Glossary
Plain-English definitions of terms you will encounter on this site and across UK-licensed online casinos.
- RTP (Return to Player)
- The percentage of all wagered money a game is designed to pay back over time. A slot with 96% RTP returns £96 for every £100 wagered on average — but this is measured over millions of spins, not individual sessions.
- Wagering requirement
- The number of times you must bet a bonus amount before winnings become withdrawable. A 35x requirement on a £10 bonus means £350 in total bets before you can cash out.
- UKGC (UK Gambling Commission)
- The regulator for all commercial gambling in Great Britain. Every operator legally offering services to UK players must hold an active UKGC licence.
- GAMSTOP
- A free national self-exclusion scheme. Registering blocks your accounts across all UKGC-licensed online gambling sites for a chosen minimum period.
- Volatility (variance)
- How a slot distributes its payouts. High-volatility slots pay less frequently but in larger amounts. Low-volatility slots pay more often but in smaller sums. Neither is better or worse — it depends on your playing style and bankroll.
- Live casino
- Casino games streamed in real time with a human dealer, played via video feed. Common games include roulette, blackjack, baccarat and game shows. Evolution Gaming is the dominant provider in this space.
- Free spins
- Bonus rounds on a specified slot that cost you nothing to play. Winnings from free spins are typically subject to wagering requirements before withdrawal.
- Matched deposit
- A welcome offer where the operator matches your first deposit by a percentage, up to a cap. A 100% match up to £100 means depositing £100 gives you £100 in bonus funds — subject to wagering terms.
- Game provider / studio
- The company that develops and supplies the games. NetEnt, Pragmatic Play, Microgaming, Play'n GO and Evolution are among the largest. Operators license games from these studios rather than building them in-house.
- Megaways
- A slot mechanic developed by Big Time Gaming that varies the number of symbols on each reel per spin, creating up to 117,649 or more ways to win. Licensed to many studios.
- KYC (Know Your Customer)
- The identity verification process operators must carry out under UK law. It confirms you are who you say you are and that you are over 18.
- Session limit / reality check
- A responsible gambling tool that alerts you after a set period of play. UKGC-licensed operators are required to offer this.
- Cooling-off period
- A short-term break (typically 24 hours to 6 weeks) during which your account is temporarily suspended. Less drastic than full GAMSTOP self-exclusion but still useful for taking a step back.
Last updated: 25 June 2025