Betting & bonus glossary

Reference · Last updated: 2026-07-12

Plain-English definitions of the casino-bonus and sports-betting terms that actually affect your money — no jargon, no spin. Where we have a full guide or tool, the term links to it.

American odds (moneyline) Odds

Odds shown relative to a 100 stake. A positive number (+150) is the profit on a $100 bet; a negative number (-200) is how much you must stake to profit $100. Convert them with the Odds Converter.

Bonus Value Score Bonus

Gamblerfy's 0–100 estimate of a bonus's real expected value, factoring wagering, game contribution, cashout cap and expiry. Try it in the Bonus Value Calculator; see the method on how we rate.

Cashable (non-sticky) bonus Bonus

A bonus where the bonus amount itself can be withdrawn once wagering is met — your deposit and winnings stay separate. Usually better value than a sticky bonus. See sticky vs non-sticky.

Cashback Bonus

A rebate of a percentage of your losses over a period, sometimes capped and sometimes with its own wagering. Score one in the calculator.

Cash out Betting

Settling a bet before the event ends for a value the bookmaker offers. Convenient, but it usually bakes in extra margin — often worse value than hedging it yourself.

Decimal odds (European) Odds

The total return per unit staked. 2.50 means a $1 bet returns $2.50 (your $1 back plus $1.50 profit). The easiest format to compare. Use the Odds Converter.

Deposit match Bonus

A bonus that matches a percentage of your deposit (e.g. "100% up to $200"). The headline says little until you decode the terms — that's what the calculator does.

Fractional odds (UK) Odds

Profit-to-stake odds. 3/2 means $3 profit for every $2 staked — the same as decimal 2.50. Convert them with the Odds Converter.

Free spins Bonus

Set spins on a specific slot at a fixed stake. Watch the separate claim and use windows, plus any wagering on winnings. See free spins & expiry windows.

Game contribution Bonus

How much each game type counts toward clearing wagering. Slots often count 100%; table games far less. Explained in game contribution & RTP; typical rates by game in the contribution table.

Hedge Betting

Placing a bet on the opposite outcome to lock in a guaranteed result before an event ends. Work out the stake with the Hedge Calculator.

House edge Odds

The built-in mathematical advantage the operator has on every bet — the flip side of RTP in casino games and of the margin in betting. Over time it means the odds aren't in your favour.

Implied probability Odds

1 ÷ decimal odds, as a percentage — the bookmaker's estimated chance, including its margin. That's why a market's implied probabilities add up to more than 100%.

KYC (verification) Safety

"Know Your Customer" — the identity and payment checks a licensed casino must run, usually at withdrawal. A site that skips it is a red flag. See withdrawals & ID checks.

Licence Safety

Authorisation from a gambling regulator (e.g. UKGC, MGA). A number in the footer isn't proof — check it on the regulator's register. See how to check a licence.

Margin (vig / overround) Odds

The amount by which a market's implied probabilities exceed 100% — the bookmaker's built-in profit. Measure it with the Margin Calculator; explained in why odds never add up to 100%.

Max bet rule Bonus

A cap on the stake you can place while a bonus is active (often ~$5). Breaking it, even by accident, can void the bonus and its winnings. One of the red flags to check.

Max cashout Bonus

A cap on how much you can withdraw from bonus winnings, regardless of how much you win. See max cashout explained.

No-deposit bonus Bonus

A small bonus given without a deposit. Usually carries high wagering and a low cashout cap — score it in the calculator.

No-wagering (wagering-free) bonus Bonus

A bonus with zero playthrough — winnings are withdrawable straight away. The most player-friendly type when genuine, though usually smaller. See no-wagering bonuses explained.

Parlay (accumulator) Betting

One bet combining several selections where all must win. Odds multiply — and so does the margin. Calculate one with the Parlay Calculator.

Push Betting

A tie against the line where the stake is returned and no one wins or loses. In a parlay, a push usually removes that leg and recalculates the rest.

Reverse withdrawal Safety

A pending period during which you can cancel a withdrawal and return the money to your playable balance — designed to tempt you to keep gambling. See payout times.

RTP (Return to Player) Odds

The long-run percentage of stakes a game pays back — 96% RTP means a 4% house edge. It's a long-term average, not a promise for a session. See RTP explained.

Self-exclusion Safety

A tool to block your own access to gambling for a set period; national schemes (e.g. GAMSTOP in the UK) cover all licensed sites at once. See responsible gambling.

Sticky (phantom) bonus Bonus

A bonus that can never be withdrawn itself — it's removed at cashout; you keep only winnings made on top of it. See sticky vs non-sticky.

Volatility (variance) Bonus

How a game's payouts are distributed — high volatility means rarer but bigger wins. It affects the risk of clearing a bonus as much as RTP does. See slot volatility & wagering risk.

Wagering requirement (rollover) Bonus

How many times you must stake a bonus (and sometimes your deposit) before you can withdraw. A "30x" on a $100 bonus means wagering $3,000. The single biggest factor in a bonus's real value — see wagering explained and what counts as good or bad.

Welcome bonus Bonus

The offer for new players — often a deposit match, free spins, or both. Its real worth depends entirely on the terms, not the headline.