over 21.
Hearts card game Card games
Hearts is an evasion trick-taking card game in which players aim to avoid winning tricks that contain hearts or the queen of spades.
Hi-lo blackjack card counting Advantage play
Hi-Lo is a balanced blackjack counting system that tracks the ratio of high to low cards by giving each card a value of +1, 0, or -1, then adjustin…
Hi-lo card counting Advantage play
Hi-lo card counting is a blackjack advantage-play method that tracks exposed cards by giving them a value of +1, 0, or -1, then uses that running t…
Hi-lo count blackjack Advantage play
Hi-lo count blackjack is a card-counting method that assigns +1 to low cards, 0 to neutral cards, and -1 to high cards, tracking the running count …
Hi-lo poker rules Poker
Hi-lo poker is a split-pot variant where the pot is divided between the highest hand and the lowest qualifying hand at showdown.
Hi-lo system blackjack Advantage play
A balanced blackjack card-counting method that tracks low cards (2–6) as +1, neutral cards (7–9) as 0, and high cards (10–ace) as −1, then divides …
High RTP slots meaning Slots
High RTP slots are slot games with a higher-than-average Return to Player percentage, meaning they are designed to return a larger share of wagers …
High straight poker Poker
In poker, a high straight is the highest-ranking straight available in a given variant, most commonly an ace-high straight such as 10-J-Q-K-A.
High volatility meaning Slots
High volatility in a slot means the game pays less often but delivers larger prizes when wins do occur, making outcomes more variable and less pred…
Highroller slots Slots
Highroller slots is a promotional label for slot machines with a higher-than-average return-to-player percentage, not a distinct game category.
Hindu shuffle Card games
A Hindu shuffle is a card-shuffling method where you repeatedly lift small packets from the top of the deck and drop them into your other hand, so …
Hit (blackjack) Casino games
In blackjack, a hit is a request for one more card from the dealer, taken by tapping the table or saying 'hit'.
Hold (blackjack terms) Casino games
The cards a player chooses to keep during a hand, rather than exchanging or discarding them.
Hold percentage Odds & probability
The share of chips bought by players that a casino keeps as profit over a given period, expressed as a percentage.
Hole card meaning Advantage play
A hole card is a card dealt face down that stays hidden from other players until a later reveal.
Hole card poker Advantage play
A hole card poker situation is any poker hand in which players receive one or more face-down private cards, called hole cards, that are hidden from…
Hole carding 3 card poker Advantage play
Hole carding in Three Card Poker means spotting the dealer's hidden card and using that knowledge to decide whether to raise or fold.
Home handicap 0.5 meaning Sports betting
Home handicap 0.5, written as home -0.5, means the home team must win the match for the bet to win;
Horse betting terms Racing
Horse betting terms are the words and phrases used to describe wagers, odds, and bet types in horse racing, covering everything from how prices are…
Horse racing betting Racing
Horse racing betting is the practice of staking money on the finishing position of horses in a race.
Horse racing NS meaning Racing
In horse racing results, 'ns' is an abbreviation for 'nose', indicating the winner won by the smallest possible margin — a nose's length.
Horse racing odds explained Racing
Horse racing odds show the bookmaker's implied probability of a horse winning and the payout you receive if it does.
Horse racing program explained Racing
A printed or digital booklet given out at a race meeting that tells you which horses are running, what time each race starts, and other details you…
Horse racing terms and phrases Racing
Horse racing terms and phrases is a broad label for the specialised vocabulary used in the sport, covering jargon, idioms, and glossary terms for h…
Horse racing terms for winning Racing
In horse racing, a win bet or selection succeeds only if the chosen horse finishes first in the race.
Horse racing terms strands Racing
In horse racing, 'strands' is a non-standard term for a group of horses trained by one trainer, similar to the more common term 'string'.
Horse racing tote Racing
A horse racing tote is a betting pool where everyone who backs a horse stakes into a single pot, and after the race the pot is split among the winn…
Horse racing weights explained Racing
Horse racing weights are the total weight a horse must carry in a race, including the jockey and any equipment, set by race conditions or a handica…
Hot hand fallacy meaning Odds & probability
The hot hand fallacy is the error of believing a run of wins or hits will continue because the person or process seems to be on a streak, even when…
Hot hand meaning Odds & probability
The hot hand is the idea that a person who has just had several successes is more likely to succeed again on the next try than after a failure.
House edge Odds & probability
The house edge is the percentage of each wager the casino expects to keep as profit over the long run.
House edge baccarat vs blackjack Odds & probability
A phrase used to compare the casino's built-in advantage in baccarat and blackjack, expressed as the percentage of each bet the house expects to ke…
House edge craps vs blackjack Odds & probability
The house edge in craps varies by bet, from 0.00% on odds bets to 1.41% on the pass line, while blackjack with basic strategy typically has a house…
House edge slots Odds & probability
House edge slots is the casino's built-in statistical advantage on slot machines, expressed as the percentage of each wager the machine is expected…
House rake poker Poker
House rake is the commission a poker room takes from each pot, usually a percentage with a cap, or a flat time-based fee.
Hoyle euchre rules Card games
Hoyle euchre rules are the widely accepted standard for playing euchre, drawn from traditional Hoyle reference works rather than a separate variant.