Independent casino explainers18+ · Gambling carries risk
LESS JARGON, MORE UNDERSTANDING

What does that mean?

A quick reference to the words you’ll see in games, payment pages and casino terms.

Bonus

Promotional funds or another incentive with conditions separate from your own cash balance.

Read the explanation
Deposit

Money transferred into a casino account. It is different from turnover, which counts all stakes placed.

Read the explanation
Hard hand

A blackjack hand without an ace that can be counted as 11 without going above 21.

Read the explanation
House edge

The mathematical advantage built into a game’s rules, usually expressed as a percentage of stakes over the long run. It is not a prediction for one session.

Read the explanation
KYC

Know your customer: checks used to establish who is using an account. Passing a check electronically does not mean verification was skipped.

Read the explanation
Live dealer

A person running a game shown by video stream, with bets placed through an online interface.

Read the explanation
Paytable

The game information showing which outcomes qualify for prizes and how those prizes are calculated.

Read the explanation
RTP

Return to player: the theoretical long-run percentage of total stakes returned as prizes. It is not a personal refund rate.

Read the explanation
Side bet

An optional wager with its own result and payout conditions, separate from the main game.

Read the explanation
Soft hand

A blackjack hand with an ace that can still count as 11 without taking the total above 21.

Read the explanation
UKGC

The Gambling Commission, the regulator for gambling in Great Britain. Check its register for current operator permissions.

Read the explanation
Volatility

The spread of possible game outcomes. It describes a different property from the game’s average long-run return.

Read the explanation
Wagering requirement

A qualifying-stakes target attached to bonus funds before associated winnings can be withdrawn, subject to the promotion’s terms.

Read the explanation
Withdrawal

A request to transfer money out of a casino account through an eligible payment route.

Read the explanation