Gambling idioms all casino aficionados must know

Have you ever been down to the wire, or do you always have an ace in the hole? If so, then you are one of many people who use gambling idioms in your everyday conversations. Many phrases from games enter everyday use, and the world of gambling is no different. Below, we discuss gambling idioms all casino lovers must know.


Down to the wire

When something goes down to the wire, it means that it is a very close finish. The outcome is not certain until right at the very end. For example, if you are trying to complete a work task to a deadline, but know you will only finish it just as the deadline closes, then you could say it will go down to the wire.

This term has its roots in the world of horse racing and betting. At the finish line, a thin wire would be stretched across the posts. This would snap as the winning horse ran through it. Thus, if two competitors were in close contention it would go down to the wire. The term is now used across a range of sports and in the general English language as a saying.


Cash in your chips

To cash in your chips means to quit while you are ahead, or you are at an advantage. This usually results in the person cashing their chips in taking a profit or a reward. For example, if you are ahead and making a profit from an investment, you may decide to cash your chips in, sell your shares and make a profit while they are valuable.

All casino games use chips, so cashing them in means the same thing and it will undoubtedly have come from the casino floor. While it could be poker terminology, it is more than likely to have come from roulette. This is due to it being a predominantly luck-based game, as opposed to a skill-based one like poker. It also relies heavily on chips, as you have to physically place them on your bets. Roulette has always been a popular game and has even increased in recent years due to online casinos. Games, such as online roulette at Ignition, are easily accessible, meaning more people have begun to play which has, in turn, spread the popularity of this terminology even further.


Winner winner, chicken dinner!

This is a term that in the research, surprised even me as the writer. Winner winner chicken dinner seemed to be a fairly new term, that people use when they come out on top. It is also used as a way to express small wins or marginal gains. For example, if you go to the supermarket to buy a certain item and it has 10% off, you may cry “Winner winner, chicken dinner!” However, it is believed to have been coined over 100 years ago.

There is one theory, which is just that, in which the term originated in Las Vegas. During the Depression era, it was possible to get your hands on a full chicken dinner for $2. Thus, anyone with a win would treat themselves to a slap-up meal, the chicken dinner. However, if you have been to Vegas recently you will realize how far prices have come. You would struggle to get a glass of water for $2.


Bet the farm

To bet the farm means to be certain of something, and also be willing to make a large bet or wager on that outcome. For example, you may “Bet the farm” on your kids spilling a drink you have just given them, or you may “Bet the farm” on a person at work going for a promotion.

This term has two possible starting points. The first is that back in the days of the frontier, gamblers would bet on the farm to pay off gambling debts. As many of them had land as an asset, it would be used to gamble in very high-stakes games.

Another theory is that farming itself is a gamble, and this is where the term comes from. The climate, changing commodity prices, and when to plant, harvest and manage livestock were all a gamble, especially in days gone by when a bad crop could mean starvation as well as bankruptcy.

There are plenty of gambling terms not included in this article. More common ones such as “Ace in the Hole” and “Up the Stakes”. However, the ones included here all have a mysterious or interesting history, some of which may be uncertain. Next time you hear them, you will know where they came from and you may even be able to impress players at the casino table with it.