Have gambling terms like wagering requirements, scatter symbols, and RTP ever left you scratching your head? If so, you’re not alone. The more you delve into different forms of online gambling, whether it be table games, slots, or just the various payment methods out there, you’re going to encounter a complex vocabulary of gambling terms, acronyms, and bonus verbiage.
We’ve compiled a glossary of 100+ gambling terms broken down into categories that cover all facets of the industry to help you on your journey.
General Online Gambling Terms
Process of confirming a player’s identity for security and compliance.
A marketing partner that promotes a casino in exchange for commission.
A feature that lets slots spin automatically for a set number of rounds.
The minimum or maximum amount you can wager on a game.
Misuse of PA online casino bonuses or promotions to exploit the system.
A promotion that returns a percentage of losses as bonus funds.
The section of an online casino where deposits and withdrawals are handled.
A bonus that matches your deposit up to a certain amount.
The main menu where games are listed by category.
The statistical advantage the casino holds over the player.
Game-Specific Terms
A poker term for betting all your remaining chips.
A small forced bet used in poker and some table games.
The dealer or house hand in games like baccarat.
Blackjack is a card game aiming for a hand totaling 21.
The amount of money required to join a poker game or tournament.
In poker, matching another player’s bet.
In poker, passing the action to the next player without betting.
In blackjack, doubling your bet and receiving only one more card.
In poker, discarding your hand and forfeiting the round.
In blackjack, asking for another card.
Keeping your current hand, particularly in video poker.
A large prize, often progressive, that grows with every bet.
Keno is a lottery-style game where players select numbers and await a draw.
A line on a slot machine that determines winning combinations.
A prize that increases as more players wager.
Vertical columns on slot games that spin to show symbols.
A special slot symbol that can trigger bonuses or free spins.
A timed competition between players to win the most credits.
Wild symbols on a slot reel that remain for multiple spins.
Five consecutive cards in poker, regardless of suit.
A slot symbol that substitutes for others to create winning lines.
Horse Betting Terms
A single bet that combines win, place, and show on one horse. If your horse wins, you cash all three bets.
Allows you to cover all combinations of your selected horses. For example, a “trifecta box” with three horses will win if those horses finish in the top three in any order.
A bet where you must pick the winners of two consecutive races, typically the first two of the day.
A wager where you must correctly pick the first two finishers in exact order.
A measure of distance used in horse racing. One furlong equals 1/8 of a mile, or about 220 yards.
The odds set by the track’s oddsmaker before betting begins. These give an early idea of a horse’s expected performance.
A horse that performs well on wet or muddy tracks. Can be a valuable edge in rainy conditions.
A horse whose odds are less than even money, indicating it’s a strong favorite in the race.
These are multi-race bets where you select the winners of three, four, or six consecutive races. The more races, the bigger the potential payout—and risk.
A bet on a horse to finish first or second. Pays less than a win bet but offers more safety.
The official start time of a horse race. All bets must be placed before post time.
A bet on a horse to finish first, second, or third. It’s the safest of the basic bets with the lowest payout.
A horse race betting bet where you predict the first four horses in exact order. Hard to hit but offers the biggest payouts of the straight wagers.
Picking the first three horses in exact order. High risk, but offers big payouts.
A bet on a horse to finish first. If your horse doesn’t win the race, you lose the bet.
Payment & Financial Terms
Automated Clearing House, a type of bank transfer.
Direct movement of funds between bank and casino account.
A platform that accepts cryptocurrency for deposits and withdrawals.
A reversed payment after a dispute, often with credit cards.
A common online casino payment method, but sometimes restricted for use in funding a gambling account.
Digital currencies like Bitcoin used for anonymous gambling.
Bonus funds given after making a deposit.
An electronic version of a check for funding casino accounts.
A digital payment service at online casinos for brands like PayPal or Skrill.
Real-time online banking transactions to fund casino play.
Canadian bank transfer method also used at some US online casinos.
Cash payment system used in retail stores for online casino deposits.
Money won and withdrawn from a casino account.
A withdrawal request that is not yet processed.
A loadable card used to make deposits at online casinos.
Cancelling a withdrawal to return funds to your account.
Another name for wagering requirement.
A popular e-wallet for online gambling.
A bank payment solution enabling fast and secure transactions.
A mobile wallet accepted at select online casinos.
Acronyms, Concepts, and Advanced Terms
Someone using skill or strategy to beat the casino.
Often used to denote promotional money in a casino bonus.
A person trained and licensed to manage games.
A statistical estimate of average returns over time.
Spins on a slot machine that don’t cost the player money. Free spins are typically given as part of a casino bonus.
A casino or sportsbook’s total revenue before expenses.
A major software provider in the gaming space.
Verification process for identity and legal compliance.
A metric of player value over their time on the site.
A leading casino game provider.
A casino or sportsbook’s revenue after taxes and bonuses are removed.
Algorithm behind fair game outcomes.
Ensures game results are unpredictable and fair.
Percentage of bets returned to players over time. Often associated with slots.
How a player interacts with the online casino site.
Overall feel and usability of the casino platform.
The frequency with which a slot game pays out a player. It’s represented on a scale from low to high where high represents a game that pays out infrequently but in larger amounts.
Tool to disguise location, sometimes used for access to an online gambling site that uses geofencing.
How much must be bet before cashing out bonuses.
A prestigious poker tournament series, also hosted online.
A Swedish payment provider used at some online casinos.
Casino Features and Promotions
A referral code used for tracking or bonuses.
A code entered to claim promo offers.
Special game features triggered by certain outcomes in slot play.
Mobile version of a casino platform.
The technology behind online casino games.
Withdrawing funds from your account.
Tokens used in table games to represent money.
Loyalty points earned through play.
Jackpots that must be won before a deadline.
A self-imposed cap on how much you can deposit.
The company that develops online casino games.
A slot that has recently paid out a large amount.
A reward earned from gameplay rather than a promotion.
Real-time customer support feature.
The lowest deposit amount a player can make to claim a bonus.
A casino optimized for smartphone and tablet use.
Playing multiple hands at once, common in blackjack or poker.
A top-tier game developer.
A bonus given for deposits beyond the first one.
A tool that allows players to block themselves from gambling.
A bonus that cannot be withdrawn, only the winnings can.
Legal and Regulatory Terms
Procedures to detect financial crime.
Technology used to confirm a player is in a legal state.
The general term for online gambling.
Legal authorization for an operator to run in a jurisdiction.
The regulatory body for online gambling in NJ.
The PA regulator of online casinos and sportsbooks.
Tools and policies to protect players from developing problem gambling habits.
Player funds kept separate from casino operations.
Rules governing promotions and gameplay.
Security measure requiring two verification methods.