Mastering the Online Casino Vocabulary: Terms and Definitions Every Player Should Know

A to Z Online Casino Glossary 

• Active Payline

A payline that’s currently in play, which can yield a payout when a winning combination is hit. On multi-payline slots, players can usually choose the number of paylines they want active for each spin.

• Auto Play

This feature allows the reels to spin automatically for a set number of times, eliminating the need for constant manual input.

• All-the-Ways Connection

A type of payline in slot games where winning combinations can be formed in any direction, not just from left to right.

• All in

This term is generally used in poker games, where a player bets all of their remaining chips.

• Blackjack Chart

A tool that shows the optimal decisions to make in any situation in the game of blackjack, based on the player’s hand and the dealer’s up-card.

• Bankroll

The total amount of money that a player has set aside for gambling.

• Bait

This term refers to a strategy where an enticing offer or benefit is used to lure in players.

• Bet Max

A betting option that automatically places the maximum number of bets possible based on the coin denomination and the number of active paylines.

• Bet Per Line

The amount wagered on each active payline, which when multiplied by the number of active paylines equals the total stake per spin.

• Bonus Feature

Special features in slot games that can be activated randomly or when specific symbol combinations appear. These can offer bonus payouts, free spins, or other rewards.

• Bonus Hunt

A strategy where players use a bonus hunt tracker to specifically target games with lucrative bonus features and activate them for substantial payouts.

• Bounty

A special prize or reward offered in a tournament or game, typically for eliminating a certain player or achieving a specific objective or a special bonus in a slot machine which is extremely hard to get.

• Classic Slot

A conventional slot game, typically featuring three reels and a single payline.

• Coin Size

This refers to the value assigned to each coin bet in a slot game.

• Connection

This refers to how winning combinations can be formed in a slot game. It can relate to lines, ways, clusters, or other special features.

• Crypto Deposit

A deposit made using cryptocurrency, such as Bitcoin or Ethereum.

• Dead Bonus

Expression that mean a bonus that did not pay as expected.

• Fixed Jackpot

A jackpot that always pays out a pre-determined amount of coins when won.

• Free Spins

Spins that do not cost anything to play, with any winnings going directly to the player. These can be awarded as part of a bonus feature, through a specific combination of symbols, or as a promotional offer from a casino.

• Free Spins Bonus

A type of bonus where players are awarded a certain number of free spins on a slot game.

• Free Tournament

A tournament that does not require an entry fee to participate.

• Free Slot Tournaments

Free slot tournaments allow players to compete in slot games without an entry fee, aiming to accumulate the highest winnings within a set time for a chance to win real prizes.

• Full line Connection

A Full line connection refer to a scenario where identical symbols cover an entire active payline from one end of the reel to the other. This usually results in a substantial payout, as the player has achieved the maximum possible combination of that symbol on a single payline.

• Game Shows

Casino games based on popular television game shows.

• Giveaways

Promotional events where prizes are given away, often to promote a new game or reward loyal players.

• High Roller Bonus

Special bonuses offered to players who make large deposits or place high stakes.

• Hit

A colloquial term for a successful spin that results in a win.

• House Edge

The statistical advantage that the casino holds over players in any given game.

• Kick.com

A streaming platform launched in december 2022 by Stake founders to allow online casino stream.

• Loose Slot

A term used to describe a slot game that tends to pay out frequently or offers a high return to player (RTP).

• Low Wager Bonus

A bonus that comes with low wagering requirements, making it easier for players to convert the bonus money into real, withdrawable cash.

• Live Casino

A section of an online casino where players can participate in games that are streamed live from a real, physical casino, and are hosted by real dealers.

• Match Deposit Bonus

A type of bonus where the casino matches a player’s deposit by a certain percentage, giving the player more money to play with.

• Max Win

The maximum amount that a player can win from a single spin or game.

• Mechanical Slots

Slots that have physical reels and more than one payline.

• Megaways

A slot mechanic that provides players with hundreds or thousands of ways to win by randomly changing the number of symbols on each reel on every spin.

• Multiplier

A feature that multiplies the payout of a winning combination by a certain amount. Multipliers can appear as symbols, or be awarded during bonus features or free spins.

• Monthly Bonus

A bonus that is offered to players on a monthly basis, usually in the form of a reload bonus or free spins.

• No Deposit Bonus

A no deposit bonus casino offers players the chance to start playing without depositing their own money, often provided as a sign-up incentive.

• No Wagering Bonus

A type of bonus where players do not have to fulfill any wagering requirements to withdraw their winnings.

• Nudge

A feature in some slot games that allows one or more reels to move slightly to help form a winning combination.

• One-Armed Bandit

A nickname for traditional mechanical slot machines, due to the lever on one side of the machine that players pull to spin the reels.

• Pay-line

A line across the reels where specific combinations of symbols must land to yield a payout. These can range from one to hundreds of lines, depending on the game.

• Payout Percentage

The percentage of wagered money that a slot game will return to players over the long run.

• Pay Table

A chart that outlines all possible winning combinations in a slot game and their respective payouts.

• Progressive Jackpot

A jackpot that gradually grows as more players bet on the game, often across multiple casinos.

• Provider

The company or entity that creates and supplies casino games.

• Rakeback

A type of reward where poker players receive a portion of the ‘rake’ (the small percentage of each pot taken by the poker room) back.

• Random Number Generator

Often abbreviated as RNG, this is a program used in casino games to ensure random outcomes.

• Reels

The spinning sections of a slot game, either physical or virtual, where symbols appear.

• Retrigger

A feature in slots where a bonus round or free spins can be activated again during the bonus itself.

• RTP

Stands for Return To Player, a metric expressed as a percentage that indicates the long-term average return of all wagered money a player can expect to win back from a specific game.

• Scatter

Special symbols that do not need to appear in a line to trigger a win. They typically activate bonus features or free spins when a certain number appear anywhere on the reels.

• Spin

The act of playing a single round on a slot machine.

• Stacked Wilds

Wild symbols that appear one on top of another on the same reel in a slot game.

• Store

A feature in some online casinos where players can spend loyalty points or other earned currencies on various items or bonuses.

• Symbol

The icons or images on a slot game that form winning combinations.

• Table Games

Casino games that are traditionally played on a table, like blackjack, roulette, or poker.

• Tight Slot

A slot game that has a lower payout percentage or does not pay out frequently.

• Tips

Advice offered to help improve a player’s strategy or increase their chances of winning.

• Volatility

A metric that represents the level of risk in a casino game. High volatility games offer larger but less frequent payouts, while low volatility games offer smaller but more frequent payouts.

• Video Slots

Slot games that use graphics and animations instead of physical reels.

• VIP program

A loyalty program offered by casinos that rewards players for their frequent play with perks such as exclusive bonuses, free spins, cashback, and more.

• Weekly boost

A type of bonus or offer that is refreshed weekly, often including deposit bonuses, free spins, or other promotions.

• Wager

The act of betting money on a casino game.

• Wild Symbol

A special symbol in slot games that can replace any other symbols (except usually scatters) to form winning combinations.

• Winning Combination

A specific arrangement of symbols on a slot game that results in a payout.