◆ glossary

Casino terms explained plainly

These are the terms that appear most often in casino comparison and in the descriptions on this site. Definitions are written for people new to the subject, not for industry insiders.

ADR (Alternative Dispute Resolution): A third-party service licensed by the UKGC to handle complaints between players and operators that cannot be resolved directly. All UKGC-licensed operators are required to use a licensed ADR provider. If you have an unresolved dispute, you can escalate it to the operator's ADR without going to court.
Affiliate: A third-party website — like Slot Briefing — that earns a commission by referring players to casino operators. An affiliate is not the operator and has no access to player accounts or funds.
Bonus: A promotional offer from an operator, typically offered at registration. Common types include matched deposits (the operator adds a percentage of your first deposit as bonus funds) and free spins. Bonuses are almost always subject to wagering requirements.
Baccarat: A table card game where you bet on which of two hands — Player or Banker — will have a value closer to 9, or whether they will tie. One of the simplest casino games in terms of decisions required.
Blackjack: A card game where the objective is to reach a hand value closer to 21 than the dealer without exceeding it. Players make decisions (hit, stand, double, split) that affect the outcome. House edge varies by specific rule set.
Evolution: The leading live casino studio, supplying live dealer tables to most major UK-licensed operators. Their games include standard live roulette, blackjack and baccarat, plus game show formats like Crazy Time and Dream Catcher.
GamCare: A UK charity providing free information, advice and support for people affected by gambling harm. Operates the National Gambling Helpline: 0808 8020 133.
GambleAware: A charity that funds research, education and treatment for gambling harm. Runs the BeGambleAware campaign and can refer people to treatment services.
GAMSTOP (GamStop): The UK national self-exclusion register. Free to register. Once active, blocks access to all UKGC-licensed online gambling sites for your chosen period (6 months, 1 year, or 5 years). The most effective single tool for players who want to stop gambling online.
House edge: The mathematical advantage the casino holds over the player in a given game. For European roulette, this is 2.7% (one zero). For American roulette with two zeros, it rises to 5.26%. RTP and house edge are two ways of expressing the same underlying math.
KYC (Know Your Customer): The identity verification process all UKGC-licensed operators must complete before allowing withdrawals. Typically requires photo ID (passport or driving licence) and proof of address (utility bill or bank statement). Under UKGC rules, operators must complete this before a player can withdraw winnings, and in many cases before deposits above certain thresholds.
Live casino: Casino games (roulette, blackjack, baccarat and others) streamed in real time from a studio with a human dealer. Players see the game via video feed and interact through a digital interface to place bets and make game decisions.
Megaways: A slot mechanic developed by Big Time Gaming where the number of symbols per reel changes with each spin, creating a variable number of ways to win (up to 117,649 in some versions). Licensed to many studios, so Megaways slots appear across multiple brands.
Pragmatic Play: One of the most prolific slot studios operating in the UK market. Known for Gates of Olympus, Sweet Bonanza, and The Dog House among many others. Also operates a live casino arm (Pragmatic Play Live) and provides content to a large number of UK-licensed operators.
Progressive jackpot: A jackpot that increases over time as a percentage of stakes across all players is added to a pool. The most well-known example is Microgaming's Mega Moolah network. These jackpots can reach very large sums but have extremely low probability of hitting.
RNG (Random Number Generator): The software system that determines game outcomes in non-live casino games. All UKGC-licensed operators are required to use RNGs that have been independently tested and certified for fairness.
RTP (Return to Player): The percentage of total stakes a slot or table game is designed to return to players over millions of rounds. A 96% RTP means 96p returned per £1 staked, theoretically, over a very large sample. RTP is a long-run mathematical average, not a session guarantee.
Roulette (European vs American): European roulette has a single zero, giving a house edge of 2.7%. American roulette adds a double zero (00), raising the house edge to 5.26%. Most UK-licensed operators offer European roulette as standard; American versions are also available but carry a higher house edge.
Self-exclusion: A formal process by which a player requests to be blocked from gambling at one or more operators. UKGC-licensed operators must offer self-exclusion. GAMSTOP allows self-exclusion across all UK-licensed operators in one registration.
UKGC (UK Gambling Commission): The statutory regulator for gambling in Great Britain. All legitimate UK-facing online casinos must hold a UKGC operating licence. The commission sets standards for fair play, player protection, and responsible gambling tools, and can revoke licences for non-compliance.
Volatility (or variance): A descriptor for how a slot game pays out. High-volatility slots pay less frequently but in larger amounts when they do hit. Low-volatility slots pay smaller amounts more often. Neither is inherently better — they suit different approaches and bankroll sizes.
Wagering requirement: A condition attached to casino bonuses specifying how many times the bonus (and sometimes the deposit) must be staked before any winnings derived from it can be withdrawn. A 30x wagering requirement on a £10 bonus means you must place £300 in total bets before the bonus-derived winnings become withdrawable. Always check the specific terms attached to any offer.
Welcome offer: A promotional offer made to new players at the point of first deposit. Common forms include matched deposit bonuses and free spins packages. All welcome offers from UKGC-licensed operators must have their terms clearly stated, including wagering requirements.

Terms in this glossary reflect general UK gambling industry usage. Specific operator definitions may vary. Always read the terms attached to any product or offer on the operator’s own site before committing to anything.