guide 07 · glossary
A short glossary of bonus terms.
One-line definitions for every concept that appears in a casino bonus calculation. Each entry that has a deeper guide links to it. Use your browser's find-in-page (Ctrl+F or Cmd+F) to jump to a specific term, or use the letter index on the left.
what's here
About 35 terms, alphabetical, each with a one-sentence definition and a cross-link where the deeper guide exists.
how to use it
Skim while reading a bonus T&C, or use as a refresher before running an offer through the calculator.
not exhaustive
Terms that change nothing about the math (UI labels, regional slang, internal operator jargon) are deliberately not here.
B
- BeGambleAware
- International gambling-harm charity, English-speaking and confidential. The primary support resource we point readers to. Free, no account needed. Site: begambleaware.org.
- Bet size
- Amount staked per spin or per hand. Most bonuses cap your bet size while you clear the wagering requirement (€5 is typical). Violating the cap usually voids the bonus and any winnings from it.
- Bonus abuse
- Operator term for clearing bonuses in ways that consistently produce positive expected value. Operator terms usually prohibit it, with definitions vague enough to be selectively enforced.
- Bonus balance
- Money credited as part of a bonus, kept separate from your cash balance. Cannot be withdrawn until the wagering requirement is cleared. Cash balance is yours; bonus balance is conditional.
C
- Cashable bonus
- A bonus where, once wagering clears, the full balance (deposit + winnings + bonus) becomes withdrawable. The standard structure for MGA welcome offers. Opposite of sticky bonus. See the wagering requirements guide.
- Cashout cap
- Limit on how much you can withdraw from bonus-derived winnings. Clips the right tail of outcomes without touching the downside, which pulls expected value negative. See the cashout caps guide.
- Cashout limit
- Synonym for cashout cap.
D
- Deposit match
- A bonus that matches a percentage of your deposit, up to a maximum amount. "100% up to €100" is a deposit match: deposit €100, receive €100 in bonus credit. Synonym: match bonus.
E
- Effective bonus
- Face value of a bonus minus anything that erodes it: cashout caps, expired free spins, restricted withdrawal balances. First term in the EV formula. See the expected value guide.
- Expected loss
- Total wagering × house edge. The long-run cost of clearing a wagering requirement. Second term in the EV formula. See the RTP and house edge guide.
- Expected valueEV
- Average financial outcome of a bonus across many identical sessions. The single number that decides whether a bonus is mathematically worth your money. See the EV pillar guide.
F
- Face value (of free spins)
- Spin count × bet per spin × RTP. The theoretical value of a free-spin promo before any wagering requirement or win cap applies. See the free spins guide.
- Fixed cap
- A cashout cap quoted as a flat euro limit ("max €100 withdrawal"). Easy to spot. Tight fixed caps on small bonuses are the format used for most free-spin promos. See the cashout caps guide.
- Free spins
- Bonus spins on a specific slot, usually at a forced low bet size. Often carry a wagering requirement on the winnings, which is the main thing that pulls their EV negative. See the free spins guide.
G
- Game weighting
- Percentage that bets on a given game type count toward the wagering requirement. Slots are usually 100%, roulette 10-25%, blackjack 5-10% or zero, live casino usually zero. See the wagering requirements guide.
H
- House edge
- The operator's mathematical advantage on a game, expressed as a percentage. House edge = 100% − RTP. A 96% RTP slot has a 4% edge. See the RTP and house edge guide.
L
- Live casino
- Real-dealer table games (blackjack, roulette, baccarat) streamed in real time from a studio. Usually excluded from bonus wagering (0% weighting), so cannot be used to clear a WR.
M
- Match bonus
- Synonym for deposit match.
- Max bet rule
- Cap on the bet size you can place while clearing a bonus (€5 is the common number, sometimes €4 or €7). Violating it usually voids the bonus and any winnings from it. Read the T&Cs before you size up.
- MGA
- Malta Gaming Authority. The regulator that licenses every operator we cover on this site. MGA jurisdictions include Malta and most EU markets where operators can lawfully accept play. Site: mga.org.mt.
- Multiplier cap
- A cashout cap quoted as a multiple of the bonus amount ("max win 5x bonus"). Looks more generous than a fixed cap and scales with bonus size, but still clips the right tail. See the cashout caps guide.
N
- No-deposit bonus
- A bonus credited without requiring a deposit. Usually small face value, tight cashout cap, and a high wagering requirement. Higher headline appeal than EV.
P
- Playthrough
- Synonym for wagering requirement. We use "wagering requirement" throughout this site. See the wagering requirements guide.
R
- Real balance
- Money credited from your deposit (not from a bonus). Withdrawable at any time without clearing any wagering requirement. Opposite of bonus balance.
- Reload bonus
- A match bonus offered on a deposit after the welcome offer has already been claimed. Usually smaller percentage and lower cap than the welcome bonus, sometimes positive EV during promo windows.
- Return To PlayerRTP
- Percentage of total wagering a game pays back to players over the long run. A 96% RTP slot pays €96 per €100 wagered, on average across the population. See the RTP and house edge guide.
- RGFM
- Responsible Gaming Foundation Malta. MGA-jurisdiction support resource for gambling harm. Site: rgf.org.mt.
S
- Self-exclusion
- A regulator-mandated feature that lets you lock yourself out of an account for a set period or permanently. Every MGA-licensed operator must offer it. See the responsible gambling page.
- Slot
- Reel-spinning casino game, typically 92-98% RTP, weighted 100% toward wagering requirements. The vehicle most bonuses force you onto for clearing, because the house edge is reliable.
- Sticky bonus
- A bonus where the bonus amount itself never withdraws. Only winnings made on top of it do. Lower EV than a cashable bonus because you forfeit the bonus principal even after clearing. See the wagering requirements guide.
T
- Table game
- Card or wheel-based casino game: blackjack, roulette, baccarat. Usually low house edge (0.5% to 2.7%), usually excluded or heavily weighted down for wagering. Operators do not want you clearing bonuses on these.
- Time limit
- The window within which the wagering requirement must clear, typically 7 to 30 days. Short windows force higher bet sizes and more variance, which raises the chance of busting before the bonus clears. See the wagering requirements guide.
V
- Variance
- Volatility of a game's outcomes around its expected value. High-variance games have bigger swings; the long-run average is the same. Synonym: volatility. See the RTP and house edge guide.
W
- Wagering requirementWR
- Total amount you must wager before bonus money becomes withdrawable. Quoted as a multiplier of bonus or bonus + deposit. The main lever operators use to make bonuses net negative. See the wagering requirements guide.
- Welcome bonus
- The bonus offered to a new account holder on their first deposit. The umbrella term for first-deposit promotional offers. Usually the headline product on a casino's home page.
- Win cap
- A cashout cap on free-spin winnings specifically. Same mechanic as a cashout cap, narrower scope. See the free spins guide.