Chips & Truths No spin. Just the math.

Core Casino Math

44 pages · Part of Casino Jargon
Glossary Definition
House Edge
A plain-English definition of house edge, how it works, why it matters, and how players usually misunderstand it.
Glossary Definition
Expected Value
Expected value explained in plain English for casino bets, player decisions, and long-run gambling math.
Glossary Definition
RTP
RTP explained as the player-side percentage of casino game math, with examples for slots, table games, and house edge.
Glossary Definition
Variance
Variance explained in plain English for casino results, bankroll swings, RTP, house edge, and player behavior.
Glossary Definition
Standard Deviation
Standard deviation explained in plain English for casino swings, simulations, bankroll planning, and expected results.
Glossary Definition
Volatility
A plain-English definition of volatility, why it creates big swings, and how it differs from RTP, variance, and hit frequency.
Glossary Definition
Probability
A plain-English definition of probability, with casino examples from dice, roulette, cards, odds, and player mistakes.
Glossary Definition
Odds
A plain-English definition of odds, how odds differ from probability, and why payout odds are not always true odds.
Glossary Definition
True Odds
A plain-English definition of true odds, with examples from roulette, craps, side bets, and casino payout design.
Glossary Definition
Payout Odds
A plain-English definition of payout odds, how they differ from true odds, and how short payouts create house edge.
Glossary Definition
Payout Percentage
A plain-English guide to payout percentage, how it differs from house edge, RTP, payback percentage, and real session results.
Glossary Definition
Payback Percentage
A clear definition of payback percentage, how it relates to RTP, payout percentage, house edge, and real casino results.
Glossary Definition
Expected Loss
A plain-English definition of expected loss, with formulas, examples, casino-side context, and common player mistakes.
Glossary Definition
Theoretical Loss
A clear casino-side definition of theoretical loss, how it feeds comps, and why it differs from actual wins or losses.
Glossary Definition
Theo
A plain-English definition of theo, how casinos use it for player ratings and comps, and why it differs from actual loss.
Glossary Definition
House Advantage
A plain-English definition of house advantage, how it connects to house edge, RTP, expected loss, and casino-side game pricing.
Glossary Definition
Edge
Edge explained in plain English: casino edge, player edge, negative expectation, positive expectation, and why the direction matters.
Glossary Definition
Negative Expectation
Negative expectation explained for casino players: why most bets have an average cost, how it differs from losing every session, and why volume matters.
Glossary Definition
Positive Expectation
Positive expectation explained carefully: what a player edge means, why it is rare in casinos, and why positive EV is not a guaranteed win.
Glossary Definition
Risk of Ruin
Risk of ruin explained in plain English: bankroll failure risk, bet sizing, variance, edge, session planning, and why survival matters.
Glossary Definition
Bankroll
A plain-English definition of bankroll, why it matters, how casinos view it, and how it connects to risk, bet size, and session control.
Glossary Definition
Unit
A plain-English definition of a betting unit and how it helps players compare bet size, bankroll risk, and casino results.
Glossary Definition
Unit Size
A plain-English guide to unit size, how it differs from a unit, and why it affects bankroll survival, swings, and expected loss.
Glossary Definition
Bet Sizing
A plain-English explanation of bet sizing in casino games, including bankroll risk, expected loss, player rating, and common mistakes.
Glossary Definition
Action
A plain-English definition of action in casino math, player ratings, comps, expected loss, and casino operations.
Glossary Definition
Total Action
A plain-English definition of total action in casino math, ratings, expected loss, and player value.
Glossary Definition
Stake
A practical definition of stake in casino betting, bankroll control, expected value, and risk.
Glossary Definition
Wagering
A practical definition of wagering in casino games, bonus terms, expected loss, action, and responsible gambling.
Glossary Definition
Long Run
A plain-English definition of the long run in casino math, house edge, variance, and player expectations.
Glossary Definition
Short-Term Variance
A plain-English definition of short-term variance in casino sessions, slots, table games, bankroll swings, and house edge.
Glossary Definition
Probability Distribution
A plain-English definition of probability distribution in casino math, odds, variance, RTP, and game outcomes.
Glossary Definition
Sample Size
A plain-English definition of sample size in casino math, variance, RTP, player sessions, and game reporting.
Glossary Definition
Confidence Interval
A plain-English definition of confidence interval in casino math, slot testing, game reporting, and statistical estimates.
Glossary Definition
Outlier
A plain-English definition of outlier in casino math, player sessions, game reports, jackpots, and variance.
Glossary Definition
Simulation
A plain-English definition of simulation in casino math, RTP testing, strategy checks, variance, and risk analysis.
Glossary Definition
Monte Carlo Simulation
A plain-English definition of Monte Carlo simulation in casino math, bankroll risk, RTP checks, and strategy testing.
Glossary Definition
Hit Frequency
A plain-English definition of hit frequency in slots, table games, RTP, volatility, and player expectations.
Glossary Definition
Cycle
A plain-English definition of cycle in casino math, average recurrence, slots, dice, cards, and player misconceptions.
Glossary Definition
Win Rate
A plain-English definition of win rate in casino math, player results, house win, advantage play, and reporting.
Glossary Definition
Loss Rate
A plain-English definition of loss rate in casino math, expected loss, house edge, game speed, and bankroll planning.
Glossary Definition
Decisions Per Hour
Decisions per hour measures how many wagering outcomes you face in an hour of casino play.
Glossary Definition
Hands Per Hour
Hands per hour measures how many completed card-game hands are played in one hour.
Glossary Definition
Spins Per Hour
Spins per hour measures how many slot or roulette spins a player completes in one hour.
Glossary Definition
Session Length
Session length is how long a player spends in one period of casino play.
Play smart. Gambling involves real financial risk. If the game stops being entertainment, it's time to stop playing.