The world of online casinos features a lot of unique terminology and jargon. For newcomers, this terminology may be especially confusing.

The more understanding players have of key terms and phrases, the more they can navigate the online casino environment. That may not guarantee success, but increased knowledge certainly makes the journey easier in any situation.

This wide-ranging guide explains the most common online casino terminology, providing clear definitions and information to help you become more familiar with the language of online gambling.

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Our guides cover the rules, strategy, and other valuable information for the most popular online casino games, as well as online casino bonuses, popular terms and concepts such as RTP and RNGs, similarities and differences between traditional physical casinos and online casinos, and other important information about gambling online at desktop sites or mobile casinos.

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If you would like to learn more about everything from how to choose an online casino, to online casino payment methods, to how to play popular table games such as baccarat, to tips for responsible gambling, we have you covered.

Our goal is to be a vital resource for players who love online slots or enjoy playing blackjack games like Perfect Pair Blackjack, roulette, video poker and its variants (including Jacks or Better and Deuces Wild), casino poker games (including Caribbean Stud Poker and Pai Gow Poker), and more.

Basic Online Casino Terminology

Bankroll: The total amount of money a player has set aside for gambling.
Bet: The amount of money wagered on a game.
Betting Limit: The minimum and maximum amounts that can be wagered on a game.
Bonus: Additional funds or free spins given by the casino as a promotion. Online casino bonuses often come with specific terms and conditions. The best online casino bonuses can be 400%, 500%, or even 600%, cover multiple deposits, or include free slots spins.
Casino Advantage: Also known as the house edge, this is the statistical advantage that the casino has over players in a game.
Cash Out: The process of withdrawing money from your casino account.
Deposit: The act of adding money to your casino account.
House Edge: The percentage of each bet that the casino expects to retain over the long term.
Jackpot: The highest prize that can be won in a game. This is often associated with progressive jackpot slots, but there are many types of casino jackpots players can win.
Payout: The amount of money a player receives from a winning bet.
Return to Player (RTP): The percentage of money a game is designed to return to players over time. RTP is based on the total amount of money wagered.
RNG (Random Number Generator): Software that ensures the random outcomes of casino games.
Wagering Requirements: Conditions that players must meet before withdrawing funds. Typically, this involves betting a multiple of the bonus amount.

Slot Machine Terminology

Autoplay: A feature that allows the game to spin automatically for a set number of spins.
Bet Max: The maximum amount that can be wagered on a single spin.
Bet Min: The minimum amount that can be wagered on a single spin.
Bonus Round: A special feature in slot games that offers extra opportunities to win. Some slot games are bonus buy slots, which means that players can purchase these bonus features to unlock them without having to do so through gameplay.
Free Spins: Slots spins that do not require a wager, often awarded as part of a bonus. Many of the best U.S. online casinos have bonus offers that give players free slots spins. An example of a free spins offer is the 300 free welcome spins at Super Slots Casino.
Multiplier: A feature that multiplies winnings by a specific amount.
Payline: A line on which a payout will be awarded based on winning combinations. Slot games can feature many different paylines.
Progressive Jackpot: A jackpot that increases every time someone plays a game but does not win. Progressive jackpots continue to grow until someone wins it.
Reels: The vertical sections that spin and display symbols in a slot game.
Scatter Symbol: These are special slot symbols that can trigger bonus features or payouts, regardless of its position on the reels.
Volatility: The level of risk associated with playing a particular slot machine or game. Volatility of slot games can range from low to medium to high.
Wild Symbol: A symbol that can substitute for other symbols to create winning combinations.

Terminology for Online Casino Table Games

Action: The total amount of money wagered during a game.
Banker: In baccarat, the term used for the dealer or the house.
Blackjack: A hand in blackjack consisting of an Ace and a 10-value card, totaling 21.
Bust: In blackjack, when a hand exceeds a total value of 21.
Double Down: In blackjack, to double the initial bet and receive one additional card.
Hit: In blackjack, to take another card.
House Rules: The specific rules and regulations of a casino game, which can vary between casinos.
Push: In blackjack, when the player and the dealer have hands of equal value, resulting in no win or loss.
Split: In blackjack, to separate two cards of the same value into two separate hands, with an additional bet.
Stand: In blackjack, to keep your current hand and not take any more cards.

Terminology for Live Online Casino Games

Bet Behind: A feature in live blackjack that allows players to bet on the hands of other players.
Live Dealer: A real person who deals cards or spins the roulette wheel in real-time, streamed to players via video.
Live Chat: A feature that allows players in live casino games to communicate with the dealer and other players in real-time.
Shoe: A device used in card games to hold multiple decks of cards.

Poker Terminology

All-In: Betting all of your remaining chips in a poker hand.
Ante: A small, mandatory bet that all players must make before a hand begins.
Bluff: To bet or raise with a weak hand to deceive opponents into folding stronger hands.
Call: To match the current bet.
Check: To pass the action to the next player without making a bet.
Community Cards: Cards dealt face-up in the center of the table, used by all players to make their hands (common in Texas Hold’em and Omaha).
Flop: The first three community cards dealt face-up in Texas Hold’em.
Fold: To discard your hand and forfeit the round.
Pot: The total amount of money wagered by players in a poker hand.
Raise: To increase the current bet.
River: The fifth and final community card dealt face-up in Texas Hold’em.
Turn: The fourth community card dealt face-up in Texas Hold’em.

Bingo Terminology

Bingo Card: A card with a grid of numbers used in bingo games.
Coverall: A bingo game variant where players must cover all the numbers on their card to win.
Daub: To mark a number on a bingo card.
Jackpot: The top prize in a bingo game, often awarded for covering a specific pattern or all numbers.

General Online Casino Terminology

Affiliate: A person or company that promotes a casino in exchange for a commission.
Bonus Code: A code used to claim a specific casino bonus.
Cashback: A promotion where players receive a percentage of their losses back as bonus money. Some online casino cashback bonuses are on lost deposits, while others are on losses from gameplay.
Free Play: A promotion offering free credits to play games without risking real money. At online casinos, these free credits are often known as free chips. For example, the Lucky Red Casino welcome package includes a $75 free chip.
High Roller: A player who wagers large amounts of money at real money casinos.
Loyalty Program: A program that rewards players for their continued play with points. Points earned with online casino VIP and loyalty programs can be redeemed for bonuses or other perks. A generous VIP online casino rewards program may offer free spins, special bonuses, free or reduced-fee withdrawals, and even birthday gifts.
Rollover Requirement: Another term for wagering requirement. The number of times a player must wager the bonus amount before they can withdraw any winnings.

Online Casino Regulatory and Legal Terminology

eCOGRA: An independent agency that tests and certifies the fairness and security of online casino games.
Gambling License: A license issued by a regulatory authority allowing a casino to operate legally.
Know Your Customer (KYC): A verification process that casinos use to confirm the identity of their players.

Responsible Online Gambling Terms

Cooling-Off Period: A period during which a player can take a break from gambling.
Self-Exclusion: A process that allows players to voluntarily exclude themselves from gambling for a set period.
Problem Gambling: Gambling behavior that negatively affects a player’s life, often requiring professional help.

Being familiar with terminology used in the various forms of online casino gambling is key, whether you are a novice or an experienced gambler.

Armed with the knowledge provided by this guide and other online gambling resources, you will be better equipped to enjoy your casino experience and make the most of the exciting opportunities available.

Online Casino Terminology: Breaking Down Popular Gambling Terms & Phrases