Casino & Gambling Glossary
Plain-English definitions for the terms you'll see on casino, slot and bonus pages — wagering requirements, RTP, volatility, KYC, and everything in between.
A
Advertising Standards Authority (ASA)
regulationThe independent UK regulator that enforces advertising standards across all media including online gambling promotions.
Affiliate disclosure
siteA statement disclosing that a review site receives commission for casino sign-ups generated through its links.
AML (Anti-Money Laundering)
regulationRegulations requiring operators to monitor and verify transactions to prevent money laundering through gambling.
B
BeGambleAware
regulationA UK charity providing information and free support for anyone affected by gambling-related harm.
Bonus buy
bonusesA slot feature that lets you pay a multiple of your stake to skip the base game and trigger the bonus round.
Bonus expiry
bonusesThe time limit within which you must clear the wagering requirement before the bonus is voided.
Bonus round
slotsA feature game inside a slot, typically free spins or pick-and-win, triggered by scatter symbols.
C
Cascading wins
slotsA mechanic where winning symbols disappear and new symbols drop in, potentially producing chain wins.
Cashback
bonusesA refund of a percentage of your net losses, usually paid weekly or monthly.
Chargeback
bankingA reversal of a card transaction initiated through the issuing bank — heavily restricted on gambling deposits.
Cluster pays
slotsA slot mechanic that pays when matching symbols form a minimum-size cluster touching anywhere on the grid.
Complaints mediation (ADR)
regulationIndependent dispute resolution process available to UK casino players — provided by IBAS, eCOGRA ADR and others.
Conversion cap
bonusesThe maximum amount you can convert from bonus winnings into withdrawable cash.
D
E
F
FCA (Financial Conduct Authority)
bankingThe UK's financial-services regulator, which oversees e-wallets, open-banking PISPs and electronic money institutions.
Financial vulnerability check
regulationA frictionless background check using publicly available financial data — triggered above defined deposit thresholds.
Free spins
bonusesSpins on a slot game awarded by an operator, with any resulting winnings usually subject to wagering.
G
GamCare
regulationA leading UK provider of information, advice and support for people affected by gambling harm.
Game weighting
bonusesThe percentage each game type contributes to clearing a wagering requirement.
GAMPROTECT (Single Customer View)
regulationA cross-operator scheme operated by GAMSTOP for the BGC, flagging vulnerable consumers to multiple operators simultaneously.
GAMSTOP
regulationThe UK's national online self-exclusion scheme — one registration blocks every UKGC-licensed operator.
GGR (Gross Gaming Revenue)
siteAn operator's revenue from gambling — total stakes minus winnings paid to players.
H
High roller bonus
bonusesA larger welcome or reload offer aimed at players depositing £200 or more in one transaction.
Hit frequency
slotsThe percentage of spins that result in any winning combination on a slot.
House edge
siteThe mathematical advantage the casino holds on each game — equivalent to 100% minus RTP.
I
J
K
L
M
Malta Gaming Authority (MGA)
regulationMalta's gambling regulator, one of the most respected European licensing jurisdictions.
Max bet rule
bonusesA clause limiting the per-spin stake while a bonus is active — often £5 — to discourage abuse.
Max win cap
slotsThe maximum payout a single spin or bonus round can produce, expressed as a multiple of stake.
Megaways
slotsA patented mechanic that varies the number of symbols per reel each spin, producing up to 117,649 ways to win.
Multi-RTP slot
slotsA slot shipped in several RTP configurations of which the operator selects one — often 96.5%, 95.5% or 94.5%.
Multiplier
slotsA factor that multiplies a win, often building progressively during a bonus round.
N
O
Online slot stake limit
regulationUK statutory cap on per-spin slot stakes — £5 for adults 25+ and £2 for adults 18-24, effective 2025.
Open banking
bankingAn FCA-regulated payment method that initiates bank transfers directly via your banking app, with no card or e-wallet intermediary.
Operator RTP
siteThe actual RTP a specific operator achieves across all games over a quarter — sometimes published in audited reports.
P
R
Reality check
regulationA timed pop-up at UKGC-licensed casinos summarising your session length, total stakes and net result.
Reload bonus
bonusesA recurring deposit-match offer for existing players, usually weekly or monthly.
Responsible gambling
regulationA framework of operator and player tools to keep gambling within healthy limits — deposit limits, time-outs, self-exclusion.
RNG (Random Number Generator)
siteThe certified random-number generator that determines slot, table and instant-game outcomes — independently audited.
RTP (Return to Player)
slotsThe long-run percentage of stakes a slot pays back to players over millions of spins.
S
Scatter symbol
slotsA symbol that triggers a feature when a minimum number appear anywhere on the reels, regardless of payline.
Self-exclusion
regulationA formal request to be blocked from a casino account for a defined period — irreversible until the period ends.
Side bet
siteAn optional secondary wager on a casino game, typically with a higher house edge than the main bet.
Social Responsibility Code
regulationUKGC code provisions covering responsible gambling tooling, intervention obligations and customer protection.
Source-of-funds check
regulationAn AML check requiring documentation of where your gambling deposits originated — typically pay slips or bank statements.
Statutory gambling levy
regulationA mandatory levy on UK gambling operators commencing 6 April 2025, ringfenced for research, prevention and treatment.
Sticky bonus
bonusesA bonus that cannot be withdrawn — only the winnings derived from playing it through can.
U
V
W
Wagering requirement
bonusesA multiplier that tells you how much you must stake before bonus winnings can be withdrawn.
Ways to win
slotsA payline structure that pays when matching symbols land on adjacent reels in any position.
Welcome bonus
bonusesThe first-deposit offer extended to new players when they register and verify an account.
Wild symbol
slotsA symbol that substitutes for any other symbol (except scatters) to complete a winning combination.