As per normal poker rules - playing and betting proceeds in a clockwise direction.

All Players must first ante before they receive their initial cards, except the $0.50/$1 game which has no ante.

There are four betting rounds in a complete game of Five-Card Stud, not including the ante.

On the first round of betting, the Player with the lowest value door card "brings-in" and starts the betting - equal to at least half the minimum bet for the game. In proceeding rounds, the Player with the highest hand initiates the betting. If hands tie, the Player to the left of the dealer acts first.

Betting increments in the game determine the bets. In a game of $2 and $4 betting increments, the first two rounds of betting and raising are set at the lower level of $2, the other three rounds of betting and raising are set at the higher level of $4.

The maximum allowable number of bets per Player during any betting round is four. This includes a (1) bet, (2) raise, (3) re-raise, and (4) cap. The term cap is used to describe the 3rd raise in a round since betting is then capped and can't be raised further. Once capped, Players will have only the option of calling or folding.

In betting rounds where Players have folded, the first active Player left of the Disc/Dealer is first to act.

Cycle

The predicted average number of hands between similar winning hands such as a royal flush. You should remember however that this is only a prediction since the games are random and the exact time between wins will vary.

Expected Return

The average amount of money paid back based on a particular play for a particular bet. The Expected Return "ER" is determined by taking the Expected Value "EV" of a play multiplied by the amount bet.

Expected Value

EV is the average value of all of the possible outcomes for a particular play or game. In other words the predicted average payback per unit that was bet of a specific play.

Full Pay

A full pay video poker machine will offer the best payout schedule for that particular game type. For instance, the 9/6 Jacks or Better machine is full pay while the 9/5 or 8/5 versions of the game are not.

Inside Straight

Needing one card to achieve a straight and the card needed is one of the middle cards between the top and bottom of the straight. For instance, with a 3, 5, 6, 7 in your hand you would need a 4 to complete the straight. Also referred to as a gut shot draw.

Long Run

A period of time or game play where the presented odds equal predicted probability.

Open Ended Straight

Four consecutive cards requiring one at either end to make a straight. For instance, with a 4, 5, 6, 7 in your hand you would need a 3 or an 8 to complete the straight.

Optimal Play

Using a strategy designed to give you the most advantageous opportunity to win the most money for a particular game, yet not necessarily be considered perfect play.

Pat Hand

A winning hand dealt from the beginning of a hand such as a flush or straight. A hand where you should keep all five cards as no other card will improve the hand.

Payback

Often referred to as the Expected Value "EV" of a particular game. It is the return expected over the long term expressed as a percent.

Payoff

The amount of coins or credits paid for a winning hand often expressed on a per coin basis. For instance a full house might pay 45 coins on a 5 coin bet; so the payoff is 9:1 or 9 coins won for the 1 originally bet.

Payoff Schedule

The table posted on each machine showing the number of coins paid for each possible hand for each possible coin bet. Also referred to as the payout schedule or a paytable.

Payout

The amount of coins or credits paid for any given win.

Perfect Play

Playing a hand according to that particular hands highest Expected Value. Doing so over a period of time can give the player the advantage over the house. Playing perfectly is easier to do on certain games, while in others its almost impossible.

Secondary Payoff

A winning hand achieved as a result of going for a different winning hand. For instance you select to draw 2 cards to a royal flush and get dealt three of a kind; that would be a secondary non-intended goal or secondary payoff win.

Short Run

A period of time or game play where the predicted probability of a game will vary due to normal streaks and fluctuations.

Strategy Card

Is nothing more than an instruction sheet providing hints as to the best way to play a particular game and/or hand.

Zilch or Zip

Nada, nothing, a garbage hand; a hand after the deal which contains no cards worth holding.

The average gambler will be able to place a bet in a matter of minutes. The first thing the customer will do is use the link that goes to the casinos open an account page. This is where they will set up the account and their banking information on where to deposit their winnings. Gambling money can be deposited by using a credit card, electronic check, certified check, money order, or by using a wire transfer. Sports Interaction is a typical online bookmaker located on an Indian reservation in Canada. The "rules" page for this site states: "All bets are
considered to be placed and received in Kahnawake Mohawk Territory, Canada, under the authority of the license issued by the Kahnawake
Gaming Commission. Kahnawake is the place of jurisdiction and performance / fulfillment." The validity of this statement is questionable. The
homepage for this company states that the service is completely legal. Only if the customer were to read the "Help" page would he or she see
this warning: "You should check your own laws on whether or not it is legal to bet in your area. "

Following the opening of an account, the user is ready to bet. Sports Interaction allows users to place bets on an almost endless number of
games, individual performances, and future occurrences. Games that can be wagered upon include: college and professional basketball,
professional baseball, college and professional football, professional hockey, amateur and professional soccer, cricket, and rugby. Bets can
also be placed upon individual sports like professional tennis, professional golf, horse racing, automobile racing, and professional boxing.
Further, the online bookmaker also allows users to place futures bets, which are not based upon a particular contest. A good example of a
futures wager would be placing a bet in February on who would win the World Series. All of these types of bets can be made simply by clicking
on the team in which the user thinks will win the game or "cover the spread" and then entering the amount the user wishes to wager.

The next step for the online gambler depends on the result of the event. If the gambler's bet was correct, an amount (that depends on the odds of
the occurrence) is credited to his or her account automatically. The customer can choose to leave this amount in the account for future bets or
request that a check be sent to their residence. If the bet is lost, obviously, the amount of the bet is simply deducted from the user's account.