Online Casino Glossary: Essential Terms Explained

In short: this glossary covers the casino terms that actually affect your decisions — RTP, volatility, wagering, paylines, and more — in plain language, with links to the pages on our site where each term matters most.

Casino terminology gets thrown around like everyone already knows it. Most players pick it up piecemeal, half-guessing at what half the terms mean. Here’s the reference version.

RTP (Return to Player)

The theoretical percentage a game returns to players over a very large number of spins — a 96% RTP pokie is calculated to pay back $96 for every $100 wagered across millions of spins, not any single session. It’s a long-run average, not a session forecast.

Volatility (or “variance”)

How a game’s payouts are distributed, independent of RTP. Low volatility means smaller, more frequent wins; high volatility means longer dry spells punctuated by bigger hits. Two games can share the same RTP and feel completely different to play — our pokies page breaks this down with real volatility comparisons.

RNG (Random Number Generator)

The software that determines outcomes on RNG-based games — continuously generating numbers independent of your bet size or previous spins. We cover this in full on our separate RNG explainer if you want the mechanics.

Wagering requirement

The multiplier attached to a bonus that determines how much you need to bet before bonus winnings convert to withdrawable cash. A 30x wagering requirement on a $50 bonus means $1,500 in total stakes before that money is yours to withdraw. Full breakdown, including our actual welcome pack numbers, is on the Bonuses page.

Paylines

The patterns across a pokie’s reels that pay out when matching symbols land on them — classic games might have a handful of straight lines, while megaways-style titles can have thousands of dynamic ways to win that change every spin.

House edge

The mathematical advantage built into every game, expressed as a percentage. European roulette carries a 2.7% house edge; American roulette’s extra double-zero pocket nearly doubles it to 5.26%. See the full comparison on our Roulette page.

Jackpot (progressive vs fixed)

A fixed jackpot pays a set maximum amount. A progressive jackpot grows with every bet placed across a network of players until someone hits it, then resets. Progressive jackpot titles are typically excluded from bonus wagering contribution — worth checking before you grind wagering on one.

KYC (Know Your Customer)

The identity verification process — photo ID plus proof of address — required before your first withdrawal at any licensed operator. Full steps are on our registration guide.

Dealer (live vs RNG)

A live dealer is a real person running a real table on camera in real time; RNG table games simulate the same formats with software instead. Both are legitimate — see our Live Casino page for how the two differ in pace and atmosphere.

18+. Gambling can be addictive. Play responsibly and only with money you can afford to lose. Support resources are listed on our Responsible Gambling page.