Reference

Casino Glossary

25 online casino and bonus terms explained clearly. No jargon, no fluff.

B

Bonus Code: A promotional code entered during registration or deposit to activate a specific bonus offer. Also called promo code or coupon code.

C

Cashback: A bonus that returns a percentage of net losses over a period. Some cashback offers have no wagering requirements.

D

Deposit Bonus: A bonus that matches a percentage of your deposit up to a maximum cap. Example: 100% up to $500 means a $500 deposit gives $500 in bonus funds.

F

Free Spins: Bonus spins on slot games that don't require a wager from your balance. Winnings from free spins are usually subject to wagering requirements.

G

Game Contribution: The percentage of each bet on a specific game type that counts toward clearing wagering requirements. Slots are usually 100%, table games 10-20%.

H

House Edge: The mathematical advantage the casino has over the player on any given game, expressed as a percentage. The inverse of RTP.

K

KYC: Know Your Customer — identity verification required by regulated casinos before processing withdrawals. Typically requires government ID and proof of address.

L

Live Dealer: Casino games streamed in real-time with a human dealer, offering a more authentic experience than software-based games.

M

Match Bonus: A deposit bonus where the casino matches your deposit by a percentage. A 100% match doubles your deposit amount in bonus funds.
Max Bet: The maximum wager allowed per spin or hand while a bonus is active. Exceeding this limit can void the bonus and associated winnings.
Minimum Deposit: The smallest deposit amount required to qualify for a bonus offer.

N

No Deposit Bonus: A bonus awarded without requiring a deposit — usually a small amount ($5-$25) or free spins given just for registering.

P

Playthrough: Another term for wagering requirement. The number of times bonus funds must be wagered before withdrawal is allowed.
Progressive Jackpot: A jackpot that grows with each bet placed on the game across the network until one player wins the accumulated total.
Promo Code: See Bonus Code. A text string entered to activate a promotional offer.

R

Reload Bonus: A deposit bonus offered to existing players on subsequent deposits, usually with smaller match percentages than welcome bonuses.
Responsible Gambling: Tools and practices to help players gamble safely, including deposit limits, loss limits, session time limits, cooling-off periods, and self-exclusion.
RTP: Return to Player — the theoretical percentage of wagered money a game returns to players over time. A 97% RTP means $3 house edge per $100 wagered on average.

S

Self-Exclusion: A responsible gambling tool that blocks a player's access to their casino account for a set period or permanently.
Sticky Bonus: A bonus where the bonus funds cannot be withdrawn — only winnings generated from playing with the bonus can be cashed out after wagering.

V

Variance: How much a game's actual results deviate from the expected RTP in the short term. High variance = bigger swings, low variance = more consistent results.
VIP Program: A loyalty program that rewards frequent players with benefits like higher cashback, faster withdrawals, personal account managers, and exclusive bonuses.

W

Wagering Requirement: The number of times you must bet the bonus amount (or bonus + deposit) before you can withdraw winnings. Example: 30x on a $100 bonus = $3,000 in total bets.
Welcome Bonus: A bonus offered to new players when they register and make their first deposit. Often the largest bonus a casino offers.
Withdrawal Cap: A maximum limit on how much you can withdraw from winnings generated by a bonus. Common on no deposit bonuses.

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