General Casino Terms
A
Account Verification
The process mandated by the UKGC where an operator confirms a player's identity, age, and address using official documents.
AML (Anti-Money Laundering)
A set of laws, regulations, and procedures intended to prevent criminals from disguising illegally obtained funds as legitimate income.
Ante
A mandatory bet required from all players before a hand begins, primarily used in certain variants of poker.
Autoplay
A feature in online slots that allows a player to set a predetermined number of spins to run automatically without manual input.
B
Bankroll Management
The practice of managing one's gambling funds to withstand statistical variance, prolong entertainment, and play responsibly.
Betting Limits
The minimum and maximum amounts of money that a player can wager on a single spin, hand, or game round.
Bonus Abuse
A range of player activities that exploit promotional offers in a way that violates the casino's Terms and Conditions.
Bonus Code
A specific alphanumeric string that a player must enter during deposit or registration to unlock a particular promotional offer.
Bonus Hunt
A slot-playing strategy where a player triggers but does not open bonus features on multiple games, then opens them all in one session.
C
Cashback Bonus
A promotional offer where a casino returns a percentage of a player's net losses over a specific period as cash or bonus funds.
Casino Advantage
An alternative term for the House Edge.
Cluster Pays
An innovative slot machine mechanic where wins are formed by landing a group (or cluster) of matching symbols adjacent to each other, rather than on traditional paylines.
D
E
eCOGRA
A London-based, internationally accredited testing agency and player protection organization. The acronym stands for eCommerce Online Gaming Regulation and Assurance.
Encryption (SSL)
The standard security technology for establishing an encrypted link between a web server (the casino's website) and a browser (the player's device). SSL stands for Secure Sockets Layer.
Even Money Bet
A wager that pays out at a 1:1 ratio. If you bet £10 and win, you receive your £10 stake back plus £10 in winnings.
Expected Value (EV)
A statistical term that represents the predicted average return of a wager in the long run.
F
G
Gamble Feature
An optional, post-win feature in some slot games that allows a player to risk their winnings for a chance to double them (or more).
GamStop
The UK's national, free-to-use self-exclusion scheme for online gambling.
Game Weighting
The percentage of a wager on a specific game category that contributes towards fulfilling a bonus's Wagering Requirements.
H
High Roller
A player who consistently wagers large sums of money, often receiving special treatment and benefits from the casino.
Hit Frequency
A metric, expressed as a percentage, that indicates how often, on average, a slot machine will produce a winning combination of any size.
House Edge
The casino's inherent mathematical advantage in any given game, typically expressed as a percentage of a player's bet.
L
M
Maximum Bet
The highest amount a player can wager on a single spin or hand. It is also a critical rule when playing with bonus funds.
Megaways
A revolutionary slot machine engine, developed by Big Time Gaming, where the number of ways to win changes with every spin, often reaching over 100,000.
Minimum Deposit
The smallest amount of money that a casino will accept for a single deposit transaction.
P
Payout Percentage
An alternative term for RTP (Return to Player), representing the theoretical percentage of wagers returned to players over time.
Payout Speed
The total elapsed time from the moment a player initiates a withdrawal request to the moment the funds are successfully received in their personal account.
Pending Period
The timeframe during which a player's withdrawal request is held for internal review by the casino before it is processed.
Progressive Jackpot
A jackpot prize pool that increases incrementally every time the game is played but the jackpot is not won.
R
Random Number Generator (RNG)
A complex algorithm that generates sequences of numbers (or symbols) that are statistically random and unpredictable, ensuring the fairness of game outcomes.
Reload Bonus
A type of Deposit Bonus offered to existing players who have already made their first deposit, designed to encourage further deposits.
S
Scatter Symbol
A special symbol in a slot game that can trigger a payout or a bonus feature regardless of its position on the paylines.
Self-Exclusion
A formal process where a player requests to be blocked from a gambling operator for a specified period as a tool to manage their gambling.
Source of Funds (SoF)
A mandatory compliance procedure where a UKGC-licensed operator requests documentation to verify the origin of a player's gambling money.
Sticky Bonus
A type of non-cashable bonus where the bonus amount itself cannot be withdrawn, only the winnings generated from it.
W
Welcome Bonus
A promotional offer exclusively for new players who are making their first deposit at a casino.
Wild Symbol
A special symbol in a slot game that can substitute for most other symbols to help form a winning combination.
Withdrawal Limit
A rule set by the casino that restricts the amount of money a player can withdraw within a specific timeframe (daily, weekly, or monthly).
Slot Genres
Fruity
The digital evolution of the classic British pub fruit machine, packed with nostalgic symbols and straightforward action.
Animals
A massive genre where the animal kingdom, from safari giants to cuddly pets, takes centre stage on the reels.
Asian
A visually rich genre steeped in the symbolism and mythology of East Asian culture, focusing on luck, fortune, and prosperity.
History
Epic slots that transport players back in time to legendary civilisations like Ancient Egypt, Rome, and the Viking era.
Magic
An enchanting genre filled with wizards, witches, mystical creatures, and arcane spells, offering a world of escapism.
Classic
The quintessential slot experience, focusing on the core mechanics of spinning reels with timeless symbols like Bars, 7s, and Bells.
777.0
A specific sub-genre of Classic slots where the Lucky 7 symbol is the undisputed star of the show and the key to the biggest payouts.
Adventure
Action-packed slots that cast the player as an intrepid explorer on a quest for lost relics, hidden cities, and untold riches.
Treasure
A genre that cuts straight to the chase, focusing on the glorious pursuit of gold, gems, and overflowing treasure chests.
Crime
Gritty, narrative-driven slots that plunge players into the thrilling underworld of cops, robbers, gangsters, and detectives.
Egyptian
The undisputed king of historical themes, featuring Pharaohs, pyramids, and ancient gods in a quest for mythical treasures.
Dragons
A powerful fantasy sub-genre that puts the mythical, fire-breathing beasts front and centre.
Sports
A genre that brings the excitement of the pitch, the track, and the court to the slot reels.
Gems & Jewels
A visually dazzling genre that focuses on the luxurious allure of sparkling precious stones.
Foodie
A delicious genre where the reels are loaded with tasty treats, from sweet candies to spicy chillies.
Movies & TV
Officially licensed slots that bring the blockbuster action and beloved characters of the big and small screen to the casino world.
Sci-Fi
A genre that blasts players off to futuristic worlds, alien planets, and deep space adventures.
Travel
Slots that whisk you away to exotic destinations around the world, from tropical beaches to famous cities.
Pirates
A swashbuckling genre of high-seas adventure, featuring treasure maps, sunken chests, and fearsome buccaneers.
Vikings
A brutal and epic genre based on the fierce Norse warriors, their mythology, and their legendary raids.
Zombies
A horror sub-genre that pits players against hordes of the undead in a fight for survival and big wins.
Music
Officially licensed slots featuring legendary rock bands and musicians, with gameplay driven by their iconic tracks.
Dice
A niche genre that combines the mechanics of a slot machine with the classic imagery of dice.
Christmas
Festive, seasonal slots that capture the magic and joy of the Christmas holidays.
3D
Slots that use advanced, three-dimensional graphics and animations to create a more cinematic and immersive experience.
Neon
A visually striking genre with a retro-futuristic aesthetic, using vibrant, glowing neon lights against a dark background.
Tiki
A vibrant and fun-loving genre inspired by Polynesian culture, featuring carved masks, tropical flowers, and a relaxed island vibe.
Casino
A "meta" genre where the slot's theme is the casino itself, celebrating the glamour of Las Vegas and classic games.
Comics
Slots that bring the action and art style of classic comic books to the reels, featuring superheroes and graphic novel narratives.
Anime
A genre that adopts the distinct, stylized art of Japanese animation, featuring wide-eyed characters and fantastical themes.
Beach
A relaxing and cheerful genre themed around a sun-drenched day at the beach.
Circus
A colourful and entertaining genre set under the big top, featuring clowns, acrobats, and carnival attractions.
Vampires
A dark and romantic horror sub-genre, blending gothic atmosphere with the allure of immortal beings.
Misc
A catch-all category for slots with themes so unique, bizarre, or downright bonkers that they defy any other classification.
7.0
A micro-niche of the 777 and Classic genres, where the focus is almost exclusively on the Lucky 7 symbol itself.
the Beast
A dark fantasy sub-genre focusing on monstrous creatures, mythical beasts, and demonic entities.
Slot Features
Wilds
The slot machine's joker. A special symbol that substitutes for most other symbols to help form a winning payline.
Scatters
A special symbol that doesn't need to be on a payline to win. Landing enough of them anywhere on the reels typically triggers the main bonus feature.
Free Spins
A bonus round where the player is awarded a set number of spins that do not cost anything from their balance. This is where the biggest wins usually happen.
Stacked Symbols
Symbols that appear in a continuous strip on a reel, allowing them to cover part or all of a reel at once.
Gamble Feature
An optional, high-risk feature offered after a win, giving the player a 50/50 chance to double their prize, or lose it all.
Jackpot
The largest possible prize that can be won on a single spin, either as a fixed amount or a progressive prize pool that grows over time.
Bonus Game
A broad term for any special feature that takes the player away from the main reels to a new screen or mode of play to win prizes.
Respins
A feature where the game holds one or more reels and spins the others again, offering a second chance at a win.
Expanding Symbols
A special symbol, usually during a Free Spins round, that is chosen to expand and cover the entire reel it lands on, paying on non-adjacent reels.
7s (as a symbol)
The most iconic high-value symbol in Classic and Fruity slots, representing luck and the top prize on the paytable.
Magic (as a feature)
A thematic category of bonus features that use the concept of magic to transform symbols, award prizes, or trigger other bonuses.
the Beast (as a feature)
A thematic feature where a monstrous creature is central to a powerful mechanic, such as a collection meter, a mega symbol, or a "rage" mode.
Providers
1x2 Gaming
A versatile British studio, part of the 1X2 Network, known for solid, no-nonsense slots and a strong line in virtual sports games.
4ThePlayer
An innovative British developer focused on creating player-centric, mobile-first games with unique mechanics and transparent design.
Amatic
An old-school Austrian provider that brings the classic, land-based casino feel to the online world with simple, high-volatility games.
Big Time Gaming (BTG)
The revolutionary Australian architects of the modern slot. The legendary inventors of the Megaways mechanic.
ELK Studios
A stylish Swedish studio that combines stunning mobile-first design with complex mathematical models and unique gameplay features.
Evolution Gaming
The undisputed, heavyweight champion of the Live Dealer Casino world, now a colossal force in the slot market after acquiring NetEnt and Red Tiger.
Hacksaw Gaming
The masters of "less is more." A studio that started with online scratchcards and now makes minimalist, ultra-high volatility slots with massive win potential.
IGT
A true Las Vegas giant, responsible for some of the most iconic land-based slot machines ever made, now available online.
Microgaming
The granddads of online gaming. A legendary studio that created the first online casino software and the world's most famous progressive jackpot network.
NetEnt
The Swedish rockstars of the slot world. Legendary creators of some of the most iconic, polished, and beloved games of all time.
Nolimit City
The unhinged, mad scientists of the slot world. A studio that pushes the boundaries with controversial themes and brutally high volatility mechanics.
Novomatic
An Austrian gambling giant and the king of the land-based European casino floor. The original creators of the legendary "Book of Ra".
Play'n GO
The masters of consistency and the undisputed kings of the "Book of..." genre. A prolific studio that delivers high-quality releases week after week.
Playtech
A one-stop-shop iGaming giant, offering everything from slots and live casino to poker software and sports betting platforms.
Pragmatic Play
The relentless content machine. A hugely prolific provider known for their recognisable art style and their network-wide "Drops & Wins" promotions.
Push Gaming
A premium, quality-over-quantity studio that specialises in creating beautiful, highly volatile slots with innovative features.
Quickspin
A Swedish studio, owned by Playtech, that focuses on creating beautifully designed, narrative-driven slots with a player-first mentality.
Red Tiger Gaming
A fast-paced developer known for their slick graphics, daily jackpot features, and a penchant for the Asian market.
Relax Gaming
A powerful aggregator and a world-class studio in their own right, famous for their high-quality games and ground-breaking bonus features.
Thunderkick
A quirky and independent Swedish studio that prides itself on creating unique, off-the-wall games with a strong sense of humour.
Yggdrasil Gaming
A premium provider that combines stunning, almost cinematic graphics with innovative mechanics and powerful promotional tools.