Casino Glossary – Common Terms Every UK Player Should Know

If you’re new to the world of online casinos, navigating the jargon or specific terminology associated with bonuses, games, T&Cs can be tricky, especially when faced with unfamiliar phrases such as wagering requirements, volatility or RTP. Yet taking the time to understand these specific terms can help you make smarter choices, maintain control over your spending and ultimately, play more safely without the risk of costly mistakes. Our glossary is updated for the current UKGC-regulated (UK Gambling Commission) casino language.

• RTP (Return to Player): A theoretical percentage indicating the potential payouts, e.g., a 96% RTP means the game returns an average of £96 per £100 wagered.
• Volatility: A behavioral indicator that predicts pot size and payout frequency. High volatility indicates less frequent but larger wins, whereas low volatility predicts more frequent but lower value wins.
• Wagering Requirements: The amount of times your deposit and/or bonus funds must be wagered prior to requesting a withdrawal. The industry average rate sits around 35-40x.
• House Edge: Expressed as a percentage, this is the mathematical advantage the casino has over players, e.g., a 3% house edge means the casino will retain £3 out of every £100 wagered. The lesser the house edge, the greater your odds.
• Bonus Abuse: This is when players exploit promotional offers, e.g., creating multiple accounts in order to benefit from the welcome bonus on numerous occasions. This can result in operators closing your casino account immediately.
• Game Contribution: This is the percentage of each wager that counts towards meeting the wagering requirements of a casino bonus. Different game types often contribute differing percentages, e.g., slots typically contribute 100% but table games may only contribute 10% or less.
• RNG (Random Number Generator): This is a software program that creates numbers at random to ensure fair and unbiased outcomes for digital games such as slot machines.
• Sticky Bonus vs. Non-Sticky Bonus: A sticky bonus is one that cannot be cashed out whereas a non-sticky bonus is cashable once you’ve met the wagering requirements.
• Progressive Jackpot: A type of jackpot that increases every time the game is played. A percentage of each bet is added to the jackpot value which can often stretch into the thousands, and in some cases, the millions.

• Deposit limit: This is the maximum amount you can deposit at any one time which can vary depending on the payment method used. Licensed UK casinos only use secure payment options from trusted providers like debit cards (Visa, Mastercard), e-wallets (PayPal), and alternative methods like Apple Pay and Pay by Phone Bill. Credit cards are not permitted for UK players.
• Withdrawal Limit: This refers to the maximum you can withdraw either in one transaction, daily, weekly, and/or monthly. However, such limits are not usually found at UK casinos.
• Pending Withdrawal: This is when your withdrawal request has been accepted but not yet finalised. It typically takes between 24 to 48 hours for casinos to process requests.
• Wagering Balance: This is the amount of funds that must be wagered before the bonus funds are converted into cash for withdrawal.
• KYC (Know Your Customer) Verification: This refers to the regulatory identity verification process that is completed by all UK licensed operators to prevent illegal activities like underage gambling and money laundering.
• Processing Time: Once approved, the time it takes for funds to reach your account will vary depending on the payment method used, e.g., e-wallets may take up to 48 hours (but can be much sooner), debit cards 3 to 5 days, and bank transfers up to 7 days.

• Welcome Bonus: Typically offered at sign up and only available to new players. Often includes a deposit bonus and/or free spins, e.g. 100% bonus up to £200 + 50 free spins.
• Reload: A regular promotion offered to existing players, it may come in the form of a deposit match, a free spins bonus, or a combination of both.
• No Deposit: A much sought-after bonus, often given at sign up in the shape of free spins but will be of low value as it’s purely an incentive to attract new players to the site.
• Free Spins: This can be a standalone bonus or attached to the welcome offer or reload promo. Usually awarded for specific slots and may have a maximum win cap.
• Match Bonus: Typically offered as a welcome bonus or can be used for reloads, e.g., 100% match up to £100 with a minimum deposit amount.
• Cashback: A bonus where the player receives a certain percentage of cash back from the casino. It’s typically calculated on net losses over a specified amount of time, but this can vary from one site to another.

It’s important to note that all casino bonuses come with specified terms and conditions that players must read prior to accepting the bonus so that they are fully aware of what’s required. Bonus terms outline important details like sticky or non-sticky, the wagering requirements, the expiry date, the maximum bet while wagering (typically £5 per game round), game contributions, minimum deposit, and any maximum win cap.

• Deposit Limit: A voluntary limit on the amount you wish to deposit on a daily, weekly, and/or monthly basis.
• Loss Limit: A pre-determined amount on how much you can afford to lose on a daily, weekly, and/or monthly basis. Once the limit is reached, you won’t be able to play for a set period of time.
• Wager Limit: A cap on how much you can bet per spin or game round.
• Reality Check: A pop-up to remind you how long you have been logged into the casino.
• Session Timer: A self-imposed limit on the amount of time spent per online session.
• Time Out: This enables you to take time out from gambling, typically for 24 hours up to a maximum of 6 weeks.
• Self-Exclusion: This excludes you from all gambling activities at the specified casino for a period of 6 months up to 5 years.

Self-Exclusion: Additional Information 

Once your request for self-exclusion has been accepted by customer support, you will be prevented from using your casino account for the duration of your ban, as determined by you. You will not be permitted to open new accounts with the operator or sites within its network and cannot under any circumstances reactivate your account until the expiry of your self-exclusion.

If you are considering self-exclusion, you may also wish to register with GAMSTOP, a free service that enables you to exclude yourself from all licensed UK casinos online. In addition, you can contact organisations like BeGambleAware or GamCare that provide advice and guidance for players with concerns about their gambling habits.