Casino & Betting lingo explained
Casino bonuses can look simple until the terms start biting. The Lingo explains common casino and betting phrases in plain English, including wagering requirements, free spins, promo codes, no deposit bonuses, deposit matches, cashback offers and withdrawal rules.
Jump to:
A |
B |
C |
D |
E |
F |
G |
H |
I |
J |
K |
L |
M |
N |
O |
P |
Q |
R |
S |
T |
U |
V |
W |
Y |
Z
A
- Accumulator (Acca)
- A multi-bet where all selections must win for the bet to pay out.
- American Odds
- A betting odds format shown as positive or negative numbers, like +200 or -150.
- Ante
- A small forced bet placed before a hand or round begins in some games.
- Autoplay
- A slot feature that spins automatically for a set number of rounds.
B
- Back Bet
- A bet placed on something to happen.
- Baccarat
- A casino card game where players bet on Player, Banker, or Tie.
- Banker
- In baccarat, one of the main betting options.
- Bankroll
- The amount of money a player sets aside for gambling.
- Bet
- Money placed on an uncertain outcome.
- Bet Slip
- The section where selected bets are collected before placement.
- Blackjack
- A card game where the goal is to beat the dealer without going over 21.
- Bonus
- Promotional funds or rewards offered by a casino or sportsbook.
- Bonus Abuse
- When a player uses promotions in ways the operator considers unfair or against the terms.
- Bonus Code / Promo Code
- A code entered to activate a promotion.
- Bonus Funds
- Promotional credit that usually comes with wagering rules.
- Bonus Round
- A special in-game feature, especially in slots, offering extra win potential.
- Both Teams To Score (BTTS)
- A sportsbook market on whether both teams will score.
- Bust
- Going over the allowed total, such as over 21 in blackjack.
C
- Cash Out
- A feature that lets you settle a bet before the event ends for a current offered amount.
- Cashback
- A promotion where part of your losses is refunded.
- Casino
- A gambling platform offering games like slots, roulette, blackjack, and live dealer titles.
- Casino Lingo
- Industry words and gambling jargon used on casino and betting sites.
- Correct Score
- A bet on the exact final score of a match.
- Contribution Percentage
- The amount a game counts toward wagering requirements.
D
- Decimal Odds
- Odds shown in formats like 1.80, 2.50, or 5.00.
- Deposit Bonus
- A bonus awarded after a qualifying deposit.
- Double
- A multi-bet with two selections.
- Double Down
- In blackjack, doubling your stake and taking one final card.
- Draw No Bet
- A market where the draw returns your stake.
E
- Each-Way
- A bet split into two parts: one on the selection to win and one to place.
- Even Money
- A bet that pays 1:1.
- Exacta / Forecast
- A bet predicting the first two finishers in the correct order.
- Expiry
- The date or time when a bonus, spin package, or offer ends.
F
- Feature
- A special slot mechanic, such as free spins or bonus rounds.
- Feature Buy
- A slot option that allows you to pay directly to enter the bonus feature.
- Fixed Odds
- Odds that stay locked once the bet is placed.
- Fractional Odds
- Odds shown in a format like 5/1 or 3/2.
- Free Bet
- A sportsbook promo wager, often with specific payout rules.
- Free Spins
- Promotional slot spins given as part of an offer.
- Futures / Outrights
- Long-term bets on tournament, season, or league winners.
G
- Game Contribution
- How much a game counts toward bonus wagering.
H
- Handicap
- A margin applied to make a contest more even for betting purposes.
- Hit
- In blackjack, taking another card.
- Hit Frequency
- How often a slot produces any kind of win.
- House Edge
- The mathematical advantage the casino has over players over time.
I
- Implied Probability
- The probability suggested by the odds.
- In-Play Betting / Live Betting
- Betting while the event is already underway.
- Inside Bet
- A roulette bet on specific numbers or small groups of numbers.
- Insurance
- A blackjack side bet against the dealer having blackjack.
J
- Jackpot
- A top prize in a casino game.
- Jackpot Slot
- A slot game with a large top prize, often fixed or progressive.
K
- Kelly Criterion
- A bankroll strategy formula some bettors use to size bets.
L
- Lay Bet
- A bet that something will not happen, common on betting exchanges.
- Leg
- One individual selection inside a multi-bet.
- Line
- The odds or margin attached to a betting market.
- Live Casino
- Online casino games streamed with real human dealers.
- Live Dealer
- A real dealer running an online table game via video stream.
- Liquidity
- The amount of money available in a betting exchange market.
- Lucky 15
- A 15-bet combination based on 4 selections.
- Lucky 31
- A 31-bet combination based on 5 selections.
- Lucky 63
- A 63-bet combination based on 6 selections.
M
- Match Bonus
- A bonus that matches part or all of your deposit.
- Max Bet
- The highest allowed wager, often important in bonus terms.
- Max Cashout
- The highest amount you can withdraw from a promotion.
- Max Win
- The highest theoretical win a slot or promo can pay.
- Megaways
- A slot mechanic with changing reel sizes and variable ways to win.
- Minimum Deposit
- The smallest deposit needed to qualify for an offer.
- Moneyline
- A straight bet on which team or player wins.
- Multiplier
- A feature that increases winnings by a set factor like x2 or x10.
N
- No Deposit Bonus
- A bonus given without requiring a deposit.
- Non-Runner
- A horse or participant withdrawn before an event starts.
O
- Odds
- The price of a bet and the implied chance of an outcome.
- Odds Boost
- A temporary increase in the odds offered on a selection.
- Outright
- A long-term bet on a tournament or league winner.
- Outside Bet
- A roulette bet on broader outcomes like red/black or odd/even.
- Over/Under
- A bet on whether a total will finish above or below a set number.
P
- Parlay
- The US term for an accumulator.
- Patent
- A 7-bet combination made from 3 selections.
- Payline
- A line pattern on a slot where symbols must land to pay.
- Payout
- The amount returned on a winning bet or game result.
- Place
- A finishing position that qualifies for a place payout.
- Playthrough
- Another term for wagering requirement.
- Player
- In baccarat, one of the main betting options.
- Progressive Jackpot
- A jackpot that grows as more players contribute to it.
- Profit
- Your winnings excluding your original stake.
- Promo
- A general term for bonuses, offers, and rewards.
- Push
- A tied sportsbook result where your stake is returned.
Q
- Qualifier
- The minimum condition needed to activate a bonus or offer.
R
- Real Money Balance
- Cash in your account that is not bonus money.
- Reels
- The vertical columns on a slot machine.
- Restricted Games
- Games excluded from bonus use or wagering contribution.
- Return to Player (RTP)
- The theoretical long-term percentage a game returns to players.
- Risk-Free Bet
- A promo where losing stake may be refunded under set conditions.
- RNG (Random Number Generator)
- The system used to generate random game outcomes online.
- Roulette
- A casino game where players bet on where a ball lands on a spinning wheel.
S
- Scatter
- A slot symbol that often triggers features or free spins.
- Same Game Multi
- A bet combining several selections from the same event.
- Settlement
- The process of grading a bet as won, lost, void, or returned.
- Single
- A bet with one selection.
- Sportsbook
- The section of a site where sports bets are placed.
- Spread
- A points or goal margin used in sports betting.
- Split
- In blackjack, dividing a pair into two hands.
- Stake
- The amount of money placed on a bet.
- Stand
- In blackjack, choosing not to take another card.
- Straight-Up
- A roulette bet on one number.
- Super Yankee / Canadian
- A 26-bet combination from 5 selections.
T
- Table Game
- A casino game such as blackjack, roulette, baccarat, or poker.
- Tie
- In baccarat, a bet that Player and Banker finish equal.
- Totals
- Another term for over/under betting.
- Treble
- A multi-bet with 3 selections.
- Tricast / Trifecta
- A bet on the first three finishers in exact order.
- Trixie
- A 4-bet combination from 3 selections.
- Turnover Requirement
- Another term for wagering requirement.
U
- Under
- A bet that the final total will be below the line.
V
- Validity Period
- The time window in which an offer can be used.
- Variance
- Another term for volatility.
- Void
- A cancelled bet where the stake is refunded.
- Volatility
- How risky a slot is in terms of win frequency and size.
W
- Ways to Win
- A slot mechanic that pays by combinations instead of fixed paylines.
- Welcome Bonus
- A bonus offered to new players when signing up or making a first deposit.
- Wager
- Another word for bet.
- Wagering Requirement
- The number of times bonus money, or bonus plus deposit, must be bet before withdrawal.
- Wild
- A slot symbol that substitutes for other symbols.
- Win Bet
- A bet on a selection to finish first.
- Withdrawal Limit
- A cap on how much can be cashed out in a period or from a promo.
Y
- Yankee
- An 11-bet combination from 4 selections.
Z
- Zero
- In roulette, the green zero pocket that gives the house its edge.
Quick Terms Players Should Always Check
- Wagering requirement — How much must be bet before withdrawing
- Max cashout — The highest amount allowed from a promotion
- Minimum deposit — The least deposit needed to qualify
- Restricted games — Games excluded from the offer
- Expiry — How long the bonus lasts
- RTP — The theoretical long-term return of a game
- Volatility — How swingy a slot tends to be
- Cash out — Whether a sportsbook bet can be settled early