Terms used across this site, explained plainly

UKGC

The UK Gambling Commission — the regulator that licenses and oversees gambling operators offering services to people in Great Britain.

GAMSTOP

A free, UK-wide self-exclusion scheme. Registering once blocks new accounts and existing play across every UKGC-licensed online gambling site for a minimum period you choose.

Wagering requirement

The amount you must bet before bonus funds, or winnings generated from bonus spins, can be withdrawn. Usually shown as a multiplier, such as 30x the bonus amount.

RTP (Return to Player)

The theoretical percentage of all money wagered on a game that is returned to players over a very long run of play. It's a long-term statistical average, not a promise about any single session.

House edge

The mathematical advantage built into a casino game's rules that means the operator keeps a share of wagers over time. It's the flip side of RTP — the portion not returned to players on average.

RNG (Random Number Generator)

The software that determines outcomes in digital casino games. Licensed operators use RNGs that are independently tested for fairness before a game is allowed to launch.

Live dealer / live casino

Casino games such as blackjack, roulette or baccarat played against a real human dealer via a live video feed, rather than a computer-generated outcome.

Volatility

How a slot pays out over time — low-volatility games tend to give smaller, more frequent wins, while high-volatility games pay less often but potentially more when they do.

Paylines

The patterns across a slot's reels that determine a winning combination. Older slots often used a fixed number of straight lines; modern slots frequently use hundreds of possible ways to win instead.

Deposit limit

A player-protection tool, required by UKGC-licensed operators, that lets you cap how much you can deposit over a day, week or month.

Reality check

An on-screen reminder, shown at intervals you set, summarising how long you've been playing and your net spend so far in the session.

Affiliate link

A link that carries a tracking code identifying the referring site. If you sign up after clicking one, the operator may pay the referring site a commission — this site included.