This glossary covers the words around the games: licences, regulators, limits and the tools that protect players. For terms inside a slot — RTP, volatility, Scatters, cascades, multipliers — see our separate slot glossary.
Last updated: 22 October 2026
Licences and regulators
B2B and B2C licence — a B2B licence covers companies that supply games or software to casinos (a slot studio); a B2C licence covers companies that offer gambling to the public (an online casino).
Licensed operator — a casino that holds a licence in the market where you play. Only licensed operators have to follow that market’s rules on fairness, limits and player protection.
Malta Gaming Authority (MGA) — Malta’s regulator. Many slot studios hold an MGA licence for supplying games.
Operator — the casino that takes your bet. Not to be confused with the provider.
Provider (or studio) — the company that makes the game, such as Pragmatic Play or Hacksaw Gaming. The provider sets the available RTP versions; the operator chooses which one to run.
Technical standards — a regulator’s rules for how games must work: how rules and RTP are shown, spin speed, which features are allowed. In Great Britain they are known as RTS.
Testing lab — an independent company that checks a game’s random number generator and maths before it goes live, for example GLI.
UK Gambling Commission (UKGC) — the regulator for Great Britain. Every licence holder appears in its public register with an account number.
Fairness and maths
House edge — the share of stakes a game keeps on average: 100% minus the RTP. A 96% RTP slot has a 4% house edge.
RNG (random number generator) — the software that decides every outcome. Each spin is independent of the ones before it.
Provably fair — a game whose results can be checked with cryptography after the bet; offered by some studios, such as BGaming.
Limits and player protection
- Age verification — the check that you are an adult. In Great Britain it is required before you can even open a free demo at a licensed casino.
- Cooling-off / time-out — a short break, typically from a day to a few weeks, during which you cannot play.
- Deposit limit — the most you can pay into your account per day, week or month.
- Game cycle — one complete game, from starting a spin until the stake is lost or the win is paid. UK stake limits apply per game cycle.
- KYC (know your customer) — identity and age checks a casino must carry out before you can play or withdraw.
- Loss limit — the most you allow yourself to lose in a period; when it is reached, play stops.
- Reality check — a pop-up that tells you how long you have been playing and how much you have won or lost.
- Self-exclusion — a longer block, usually months or years, that you cannot lift early. In Great Britain, GAMSTOP applies it to all licensed online operators at once.
- Stake limit — the maximum bet per spin. In Great Britain it is £5, or £2 for players aged 18 to 24 — details in our UK slot rules guide.
Money and bonuses
Affiliate link — a link to a casino that may earn the linking site a commission when a reader signs up. It costs the player nothing.
Wagering requirement — the amount you must stake before bonus money or bonus winnings can be withdrawn, usually shown as a multiple of the bonus, such as 35×.
Withdrawal — moving money from the casino account back to you. Licensed operators may ask for KYC documents first.
Rules differ from country to country. A tool or limit described here may not exist where you play — check the responsible-gambling section of your casino and our responsible gambling page.