Casino Glossary
Every term you will meet when signing up at a UK casino, in plain English. If a casino's small print loses you, it is probably defined here.
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Affordability check
A light financial-risk check applied above a £150 net monthly loss, with enhanced checks for higher spenders. See affordability checks.
Deposit limit
A cap you set on how much you can pay in over a day, week or month. Available at sign-up at every UK casino; the simplest way to stay in control.
Free spins
A set number of spins on selected slots, often at a fixed value such as £0.10 each, given to new players on sign up. See free spins on sign up.
Fund protection
The level of safeguarding applied to customer balances (Basic, Medium or High). UK casinos must disclose it and remind you every six months.
GAMSTOP
The free UK national self-exclusion scheme that blocks you from all UKGC-licensed online gambling for a chosen period. See GAMSTOP and self-exclusion.
House edge
The casino's built-in mathematical advantage on a game, the inverse of RTP. It is why no welcome offer turns a casino into a way to make money.
New customer offer
The reward a casino gives you for opening an account and making a qualifying deposit — usually free spins or a matched deposit. See new customer offers.
No deposit offer
A reward credited the moment you register, before depositing. Genuinely free to claim but capped and subject to wagering. See no deposit sign up offers.
Pay and play
A near-instant sign-up format where the casino builds your account from your payment data, so there is little or no separate form. Still UK-verified. See pay and play casinos.
Proof of address
A recent document (bank statement or utility bill) showing your name and address, occasionally requested during verification if electronic checks cannot confirm it automatically.
Qualifying deposit
The minimum first deposit needed to unlock a new-player offer, often £10 (sometimes £5). Browse the lowest at low deposit sign up.
RTP
Return to Player — the percentage of stakes a game returns over the long run. A 96% RTP game returns £96 per £100 staked on average; the remainder is the house edge.
Registration
The form you complete to create a casino account, capturing your name, date of birth, address, email and a password. Use details that match your ID so verification clears first time.
Sign up
Opening a new account at an online casino — completing the registration form, setting limits, verifying your identity and making a first deposit. See our how to sign up guide.
Source of funds
Documentation a casino may request (such as a bank statement or payslip) to confirm where deposits come from, usually only for higher spenders as part of affordability checks.
Stake limit
The statutory cap on online slot stakes: £5 per spin for over-25s, £2 for 18–24-year-olds, in force since 2025.
UKGC
The UK Gambling Commission — the statutory regulator that licenses and supervises all gambling in Great Britain. Check any casino's licence on its register before you sign up.
Verification (KYC)
The "know your customer" check every UK casino must run to confirm your identity and age before you can withdraw. Usually instant if your details are accurate. See verification explained.
Wagering requirement
The number of times you must stake an offer before winnings can be withdrawn. A £50 reward at 10x needs £500 of stakes. See offer terms explained.
Win cap
A limit on how much you can win or withdraw from an offer, common on no-deposit rewards (often £50).