Casino & Betting lingo explained
New to online casinos, sports betting, and bonus offers? This glossary explains the most common casino and betting terms in plain English so you don't sound like a guppy and make better decisions and understand them as well. Pretty cool right?
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
