Casino Bonus Glossary: Everything You Need to Know, From RTP to Sticky Bonuses

Author: Henri Ojala · Updated:

Online casinos can be a fun and exciting way to enjoy gaming from home, but the terminology can sometimes be overwhelming. Whether you’re a seasoned player or brand new to the world of online pokies and table games, you’ll likely come across unfamiliar terms.

This comprehensive glossary is designed to help you understand key casino terminology, especially when it comes to bonuses, game types, and features.

1-10 | A | B | C | D | E | F | G | H | I | J | K| L | M | N | O | P | Q | R | S | T | U | V | W | X | Y | Z

1-10

3-reel pokies – This refers to a pokie that is played with 3 reels. 3-reel pokies are often classified as classic pokie machines.
5-reel pokies – Refers to pokies that are played with 5 reels.

A

Accessibility – The ability to play casino games from any device, anywhere, at any time.
Ace – The highest or lowest card in a deck.
Active Paylines – Paylines that are enabled during gameplay. Only active paylines can result in winning combinations.
Action – Total amount of money wagered during a game or session, often used to determine bonus eligibility.
Alias – Your username or display name when playing online.
All-In – Betting all of your remaining funds on a single hand or round.
Android Casino – An online casino optimised for Android devices.
Ante – A forced bet required to participate in a game round, especially in poker.
Auto-Play – A pokie feature that allows the game to spin automatically for a set number of rounds.
Avalanche Feature – A game mechanic where winning symbols disappear and new ones drop into place, potentially creating new wins.

B

Back Counting – A blackjack card counting method where the player counts cards from a distance before joining the game.
Bankroll – The total amount of money a player sets aside for gambling.
Bet Behind – A live casino feature that allows you to bet on another player’s hand.
Bet Max – A button that automatically places the highest possible bet.
Blackjack – A classic card game where players aim to get as close to 21 as possible without going over.
Bonus – A reward given by casinos, such as free spins or extra money. Usually comes with wagering requirements.
Bonus Abuse – Exploiting bonuses through prohibited strategies or multiple accounts, often against terms and conditions.
Bonus Game – A special round in pokies offering enhanced win potential.
Bonus Spins/Free Spins – Spins awarded by the casino or within the game, often as part of a bonus.
Bonus Symbol – A special symbol that can trigger bonus rounds or features.
Bonus Without Wagering – Bonuses where winnings can be withdrawn without meeting wagering requirements.
Bust – In blackjack, going over 21 automatically loses the round.
Buy Feature – A slot mechanic that allows players to purchase direct access to a bonus round without waiting for it to trigger naturally.

C

Cashback – A bonus returning a percentage of your losses.
Cash Drop – A promotional bonus where random prizes are dropped into players’ accounts during gameplay.
Cash Out – Withdrawing winnings or choosing to end a bet early.
Casino – A venue, online or land-based, where you play games of chance.
Cluster Pays – Pokie wins based on groups of matching symbols rather than paylines.
Customer Support – Services provided to help players, usually via chat, email, or phone.

D

Daily Drops and Wins – Timed promotional events with daily prize drops and tournaments, often tied to specific game providers.
Deposit Bonus – A bonus awarded after making a real money deposit.
Deposit Methods – Ways to fund your casino account, e.g. PayPal, debit card.
Dealer – The person handling cards or spinning the wheel. Also known as a croupier.

E

eCOGRA – An independent testing agency ensuring fairness in online casinos.
Encryption – The technology used to protect your personal and banking information.
Even Money – A bet that pays out at 1:1 odds.
Expanding Wild – A wild symbol that expands to fill the reel.
Expiry Period – The time limit before a bonus, spin, or reward becomes invalid.

F

Fairness – Ensured through random number generators and licensing regulations.
Feature Buy-In – See Buy Feature.
Free Spins – See Bonus Spins.
Free Spins No Wagering – Free spins with winnings paid in cash.
Free Spins No Deposit – Spins awarded without needing to deposit.
Fixed Paylines – Paylines that are always active in a pokie.

G

Gamble Feature – A pokie option to gamble a win for double or nothing.
Game Shows – Live casino games styled like TV game shows.
Game Weighting – The percentage contribution a specific game makes toward completing wagering requirements.
Gamification – Casino elements such as missions, achievements, or levels that enhance player engagement.
Grid Pokie – Pokie games with non-standard reel layouts, often using Cluster Pays.

H

HD Live Casino – Live dealer games streamed in high-definition.
High Roller – A player who bets large amounts.
Hot Pokie – A pokie perceived to be paying out frequently.
House Edge – The statistical advantage the casino has over players.

I

Instant Play – Casino games that can be played directly in your browser.
Insider Bet/Inside Bet – A roulette bet on numbers inside the table layout.
Insurable Hand – A blackjack hand where you can take insurance against the dealer having blackjack.

J

Jackpot – A large prize payout, often progressive.
Jackpot Drop – A surprise jackpot paid out randomly, regardless of bet size or outcome.
Jacks or Better – A video poker game requiring a pair of jacks or higher to win.

K

KYC (Know Your Customer) – Verification process to confirm your identity before withdrawal.

L

Licensing – Requirement for online casinos to be authorized by the appropriate regulatory body in their operating jurisdiction.
Live Casino – Real-time table games with live dealers streamed to your device.
Lobby – The main screen of an online casino where you select games.
Loss Limit – A tool that allows players to set a maximum allowable loss over a certain time period.
Loyalty Program – A casino reward scheme for frequent players.

M

Max Bet – The maximum allowed bet on a game.
Mobile Casino – Online casinos optimised for mobile use.
Multipliers – Features that multiply your win amount.

N

New Casino – Recently launched online casino.
No Deposit Bonus – A bonus awarded without needing to make a deposit.
Nudge – A feature that shifts reels to help form a win.

O

Odds – The statistical likelihood of a win.
Opt-In Bonus – A promotion that requires players to manually opt-in before qualifying.
Outside Bet – A roulette bet on broader categories like red/black or odd/even.
Overcard – A card higher than any on the board in poker.

P

Paytable – A chart showing win amounts per symbol.
Progressive Jackpot – A jackpot that increases with each bet until won.
Push – A tie between the player and dealer.
Payout – Money paid to players from winning bets.

Q

Quickspin – A feature that speeds up the animation between spins on pokies.

R

RTP (Return to Player) – The average percentage of wagered money a game pays back to players over time.
Reload Bonus – A bonus given on subsequent deposits after the first, often smaller than the welcome bonus.
Re-Spins – Bonus spins awarded as part of a game feature.
Random Number Generator (RNG) – Ensures fairness by determining game outcomes randomly.

S

Scatter – A symbol that can trigger bonuses or free spins.
Sitcky Bonus: Non-withdrawable bonus credit you can play with and on cashout the bonus is deducted and only your winnings are paid.
Sticky Wild – A wild symbol that stays in place for multiple spins.

T

Table Games – Games like blackjack, roulette, baccarat, and poker.
Tier Points – Points earned as part of a loyalty or VIP program that determine your reward level.
Tournaments – Competitive events where players aim to win the most within a timeframe.
Tumbling Reels – See Avalanche Feature.

U

User Interface (UI) – The design and layout of the casino site or app.
User Verification: ID/age checks required before withdrawals on provincially regulated sites; expect government-issued ID and sometimes address proof.

V

Variance – Synonymous with volatility, used to describe the risk and payout frequency of pokies.
VIP Program – A loyalty scheme offering special perks to top players.
Volatility – A measure of how often and how much a pokie pays out.

W

Wagering Requirements – Conditions on bonuses requiring you to bet a certain amount before withdrawal.
Walking Wild – A wild that moves across the reels.
Wild Symbol – A symbol that substitutes for others to form wins.
Win Both Ways – A pokie feature where wins pay left to right and right to left.
Win Cap – The maximum amount you can win from a bonus or free spins, even if your actual win is higher.

X

X: Often used with wagering requirements to show multiplier, e.g., 30x (bonus) or 30x (deposit+bonus).
xBet: An optional toggle in pokies that increases your stake to raise the chance of triggering the bonus.
XXXtreme Lightning Roulette: A live-roulette variant with extra random multipliers layered on top of standard payouts. Higher volatility than classic European roulette.

Y

Youth Protection: Age verification systems to prevent underage gambling.
YTD (Year-to-Date) : Regulated sites often show YTD/account summaries and session timers in responsible gambling dashboards.

Z

Zero Wagering: A bonus where winnings from free spins or bonuses have no rollover. Usually smaller but cash-friendly.
Zig-Zag System: Old pokies “strategy” or myth that hunts for zig-zag symbol patterns on visible reels to find “hot” machines. Doesn’t work on modern RNG/video pokies.

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