Reference · Updated 2026

The casino wiki

Every gambling term worth knowing, in one place. This glossary covers online and land-based casino terminology, from wagering requirements to house edge to hand rankings. Terms are alphabetised for quick reference and colour-tagged by category. Where a term connects to specific pages we cover elsewhere on the site (like low wagering bonuses or live casino operators), we link through. If a term you want isn't here, tell us via contact and we'll add it.

Slots Table games Poker Bonuses Regulation Payments Sports betting Responsible gambling General

A

Aggregator

General

A software platform that provides casinos access to game libraries from multiple studios through a single integration point. Casinos use aggregators (Softswiss, EveryMatrix, Relax Gaming's Silver Bullet) to expand library size rapidly without negotiating individual deals with every studio.

All-in

Poker

Betting the entirety of one's remaining chip stack in a single action. The player can only win from any opponent up to the amount matched from their own stack; overflow chips create side pots between other players still in the hand.

Ante

Table games

A mandatory bet placed before cards are dealt in games like Three Card Poker, Caribbean Stud, or in tournament poker after the first level. Distinct from a bet placed during the hand.

Aristocrat

Slots

Australian gaming manufacturer whose land-based pokies (Buffalo, Dragon Link, Lightning Link) heavily influenced online slot design. Digital versions of many Aristocrat titles run at select online casinos, particularly those serving the Australian market.

Autoplay

Slots

A slot feature that allows the player to set a number of consecutive spins to be played automatically without clicking spin each time. Typically capped at 100 spins per activation; some regulators (including UKGC) have restricted or banned autoplay entirely.

B

Baccarat

Table games

A comparing card game where the player bets on whether the "player" hand, the "banker" hand, or a "tie" will have a total closest to 9. Historically favoured by high rollers due to its low house edge on player (1.24%) and banker (1.06%) bets.

Bankroll

General

The total amount of money a player has set aside for gambling. Sound bankroll management involves setting session limits, never wagering more than a small percentage on any single bet, and treating the bankroll as sunk cost rather than money to be recovered.

Bank transfer

Payments

A withdrawal method where casino winnings are sent directly to the player's bank account. Typically the slowest method (3-5 business days) but supports the largest transaction sizes and is universally available.

Basic strategy

Table games

The mathematically optimal set of decisions for a blackjack player given only their two cards and the dealer's upcard. Following basic strategy correctly reduces house edge to below 1% at standard rulesets; deviations cost significantly more than most players realise.

Bet Behind

Table games

A feature at some live-dealer tables allowing a spectator to place a bet backing an active player's hand without participating in the decisions. The result follows whatever the active player chose to do.

Betting exchange

Sports betting

A platform where players bet against each other rather than against a bookmaker. The exchange takes a commission on winning bets (typically 2-5%) rather than building margin into odds. Betfair is the largest example.

Big blind

Poker

The larger of two mandatory bets in Texas Hold'em, posted by the player two seats left of the dealer button. Equal to the minimum table bet and used to describe stake sizes (e.g., a "£1/£2" game has a £1 small blind and £2 big blind).

Bitcoin (BTC)

Payments

The original cryptocurrency, launched in 2009. Accepted at most crypto casinos, though slower to confirm than newer altcoins like USDT-Tron. Typical casino deposit confirmation: 20-40 minutes; withdrawal: 40-90 minutes.

Blackjack

Table games

A card game where the player attempts to beat the dealer by achieving a hand total closest to 21 without exceeding it. "Blackjack" itself is an Ace with any 10-value card on the initial deal, paying 3:2 (or in poor variants, 6:5).

Blackjack Switch

Table games

A blackjack variant where the player is dealt two hands and may switch the top card of each hand once before playing. Compensates house with modified rules (dealer 22 pushes on unbusted player hands, blackjack pays 1:1).

Blinds

Poker

Mandatory bets posted by two players seated left of the dealer button in Texas Hold'em (the small blind and big blind). Blinds create a starting pot each hand and rotate around the table.

Bonus abuse

Bonuses

Any pattern of play designed primarily to extract value from bonus offers rather than to play games entertainingly. Includes creating multiple accounts, playing prohibited games during wagering, and betting patterns that only make sense for locking in bonus value. Operators void bonuses and winnings when abuse is detected.

Bonus balance

Bonuses

The portion of a player's total account balance made up of bonus funds subject to wagering requirements. Wagering must complete before the bonus balance converts to cash and becomes withdrawable. Separated from the cash balance in most cashiers.

Bonus buy

Slots

A slot feature where the player pays a multiple of their base bet (typically 60-100x) to trigger the bonus round immediately rather than waiting for it to trigger naturally. Not available at UK-licensed operators due to UKGC restrictions.

Bonus code

Bonuses

An alphanumeric code entered at deposit or promotion opt-in to activate a specific offer. Some casinos require codes for offers advertised on partner sites; others activate promotions automatically at first qualifying deposit.

Bonus hunter

Bonuses

A player whose primary strategy is claiming welcome and reload bonuses across many casinos, working through wagering requirements systematically to lock in mathematical edge. Distinct from a bonus abuser: the play is legitimate but heavily volume-focused.

Bookmaker

Sports betting

An operator that accepts bets on sporting events and other outcomes. Bookmakers build margin into their odds; the amount of margin varies by market (low on major football lines, high on obscure prop bets) and by operator.

BPAY

Payments

An Australian bill payment system also accepted by many offshore casinos targeting AU players. Fast for deposits, typically 1-3 business days for withdrawals. Alternative to PayID and card at Australia-facing casinos.

Buy-in

Poker

The amount of money a player brings to a poker cash game, or the entry fee for a tournament. In tournaments, the buy-in is split between the prize pool and the operator's fee (rake).

C

Cage

General

The physical location at a land-based casino where chips are exchanged for cash and vice versa. In online contexts, "cage" sometimes refers to the withdrawal processing team.

Card counting

Table games

The practice of tracking cards dealt from a blackjack shoe to inform betting and playing decisions. Legal but disfavoured by casinos; live-dealer online studios reshuffle after each hand or use continuous shufflers to defeat counters.

Cashback

Bonuses

A promotional refund of a percentage of net losses over a defined period, typically weekly. Cashback usually credits with zero wagering, making it more valuable per dollar than matched-deposit offers.

See: Best cashback bonuses

Cashier

General

The interface where players deposit, withdraw, and manage payment methods. Cashier speed and rail options substantially affect the player experience beyond the games themselves.

Chargeback

Payments

A reversal of a card payment initiated by the player through their bank. Chargebacks against gambling deposits result in account closure at any legitimate operator, and often blacklisting across the operator's group.

Cluster Pays

Slots

A slot mechanic where wins occur from groups of matching symbols touching each other, rather than from left-to-right on paylines. Popularised by NetEnt (Aloha! Cluster Pays) and adopted broadly in modern high-volatility slots.

Comp

General

A complimentary reward from a casino, typically at land-based venues (free rooms, meals, show tickets) but also online (deposit matches, free spins) tied to activity level.

Craps

Table games

A dice game where players bet on the outcome of a shooter's rolls. Craps has one of the lowest house edges in the casino when the correct bets are made (Pass Line + free odds at 1.4%) and one of the highest when they aren't (Any 7 at 16.7%).

Crypto casino

General

A casino that accepts cryptocurrency deposits and withdrawals. Crypto casinos are typically faster on withdrawal timing than fiat operators due to blockchain settlement speeds rather than banking system delays.

See: Best crypto casinos

CRUKS

Regulation

Central Register of Excluded Persons (Netherlands). Operators licensed by the Netherlands Gambling Authority (Kansspelautoriteit) must check every player against CRUKS. Casinos operating without a Dutch licence do not check the register.

See: Casino Zonder CRUKS

Curaçao licence

Regulation

The most common offshore casino licence in the global market, issued by the Curaçao Gaming Control Board (GCB). Curaçao licences offer meaningful regulatory oversight and dispute resolution, though less rigorous than UKGC or MGA. Reformed substantially in 2024.

D

Dealer

General

The casino employee (or live-dealer studio operator) who conducts a table game: dealing cards, spinning wheels, or handling dice. Live-dealer online games use real dealers streamed from studio locations (Evolution, Pragmatic Live, Playtech Live).

Deposit

Payments

Adding funds to a casino account. Minimum deposits typically range from £10/A$10 at accessible operators to £50+ at high-roller-focused sites. Deposit methods include card, e-wallet, bank transfer, cryptocurrency, and regional systems (PayID, BPAY, POLi, Trustly).

Deposit bonus

Bonuses

A promotional match added to a player's balance after they make a qualifying deposit, subject to wagering requirements. Also called a "match bonus." Structures vary from 100% first-deposit matches to multi-deposit staged welcome packages.

See: Welcome bonuses ranked

Deposit limit

Responsible gambling

A responsible-gambling tool allowing a player to set a maximum daily, weekly, or monthly deposit ceiling on their account. Reductions typically take effect immediately; increases have cooling-off periods (usually 24 hours) before taking effect.

Dolly

Table games

The marker placed by the dealer on the winning number in roulette to indicate the outcome. No bets may be added or removed until the dolly is lifted for the next round.

Double down

Table games

A blackjack option to double the original bet in exchange for exactly one additional card. Optimal on hard 11 against most dealer upcards, hard 10 against 2-9, and specific soft totals depending on the ruleset.

Double zero (00)

Table games

A second green pocket on American roulette wheels, increasing the house edge to 5.26% compared to European roulette's 2.7%. Reason enough to prefer European roulette wherever both are available.

E

eCOGRA

Regulation

Independent testing agency that audits casino RNGs and games for fairness. eCOGRA certification carried by a casino indicates third-party oversight of game outcomes and player dispute resolution.

Ethereum (ETH)

Payments

The second-largest cryptocurrency by market cap. Casino deposits typically confirm in 10-15 minutes, though gas fees on the Ethereum mainnet can vary significantly with network congestion.

European roulette

Table games

Roulette wheel with numbers 0-36 (single zero). House edge is 2.7% on non-zero bets, half of American roulette's 5.26%. Always preferable to American where available.

Even money

General

A bet that pays 1:1 (double the stake back on win). Common in roulette on red/black, odd/even, and high/low bets; also refers to blackjack insurance when player has blackjack.

Expected value (EV)

General

The mathematical average of a bet or session, calculated by multiplying each possible outcome by its probability. Negative EV (which describes almost all casino games) means the bet loses money on average over infinite play.

E-wallet

Payments

An intermediate payment service (Skrill, Neteller, ecoPayz, MuchBetter) that stores funds and processes casino transactions faster than direct bank transfers. Often excluded from welcome bonus eligibility to prevent bonus abuse.

F

Face cards

Table games

The Jack, Queen, and King in a standard deck. In blackjack, all face cards count as 10; in baccarat, they count as 0. In poker, they carry face-value rank (J-K).

First deposit bonus

Bonuses

Synonym for welcome bonus: the promotional match applied to a new player's first qualifying deposit. Highest-value offer typically available to any account.

Flop

Poker

The first three community cards dealt in Texas Hold'em, following the initial hole cards and preflop betting round. All three cards are dealt simultaneously face-up.

Fold

Poker

Discarding one's hand in poker, forfeiting any chips already placed in the pot and any further participation in the current hand.

Free spins

Bonuses

Slot spins credited to a player's account at zero cost, typically as part of a welcome package or reload offer. Winnings from free spins are usually subject to wagering requirements at the same rate as the matched bonus. Rare exceptions credit spin winnings directly as cash.

See: Best free spins bonuses

G

Gamble feature

Slots

An optional slot mini-game (typically red/black or high/low card) offered after a win, allowing the player to double or lose the winnings on a single guess. Removed from most UK-licensed slots by regulator direction.

GambleAware

Responsible gambling

UK charity providing support for problem gambling and funding treatment services. Contact 0808 8020 133 (24/7) or gambleaware.org.

GamCare

Responsible gambling

UK organisation running the National Gambling Helpline. Offers free confidential support to anyone affected by gambling harm through phone, chat, and forum services.

Game contribution

Bonuses

The percentage of wagering on a specific game type that counts toward a bonus's work-through requirement. Slots typically contribute 100%; table games and live casino 10-20%; some games 0%. Reading the contribution table is essential before choosing what to play during work-through.

GamStop

Responsible gambling

UK's national self-exclusion scheme covering all UKGC-licensed operators. Registering with GamStop bans the player from all UK-licensed casinos for the chosen period (6 months, 1 year, or 5 years).

See: Non-GamStop casinos

H

Hand pay

Slots

A land-based casino jackpot large enough that the win cannot be paid by the slot machine itself and requires an attendant to pay in cash. Also refers to the tax paperwork completed at this threshold in the US ($1,200+).

High roller

General

A player who wagers substantially above typical stakes. The exact threshold varies by operator but generally starts around £5,000 or A$10,000 in monthly wagering. VIP programmes are designed around high-roller players.

See: Best high-roller casinos

Hit

Table games

In blackjack, requesting an additional card. Continues until the player stands, doubles, or exceeds 21 (busts).

Hold and Win

Slots

A slot mechanic where designated "money symbols" that land during a bonus round stick in place while remaining reels respin for further chances at matching symbols. Popularised by Pragmatic Play's Big Bass series.

House edge

General

The percentage mathematical advantage the casino has over the player on any given wager, calculated over infinite play. Ranges from around 0.5% (single-deck blackjack with basic strategy) to over 15% (some slot machines and side bets).

I

Immersive Roulette

Table games

Evolution Gaming's flagship live-roulette product, filmed with multiple camera angles including slow-motion replays of the ball landing. Named for its cinematic presentation.

In-play betting

Sports betting

Placing sports wagers after an event has begun, with odds updating in real time based on current state of play. Banned at Australian-licensed sportsbooks (the Interactive Gambling Act requires phone-in for in-play) but available at offshore operators.

Instant play

General

Casino games playable directly in a browser without downloading dedicated software. Standard since 2010 as HTML5 replaced Flash; smartphone browsers now handle full casino lobbies without app installation.

Insurance

Table games

A side bet in blackjack offered when the dealer's upcard is an Ace, paying 2:1 if the dealer's hole card is a 10. Basic strategy universally rejects insurance as its expected value is negative for anyone not counting cards.

J

Jackpot

Slots

The top prize on a slot machine, either fixed or progressive. Progressive jackpots accumulate a percentage of every wager across a game network into a growing pool that resets to a seed value when won.

Junket

General

A tour package for high-roller players, typically to Macau or other major gambling destinations, arranged by third-party operators who receive commissions from the casino. Less common in the online context.

K

Keno

General

A lottery-style game where players choose numbers and hope they match those drawn. House edge is typically 15-30%, making keno one of the worst-value casino games mathematically. Still popular for its low buy-in and jackpot possibility.

KYC (Know Your Customer)

Regulation

The identity verification process required before withdrawing casino winnings. Typically requires photo ID and proof of address dated within 90 days. KYC times range from under an hour at fast operators to 5+ days at slow ones.

L

La Partage

Table games

A French roulette rule refunding half of an even-money bet when the ball lands on zero. Reduces house edge on those bets to 1.35% from the standard 2.7%.

Land-based casino

General

A physical casino building, as opposed to online. Land-based casinos generate revenue from slot machines, table games, and often hospitality (rooms, dining, entertainment). Also called "brick-and-mortar."

Licence

Regulation

The regulatory authorisation an operator holds from a gambling authority. Common licences include UKGC (UK), MGA (Malta), Curaçao GCB (offshore standard), IOM GSC (Isle of Man), and Kahnawake (Canada). Different licences carry different player-protection standards.

Lightning Roulette

Table games

Evolution Gaming's electrified live-roulette variant where randomly selected numbers each round pay 50x to 500x if hit. First and most-imitated of the multiplier-roulette genre.

Live dealer

Table games

Casino games streamed in real time from a studio (or occasionally a land-based casino) with human dealers and physical equipment (cards, wheels, dice). Distinct from RNG-based table games that generate outcomes via software.

See: Best live casino sites

Loose slot

Slots

Slang for a slot machine with a higher RTP than the studio's other titles or higher than the operator's average. "Loose" and "tight" are colloquial rather than technical terms; the actual RTP displayed in the game info panel is what matters.

Low-wagering bonus

Bonuses

A welcome or reload offer with wagering requirements of 35x or lower on the bonus amount. Genuinely rare in the market; 25x is exceptional, 35x is standard-fair, 40x is common, 45x is punitive.

See: Best low-wagering bonuses

Loyalty program

General

A points-based reward system where players accumulate credit as they wager, converting points into cash, free spins, or other perks. Distinct from tiered VIP programmes though often integrated with them.

M

Martingale system

General

A betting strategy where the player doubles the stake after each loss on even-money wagers. Sounds mathematically compelling but fails in practice due to table limits and finite bankrolls: a run of 10 losses at £10 base requires £10,240 for the eleventh bet.

Match bonus

Bonuses

Synonym for deposit bonus: the promotional credit added at a percentage of the qualifying deposit. Written as "100% up to £500" (matches the deposit £-for-£ up to £500) or similar formats.

Maximum bet

Bonuses

The largest single bet allowed during wagering requirement work-through. Typically £5 or A$5 per spin. Bets above the cap can void the bonus and any winnings, even if the wagering completes.

Maximum cashout

Bonuses

The largest amount a player can withdraw from winnings derived from a specific bonus. A £10 no-deposit bonus with £50 maximum cashout means winnings above £50 are voided at withdrawal request.

Megaways

Slots

A slot mechanic licensed from Big Time Gaming featuring variable reel heights that generate up to 117,649 ways to win per spin. Deployed in hundreds of titles across major studios (Pragmatic, Blueprint, Big Time Gaming's own catalogue).

MGA (Malta Gaming Authority)

Regulation

The Malta-based regulator whose licence is widely considered the second-most rigorous in the industry after the UKGC. MGA operators serve most EU markets and carry substantive player-protection requirements.

See: MGA-licensed casinos

Mini-baccarat

Table games

A faster-paced, lower-stakes baccarat variant where the dealer handles all card exchanges, reducing round times. Standard format in online baccarat and low-stakes tables at land-based casinos.

Minimum deposit

Payments

The smallest deposit accepted by an operator's cashier. Typical values: £10-£25 depending on the operator's market focus. Some payment methods may have separate minimums (e.g., crypto deposits often require larger amounts due to network fees).

Multi-hand blackjack

Table games

Blackjack format allowing the player to play multiple hands simultaneously against the same dealer hand, speeding session pace. Common in RNG blackjack; less common in live-dealer play.

Multiplier

Slots

A slot feature that multiplies wins by a stated factor. Multipliers may be fixed, variable (drawn randomly during bonus), sticky (persist across free spins), or progressive (increase with consecutive wins).

N

Natural

Table games

In blackjack, an Ace + any 10-value card on the initial deal (also called "blackjack" or "21"). In baccarat, a total of 8 or 9 from the initial two cards on either hand, ending the round immediately.

No-deposit bonus

Bonuses

Bonus credit or free spins credited without requiring a qualifying deposit. Rare at legitimate operators in 2026. Where offered, terms tend to be hostile: high wagering (60x+), low maximum cashout caps, and restrictive game selection.

Nolimit City

Slots

Sweden-based slot studio known for extreme-volatility mechanics and dark themes. Titles like Punk Rocker, Mental, and Fire in the Hole set the modern high-volatility standard. Acquired by Evolution Gaming in 2022.

Non-GamStop casino

Regulation

A casino operating without a UKGC licence and therefore not required to check the GamStop self-exclusion register. Popular with UK players who have self-excluded but wish to continue playing.

See: Best Non-GamStop casinos UK

O

Odds

Sports betting

The numerical representation of a bet's payout relative to its probability. Fractional (5/1), decimal (6.00), and American (+500) formats all express the same underlying odds. Preference by region: fractional in UK, decimal in most of Europe, American in North America.

Off-strip

General

Las Vegas casinos located outside the Las Vegas Strip. Often carry higher table-game limits and looser slot RTPs to attract locals over tourists.

Online casino

General

A gambling operator delivering games through the internet rather than at a physical location. First launched in the mid-1990s; now the dominant gambling channel in most regulated markets by revenue.

P

Pai Gow Poker

Table games

A table game combining Chinese Pai Gow with poker hand rankings. The player receives seven cards and splits them into a five-card hand and a two-card hand, both of which must beat the dealer's equivalent hands to win.

Parlay

Sports betting

Combining multiple bets into one wager where all selections must win for the parlay to pay out. Parlay odds multiply together, increasing potential returns but also compounding bookmaker margin against the player.

Paylines

Slots

The patterns across the slot reels that produce wins when matching symbols land on them. Traditional slots had 1-25 lines; modern slots often use "ways to win" mechanics instead (up to 117,649 with Megaways).

PayID

Payments

Australia's real-time bank transfer system, widely used by AU-facing casinos for both deposits and withdrawals. Typical withdrawal times: 30 minutes to 2 hours at PayID-supporting operators.

Payout percentage

Slots

Synonym for RTP (return to player), expressing the theoretical percentage of wagered money returned as winnings over infinite play. Modern slot RTPs typically range from 92% (poor) to 97% (excellent).

Payout speed

Payments

The time between a withdrawal request and funds arriving in the player's account. Crypto is fastest (10 minutes to 4 hours); e-wallets typically 1-24 hours; bank transfer is slowest (3-5 business days).

Player edge

General

The rare situation where the player has a mathematical advantage over the house. Occurs in some positive-EV bonus scenarios, video poker at maximum-coin play with the right paytable, and blackjack card counting.

POLi

Payments

Australian instant-bank-transfer service used by many AU-facing casinos. Fast for deposits, generally not available for withdrawals (deposits only rail).

Poker

Poker

A family of card games involving skill, chance, and betting. Common casino variants include Texas Hold'em (most popular), Omaha, Seven-Card Stud, and casino-versus-player games like Casino Hold'em and Three Card Poker.

Pokies

Slots

Australian slang for slot machines (short for "poker machines"). Also used broadly for online slots at Australian-facing casinos.

Pragmatic Play

Slots

Malta-based slot studio behind category leaders like Sweet Bonanza, Gates of Olympus, Wolf Gold, and the Big Bass Bonanza series. One of the two largest slot studios by online reach globally.

Preflop

Poker

In Texas Hold'em, the betting round before any community cards are dealt. Each player has only their two hole cards to inform decisions.

Progressive jackpot

Slots

A jackpot that grows as a small percentage of every wager across all players on the same game (or network of games) is added to the pool. Continues growing until won and reset to a seed value; the largest have paid in excess of £15 million.

Provably fair

General

A cryptographic verification method (used primarily at crypto casinos) that lets players verify each bet's outcome was determined before their bet was placed. Distinct from RNG certification but similar in intent: independently verifiable game fairness.

Q

Quads (Four of a Kind)

Poker

A poker hand of four cards of the same rank. Ranks above a full house and below a straight flush. Extremely rare in Texas Hold'em: approximately 1 in 4,165 flopped hands.

R

Rake

Poker

The commission taken by the casino from each poker pot (typically 5-10% capped at a low maximum). Rake is how casinos monetise poker games since they are not the players' opponent.

Rakeback

Poker

A promotional rebate returning a percentage of rake paid over a defined period. Common at poker-focused casinos as an alternative to slot-oriented cashback.

Random Number Generator (RNG)

General

The software algorithm that determines outcomes at online slots, video poker, and non-live table games. Certified RNGs are audited by independent labs (eCOGRA, GLI, iTech Labs) to verify statistical randomness.

Reel

Slots

A vertical strip of symbols on a slot machine. Traditional slots have three reels; modern slots typically have five or six, though Megaways slots have variable reel heights per spin.

Reload bonus

Bonuses

A promotional match on a deposit after the welcome bonus has already been claimed. Reload rates are typically lower than welcome rates (25-50% match rather than 100-300%).

Return to Player (RTP)

Slots

The theoretical percentage of wagered money a slot returns over infinite play. Modern slot RTPs typically range from 92% (poor) to 97% (excellent). The operator can sometimes choose which RTP configuration to deploy for a given title; the deployed rate appears in the in-game info panel.

River

Poker

The fifth and final community card in Texas Hold'em, followed by the last betting round before showdown.

ROFUS

Regulation

Denmark's national self-exclusion register (Register Over Frivilligt Udelukkede Spillere). Danish-licensed operators must check every player. Casinos operating without a Danish licence are not required to check.

See: Casino Uden ROFUS

Roulette

Table games

A table game where a ball is spun around a numbered wheel and players bet on where it will land. European variants have single zero (2.7% house edge); American variants add double zero (5.26%); French variants add La Partage and En Prison rules.

Royal Flush

Poker

The highest-ranking hand in poker: 10-Jack-Queen-King-Ace of the same suit. Approximately 1 in 649,740 hands dealt.

S

Scatter symbol

Slots

A slot symbol that pays wins from anywhere on the reels, not just along paylines. Typically triggers the free spins bonus when a specified number appear (usually 3+).

Self-exclusion

Responsible gambling

A responsible-gambling tool letting players ban themselves from a specific casino (or all licensed casinos through national schemes like GamStop, CRUKS, ROFUS, Spelpaus) for a chosen period. Reversal typically requires a formal request after the exclusion period ends.

Session limit

Responsible gambling

A responsible-gambling tool ending the current playing session after a defined time (30 minutes, 1 hour, etc.), often requiring reality-check acknowledgments before proceeding.

Shoe

Table games

The dealer's card-holding device used in multi-deck games like blackjack and baccarat. Live-dealer studios typically use 6-8 deck shoes.

Sic Bo

Table games

Ancient Chinese dice game where players bet on the outcome of a roll of three dice. Popular in Asian markets and Macau; increasingly common at online live-dealer studios.

Side bet

Table games

An optional additional wager offered alongside a main table-game bet. Side bets typically carry significantly higher house edges than the main game (blackjack Perfect Pairs at 4-5%; blackjack main bet at 0.5%).

Skrill

Payments

International e-wallet widely used at online casinos. Fast deposits and withdrawals but often excluded from welcome bonus eligibility.

Slot tournament

Slots

Timed competition where players wager on a specified slot and compete on total winnings (or profit). Prize pools are distributed to top performers on a leaderboard.

Spelpaus

Regulation

Sweden's national self-exclusion register. Operators licensed by Spelinspektionen must check every player. Casino Utan Svensk Licens (casinos without Swedish licence) are not required to check.

See: Casino Utan Spelpaus

Split

Table games

The blackjack option to divide a pair of matching cards into two separate hands, doubling the original bet. The most valuable splits are Aces and 8s; never split 5s or 10s.

Sportsbook

Sports betting

Synonym for bookmaker: an operator taking bets on sporting events. Casinos increasingly offer integrated sportsbooks alongside their casino products, sometimes sharing a unified wallet.

Stake

General

The amount of money placed on a single bet. Also refers to the largest crypto-native casino brand (Stake.com), from which the term became associated with crypto gambling generally.

Sticky bonus

Bonuses

A bonus that cannot be withdrawn even after wagering completes; only the winnings above the bonus amount are cashable. Increasingly rare as the industry moves toward non-sticky welcome offers.

Surrender

Table games

A blackjack option to forfeit half the original bet in exchange for exiting the hand without playing. Optimal against dealer 9, 10, or Ace with poor player hands.

T

Table games

Table games

Casino games conducted on physical or virtual tables against a dealer or between players, distinct from slot machines. Includes blackjack, roulette, baccarat, craps, poker and their many variants.

Tell

Poker

An involuntary physical or behavioural signal revealing information about a poker player's hand. Extensively studied in live poker; less applicable online, where "timing tells" (bet delays and speeds) partially substitute.

Texas Hold'em

Poker

The most popular poker variant globally. Two hole cards per player and five shared community cards. Structured as no-limit (any bet allowed up to your stack), pot-limit (max bet is pot size), or fixed-limit (bet sizes are fixed).

Three Card Poker

Table games

Casino table game where the player competes against the dealer using a three-card hand. Fast-paced with lower variance than five-card poker games; house edge around 3.4% on the Ante bet.

Tie bet

Table games

A baccarat wager on the player and banker hands drawing to the same total. Pays 8:1 or 9:1 depending on ruleset but carries a much higher house edge (14.4% at 8:1) than the player or banker bets.

Tilt

Poker

A state of frustration-driven decision-making after a losing streak or bad beat, typically resulting in further losses. Recognised across all gambling forms though named for poker.

Tournament

Poker

A competition with entry fees pooled into a prize pool distributed among the top finishers. Tournament formats include freezeouts, rebuys, satellites, and sit-and-goes.

True odds

General

The actual mathematical probability of an outcome, distinct from the odds offered by a bookmaker or casino (which build in margin/house edge). The gap between offered odds and true odds is the bookmaker's mathematical edge.

Turn

Poker

The fourth community card in Texas Hold'em, dealt after the flop and its betting round.

U

UKGC (UK Gambling Commission)

Regulation

The regulator of all gambling activity in Great Britain. UKGC licences carry the industry's most extensive player protections and are required for any operator advertising to UK residents.

Under the gun (UTG)

Poker

The seat immediately left of the big blind in Texas Hold'em, and thus first to act preflop. Generally considered the tightest position for opening ranges since so many players remain to act after you.

USDT-Tron

Payments

The Tether stablecoin operating on the Tron blockchain. The fastest and cheapest crypto rail at most casinos, with typical confirmation times of 10-25 minutes and negligible network fees.

V

Video poker

Poker

Solo poker played against a paytable rather than other players. Correct strategy on games like Jacks or Better and Deuces Wild can achieve RTPs above 99% with full paytables.

VIP program

Bonuses

A tiered rewards structure where players unlock progressively better benefits (higher cashback rates, personal account managers, faster withdrawals, exclusive tournaments) as their cumulative wagering increases.

See: VIP & high roller bonuses

Volatility

Slots

The distribution pattern of a slot's wins. High-volatility slots pay large wins rarely; low-volatility slots pay small wins frequently. Neither pattern changes the RTP over long-run play; volatility is a variance and session-length consideration, not a value one.

W

Wager

General

A bet placed on a game outcome. Also used as a verb (to wager).

Wagering requirement

Bonuses

The multiplier of a bonus amount that must be wagered before the bonus converts to withdrawable cash. Applied to the bonus amount only at legitimate operators. Range: 25x (rare, exceptional) to 60x+ (punitive). The single most important term in evaluating any bonus offer.

See: Low-wagering bonuses ranked

Wallet (crypto)

Payments

A software or hardware store for cryptocurrency private keys, from which casino deposits and withdrawals are made. Distinct from an exchange account, though many players use both.

Welcome bonus

Bonuses

The promotional package offered to new players on their first qualifying deposit(s). Structures vary from single-deposit matches to multi-deposit staged packages spanning first, second, third deposits.

See: Best welcome bonuses

Whale

General

Casino slang for a player wagering at exceptionally high stakes, typically starting around £50,000 or A$100,000 per month. Whales receive dedicated concierge services and heavily customised offers.

Wild symbol

Slots

A slot symbol substituting for other symbols to complete winning combinations, typically excluding scatters. Modern slots feature variants including expanding wilds, sticky wilds, walking wilds, and stacked wilds.

Withdrawal

Payments

Removing funds from a casino account. Times vary by payment method (crypto: 10 min-4 hours; e-wallets: 1-24 hours; bank transfer: 3-5 business days). Requires completed KYC verification at all licensed operators.

Withdrawal limit

Payments

The maximum amount a player can withdraw in a specified period (daily, weekly, monthly). Limits scale up with VIP tier at most tier-gated operators.

X

XRP (Ripple)

Payments

Cryptocurrency designed for fast, low-cost financial transfers. Accepted by some crypto casinos, though less commonly than BTC, ETH, LTC, or USDT.

Y

Yield

Sports betting

Betting profit expressed as a percentage of total money wagered. A yield of 5% means the bettor won an average of 5p for every £1 wagered. Sustained positive yield across large sample sizes is the mark of a profitable sports bettor.

Z

Zero (0)

Table games

The green pocket on a European roulette wheel. Non-zero bets (red/black, odd/even, high/low) lose when zero hits; some rulesets (La Partage, En Prison) modify this outcome by refunding half or holding the bet for the next spin.