Ultimate Gambling Terms & Glossary Guide

A promotional code you enter during registration or at the cashier to activate a specific bonus. Some bonuses credit automatically; others only trigger when you enter the correct code at the right stage.

A refund of a percentage of your net losses over a set period. Most cashback is paid as bonus funds with wagering requirements, though some casinos offer it as withdrawable cash.

A bonus where the casino matches a percentage of your deposit in bonus funds. A 100% match on a $200 deposit gives you $200 in bonus funds on top of your real money.

A set number of spins on a slot game that cost nothing to play. Winnings are usually paid as bonus funds with wagering requirements attached, not as withdrawable cash.

The mathematical advantage a casino holds on every bet. A 2% house edge means the casino keeps an average of $2 from every $100 wagered over time.

Canada's primary payment network for online banking. At online casinos, Interac lets you deposit and withdraw directly from your Canadian bank account in CAD, usually via Interac e-Transfer.

The identity verification process every licensed casino must complete before releasing funds. You will typically need photo ID, proof of address, and sometimes proof of your payment method.

Casino games streamed in real time from a studio, with a human dealer running the action. You play through your browser or app, placing bets on screen while watching the game live.

A bonus condition that caps how much you can stake per spin or round while a bonus is active. Breaching it typically voids the bonus and any winnings accumulated while playing with it.

Bonus cash or free spins credited to your account just for registering, with no deposit required. The wagering requirements attached are almost always stricter than on standard deposit bonuses.

How quickly a casino processes and releases withdrawal requests. Processing time, payment method chosen, and whether KYC verification is complete all affect how fast you actually receive your money.

A jackpot that grows as players bet on connected games. A small portion of each wager feeds the prize pool until one player triggers the jackpot and takes the full accumulated amount.

A deposit bonus for existing players, usually offered on a specific day or via a promotional code. Similar to a welcome bonus but typically smaller and available to claim repeatedly rather than just once.

The software that determines the outcome of every spin, card deal, or dice roll at an online casino. A certified RNG produces statistically random results that cannot be predicted or manipulated.

The percentage of total money wagered that a game returns to players over time. A slot with 96% RTP pays back $96 for every $100 bet, calculated across millions of rounds, not within a single session.

A formal process that blocks you from gambling at one or more casinos for a set period. Available at all reputable operators and through provincial programmes in Canada, including Ontario's iGO system.

A measure of how often a slot pays out and in what amounts. Low volatility means smaller, more frequent wins. High volatility means longer gaps between wins, but bigger payouts when they land.

The number of times you must bet through a bonus before any winnings become withdrawable. A $100 bonus at 30x means placing $3,000 in total bets before you can cash out.

An offer given to new players on their first deposit, usually a percentage match of what you put in. A 100% match up to $200 means deposit $200 and receive $200 in bonus funds on top.

The maximum amount you are permitted to withdraw in a given period. Casinos set these per transaction, per day, per week, and per month. High limits matter most when you land a significant win.