Glossary
Casino and Gambling Glossary
Plain definitions of casino, odds and social casino terms such as RTP, house edge, volatility, multiplier and sweepstakes, with links to the full guides.
Short, accurate definitions of the words you meet in casino and arcade games. Each entry is written for a general reader and links to a longer guide where there is one. The numbers used in examples come from Cashout Arcade's game engines and are published on our Odds page; coins are virtual and have no cash value.
How to use this glossary
Start with the theme pages if you want a whole topic, or the single-term pages if you want one answer. The term most guides lean on is RTP (return to player) (return to player); house edge is its mirror, and the two always add up to 100%.
Themes
- Casino game terms: reels, paylines, wilds, scatters, bonus rounds and the words used in table games.
- Odds and maths terms: RTP, house edge, volatility, expected value and common myths such as the gambler's fallacy.
- Social casino and app terms: virtual currency, in-app purchase, VIP tier, sweepstakes.
- Responsible gambling terms: self-exclusion, chasing losses, cooling-off period.
Odds and maths
Bankroll (definition and limits)
A bankroll is the amount set aside for play. What bankroll management can and cannot do, with a worked example at a 3 percent house edge.
Odds and maths
Basic strategy (blackjack definition)
Basic strategy is the play that gives a game its best long-run return. Cashout Arcade Blackjack returns 97 percent only with it. See what weak play costs.
Casino games
Cash out (cash-out game term)
In a cash-out game you end the round and lock in your multiplier. Coin Flip's ladder shows why cashing out early or late returns the same 97 percent.
Glossary
Casino Game Terms: Slots, Tables and Arcade Games Defined
Plain-English definitions of 24 casino game terms, from payline and wild to push and come-out roll, with examples from the games in Cashout Arcade.
Responsible gambling
Chasing losses (definition and maths)
Chasing losses is gambling again to win back what you just lost. Why it is a warning sign, with the maths showing the next round owes you nothing.
Responsible gambling
Cooling-off period (gambling definition)
A cooling-off period is a short, self-chosen break from gambling. How it differs from self-exclusion, how long breaks last and how to make one stick.
Odds and maths
Expected value (definition and examples)
Expected value is the average result of a bet if repeated endlessly. Worked out for a roulette number and a red bet at Cashout Arcade's 97 percent return.
Casino games
Free spins (definition and what they cost)
Free spins are spins played without paying the stake again. What they are worth, how they differ from free coins, and how Cashout Arcade free rounds work.
Odds and maths
Gambler's fallacy (definition and example)
The gambler's fallacy is the belief that a result is due after a streak. See the Coin Flip numbers that show why the next flip is always 50 percent.
Odds and maths
Hit frequency (definition and examples)
Hit frequency is how often a round pays anything. See why Sun Temple's 35.98 percent hit rate hides a 10.46 percent chance of beating your bet.
Odds and maths
House edge (definition and examples)
House edge is the share of each wager a game keeps on average, 100 percent minus RTP. See Cashout Arcade's 3 percent edge worked out with real numbers.
Odds and maths
Independent events (definition and examples)
Independent events do not affect each other, so past results say nothing about the next one. Roulette and Coin Flip are independent; Mines tiles are not.
Odds and maths
Law of large numbers (casino example)
The law of large numbers says averages settle toward the expected value as rounds pile up. Why a 97 percent RTP shows over 10,000 rounds, not one session.
Social casino
Loot box (definition and odds rules)
A loot box is a purchase that gives a random item. Why it resembles gambling, what Apple requires apps to disclose, and how Cashout Arcade avoids them.
Odds and maths
Martingale (betting system explained)
The martingale doubles your bet after every loss. The worked numbers show why it cannot beat a 3 percent house edge and can end in one huge loss.
Casino games
Multiplier (definition and payout examples)
A multiplier is the number your stake is multiplied by to give the payout. See how it is priced from probability in Dice, and why wins can pay under 1x.
Odds and maths
Odds and Maths Terms: RTP, House Edge, Variance Defined
Clear definitions of 22 odds and maths terms, from RTP and house edge to expected value and the gambler's fallacy, with worked numbers from real games.
Casino games
Payline (slot definition and examples)
A payline is a line across a slot's reels where matching symbols pay. Why more lines do not mean better odds, with Sun Temple's three lines.
Responsible gambling
Problem gambling (definition and signs)
Problem gambling is gambling that harms a person or their family. How the terms problem gambling and gambling disorder differ, and where to get help.
Casino games
Progressive jackpot (definition and maths)
A progressive jackpot is a prize pool that grows with every play until someone wins it. How the pool grows and how fixed jackpots like Sun Temple's differ.
Odds and maths
Provably fair (definition and limits)
Provably fair means a player can check a game result was not changed, using a seed hash. What it proves, what it does not, and how we differ.
Glossary
Responsible Gambling Terms: Self-Exclusion, Chasing Defined
Plain definitions of 12 responsible gambling terms, including problem gambling, chasing losses, self-exclusion, cooling-off periods and PGSI, with sources.
Odds and maths
RNG (random number generator)
An RNG is the software that makes a game's results unpredictable. How pseudo-random numbers work, and how Cashout Arcade turns one draw into a payout.
Odds and maths
RTP (return to player)
RTP is the share of all coins wagered on a game that it pays back over a very long time. Cashout Arcade games return 97%, a 3% house edge.