Guide
Casino glossary: casino terms in plain English
Plain-English definitions of the words used in casino bonus terms, cashiers and game screens, with the GB rules that apply to each.
Casino terms and bonus conditions use a vocabulary of their own, and a single unfamiliar phrase can decide whether a bonus pays out. This glossary explains, in plain English, the words you will meet in the terms and conditions, cashier and game screens of casinos licensed in Great Britain, grouped by letter. Where a word is tied to a GB rule, the rule is given with its date.
Casino terms A to C
Account number (Gambling Commission) - The Commission's identifier for a licensed business. One account can hold several licences, and the public register lists it with the licence holder's name.
Bankroll - The money you set aside for gambling, separate from money for bills and essentials. Decide it before you play.
Bonus funds - Money credited by the casino under an offer, held separately from your cash balance until the conditions are met. It usually cannot be withdrawn straight away.
Bonus spins - Spins credited under an offer that requires a deposit or a stake. Under advertising rules, "free spins" should describe spins that need no deposit or own-money stake.
Cash spins - Spins whose winnings are paid as withdrawable cash rather than bonus funds, with no wagering.
Cashback - A refund of part of your net losses over a period, paid as cash or as bonus funds depending on the terms.
Cooling-off and time-out - A short break from your account for a period you choose. Unlike self-exclusion, it is meant for brief pauses and ends when the chosen period is over.
D to G
Deposit limit - A cap you set on how much you can deposit over a fixed period. GB-licensed sites ask you to set a limit when you sign up, and from 30 September 2026 only gross deposit limits may be called deposit limits. See deposit limits and reality checks.
Eligible games - The games on which bonus funds or bonus spins may be used, or which count toward wagering. Other games may be excluded or count at a reduced rate.
Expiry - The time allowed to use a bonus or complete its wagering. Anything unfinished at expiry is usually removed.
GAMSTOP - The free national online self-exclusion scheme. It blocks access to participating sites for 6 months, 1 year or 5 years, and every GB-licensed online operator must take part.
Game weighting - The share of a stake that counts toward wagering on a given game, for example 100% on slots and less on table games. The exact figures are in each bonus's terms.
H to M
House edge - The average share of every stake a game keeps over the long run; the opposite of RTP. Explained in the house edge guide.
KYC (know your customer) - The identity and age checks a licensed operator must complete before you can deposit or play, including demo games. Operators may also ask for documents later.
Licence holder - The company named on the Gambling Commission register. A casino brand can trade on another company's licence, and the licence holder remains responsible.
Live casino - Table games and game shows streamed from a studio with a real dealer, as opposed to software-only (RNG) versions.
Maximum bet while wagering - The largest stake allowed while bonus funds are active. Staking above it can lead to bonus winnings being removed.
Maximum win or conversion - A cap on how much of a bonus or bonus-spin win can become withdrawable cash, whatever you actually win.
Mixed-product incentive - An offer that combines two product types, such as a free bet with casino spins. Banned in Great Britain from 19 January 2026.
N to R
Net position - Your total wins minus total stakes over a session. GB casino sites must display it, with time spent, while you play.
No wagering - Winnings from an offer are paid as cash with no playthrough. Caps on spin value, maximum win and expiry can still apply.
Pending period - The time a withdrawal waits before the operator processes it. Figures are in each operator's payment terms.
Progressive jackpot - A prize pool that grows with a small share of each stake until someone wins it, sometimes linked across many casinos.
Reality check - A pop-up reminder of how long you have been playing, at an interval you choose.
Reverse withdrawal - Cancelling a pending withdrawal to keep playing with the money. Banned for online gambling in Great Britain since 31 October 2021.
RNG (random number generator) - The software that decides every outcome in digital casino games, independently tested before games can be offered.
RTP (return to player) - The share of all stakes a game is designed to pay back over a very long run, such as 96%. See RTP explained.
S to Z
Self-exclusion - Asking to be blocked from gambling for a set period. You can self-exclude with a single operator or across all GB-licensed sites through GAMSTOP.
Significant terms - The key conditions that must sit next to any advertised offer: minimum deposit, wagering, expiry, eligible games, payment exclusions and caps. The guide to reading significant terms goes through them.
Slot stake limit - The maximum stake per spin on online slots in Great Britain: £5 for players aged 25 and over, £2 for those aged 18 to 24.
Sticky bonus - A bonus that can be used to play but is never itself withdrawable; only winnings above it can be cashed out once conditions are met.
Volatility - How a game spreads its return: small frequent wins (low) or rare large ones (high).
Wagering requirement - How many times bonus funds must be staked before they become withdrawable. GB rules cap it at 10x on bonus funds from 19 January 2026. The wagering requirements guide works through examples.
White label - A casino brand run on a platform and licence provided by another company. Check the licence holder on the register.
Using this glossary with real terms
When a term in an offer is unclear, the operator's full terms and conditions are the deciding document, and you can ask its support team to explain a clause in writing before you opt in. Gambling is for adults aged 18 and over; the responsible gambling page explains the tools above in more depth and lists free support.
Questions readers ask
What does wagering requirement mean?
It is the number of times bonus funds must be staked before they can be withdrawn. In Great Britain it is capped at 10x on bonus funds from 19 January 2026.
What is the difference between bonus spins and free spins?
Bonus spins need a deposit or a stake to unlock. Free spins, in the advertising sense, should need no deposit and no own-money stake.
What is a sticky bonus?
A bonus you can play with but never withdraw. Only winnings above the bonus amount can be cashed out once the conditions are met.
Where can I check what a casino term means for my offer?
In the operator's full terms and significant terms. If a clause is unclear, ask support to explain it in writing before you opt in.