# Banco

/ˈbæŋkoʊ/ (US) · CEFR C2 · Noun

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/banco
Updated: 2026-08-15

## Definition

a player or dealer who holds the money in certain card games. In games like baccarat, you say this word to show you want to bet against the house.

For teachers: the bank or the player acting as the banker in specific gambling games, particularly baccarat. Often used as a call to indicate a player's intention to match the entire current bank amount.

## Examples

- The player called banco to challenge the dealer.
- In the high-stakes room, a seasoned gambler shouted banco to bet against the entire sum held by the house.
- The tension at the table peaked when the challenger declared banco, effectively wagering a sum equal to the dealer's total stake in a single decisive hand.

## Usage notes

- Often used as an interjection or a call in the context of casino games like Baccarat or Chemin de Fer.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.