Navigating the world of online casinos: your essential glossary

Stepping into the vibrant and dynamic realm of online casinos can sometimes feel like venturing into a new world, complete with its own unique language.

Whether you’re a novice eager to dive in or someone just brushing up on the nuances of the game, understanding the lingo can significantly enhance your gaming experience.

To help you effortlessly navigate this world and ensure you’re never left scratching your head, we’ve curated an essential glossary of casino-related terms.

From basic terminologies to more intricate jargon, this guide has got you covered. Ready to become fluent in the language of online casinos? Let’s begin!

JUMP TO
About Author:
About Evelyn Taylor

Evelyn Taylor possesses a decade of industry experience on the New Zealand online casino market. As a former journalist, she uses her investigative skills to analyze trends and guide online gambling enthusiasts.

16 articles

A

Anniversary Gifts: Special bonuses or rewards given to players on the anniversary of their registration or other significant dates.

Ante: An initial bet required in some games before a hand is dealt.

Baccarat: A card game in which players aim to have a hand with a point value closest to 9.

B

Bankroll: The total amount of money a player has set aside for gambling.

Betting Limits: The minimum and maximum amounts that can be wagered on a single bet.

Blackjack: A popular card game where players try to get a hand value closest to 21 without going over.

Bonus: Extra funds or spins given to players, often as an incentive for signing up or depositing.

Bonus Code: A specific code provided by casinos that players must enter to claim a bonus.

Bonus Hunting: The act of signing up to multiple online casinos to claim the welcome bonuses and then withdrawing the money without regular gameplay.

C

Cashable Bonus: A type of bonus that allows players to withdraw the bonus money after meeting certain wagering requirements.

Cashback: A percentage of losses returned to the player over a specified period.

Cold Streak: A period during which a player experiences a consistent run of bad luck.

Comp Points: Points earned by playing games in a casino, which can often be converted into bonuses or other rewards.

D

Daily/Weekly/Monthly Specials: Time-bound promotions offered regularly.

Dealer: The person or virtual entity that distributes cards or manages a game.

Deposit: Money added to a casino account to start playing.

Deposit Bonus: A bonus awarded after players make a deposit. Often presented as a percentage of the deposit amount.

Double Down: In blackjack, to double the initial bet in exchange for one more card.

E

Edge Sorting: A controversial technique where players determine the value of face-down cards based on subtle, unintentional differences in the card backs.

Even Money: A bet that pays out 1:1.

Exclusive Offers: Special promotions available only to a selected group of players, often high rollers or VIP members.

F

Fixed Jackpot: A jackpot of a set amount, as opposed to a progressive jackpot.

Free Play Bonus: A type of bonus where the casino gives players free credits to play games for a specific time frame.

Free Spins: Spins on slot machines given as bonuses that don’t cost any money.

G

Gamble Feature: A feature in some slot games where players can try to multiply their winnings.

Gaming Commission: Regulatory bodies that oversee and license gaming operations.

H

High Roller: A player who places large bets.

House Edge: The advantage the casino has over the players.

Hot Streak: A period during which a player experiences a consistent run of good luck.

I

Insurance: In blackjack, a side bet that the dealer has a blackjack when showing an Ace.

J

Jackpot: The highest prize in a game, especially in slot machines.

K

Keno: A lottery-style game where players pick numbers and hope they match the drawn numbers.

L

La Partage: A roulette rule where players lose only half of their even-money bets if the ball lands on 0.

Leaderboard Prizes: Prizes given to players who rank high in tournaments or promotional challenges.

Live Dealer Games: Online casino games with real human dealers, streamed in real-time.

Loyalty Bonus: Rewards given to players who have been with an online casino for a prolonged period or have reached a certain level in the casino’s loyalty or VIP program.

Loyalty Program: A reward system for players who frequently play at the casino.

M

Match Bonus: A type of bonus where the casino matches a player’s deposit by a certain percentage.

Martingale System: A betting strategy where players double their bet after each loss.

Milestone Bonuses: Rewards given when a player reaches a specific milestone, be it in terms of deposits, bets, or time spent on the platform.

Multiplier: A feature in slot games that multiplies winnings.

N

No Deposit Bonus: A bonus given without needing a deposit. It’s often smaller than deposit bonuses.

O

Odds: The probability of a particular outcome.

Overlay: When a casino or poker room adds extra money to a prize pool, typically in tournaments.

P

Payline: A line in a slot machine where symbols must align to result in a win.

Payout Percentage: The amount of money that will be returned to players as winnings over the long run.

Pit Boss: A casino employee who oversees the gaming tables, ensuring everything runs smoothly.

Pokie: A term used in New Zealand and Australia for slot machines.

Progressive Jackpot: A jackpot that grows each time the game is played and the jackpot is not won.

Promo Code: Similar to a bonus code, used to claim special promotions.

Q

Quads: Another term for Four of a Kind in poker.

R

Raffle Entries: Chances to win prizes by entering a draw, often given as part of promotional campaigns.

Redeemable Credits: Credits that can be converted into real money or bonuses once certain criteria are met.

Reel: The spinning columns with symbols in a slot machine.

Refer-a-Friend Bonus: A reward given to players who refer a new player to the casino.

Reload Bonus: A bonus given to existing players when they deposit money into their casino accounts again.

Return to Player (RTP): The percentage of all the wagered money a slot machine will pay back to players over time.

RNG (Random Number Generator): A system that ensures game outcomes are random.

Rollover Requirement: The number of times a bonus must be played through before it can be withdrawn.

S

Scatter Symbol: In slot games, a symbol that pays out regardless of its position on the reels.

Seasonal Promotions: Offers tied to specific seasons or holidays.

Sign-Up Bonus: A one-time bonus given to new players when they register at an online casino.

Slots Tournament: A competition where players play slots for a certain period and aim to win the most.

Sticky Bonus: A type of casino bonus that can be used to play but can’t be withdrawn.

T

Table Games: Casino games that are played on a table, like blackjack, roulette, and baccarat.

Tier Benefits: Advantages and rewards provided to players based on their level or tier in a casino’s loyalty program.

Tilt: When a player allows their emotions to negatively affect their play, often due to losses.

T&C (Terms and Conditions): The rules and regulations set by the casino.

U

Underlay: A bet that has less value than what is actually paid.

V

Variance: Refers to the level of risk associated with a slot game; high variance means bigger but less frequent payouts, and low variance means smaller but more frequent payouts.

VIP Points: Points accumulated based on the player’s activity, which determines their status in a casino’s VIP or loyalty program.

VIP Program: An exclusive loyalty program for high-stake players or regular patrons.

W

Wager: Another term for bet.

Wagering Requirement: The amount players must bet in order to release their bonuses into their main cash balance.

Welcome Offer: Incentives given to new players upon registering, which can include deposit matches, free spins, or other bonuses.

Wild Symbol: A symbol in slot games that can substitute for other symbols to create a winning combination.

Withdrawal: Taking out money from a casino account.

Z

Zero Lounge: A section in some casinos with no house edge games.

FAQs

“Free Spins” are complimentary spins on slot games, often given as part of promotional offers. While they don’t cost anything to use, any winnings from them might be subject to terms and conditions, like wagering requirements. It’s crucial to check the specific terms associated with free spins at each casino.

“RTP”, or “Return to Player”, indicates the percentage of all the wagered money a slot machine will pay back to players over time. A higher RTP means the game tends to return more to players in the long run. However, it’s important to remember that RTP is a theoretical number and actual results can vary in the short term.

“Wagering Requirement” refers to the amount a player needs to bet before they can withdraw any winnings derived from a bonus. For example, if you receive a $10 bonus with a 10x wagering requirement, you’ll need to wager $100 (10 x $10) before you can withdraw any winnings from that bonus.

1 /25 A