Short, plain-English definitions of the terms used in gambling regulation and crypto casino news.
An independent body that reviews player complaints after the operator has had a chance to respond. Some regulators require licensed firms to offer one. Read more →
A website or creator that promotes operators and is usually paid by commission. Reputable ones disclose this. Read more →
A check that a player’s gambling spend is sustainable, used by some regulators and operators.
Rules and checks that stop criminal money passing through a business. Licensed gambling companies must assess risk, verify customers and report suspicious activity. Read more →
Informal term for unlicensed gambling supply aimed at a market that licenses its operators.
The cost paid to the network to process a crypto transfer. It varies by network and congestion. Read more →
A reversal of a card payment through the card issuer. Crypto transfers do not have this protection.
The UK Treasury account that receives some regulatory settlements, including payments in lieu of a financial penalty. Read more →
A short, player-chosen break from gambling that ends automatically.
An affiliate payment model with a fixed fee for each qualifying new depositor. Read more →
An online casino that accepts cryptocurrency deposits. It may or may not hold a gambling licence. Read more →
A cap a player sets on how much they can deposit in a day, week or month. Read more →
Technical restriction that stops people in certain countries from using a site. Regulators expect licensed operators to apply it where they are not permitted.
A set time after a new rule or licence regime begins during which firms may continue before enforcement. Read more →
The built-in average advantage of the operator, roughly 100% minus the RTP.
Identity checks a licensed operator runs before or during play, usually proof of identity and sometimes address or source of funds. Read more →
Official permission from a gambling regulator to offer games in a defined territory, with conditions the operator must follow. Read more →
The public body that issues licences, sets standards and can fine or revoke. Examples are the UK Gambling Commission and the Dutch KSA. Read more →
A bonus term capping the stake allowed while a bonus is active. Breaking it can void winnings. Read more →
A UKGC settlement route where a firm pays a sum and agrees remedial steps without a formal financial penalty being imposed. Read more →
A rule that the person who owns the deposit or withdrawal method must be the account holder. Spain applies one from 28 Oct 2026. Read more →
A crypto-casino method where players can check, using cryptographic data, that a round was not altered after the bet.
A decree with force of law in Brazil that Congress must vote on within a set time, or it lapses. Read more →
The regulator’s own searchable list of licence holders. It is the primary place to confirm that a licence exists. Read more →
A return of part of the house edge or fees to the player, often expressed as a percentage.
Practices and tools that help people keep gambling within limits, including limits, reality checks and exclusion. Read more →
Software that produces the random outcomes in digital games. Regulated markets usually require it to be tested.
The share of stakes a game is designed to pay back over a very large number of rounds. It is not a promise for any single session.
A tool that lets a player block themselves from gambling for a chosen period, either with one operator or across a national scheme. Read more →
Evidence of where deposited money comes from. Operators may ask for it when deposits are large or unusual.
The betting side of an operator, covering bets on sports and other events.
A crypto asset designed to track another asset, usually a currency such as the US dollar. USDT is an example. Read more →
A model used mainly in the US where players use virtual coins and can redeem certain coins for prizes, instead of staking money directly. Read more →
A company offering gambling in a market where it holds no licence. Players there normally have no local protection or complaints route. Read more →
How uneven a game’s payouts are. High volatility means fewer but larger wins, on average.
A service that masks a user’s location. Using one to get around a site’s country restrictions usually breaches its terms and can lead to frozen balances.
How many times a bonus (and sometimes the deposit) must be bet before winnings can be withdrawn. Read more →
A ban on gambling ads during live sports broadcasts, from the first whistle to the last. Denmark’s reform proposes one. Read more →
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