Reference
Casino Glossary
Plain-English definitions for the terms that come up most often across our operator comparisons.
- RTP (Return to Player)
- The theoretical percentage of all money staked on a game that is returned to players over a very long period of play. It's a long-run average, not a promise about any individual session.
- Wagering requirement
- The number of times bonus funds (or bonus plus deposit, depending on the terms) must be staked before any winnings can be withdrawn. Always set by the operator's own current promotion terms.
- Self-exclusion
- A player-initiated block on their own gambling account, either with a single operator or, via GAMSTOP, across every UK-licensed online gambling site at once.
- Reality check
- An on-screen prompt, required by licence conditions, that shows how long you've been playing and how much you've spent during the current session.
- Remote licence
- The Gambling Commission authorisation required to offer gambling online (or by other remote means) to customers in Great Britain, as distinct from a non-remote licence for physical premises.
- Megaways
- A slot mechanic, licensed from its originating developer, where the number of symbols on each reel changes every spin, producing a very large and variable number of ways to win.
- Live casino
- Casino games such as roulette, blackjack and baccarat streamed in real time from a studio or venue, dealt by a human dealer, rather than generated purely by software.
- Progressive jackpot
- A prize pool that grows as more players stake on a linked game or network of games, until it is won and resets.
- KYC (Know Your Customer)
- The identity and age verification checks a licensed operator must carry out on customers, typically requiring proof of ID and sometimes proof of address.
- Time-out
- A short, player-set break from an account, usually ranging from a day to several weeks, during which the account cannot be used to gamble.