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Casino terms · clearly explained

Casino glossary

A casino and bonus glossary in one place: bonus terms, game maths, and payout and safety terms in plain language. Quickly find what terms like RTP, wagering, volatility or house edge mean, how to read them and why they affect your chances of winning.

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108 terms found
Security

Gambling addiction

A behavioural addiction where gambling gets out of control and continues despite harm. Help comes from HAMPI, limits and professional counselling.

Also searched as: gambling addiction, ludomania, problem gambling
Security

Gambling tax

A tax paid by the gambling operator. For the player, winnings at an EEA-licensed casino are income-tax-free in Estonia.

Also searched as: taxation of winnings, tax-free winnings, casino winnings tax
Games

Game provider

A studio that creates and licenses casino games — e.g. NetEnt, Pragmatic Play and Evolution. The provider sets a game’s maths, not the casino.

Also searched as: game provider, game provider, game studio
Games

Game show

A live-casino entertainment format where a host runs a wheel-of-fortune or dice game in a studio — e.g. Crazy Time and Monopoly Live.

Also searched as: game show, live game show, Crazy Time
boonused

Game weighting (bonus contribution)

Game weighting shows how much of a bet counts toward a bonus wagering requirement. Slots usually count 100%, table and live games only 10–20%.

Also searched as: bonus contribution, wagering contribution
Security

Gaming break

A short-term account freeze — usually 24 hours to a few weeks. A lighter tool than self-exclusion, good for slowing down.

Also searched as: time-out, cooling-off period, account freeze
Security

HAMPI

A national self-exclusion register through which you can block yourself from all Estonian-licensed casinos at once for free — for at least six months.

Also searched as: self-exclusion register, gambling ban, gambling restriction
Bonuses

High roller

A high-stakes player to whom casinos offer higher limits, special terms and VIP treatment.

Also searched as: high roller, VIP player, whale
Metrics

Hit frequency

The percentage of spins that pay any win. It shows how often a game pays — not how much.

Also searched as: hit frequency, win frequency
Metrics

House edge

The casino’s mathematical edge over the player, expressed as a percentage. It’s the flip side of RTP: 96% RTP = 4% house edge.

Also searched as: house edge, house margin
Glossary

Casino Glossary: Gambling Terms Explained in Plain Language

The online casino world is full of terms that directly affect your chances of winning and how much of a bonus you can actually withdraw in the end. Our casino glossary gathers these concepts in one place and explains them in clear, plain language, without the marketing haze. If you have ever read words like "wagering requirement", "RTP" or "volatility" in an offer's terms and felt lost, this page was built for you.

The glossary covers the full spectrum. Bonus and promotion terms include the welcome bonus, free spins, the no-deposit bonus and wagering requirements. Gameplay terms explain RTP, meaning the theoretical return to player, along with volatility and the logic of paylines and combinations. Account and payment concepts cover KYC or identity verification, withdrawal limits and the most common payment methods. Each entry is written so that you understand not only what the word means, but also why it matters to you in practice.

freespin.ee is an independent comparison site, not a casino operator. That means we are not selling you any single brand — we explain the terms neutrally so you can judge offers critically on your own. Our methodology puts licensing and safety first: before you even look at the size of a bonus, it is worth confirming that the operator holds a valid licence and publishes transparent rules. The glossary helps you make sense of exactly those rules.

In practice, knowing the terminology is most useful when you compare two offers side by side. A high bonus percentage does not automatically mean better value — the deciding factors are often the wagering requirement, the time limit and which games count toward clearing it. Once you understand each term, you can immediately see whether the conditions are fair or merely dressed up with attractive numbers.

In Estonia, gambling is regulated by the Tax and Customs Board (EMTA), which issues licences and maintains a public register. Legal play is permitted from the age of 21. We always recommend checking that your chosen operator holds an EMTA licence — that is your first safe choice, and far more important than any single term in this glossary.

The glossary is not static: the gambling market changes, and the terms operators use in their conditions evolve alongside it. It is therefore worth coming back from time to time to refresh your knowledge and confirm that a term you spotted in an offer really means what you think it does.

Finally, a reminder that gambling is entertainment, not a way to make money. Play responsibly, set time and money limits, and take regular breaks. If you feel that your play is slipping out of control, reach out for help. As of 2026, every term explained here is meant to educate you, not to encourage you to play more.

Frequently asked questions

Glossary FAQ

What is RTP?
RTP (Return to Player) is a game’s theoretical payback percentage. A 96% RTP means the game returns on average 96% of bets over the long run — i.e. a 4% house edge.
What does a wagering requirement mean?
It tells you how many times you must wager the bonus before withdrawing. Read a fuller explanation with examples in our glossary.
What is a game’s volatility?
Volatility (or variance) shows the risk level: high-volatility games give rare but big wins; low-volatility ones give more frequent but smaller wins.
What’s the difference between house edge and RTP?
They’re two sides of the same coin: RTP + house edge = 100%. A 96% RTP means a 4% house edge.
Where do I find more terms?
Our full glossary explains all the most common casino terms in Estonian, with examples.