Casino Glossary A–Z

Every term you will meet in our reviews and in casino T&Cs, explained in plain English. 44 entries, A–Z.

BCDEFGHJKLMPRSTVW

B

Bankroll

The total money a player sets aside for gambling. Good bankroll management means betting a small, fixed share of it per session.

Bet Level

In slots, a multiplier of the base coin value; raising it raises the total stake per spin.

Bonus Buy

A feature letting you pay (typically 100x stake) to trigger the bonus round instantly. Banned in some regulated markets.

C

Cashback

A bonus returning a percentage of losses over a period. Check whether it carries wagering requirements.

Cluster Pays

A win mechanic where matching symbols pay by forming adjacent groups instead of landing on paylines.

Comp Points

Loyalty points earned from real-money play, convertible into bonus funds or prizes.

D

Demo Mode

A free-play version of a game using virtual credits. Identical maths to the real game.

Deposit Match

A bonus matching a percentage of your deposit, e.g. 100% up to €200. Always read the wagering terms.

E

Exclusion Register

Ireland's national database letting a person block themselves from every GRAI-licensed operator in one request.

Expanding Symbol

A symbol that stretches to cover its whole reel, used in book-style slots' free spins.

F

Free Spins

Bonus rounds played without staking your own money. Winnings often carry wagering requirements.

G

Gamble Feature

An optional double-or-nothing offered after a win. The expected value is at best neutral.

GambleAware / Gambling Awareness Trust

Irish support organisations for gambling harm. Freephone 1800 753 753.

GRAI

The Gambling Regulatory Authority of Ireland, established under the Gambling Regulation Act 2024. Issues licences and maintains the public register at grai.ie.

H

House Edge

The casino's built-in mathematical advantage: 100% minus RTP.

J

Jackpot (Fixed)

A top prize of a set amount, unlike a progressive which grows with play.

Jackpot (Progressive)

A prize pool fed by a share of every bet across a network, growing until won.

K

KYC

Know Your Customer: identity verification (ID, address) required before withdrawals at licensed operators.

L

Live Casino

Games with real human dealers streamed in real time: blackjack, roulette, game shows.

M

Max Win

The cap on what a slot can pay, expressed as a multiple of stake, e.g. 5,000x.

Megaways

A licensed engine where reel heights change every spin, giving up to six-figure numbers of ways to win.

MGA

Malta Gaming Authority: the offshore regulator licensing many casinos serving Irish players.

Min Deposit

The smallest amount a casino accepts; bonuses usually require a higher qualifying deposit.

Multiplier

A factor applied to a win. In tumble slots multipliers often accumulate during free spins.

P

Payline

A fixed pattern across the reels on which matching symbols pay.

Payout Percentage

See RTP.

Pending Time

The window between requesting a withdrawal and the casino approving it: the main speed difference between casinos.

Provably Fair

A crypto-casino mechanism letting players cryptographically verify each result.

R

Reality Check

A responsible-gambling tool showing how long you have been playing at set intervals.

Remote Betting Licence

The GRAI licence category live since July 2026 covering online bookmakers. Does not cover casino games.

Remote Gaming Licence

The future GRAI category that will cover online casinos. None issued yet.

Respin

A feature re-spinning some reels while others hold, often with locked symbols.

RNG

Random Number Generator: certified software ensuring each outcome is independent and random.

RTP

Return to Player: the theoretical percentage of stakes a game returns over millions of spins. Casinos may run reduced-RTP versions — check the in-game info panel.

S

Scatter

A symbol that pays or triggers features regardless of position, usually the key to free spins.

Self-Exclusion

Blocking yourself from gambling: per-site, via the national register, or with device software like Gamban.

Sticky Wild

A wild symbol that stays in place for subsequent spins.

T

Tumble / Cascade

Winning symbols vanish and new ones fall in, allowing chains of wins from one spin.

V

Variance

See Volatility.

Volatility

How wins are distributed: low = frequent small wins; high = rarer but larger. Choose to match your bankroll.

W

Wagering Requirement

How many times a bonus must be bet before withdrawal, e.g. 35x. The single most important bonus term.

Welcome Bonus

The offer for new players: deposit match, free spins, or both. Compare by wagering terms, not headline size.

Wild

A symbol substituting for others to complete wins; variants include expanding, sticky and multiplier wilds.

Withdrawal Limit

The maximum you can cash out per day/week/month. Critical if you hit a large win.