📖 Casino Glossary
Casino jargon can be confusing when you're starting out. Here's every important term explained in plain, no-nonsense language.
RTP (Return to Player)
The theoretical percentage of all wagered money a pokie will pay back to players over time. An RTP of 96% means that for every $100 wagered, the game theoretically returns $96 on average. This is calculated over millions of spins — your individual session will vary significantly from the stated RTP.
Volatility (Variance)
Describes the risk profile of a pokie. Low volatility means frequent small wins. High volatility means rare but potentially large wins. Medium volatility sits between the two. Your choice should match your bankroll and risk tolerance — high volatility requires more patience and a larger budget.
Wagering Requirements (Playthrough)
The number of times you must bet your bonus amount before you can withdraw any winnings. A 30x wagering requirement on a $100 bonus means you need to place $3,000 in total bets. Lower is always better — anything under 30x is fair, 40x+ is challenging, and 50x+ is borderline predatory.
Non-Sticky Bonus
A bonus structure where your real money balance is played first. If you win with real money and want to withdraw, you can do so without completing the wagering requirement — you just forfeit the bonus portion. This is the most player-friendly bonus type.
Sticky Bonus
A bonus structure where bonus funds and real money are combined. You cannot make any withdrawal until the full wagering requirement is met. Riskier than non-sticky because you could lose everything before clearing the playthrough.
Free Spins
Complimentary spins on a specific pokie, usually part of a welcome bonus or promotion. Free spin wins typically come with their own wagering requirements. The bet size is predetermined by the casino, not chosen by the player.
House Edge
The mathematical advantage the casino has over the player, expressed as a percentage. It is essentially 100% minus the RTP. A pokie with 96% RTP has a 4% house edge. The house edge ensures the casino profits over time — individual sessions can go either way, but the maths ultimately favours the operator.
Paylines
The lines across the reels on which matching symbols must land to create a winning combination. Classic pokies might have 1-5 paylines while modern video pokies can have 10 to 50 fixed paylines. Some pokies use "ways to win" systems instead of traditional paylines.
Megaways
A game mechanic developed by Big Time Gaming that creates a variable number of ways to win on each spin — typically up to 117,649. Each reel displays a random number of symbols (2-7) per spin, creating a dynamic and unpredictable experience. Many providers licence this mechanic for their own pokies.
Scatter Symbol
A special symbol that typically triggers bonus features (like free spins) when a certain number appear anywhere on the reels, regardless of paylines. Most pokies require 3 or more scatters to trigger the bonus round. Some pokies also pay direct prizes for scatter combinations.
Wild Symbol
A symbol that substitutes for other regular symbols to help form winning combinations, similar to a joker in card games. Some wilds come with multipliers, expand to cover entire reels, or stick in place for multiple spins.
Multiplier
A value that multiplies your win by a specified amount. A 5x multiplier on a $10 win gives you $50. Multipliers can appear on wild symbols, during free spins, or as part of tumble/cascade mechanics. Some pokies allow multipliers to stack, creating enormous win potential.
Tumble (Cascade) Feature
A mechanic where winning symbols are removed from the reels after a win, allowing new symbols to fall into the empty spaces. This can create consecutive wins from a single spin. Found in popular pokies like Gates of Olympus and Sweet Bonanza.
Feature Buy (Bonus Buy)
An option to pay a premium (usually 80-100x your bet) to instantly trigger the bonus round instead of waiting for it naturally. Convenient but expensive — it increases volatility and the cost per bonus significantly. Banned in some jurisdictions but available in most casinos serving Australian players.
Ante Bet
An optional increased bet (usually 25% more than base) that doubles your chance of triggering the bonus round. Different from Feature Buy in that you still need to land the scatter combination — you just get better odds. Common in Pragmatic Play pokies like Gates of Olympus.
KYC (Know Your Customer)
The identity verification process required by casinos before processing withdrawals. Typically involves submitting government-issued ID, proof of address, and sometimes payment method verification. A one-time process at most casinos that protects against fraud and underage gambling.
Progressive Jackpot
A jackpot that increases each time the game is played but not won. A small percentage of each bet contributes to the jackpot pool, which can grow to massive amounts. When hit, the jackpot resets to a predetermined seed amount and begins growing again.
RNG (Random Number Generator)
The software algorithm that determines the outcome of each spin in an online pokie. Certified RNGs are tested by independent auditing agencies to ensure results are truly random and cannot be predicted or manipulated by the casino or the player.
Cashback
A promotion where the casino returns a percentage of your net losses over a specific period. Usually ranges from 5-15% and typically comes with minimal or no wagering requirements. Cashback is one of the most player-friendly promotion types available.
Self-Exclusion
A voluntary agreement to be banned from gambling at a specific casino or across multiple operators. Once activated, it cannot be easily reversed. In Australia, the BetStop National Self-Exclusion Register allows exclusion from all licensed operators simultaneously.
🎓 Still Confused?
Casino terminology can be overwhelming but you genuinely don't need to memorise all of this. The key terms to understand are RTP, volatility, wagering requirements, and non-sticky vs sticky bonuses. Those four concepts will help you make informed decisions at any online casino. If you ever see a term in one of my reviews that you don't recognise, come back here to look it up!