Online Casino Glossary: Gambling Terms and Phrases
Basic Gambling Terms Explained
Getting to know the special words used in gambling can make playing at online casinos more enjoyable. Below are simple definitions of terms you're likely to come across.
House edge is the casino's advantage measured by the profit they expect to make from each bet, shown as a percentage. A smaller house edge means players have better chances to win. The payout percentage is different and shows how much money a slot machine will give back to players from the money it takes in. Both are important to know when picking which games to play.
People gambling should know what a bankroll is: it's the money you plan to use for betting. It's important to handle this money wisely to gamble responsibly and not lose too much. When you play at online casinos and get bonuses, you'll often hear about wagering requirements. This means you have to bet a certain amount before you can take out any money you win from those bonuses.
RNG means Random Number Generator, a computer program used in games like slots, roulette, and blackjack. It makes sure that every game result is random and fair and works like the chance events in real casinos without any guessing or patterns.
Here are some basic words every person who gambles on the internet needs to understand:
- Action: The total amount of money wagered by a player during a gambling session.
- High Roller: A player known for making large bets.
- Max Bet: The maximum allowable wager on a single bet in a game.
- Progressive Jackpot: A jackpot prize that increases each time the game is played but not won.
Knowing these words helps you use online sites better and can make playing games online more fun. If you understand what's going on, you'll probably have more fun when you gamble online.
Online Casino Game Lingo
If you're getting into online casinos, it's good to know some key terms. RTP means Return to Player. It's a number showing how much money you might get back from a game over time. For instance, if a slot machine has an RTP of 96%, it should give back $96 for every $100 that's bet on it.
Casinos have a built-in advantage called the house edge, which means they are more likely to win over time. Games like blackjack or baccarat that have a small house edge are better for the player because they have a better chance of winning. The words volatility or variance are about how often and how big the prizes from a game are. High volatility games can give you bigger prizes but they don't happen very often.
When you explore online casinos, know about the various bonuses. Expect to see terms like:
- Welcome Bonus: A bonus offered to new players when they sign up.
- No Deposit Bonus: A bonus granted without requiring a deposit, allowing players to try games risk-free.
- Free Spins: Complimentary spins on slot games, often as part of a welcome package or promotion.
- Wagering Requirements: Conditions that must be met before bonus winnings can be withdrawn.
- Reload Bonus: A bonus given to existing players when they add additional funds to their account.
When you play games online, you need to know about bankroll and betting limits. Your bankroll is the money you have for playing games. Betting limits are the smallest and biggest bets you can make in a game. Wise players make sure their bankroll fits with how much they can spend and the game's betting limits. This helps them play safely and not spend too much.
Betting Types and Options
To get the hang of online betting, it's important to know the different ways you can place bets. A straight bet is the most basic kind, where you bet on just one thing happening in a game or race. It's easy to understand, so it's good for newbies. A parlay bet, though, is when you bet on several things all in one go. If you win, you could get more money, but it's tougher because every single one of your picks has to be right, or you lose the whole bet.
You can also make prop bets, which are when you bet on certain things happening in a game that don't affect the final score, like which team will score first or how many touchdowns a player will get. Another type is the over/under bet. In this bet, you guess if the total points from both teams will be higher or lower than a number that's been set.
Live betting changed the way people gamble by letting them place bets during games. This type of betting allows for betting on odds that keep changing and can make money for those who know what they're doing. On the other hand, a money line bet is a simpler kind of bet where you just pick who you think will win the game, without worrying about a point spread.
Here is a quick list of common betting types you might find in online casinos:
- Straight Bet: A wager on a single outcome or event.
- Parlay Bet: A single bet linking two or more wagers; to win, the player must win all the wagers in the parlay.
- Prop Bet: A wager on a specific occurrence within a game.
- Over/Under (Totals) Bet: A bet on whether the combined score of both teams will be over or under a posted total.
- Live Betting: Placing bets on events as they happen, with dynamic odds that change in real-time.
- Money Line Bet: A bet on the outright winner of the event without any point spread.
To understand betting well, it's important to know about the point spread bet, common in football and basketball. This bet gives a disadvantage to the favored team to make the match more equal with the weaker team. Online betting offers many different types of bets to suit everyone, from those who don't like to risk much to those who enjoy complicated bets with the potential for big wins.
Our latest online casino reviews (2024)
Bonuses and Promotions Jargon
When you visit online casinos, you'll find offers like sign-up bonuses. These give you extra money based on your first deposit. But make sure to read the rules because these bonuses have rules about how much you must bet before you can take out any winnings.
No-deposit bonuses are small amounts of money you get for free to play casino games, so you don’t have to use your own money. Although they let you try games without risk, they usually have strict rules about how you can withdraw any winnings. You’ll often see these and other promotional terms being used.
- Free spins: Complimentary spins on slot games, often tied to specific titles.
- Loyalty points: Points earned by playing games, which can sometimes be converted into cash or prizes.
- Reload bonuses: Additional bonuses given when you deposit more funds after the initial deposit.
- Cashback offers: A percentage of losses returned to the player over a certain period.
Some bonuses are for people who spend a lot of money on games. These bonuses might give you extra money when you put money in your account and also offer benefits like getting your money out faster and having a dedicated person to help with your account. It's important to know the rules and what you need to do to get the most out of these bonuses.
Casinos often have special deals that last for a short time like a week or a month. These deals can be extra playing money, free chances to play, or tickets for a giveaway. It's important to check when these deals end so you don't miss out. Make sure to regularly check the casino's deals page to know what's currently on offer.
Financial Transactions Terminology
When you play casino games online, it's good to know basic terms like "Deposit", which is when you put money into your casino account to start playing. Another key term is "Withdrawal," which is when you move any money you've won to your own bank account or online wallet.
- Deposit – Transferring money to your casino account.
- Withdrawal – Transferring your winnings from the casino.
- Wagering Requirements – Conditions attached to bonuses.
- RTP (Return to Player) – The percentage of wagered money paid back to players over time.
When you get a bonus from a casino, there are rules about how often you need to bet that bonus money before you can take out any money you win from it. These rules are there to stop people from just taking the bonus money and not playing. To actually get your winnings, you have to follow these betting rules.
RTP, or Return to Player, is important when you play casino games online. It's a percentage that shows what part of the money played on a game gets given back to players as winnings, after some time. For example, if a game has an RTP of 95%, that means it should give back $95 for each $100 that gets bet on it. By looking at the RTP, you can get an idea of how much you might win from a game over a while.
Common Player Activities Phrases
Knowing online casino terms can improve your gaming and make sure you understand what's going on. Learn these common phrases used by players that you'll often see.
Hitting the jackpot means winning a big prize or a lot of money. The house edge is how much the casino is expected to win over time from the players. Knowing the house edge can help you pick which games to play. Below are key terms related to special game features:
- Free spins: Rounds on a slot machine awarded without needing to place an additional bet.
- Bonus rounds: Special game sequences that often offer higher payouts or unique game mechanics.
- Wild symbols: Icons in slots that can substitute for other symbols to form winning combinations.
- Scatter symbols: Symbols that trigger bonuses, typically free spins or mini-games, regardless of their position on the reels.
When you play online gambling games, talking to other players or the dealer is important. In poker, when someone says "raise," they want to bet more money, and "fold" means they're not playing that hand anymore. In Blackjack, if you hear "bust," it means someone's cards add up to more than 21 and they lose right away.
You need to know a few terms about money in online casinos. If you put money into your account, that's a deposit. Taking money out is a withdrawal. Wagering requirements are rules that tell you how much you have to bet before you can get money from bonuses.
Learn these terms to use online gambling sites more comfortably and get the most out of your time at the casino. Keep this list close by to help you understand new words you might find while playing.
Our latest online gambling guides (2024)
Latest reviews of online casinos (2024)
Share this article
Knowing how likely you are to lose money helps when betting online. It makes it easier to pick games where you might win more often, and it also gives you a clear idea of how often you can expect to win.
I think no-deposit bonuses are great because they let players try games without using their own money. But they can be tricky due to the strict rules on withdrawing any winnings. Casinos should be clearer and fairer with these bonuses to build better trust with players.