A term used when a player runs out of money during a gambling session. It’s a slang term borrowed from broader usage—like in combat sports, where “tapping out” signals surrender—but in gambling, it specifically refers to hitting the financial limit of what you’re able or willing to wager. When someone “taps out,” they’ve either lost all their funds at the table or depleted their bankroll entirely, leaving them unable to keep playing unless they get more money.
For example, a poker player might “tap out” after losing their last chips in a cash game and either leave the table or “rebuy” if the game allows it. In a broader casino sense, someone might say they “tapped out” after blowing their budget across slots, blackjack, or other games.
This term can also occasionally be used to describe a player who decides to leave the table voluntarily after losing a substantial amount of money, even if they still have some chips left. The decision to tap out may be motivated by a desire to limit further losses or simply to take a break from the game.
It’s not an official casino rule or mechanic (like “tapping the table” to signal a hit in blackjack isn’t the same thing), but rather a casual way to describe going broke during a session. Some players use it humorously, others with a bit of resignation. If you hear it at a table, it’s usually a sign someone’s night just took a turn—or ended.
