iGaming Glossary
Plain-English definitions of the terms used across iGaming, for operators, suppliers, and affiliates. 413 terms, with in-depth entries for the essentials.
A
Accumulator (parlay)
A single bet combining several selections where all must win.
Acquirer (acquiring bank)
The bank that processes card payments for the operator and settles the funds. Gambling-friendly acquirers are limited.
Active player
A player who bet or deposited within a set period, usually a month.
ADR (Alternative Dispute Resolution)
Independent handling of player disputes, required in some markets.
Affiliate
A partner who promotes an operator and earns commission for the players they refer.
Affordability check
A check on whether a player can afford their gambling, required in some markets.
Aggregator (game aggregator)
A game aggregator gives operators access to many game studios through a single integration. Connect once and get a large content library with shared bonus and reporting tools, instead of integrating each provider separately.
Why it matters: One integration replaces many, cutting dev time and speeding new content.
American roulette
A double-zero roulette variant, with a higher house edge than European.
AML (Anti-Money Laundering)
AML (Anti-Money Laundering) is the checks and ongoing monitoring operators use to detect and prevent money laundering. In regulated iGaming it is a licensing requirement and works alongside KYC.
Why it matters: AML failures bring some of the largest fines in the industry.
Andar Bahar
A fast South Asian card game offered live in some casinos.
Ante bet
An optional side stake that unlocks a bigger feature or payout in some games.
API
A connection that lets systems talk to each other, used to integrate games, payments, and data.
APM (Alternative Payment Method)
Any non-card payment method, such as e-wallets or vouchers.
Arbitrage (arb)
Betting all outcomes across bookmakers to lock in a profit from odds gaps.
ARPU (Average Revenue Per User)
Average revenue per player over a period.
Asian handicap
A football handicap that removes the draw by giving a head start, sometimes in fractions of a goal.
Autoplay (autospin)
A slot setting that spins automatically for a set number of rounds.
Avalanche (cascading, tumble)
A slot mechanic where winning symbols vanish and new ones drop in, allowing chained wins.
B
B2B
Business to business. Selling to operators and suppliers rather than to players.
B2C
Business to consumer. Serving players directly.
Baccarat
A card game betting on the banker, player, or tie hand.
Back office
The operator control panel for managing players, games, bonuses, and reports.
Bankroll
The money a player or bettor sets aside for gambling.
Base game
A slot's main play, outside its bonus features.
Bet builder
A feature to combine several selections from one event into a single bet.
Bet level
A multiplier on the number of coins staked per slot spin.
Betting exchange
A platform where players bet against each other and the operator takes commission.
Blackjack
A card game where players try to beat the dealer by getting closer to 21 without going over.
BOG (Best Odds Guaranteed)
Paying out at the higher of the price taken or the starting price.
Bonus buy (feature buy)
Paying directly to trigger a slot's bonus round.
Bonus code (promo code)
A code players enter to claim an offer.
Bonus round
A special feature round in a slot, often free spins.
Burn card
A card discarded before dealing to deter cheating.
Bust
In blackjack, going over 21 and losing.
Button (dealer button)
The marker showing the nominal dealer in poker, which sets the betting order.
C
Call bet
A roulette bet announced to the dealer rather than placed with chips.
Caribbean Stud
A casino poker game played against the house, not other players.
Cashback
A promotion returning a share of a player's losses as cash or bonus funds.
Cash game
A poker game played for real-money chips, joinable and leavable at any time.
Cashier
The site section for deposits and withdrawals. Also a retail role.
Casino Hold'em
A house-banked poker game based on Texas Hold'em rules.
Chargeback
A chargeback is when a player disputes a card payment and the bank reverses it. In iGaming, high chargeback rates raise costs and can put an operator's payment processing at risk.
Why it matters: Too many chargebacks can get an operator dropped by payment providers.
Classic slot
A slot styled on traditional machines, usually three reels.
Closing line value (CLV)
The gap between the odds you took and the final odds, a measure of betting skill.
Cluster pays
A slot mechanic paying for groups of touching symbols instead of paylines.
Coin value
The value of each coin bet on a slot.
Column bet
A roulette bet on one of the three columns of numbers.
Come bet
A craps bet made after the come-out roll.
Consent (data)
A player's agreement to how their data is used, required under data law.
Continuation bet (c-bet)
A bet after raising before the flop, continuing the aggression.
Conversion rate
The share of people who take a target action, such as registering or making a first deposit.
CPA (Cost Per Acquisition)
CPA (Cost Per Acquisition) is an affiliate deal that pays a fixed amount for each qualifying player, rather than a share of their revenue. It rewards volume and pays out sooner than revenue share.
Why it matters: It gives affiliates faster payback and operators a known cost per player.
Craps
A dice game betting on the outcome of rolls.
Crash game
A game where a multiplier climbs and players cash out before it crashes at a random point.
CRM (Customer Relationship Management)
Managing players after sign-up through segmentation, offers, and messaging.
Croupier (dealer)
The person running a table game.
D
Data controller
The party that decides how personal data is used and is accountable for it.
Data processor
A party that handles personal data on behalf of the controller.
Decimal odds
Odds shown as a single number, where stake times odds equals total return.
Demo mode (fun mode)
Playing a game with fake credits, no real money.
Deposit
Money a player adds to their account.
Direct debit
A payment pulled from a bank account on a schedule with prior authority.
Don't pass
A craps bet against the shooter.
Dormancy (dormant account)
An account inactive for a long period, often subject to specific fund rules.
Double down
In blackjack, doubling the stake in exchange for one more card.
Dozen bet
A roulette bet on a group of twelve numbers.
DPO (Data Protection Officer)
The person responsible for data protection compliance at a company.
Dragon Tiger
A fast card game betting on which of two cards is higher.
Drop
The total money players exchange for chips or put into machines, mainly a land-based term.
E
EGM (Electronic Gaming Machine)
A land-based gaming machine such as a slot cabinet.
En Prison
A roulette rule holding an even-money bet for one more spin when zero hits.
European roulette
A single-zero roulette variant, with a lower house edge than American.
Even money
A bet paying the same as the stake, at 1 to 1.
Expanding wild
A wild symbol that grows to cover a whole reel.
F
Feature buy (bonus buy)
See Bonus buy.
First deposit
A player's opening deposit, the point at which they become a depositor.
Fixed jackpot
A jackpot of a set amount, not growing with play.
FOBT (Fixed Odds Betting Terminal)
A land-based machine offering fixed-odds games.
Fractional odds
Odds shown as a fraction, such as 5/1, giving profit relative to stake.
Free spins
Bonus slot spins, usually with wagering requirements on any winnings.
French roulette
A single-zero roulette variant with the La Partage and En Prison rules.
FTD (First Time Depositor)
A player who has just made their first deposit.
Futures (ante-post)
Bets on an outcome decided in the future, such as a season winner.
G
Gamble feature
A slot option to risk a win on a double-or-nothing bet.
GDPR
EU data protection law governing how personal data is handled.
Geoblocking
Blocking access from markets where the operator is not licensed.
Geolocation
Checking a player's physical location to confirm a licensed market.
GGR (Gross Gaming Revenue)
GGR (Gross Gaming Revenue) is total player stakes minus the winnings paid back to them. It is an operator's gross win from gambling, before bonuses, taxes, and costs, and the headline revenue figure in iGaming.
Example: Players wager 1,000,000 and win back 950,000, so GGR is 50,000.
Why it matters: It is the base for gaming tax in most markets and the standard measure of size.
GGY (Gross Gaming Yield)
Another term for gross gaming revenue.
Go-live
The point a brand or feature enters full operation.
Grid slot
A slot laid out as a grid, often using cluster pays rather than lines.
GTO (Game Theory Optimal)
A poker strategy aiming for mathematically unexploitable play.
H
Handicap (spread)
A market giving one side a virtual advantage to level a contest.
Handle
Handle is the total amount players wager over a period. It is money staked, not money kept, and is a common measure of betting volume, especially in sports betting.
Why it matters: It sizes activity. Revenue is then a fraction of handle, set by hold.
Hard hand
In blackjack, a hand with no ace, or where the ace must count as one.
Hit
In blackjack, taking another card.
Hit frequency
How often a slot produces any win, as a percentage of spins.
Hold and win (lock and spin)
A slot feature where triggering symbols lock and respins seek more, often for jackpots.
Hold (hold percentage)
Hold, or hold percentage, is the share of total wagers an operator actually keeps after paying out winnings, worked out as win divided by handle. It is the real-world result, as opposed to the theoretical house edge.
Example: Handle of 1,000,000 and win of 40,000 is a 4% hold.
Why it matters: It shows what the book really kept, which can differ from the theoretical margin.
House edge
House edge is the operator's built-in mathematical advantage on a game, the share of each stake it expects to keep over time. It equals 100% minus the game's RTP, so a 96% RTP game has a 4% house edge.
Why it matters: It sets the theoretical margin per game, which shapes game mix and profit.
HT/FT (Half Time / Full Time)
A bet on the result at both half time and full time.
Hybrid deal
An affiliate deal combining a CPA payment upfront with ongoing revenue share.
I
ICM (Independent Chip Model)
A way to value poker tournament chips in terms of real prize money.
If-bet
A bet where the next selection is only placed if the first meets a condition.
iGaming
Online real-money gambling, covering casino, sportsbook, poker, bingo, lottery, and more.
In-play betting (live betting)
Betting on an event after it starts, with odds that update in real time.
Inside bet
A roulette bet on specific numbers inside the layout, with higher payouts.
Insurance
A blackjack side bet offered when the dealer shows an ace.
Issuer (issuing bank)
The bank that issued a player's card and approves or declines their payments.
ISV (Independent Software Vendor)
A company that builds software products sold to others.
J
K
Keno
A lottery-style game where players pick numbers and win on matches.
KYC (Know Your Customer)
KYC (Know Your Customer) is the process of verifying a player's identity, age, and documents. In iGaming it is a licensing requirement, run at sign-up and before withdrawals, to meet regulation and stop fraud.
Why it matters: Weak KYC risks fines and licence action, while slow KYC costs sign-ups.
L
La Partage
A roulette rule returning half an even-money bet when zero hits.
Latency
The delay in a system, important for live betting and live casino streams.
Lifecycle marketing
Messaging players differently at each stage, from new to VIP to lapsed.
Loyalty program
A scheme rewarding continued play with points, tiers, or perks.
LTV (Lifetime Value)
LTV (Lifetime Value), or player value, is the total net revenue a player is expected to generate over their whole time with a brand. It is used to judge how much you can afford to spend to acquire a player.
Why it matters: It sets the ceiling on acquisition cost and guides where to focus retention.
M
Matched betting
Using free bets and lay bets to extract value with little risk.
Max bet
The highest allowed stake on a game.
Max win
The most a game can pay, often capped as a multiple of the stake.
Megaways
A slot mechanic with a changing number of symbols per reel, giving many ways to win.
MGA (Malta Gaming Authority)
The gambling regulator of Malta, a widely held licence.
Min bet
The lowest allowed stake on a game.
Moneyline (American odds)
US-style odds showing profit on a 100 stake, or the stake needed to win 100.
Multiplier
A feature that increases a win by a set factor.
Must-drop jackpot
A jackpot that has to pay out before reaching a time or amount limit.
Mystery symbol
A slot symbol that reveals as another symbol when it lands.
N
Natural
In blackjack or baccarat, an instant winning two-card total.
Negative carryover
Negative carryover is when a negative revenue-share balance rolls into the next month instead of resetting to zero. It happens when a player's winnings or costs exceed revenue in a month.
Why it matters: Deals without negative carryover are meaningfully better for affiliates.
Neighbours bet
A roulette bet covering a number and those next to it on the wheel.
NGR (Net Gaming Revenue)
NGR (Net Gaming Revenue) is GGR minus deductions such as bonuses, and often gaming taxes and fees. It is closer to what an operator actually keeps, and the exact deductions vary from one operator to the next.
Example: GGR of 50,000 minus 8,000 bonuses and 5,000 tax gives NGR of 37,000.
Why it matters: Most revenue-share deals are based on NGR, so its definition affects payouts.
Ninety-ball bingo
The classic bingo format, played for one line, two lines, and a full house.
No deposit bonus
A bonus given without requiring a deposit, with wagering requirements.
O
Outside bet
A roulette bet on broad groups such as red or black, with lower payouts.
Overround (margin)
The total implied probability above 100% in a set of odds, which is the bookmaker's margin.
Over/under (totals)
A bet on whether a total, such as goals, is above or below a line.
P
Pai gow
A game splitting seven cards into two separate hands.
PAM (Player Account Management)
A PAM (Player Account Management) is the core system that runs an online gambling operation: player accounts, the wallet, bonuses, KYC, and responsible gambling tools. It is the backbone that games and payments plug into.
Why it matters: It is where the operator runs the business day to day, onboarding to retention.
Pari-mutuel (tote)
Pooled betting where all stakes are shared among winners after a deduction.
Pass line
The main craps bet, backing the shooter to win.
Payline
A line across a slot's reels along which matching symbols pay.
Payment cascading
Routing a payment through more than one provider so that if one declines, another can approve it.
Payment orchestration
Routing payments across many providers from one integration to lift approvals.
Pay N Play
A model letting players deposit and play via bank ID with no separate registration.
Payout
Money paid to a player as winnings.
Paytable
The chart showing a slot's symbol values and rules.
PEP (Politically Exposed Person)
A person in a prominent public role who needs extra AML checks.
Perfect Pairs
A blackjack side bet on being dealt a pair.
Playthrough (wagering requirement)
How many times a bonus must be wagered before winnings can be withdrawn.
Point of consumption tax (POC)
Tax based on where the player is, not where the operator is.
Portfolio
The range of games or brands a company offers.
Postback (S2S tracking)
A server-to-server method of tracking affiliate conversions, more reliable than cookies.
Pot odds
The ratio of the current pot to the cost of a call, used to guide poker decisions.
Provably fair
A crypto method letting players verify a game's outcome was not tampered with.
PSP (Payment Service Provider)
A PSP (Payment Service Provider) connects an operator to payment methods and handles the processing of deposits and withdrawals. In iGaming, PSPs also deal with high-risk acquiring and market-specific methods.
Why it matters: The right PSP mix drives approval rates, payout speed, and market coverage.
Pull-tab
A ticket game revealing symbols behind tabs for instant prizes.
Push
A tie between player and operator where the stake is returned.
Q
R
Redeposit
A deposit made after a player's first, a sign of retention.
Reel
A vertical strip of symbols on a slot.
Refund
Returning a payment to a player.
Reload bonus
A bonus on a deposit made after the first, to keep players depositing.
Respin
A slot feature giving an extra spin of some reels while others hold.
Responsible gambling (RG)
Responsible gambling (RG) is the set of measures that protect players from harm, such as deposit and loss limits, time-outs, reality checks, and self-exclusion. It is a licensing requirement in regulated markets.
Why it matters: Beyond compliance, weak RG risks licences, fines, and reputational damage.
Retention
Retention is keeping existing players active and depositing over time. It is the focus of CRM and VIP work and is usually far cheaper than acquiring new players.
Why it matters: Small retention gains compound, since retained players keep paying back.
Retrigger
Landing the trigger again inside a bonus round to extend it.
Revenue share
Revenue share is an affiliate deal that pays a percentage of the revenue from the players an affiliate refers, usually for the player's lifetime. It rewards long-term quality rather than raw volume.
Why it matters: It aligns the affiliate with player value, but the GGR or NGR base matters.
RGS (Remote Game Server)
The server that runs a game's logic and delivers it to operators.
RNG (Random Number Generator)
An RNG (Random Number Generator) is the software that produces random outcomes in games, so results cannot be predicted or fixed. It must be independently tested and certified for each regulated market.
Why it matters: It is the basis of fair play, and certification is a licensing requirement.
Rolling reserve
A share of an operator's funds a payment provider holds back to cover chargebacks.
Roulette
A game betting on where a ball lands on a spinning numbered wheel.
RTP (Return to Player)
RTP (Return to Player) is the percentage of all stakes a game pays back to players over the long run. A 96% RTP slot returns 96 per 100 staked on average, leaving a 4% house edge. It is a long-run average, not a session guarantee.
Why it matters: It drives player value, margins, and market compliance, and is usually certified.
RTS (Remote Technical Standards)
Technical rules operators must meet for a licence, covering fairness and player protection.
S
Sandbox (demo environment)
A test environment for trying integrations without real money.
SAR (Suspicious Activity Report)
A report operators file when they spot possible money laundering.
SCA (Strong Customer Authentication)
A rule requiring extra verification on many electronic payments.
Scatter
A slot symbol that pays or triggers features regardless of position.
Seamless wallet (single wallet)
A seamless wallet, or single wallet, gives a player one balance that games draw from in real time through the operator's system, with no need to move funds into each game. It is the standard for modern platforms.
Why it matters: It removes transfer friction and simplifies balances across many studios.
Self-exclusion
Self-exclusion is when a player chooses to block themselves from gambling for a set period or permanently. Operators must offer it and honour it, and in some markets must check central exclusion registers.
Why it matters: Serving a self-excluded player is a serious compliance breach.
Self-service
A model where the operator runs more of the stack in-house with lighter provider support.
Semi-bluff
Betting a drawing hand that can still improve, mixing bluff and value in poker.
Settlement
Deciding and paying the result of a bet. Also the transfer of funds in payments.
Seventy-five-ball bingo
A pattern-based bingo format played on a 5x5 card.
Shoe
The device holding multiple card decks in table games.
Sic bo
A dice game betting on the outcome of three dice.
Single-zero
A roulette wheel with one zero, giving players a better edge than double-zero.
SLA (Service Level Agreement)
A contract term setting guaranteed uptime and support levels.
Social casino
Casino-style games played with virtual coins for fun, not real-money payouts.
Soft hand
In blackjack, a hand with an ace counted as eleven.
Soft launch
A limited release to test a product before full launch.
Squeeze (poker)
Re-raising after a raise and one or more calls, to pressure opponents.
SSBT (Self-Service Betting Terminal)
An in-shop terminal for placing bets without a cashier.
Stacked wild
A wild symbol that fills several positions on a reel at once.
Sticky wild
A wild that stays in place for a set number of spins.
Straight up
A roulette bet on a single number.
Sub-affiliate
An affiliate referred by another, who earns a share of their commission.
Supplier
A company providing games, platform, or services to operators.
Surrender
Giving up a blackjack hand for half the stake back.
Sweepstakes casino
A model offering casino-style play through virtual coins and prizes, used mainly in the US.
System bet
A bet covering many combinations of selections, so some can lose and it still pays.
T
Teaser
A US bet adjusting point spreads across several games in the bettor's favour for a lower payout.
Teen Patti
A popular South Asian card game, offered live in some casinos.
Test house (test lab)
An accredited lab that tests and certifies games and RNGs.
Texas Hold'em
The most common poker variant, with two hole cards and five community cards.
Three Card Poker
A house-banked poker game played with three cards.
Transaction monitoring
Watching player transactions for signs of fraud or laundering.
Transfer wallet
A setup where players move funds into a game or provider wallet before playing.
Tumble (avalanche, cascading)
See Avalanche.
Turbo spin (quick spin)
A setting that speeds up slot spins.
Turnkey
A turnkey solution is a complete casino or sportsbook, delivered as a package, that you run under your own licence. It gives more control than a white label, and more responsibility, including holding the licence.
Why it matters: It suits operators who want to own their licence and control the product.
Turnover
The total amount staked over a period, often used interchangeably with handle.
Twenty-one plus three (21+3)
A blackjack side bet combining your cards and the dealer's up card.
U
UKGC (UK Gambling Commission)
The regulator for gambling in Great Britain.
V
Value bet
A bet where the odds are higher than the true chance suggests.
VIP management
Looking after high-value players with tailored offers and dedicated contact.
Virtual sports
RNG-driven simulations of sports events that players can bet on at any time.
Volatility (variance)
Volatility, or variance, is how risky a game's payouts are. High-volatility games pay rarely but big, low-volatility games pay often but small. It describes the swing in results, not the long-run RTP.
Why it matters: It shapes player experience, bankroll needs, and how a game fits a promotion.
W
Wagering requirement (playthrough)
A wagering requirement, or playthrough, is how many times a bonus must be wagered before winnings from it can be withdrawn. It is shown as a multiple such as 30x.
Example: A 30x requirement on a 100 bonus means staking 3,000 before withdrawal.
Why it matters: It protects operators from bonus abuse and shapes how good an offer looks.
Walking wild
A wild that moves across the reels on each spin for a set number of spins.
Ways to win
A slot payout model where matching symbols on adjacent reels pay, regardless of exact position.
Welcome bonus
The offer given to new players on sign-up or first deposit.
Whistle-to-whistle ban
A rule stopping betting ads around live sport.
White label
A white label is a ready-made setup that lets you run your own casino or sportsbook brand on a provider's licence and platform. It is the fastest, lowest-overhead route to launch, in exchange for less control and a revenue share.
Why it matters: It gets a brand live in weeks without holding a licence.
Wild
A slot symbol that substitutes for others to complete wins.
Withdrawal
Money a player takes out of their account.
Y
Yield
Revenue as a share of turnover, a measure of how much is kept.