Casino Glossary
Plain-English definitions for the terms you'll encounter when comparing UK online casinos, from licensing and regulation through to game mechanics and safer gambling tools.
UKGC
UK Gambling Commission — the regulator that issues licences to gambling operators in Great Britain. A UKGC licence means the operator must follow strict rules on fair play, player protection, and responsible gambling.
GamStop
A free national self-exclusion scheme for UK-licensed gambling sites. If you sign up, you're blocked from all UKGC-licensed operators for 6 months, 1 year, or 5 years.
RTP
Return to Player — the percentage of all wagered money a slot or game is designed to pay back over time. An RTP of 96% means the game returns £96 for every £100 wagered, on average. This is a long-term statistical measure, not a guarantee for individual sessions.
Volatility
A measure of how often and how much a slot pays out. Low-volatility slots pay smaller wins frequently; high-volatility slots pay larger wins less often. Also called variance.
Wagering Requirement
The number of times you must bet bonus funds before you can withdraw them as cash. A £10 bonus with a 30x wagering requirement means you need to wager £300 before the bonus becomes withdrawable.
Live Casino
Real-time table games streamed from a studio, with a human dealer running the game. You place bets digitally, and the dealer deals cards, spins the wheel, or hosts a game show.
Evolution Gaming
The dominant live casino provider in the UK market, powering most operators' live tables and game shows. Known for high production values and a wide variety of roulette, blackjack, and baccarat variants.
Megaways
A slot mechanic invented by Big Time Gaming that randomises the number of symbols on each reel, creating up to 117,649 ways to win. Now licensed to dozens of studios.
Progressive Jackpot
A jackpot that grows every time someone places a bet on a networked game, often spanning multiple casinos. Mega Moolah and Megajackpots are the best-known progressive networks in the UK.
KYC
Know Your Customer — the identity verification process that UK-licensed operators must complete before you can deposit or play. You'll need to provide proof of identity (passport or driving licence) and sometimes proof of address.
Deposit Limit
A safer gambling tool that caps how much you can deposit in a day, week, or month. You can set this in your account settings, and increasing it usually involves a 24-hour cooling-off period.
Reality Check
A mandatory popup that appears during play to remind you how long you've been gambling and how much you've won or lost. UK operators must offer this at regular intervals.
Session Limit
A tool that logs you out after a set period of continuous play, helping you take breaks. Available in account settings on all UKGC-licensed sites.
Self-Exclusion
A cooling-off tool that closes your account for a set period (usually a minimum of 6 months). You can self-exclude from a single operator or use GamStop to block yourself from all UK-licensed sites.
Source of Funds
A verification check where the operator asks you to prove the origin of your deposits, typically via payslips, bank statements, or tax returns. Required under anti-money-laundering rules, especially for larger deposits or wins.
RNG
Random Number Generator — the algorithm that determines the outcome of digital casino games. UK-licensed operators must use certified RNGs that are independently tested for fairness.
Game Provider
The studio that develops and supplies casino games. Examples include NetEnt, Pragmatic Play, Microgaming, and Play'n GO. The provider mix determines the quality and variety of an operator's game library.
Playthrough
Another term for wagering requirement — the amount you must bet before bonus funds become withdrawable.
Free Spins
A bonus that gives you a set number of spins on a specific slot, often with a cap on how much you can win. Free spins usually carry wagering requirements before winnings become withdrawable.
Cashback
A bonus that refunds a percentage of your losses over a set period, typically as bonus funds with wagering requirements. For example, 10% cashback on £100 in losses would give you £10 back.
Game Weighting
How much different games contribute toward meeting a wagering requirement. Slots usually count 100%, while table games may count 10% or 0%. Check the bonus terms before playing.
Licence Number
The unique reference issued by the UKGC to a licensed operator. You can verify any operator's licence status on the UKGC public register.
Fair Play
A general term for the rules and certifications that ensure casino games are random, outcomes aren't manipulated, and RTP percentages are accurate. UK-licensed operators must use certified RNGs and display game information clearly.
Branded Slot
A slot based on a film, TV show, band, or other licensed property. Examples include Guns N' Roses (NetEnt), Jurassic Park (Microgaming), and Deal or No Deal (Blueprint Gaming).
Buy Feature
A slot mechanic that lets you pay a fixed amount to trigger the bonus round instantly, rather than waiting for it to land naturally. Popular in Pragmatic Play slots.
Max Win
The maximum amount you can win from a single spin or game round, often capped at a multiple of your stake (e.g. 10,000x). Displayed in the game rules.
Min/Max Bet
The smallest and largest stake you can place per spin or hand. Varies by game and operator.
Withdrawal Limit
The maximum amount you can withdraw in a day, week, or month. Some operators impose limits; others process unlimited withdrawals for verified players.
Pending Time
The period between requesting a withdrawal and the operator processing it. UK regulations allow up to 72 hours, though many operators are faster.