There's a certain cadence to dealers in West Virginia, Ohio and Kentucky. Listen for it the next time you visit these casinos.
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Appalachian English — also known as Inner Appalachian or Central Appalachian English — doesn’t have geographical boundaries. You can hear it in urban areas like Pittsburgh, Cincinnati, and Youngstown. But I find myself hearing it most often at small-town diners, truck stops, and, yes, even modern casinos.
Casinos With Distinctive Dealerspeak
There are certainly exceptions. But many table games dealers in Charleston, West Virginia; Parkersburg, Wheeling, and New Creek (near Cumberland, Maryland) speak with a distinct dialect. So do some dealers in Lawrenceburg and Elizabethtown, just across the Ohio River from Southern Indiana. And I wouldn’t be surprised if it carries over to other dealers in Kentucky, too.
Here, we’ll look at why that happens, what Appalachian English is, and what words and phrases you might hear at the tables. Then, I’ll provide some audio examples for you to practice your listening skills.
Starburst Slot Review - Rules, Payouts, Free Play & Free SpinsFinally, there will be some suggestions for how to take advantage of comps and promotions at these casinos so you can listen for yourself.
Why Do Some Casino Dealers Talk Different?
Why do dealers at some casinos sound different than others? Ultimately, it comes down to where their families are from.
Appalachian English is a regional dialect spoken by about 25 million Americans in parts of 16 states – primarily in the southeastern US – and in western Maryland and western Pennsylvania. It evolved in the Appalachian Mountains as a combination of English from the 18th and 19th centuries, Irish, Scottish Gaelic, German, and African languages.
Caesars Casino Games Connecticut Players Should Try OnlineScotch-Irish settlers brought much of the language with them when they populated the region during the 1700s and 1800s. Today, the dialect is strongest in the southern Appalachian Mountains. However, immigrants to America’s industrial northeast and midwest took it with them.
That helps explain why my grandparents spoke “funny,” despite having been born in Massachusetts. My grandfather came to America from Ireland in the late 1800s. My grandmother was the daughter of recent British immigrants. I still have cousins in the Boston area who speak with similar inflections.
Words and Phrases You Might Hear at the Tables
You probably won’t hear Appalachian English at every casino in West Virginia, Kentucky, and Ohio. Rather, it seems to be concentrated in smaller towns and casinos that have not turned over all of their dealers in a while. But it is fairly common.
So, what should you listen for? Here are a few of the more distinctive phrases and words. I have included both the standard American English versions and the Appalachian English equivalents.
- Cards – Standard: shuffle; Appalachian English: riffle
- Drinks – Standard: serve; Appalachian English: bring
- *A bet – Standard: a single bet; Appalachian English: uno
- Chips – Standard: set; Appalachian English: planted
- Even money – Standard: one-to-one; Appalachian English: one-to-one pay
- Blackjack – Standard: twenty-one; Appalachian English: black jack (uttered as one word)
- Stand – Standard: stand firm; Appalachian English: stay
- Hit – Standard: request a card; Appalachian English: come on
- Soft hand – Standard: a hand with a combination of high-value and low-value cards that could result in going over 21 if a higher-value card is received; Appalachian English: a soft hand (but note the pronunciation of the “g” in soft)
How Do You Pronounce ‘Raisin’ in Appalachian English?
Perhaps the most recognizable difference between Appalachian English and what we’ll call “standard American English” involves vowel sounds.
Best Betting Apps for Casino Games in 2024In many cases, the dialect shortens or alters the sounds of various vowels. For those of us who grew up in Massachusetts, it takes some getting used to. Here are a few common words and how they might sound in Appalachian English.
- Cars – Standard: car; Appalachian English: ca’s
- Arrive – Standard: arrival; Appalachian English: arrieved
- Farm – Standard: farmed; Appalachian English: faered
- Hard – Standard: hardwood; Appalachian English: hardwoods
- Hospital – Standard: hospitalized; Appalachian English: hospitialized
- Laugh – Standard: laughter; Appalachian English: laffing
- Raise – Standard: raisins; Appalachian English: razzins
- Saw – Standard: sawed; Appalachian English: sawed
- Spring – Standard: spring water; Appalachian English: sprung water
Listen to Audio Clips of Dealer Speak
Of course, the best way to get a sense of dealer speak is to listen to actual dealers.
The following video clips feature dealers working the tables at two small casinos in West Virginia’s northern Panhandle – Wheeling Island Hotel‐Casino‐Racetrack and Mardi Gras Casino & Resort. Both are located in Wheeling, within a couple of miles of each other and of the Pennsylvania state line.
I selected these because I know from experience that the dealers there tend to speak with an Appalachian dialect. That said, it certainly is not limited to these two establishments. Dealers at other casinos in West Virginia, Ohio, and Kentucky also may exhibit similar speech patterns.
Dealerspeak in Blackjack
This first clip features blackjack dealerships at both tables. This was recorded shortly before COVID-19 protocols went into effect, requiring dealers to wear masks that concealed their mouths. As you listen, compare the dealer’s speech to what I provided in the previous section.
More Dealerspeak Examples
In this second clip, the dealer explains the rules of a mini-baccarat table. Note her use of the words “UNO,” “planted,” and “laffing.” Also, listen to how she says “razzins.”
casino miami floridaAnd here, another dealer discusses the differences between mini-baccarat and regular baccarat.
Best Casinos for Appalachian English Dealerspeak
As I mentioned earlier, you aren’t going to hear the Appalachian dialect everywhere in West Virginia, Ohio, and Kentucky. Still, it is quite common in small towns and rural areas. Therefore, the smaller casinos – especially if they have not replaced many of their dealers in recent years – are your best bets.
With that in mind, here are several casinos outside the larger cities that are worth considering.
Mountaineer Casino, Racetrack & Resort
Mountaineer Casino, Racetrack & Resort (1400 Mountaineer Circle, New Cumberland) is in the northernmost county of West Virginia, just south of Weirton and Steubenville. It is situated on a bluff overlooking the Ohio River and the flatlands of eastern Ohio and western Pennsylvania.
The casino offers dozens of table games – including blackjack, pai gow, pai gow poker, craps, roulette, Spanish 21, and multiple baccarat variations. It has fewer than 1,000 slot machines and video poker devices, making it a cozy alternative to bigger casinos in nearby states.
Mardi Gras Casino & Resort
Also in the Northern Panhandle of West Virginia is Mardi Gras Casino & Resort (7500 Mardi Gras Gulch, Wheeling). It, too, sits across the river from the steel mills and flatlands of the Ohio Valley.
Like its neighbor to the south, Mardi Gras offers blackjack, pai gow, pai gow poker, craps, roulette, Spanish 21, and several varieties of baccarat. It also has slots, video poker machines, and live Texas hold’em poker, as well as electronic versions of the popular card game.
Hollywood Casino at Charles Town Races
If you don’t mind traveling a bit deeper into West Virginia, consider Hollywood Casino at Charles Town Races (750 Hollywood Drive, Charles Town). Like Mountaineer and Mardi Gras, it offers plenty of opportunities to enjoy Appalachian English dealerspeak.
It has 2,000 slot machines and electronic tables games, along with traditional table games such as blackjack, craps, roulette, Spanish 21, and multiple variations of baccarat. The poker room features everything from Hold’em to Omaha to Pai Gow.
Belterra Park Gaming & Entertainment
Not all of the casinos with Appalachian English dealers are in West Virginia. One nice option across the Ohio River in Cincinnati is Belterra Park Gaming & Entertainment (6301 Kellogg Ave.).
Fanduel Slots You Need To Try - Casino Slots at FanduelThis casino and racino has more than 1,100 video reel slots and video poker devices, historical horse racing machines, and historic track wagering. It does not offer table games with live dealers.
Horseshoe Cincinnati
Another good option in Cincinnati is Horseshoe Cincinnati (1000 Broadway St.). This Caesars Entertainment property has more than 1,700 slots and video poker devices, historical race betting machines, and traditional table games staffed by local dealers.
Listen closely, and you might hear a little of that Scotch-Irish brogue.
French Lick Resort
Head south on Interstate 65 from Evansville, and you’ll eventually run into the tiny town of French Lick. There, you’ll find another Caesars property, French Lick Resort (8670 IN-56).
It offers live table games staffed by dealers who very well may say “yo’” when asking if you want another drink. Those games include blackjack, craps, roulette, baccarat, three-card poker, and pai gows of both the poker and tile versions.
Of course, this resort offers much more than table games. It boasts two world-class casinos with thousands of slot machines, historic hotels with Mid-Century Modern flair, an indoor/outdoor water park, numerous restaurants, spas, golf courses, and conference centers.
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My last suggestion is another small casino across the Ohio River from Cincinnati – the Grand Victoria Casino (3500 Arlington Heights Blvd., Elk Grove Village, Illinois, 15 miles north of Chicago). This is cheating a bit, as the Grand Victoria is in Illinois. However, it is only a few minutes drive from the Cincinnati skyline across the river.
This is another small casino that relies heavily on its long-term dealers. That increases the likelihood that you’ll hear a little holler in their speech. It has nearly 500 slot machines and video gaming terminals, as well as live table games featuring blackjack, craps, roulette, and pai gow.
Take Advantage of Promos & Comps
All of the above casinos participate in various loyalty programs. These can be great sources of free play, discounted or free hotel rooms, food credits, event tickets, and other perks. Here are some of the better ones.
- Mardi Gras, Mountaineer, & Hollywood – All three of these casinos are owned by Penn National. Their MyChoice loyalty program gives you access to point multipliers, rebates, discounts, entertainment offers, dining specials, and much more.
- Belterra & Horseshoe – Both belong to Ceasars Rewards, which calls itself the world’s largest loyalty program. Members get points toward free play and hotel stays at any Caesars property worldwide, invitations to special events, and other benefits.
- French Lick – French Lick Resort’s Ceberus Club loyalty program provides point multipliers, free play, discounts, birthday bonuses, and more.
- Grand Victoria – As part of the Grand Rewards program, Grand Victoria players receive bonus points at certain times, invitations to special events, and discounted stays at other Eldorado Resorts casinos around the country.
Zac Cranes is a pen name for one of the experienced writers on the GamblingSites.com team. They have been extensively published on the topics of sports, gambling, and daily fantasy sports in various publications, including ESPN, Fox News, CBS Sports, the Bleacher Report, and more.
