Casino app glossary A–Z
Plain-English definitions of the terms you meet inside casino apps, from APK and Face ID to wagering, RTP and self-exclusion.
By the Best Casino Apps UK team. Last checked .
Casino app glossary: terms explained where you meet them
This glossary defines the words you come across inside UK casino apps, from the store listing and the sign-up screens to the cashier, the game information panel and the safer gambling menu. Each entry opens with a one-sentence definition, then explains how the term works, gives a worked example with numbers where that helps, and tells you where in an app you are likely to see it.
The terms fall into five broad families. Knowing which family a word belongs to usually tells you where to look for it. A bonus term will never be explained in a game's paytable, for instance, and a slot feature will not appear in the cashier, so the family is a quick guide to which screen holds the full details.
| Family | Example terms | Where you meet them |
|---|---|---|
| App and device | APK, Face ID, push notification, geolocation | App Store or Google Play listing, phone settings, login screen |
| Game maths | RTP, volatility, hit frequency, max win | Game information or help screen |
| Slot features | Wild symbol, cascading reels, hold and win | Paytable inside each slot |
| Bonus terms | Wagering requirement, game weighting, opt-in | Promotions tab and bonus terms page |
| Safety and regulation | KYC, deposit limit, GAMSTOP, UKGC | Account settings, cashier and verification screens |
How to use the A–Z
Terms are listed alphabetically below. If you have just seen an unfamiliar word in an app, search the page with your browser's find tool or scroll to the first letter. Related entries link to each other, so reading wagering requirement leads naturally to game weighting and the max bet rule. If you would rather learn the basics in one sitting, casino app jargon for beginners groups the essential terms into a short read.
Terms A–Z
The terms that matter most before you deposit
A handful of terms affect your money directly, so they are worth understanding before you tap deposit.
- RTP: the share of stakes a game is designed to return over a very long run. At 96%, the long-run cost of £50 of stakes is £2, but short sessions vary widely.
- Wagering requirement: how many times a bonus must be staked before it can be withdrawn. In Great Britain it is capped at 10x from 19 January 2026, so a £10 bonus needs at most £100 of stakes.
- KYC: know your customer, the identity checks every licensed app must complete before you can deposit or play.
- Deposit limit: a cap you set on how much you can pay in over a day, week or month. Lowering it takes effect straight away; raising it involves a cooling-off period.
- Closed-loop payments: the rule that withdrawals normally go back to the method you deposited with.
- Max bet rule: the largest stake allowed while a bonus is active. Casumo, for example, sets £5 per bet with an active bonus; a bigger stake can void the bonus.
- Pending period: the time between requesting a withdrawal and the operator approving it, during which the money has left your playable balance.
Read these terms on the offer page itself rather than relying on a summary, because the exact wording decides what counts. A word such as eligible, qualifying or selected always points to a list somewhere in the terms, and it is worth finding that list before you play.
UK-specific terms and recent rule changes
Some glossary entries only make sense in a British context, or have changed meaning recently. Stake limit now refers to the legal caps on online slots: £5 a spin for adults aged 25 and over and £2 for those aged 18 to 24. Autoplay and turbo spin describe features that are banned on UK slots since October 2021 and on other casino games since January 2025. Bonus buy describes something that is not offered to players in Great Britain at all.
Regulatory terms such as UKGC, remote gambling licence and ADR explain who oversees the app and where to go with a complaint. GAMSTOP is the free national scheme that blocks you from every UK-licensed online gambling site and app for a period you choose. These entries describe the rules as they stand at the date shown on each page.
Putting the terms to work in an app
Definitions are most useful when you can find the thing they describe. Try a short exercise the next time you open a casino app: open any slot and find its RTP and paytable, then open the promotions tab and find the wagering requirement and expiry date on a current offer, then open account settings and locate the deposit limit, time-out and reality check options. Each takes a few taps, and knowing where they sit makes it easier to stay in control.
If a term in your app's terms and conditions is not covered here, the operator's help centre is the authoritative source, and our casino app terms and conditions guide explains how to read them.
Frequently asked questions
What does RTP mean in a casino app?
RTP stands for return to player, the percentage of all money staked on a game that it is designed to pay back over a very large number of plays. A slot with 96% RTP is expected to return £96 for every £100 staked in the long run, leaving £4 as the house edge. Your own session can be far above or below that. You find the figure in the game's information or help screen. Our RTP entry explains why one slot can have several RTP versions.
What is a wagering requirement?
A wagering requirement is the number of times you must stake a bonus before it, and any winnings from it, can be withdrawn. With a £20 bonus at 10x you need to place £200 of qualifying bets. In Great Britain the maximum is 10x since 19 January 2026, and offers paid as cash have no requirement at all. Game weighting may mean some games count less. Our wagering requirement entry includes a fuller worked example.
What is the difference between volatility and RTP?
RTP tells you how much a game returns over the long run; volatility tells you how those returns are spread. Two slots can share a 96% RTP, yet one pays small wins often while the other pays rarely but in larger amounts. Volatility shapes how a session feels and how quickly a budget can run out, while RTP sets the expected cost. Developers usually describe volatility in words or on a scale. See our volatility entry for examples in pounds.
What does KYC mean when a casino app asks for documents?
KYC means know your customer, the identity checks licensed operators must carry out under UK rules. Most apps verify you automatically using your name, address and date of birth, but some ask for a photo of your passport or driving licence and a recent bill or bank statement. Until verification is complete, you cannot deposit or play. Further checks may follow later. Our help article on apps asking for documents explains what each request usually means.
What is GAMSTOP?
GAMSTOP is a free national self-exclusion scheme that blocks you from all online gambling sites and apps licensed in Great Britain for six months, one year or five years. You register once with your personal details, and every licensed operator must check the register and prevent you from opening or using an account. The exclusion cannot be cancelled early. It works alongside blocking software and bank gambling blocks. Our GAMSTOP glossary entry explains how to sign up.
What is a reality check in a casino app?
A reality check is a pop-up that interrupts play at set intervals to show how long you have been playing and how much you have won or lost. You choose the interval, often from options such as every 15, 30 or 60 minutes, in the app's safer gambling settings. The message lets you continue, view your history or log out. It is a tool to help you keep track, not an error. Our guide on how to use reality checks shows where to set it.