Gambling terms, translated.
A plain-English reference for casino, sportsbook, poker and bonus language.
Terms can change how an offer or bet actually works. Read the operator’s own rules as well as the general definitions below.
A–F
Accumulator: multiple selections combined into one bet; every selection usually must win. Bankroll: money set aside for gambling, separate from essentials. Cash out: settling a bet early for an offered amount. Decimal odds: total return per unit staked, including the stake. Expected value: the average theoretical result across many repetitions, not a promise for one outcome.
G–P
House edge: the mathematical advantage held by the game or operator over time. Implied probability: the probability suggested by odds before accounting for margin. Margin: the operator’s built-in advantage in a betting market. RTP: theoretical return to player across a large number of game rounds. Push: a tied bet where the stake is typically returned.
Q–Z
Rake: a fee taken from poker pots or tournament entries. Self-exclusion: a formal tool that blocks gambling access for a chosen period. Turnover: total amount wagered, not net loss. Variance: how widely short-term outcomes can differ from the average. Wagering requirement: the amount that must be bet before bonus-related funds may become withdrawable.