Casino Glossary — Davo's Plain English Guide
Casino jargon can be confusing as. Here's every term you'll come across, explained like a mate would explain it at the pub.
This glossary covers all the terms you'll run into when playing at online casinos. No technical waffle — just clear explanations in plain English. Bookmark this page and come back whenever you hit a term you don't recognise.
A-D
Autoplay / Auto-Spin
A feature that spins the reels automatically for a set number of times. Handy but dangerous for your bankroll if you're not paying attention. Always set loss and win limits when using autoplay.
Bankroll
The total amount of money you've set aside for gambling. Your bankroll is your war chest — when it's gone, you stop. Simple as that.
Bonus Round / Bonus Feature
A special feature within a pokie that triggers under certain conditions (usually landing scatter symbols). Bonus rounds often include free spins, multipliers, or pick-and-click games. This is where the big wins typically happen.
Cashback
A percentage of your losses returned to you, usually weekly. The best cashback offers have no wagering requirements, meaning you can withdraw the cashback immediately. It's essentially a rebate on bad luck.
Cascade / Tumble
A pokie mechanic where winning symbols disappear and new ones drop in to replace them. This means a single spin can produce multiple wins in a row. Popular in games like Gates of Olympus and Sweet Bonanza.
Deposit Match
A bonus where the casino matches your deposit by a percentage. "100% up to $500" means they'll double your money up to $500. Always check the wagering requirements before getting excited.
E-H
Free Spins
Spins on a pokie that don't cost you anything. They can come as part of a welcome bonus, a promotion, or within a pokie's bonus round. Bonus-granted free spins almost always have wagering requirements attached.
Game Weighting
How much different games contribute towards clearing wagering requirements. Most pokies count at 100%, but table games might only count at 10-20%. Always check this before choosing which game to play while clearing a bonus.
High Roller
A player who wagers large amounts. Casinos love high rollers and often give them special treatment — bigger bonuses, dedicated account managers, faster withdrawals, and VIP perks.
House Edge
The mathematical advantage the casino has over you. If a game has a 4% house edge, the casino expects to keep $4 for every $100 wagered over time. It's how they make money. Every casino game has a house edge — that's why the house always wins in the long run.
I-L
KYC (Know Your Customer)
The verification process casinos use to confirm your identity. Usually involves uploading a photo ID (driver's licence, passport) and a proof of address (utility bill, bank statement). Required before your first withdrawal at most casinos.
Live Dealer
Casino games streamed from a real studio with a real human dealer. You play via your screen but the cards are dealt, wheels are spun, and balls are dropped by an actual person. Popular games include live blackjack, roulette, baccarat, and game shows.
Lobby
The main page of a casino where all the games are displayed. Usually sorted by categories like pokies, live casino, table games, and new releases.
M-P
Max Win
The maximum amount a pokie can pay out on a single spin, usually expressed as a multiplier of your bet. A pokie with a 10,000x max win and a $1 bet can pay up to $10,000 on a single spin.
Megaways
A pokie mechanic created by Big Time Gaming where the number of symbols on each reel changes every spin, creating up to 117,649 ways to win. Licensed to many providers and used in hundreds of pokies.
Multiplier
A factor that increases your winnings. A 5x multiplier means your win is multiplied by five. Multipliers appear in bonus rounds, free spins, and sometimes the base game.
Payline
A line across the reels where matching symbols must land for a win. Classic pokies have a few paylines; modern pokies can have 20, 50, or hundreds. Some pokies have ditched paylines entirely in favour of other win mechanics.
Payout Percentage
Same as RTP (Return to Player). The theoretical percentage of wagered money that a game pays back over time.
Progressive Jackpot
A jackpot that grows every time someone plays the game without winning it. Can reach millions of dollars. The trade-off is that the base game RTP is usually lower because a portion of every bet feeds the jackpot pool.
Provider
The company that makes the games. Casinos don't usually create their own pokies — they licence them from providers like Pragmatic Play, NetEnt, Play'n GO, etc. The provider determines the game's quality, features, and RTP.
R-T
RNG (Random Number Generator)
The technology that ensures every spin, card deal, and roulette wheel result is completely random. Reputable providers have their RNGs tested and certified by independent auditing firms.
RTP (Return to Player)
The percentage of all wagered money a game pays back over time. An RTP of 96% means for every $100 wagered, $96 is returned on average. This is a long-term theoretical average — individual sessions can vary wildly in either direction.
Scatter Symbol
A special symbol that usually triggers the bonus round or free spins. Unlike regular symbols, scatters typically pay regardless of their position on the reels — they don't need to be on a payline.
Self-Exclusion
Voluntarily banning yourself from a casino for a set period or permanently. An important responsible gambling tool. See my responsible gambling page for more info.
Stacked Wilds
Wild symbols that appear stacked on top of each other on a reel, potentially covering the entire reel. Can lead to big wins, especially when multiple reels get stacked wilds simultaneously.
V-W
Volatility (Variance)
How a pokie behaves in terms of risk. Low volatility means frequent small wins. High volatility means rare but larger wins. Your choice depends on your bankroll size and risk appetite. See my pokies guide for more detail.
VIP Programme
A loyalty scheme that rewards regular players with perks like cashback, personal account managers, higher withdrawal limits, and exclusive bonuses. Usually tiered — the more you play, the higher your tier and the better the rewards.
Wagering Requirements (Playthrough)
The number of times you must bet a bonus amount before you can withdraw it. A $100 bonus with 35x wagering means you need to place $3,500 in total bets. This is the single most important number to check before claiming any bonus. See my bonus guide for the full explanation.
Wild Symbol
A symbol that substitutes for other symbols to create winning combinations. Think of it like a joker in a card game. Some wilds have additional features like multipliers or the ability to expand across the reel.