Casino Terms Glossary
Clear definitions of online gambling terminology used throughout our comparison tool
Bonus Wagering Requirement
The number of times you must wager the bonus amount (or bonus plus deposit) before withdrawing any winnings derived from it. Expressed as a multiplier — for example, 35x on a $100 bonus means you must place $3,500 in total wagers before withdrawal.
Composite Score
A single rating produced by combining multiple individual metric scores using a weighted average formula. Casino Compare AU uses six metrics with different weights to calculate each casino's composite score.
Curacao eGaming
A licensing authority based in Curacao that issues online gambling licences to operators. It is one of the most widely used licensing jurisdictions for casinos accepting Australian players, though it is not regulated by Australian authorities.
Free Spins
Bonus spins on designated pokie games that do not require a wager from the player's balance. Free spins typically have a fixed value per spin and may carry their own wagering requirements on any resulting winnings.
House Edge
The mathematical advantage that a casino holds over the player in any given game, expressed as a percentage. A 3% house edge means the casino expects to retain $3 for every $100 wagered over the long term.
KYC (Know Your Customer)
Identity verification procedures that casinos use to confirm a player's identity, age and address. KYC typically requires submitting government-issued identification and proof of address before withdrawals are processed.
Live Casino
Casino games streamed in real-time from a studio with a human dealer. Common live casino games include roulette, blackjack, baccarat and game show-style titles. Players interact through a digital interface while watching the dealer on video.
Match Bonus
A promotional offer where the casino matches a percentage of the player's deposit with bonus funds. A 100% match on a $200 deposit provides $200 in bonus funds, for a total of $400 to play with.
Megaways
A game mechanic developed by Big Time Gaming that creates a variable number of paylines on each spin, typically offering up to 117,649 ways to win. Licensed to multiple studios and featured in hundreds of pokie titles.
Neosurf
A prepaid voucher payment method commonly used at online casinos. Players purchase vouchers at retail locations or online and use the voucher code to make casino deposits without sharing banking details.
Payout Speed
The time elapsed between submitting a withdrawal request and receiving the funds. Measured from the point of request to actual receipt, including any pending period imposed by the casino.
Pokies
The Australian term for slot machines or online slot games. Pokies use random number generators to determine outcomes and feature various mechanics including paylines, bonus rounds, free spins and progressive jackpots.
Progressive Jackpot
A jackpot that increases over time as a small percentage of each wager contributes to the prize pool. Progressive jackpots can reach substantial amounts and are typically triggered randomly or through specific bonus game conditions.
RTP (Return to Player)
The theoretical percentage of wagered money that a game will return to players over an extended period. An RTP of 96% means the game is expected to return $96 for every $100 wagered over millions of spins.
SSL Encryption
Secure Sockets Layer encryption creates an encrypted connection between your browser and the casino's server. 256-bit SSL is the industry standard, ensuring that data transmitted during registration, login and transactions cannot be intercepted.
Self-Exclusion
A responsible gambling tool that allows players to voluntarily block their own access to a casino for a specified period. Self-exclusion periods range from temporary cooling-off periods to permanent account closure.
Two-Factor Authentication (2FA)
An additional security layer that requires a second verification step (typically a code sent to your phone) when logging into your casino account. 2FA significantly reduces the risk of unauthorised account access.
Volatility
A measure of how frequently and how much a pokie game pays out. High-volatility games produce less frequent but larger wins, while low-volatility games deliver more frequent but smaller returns. Volatility does not affect long-term RTP.
Weighted Average
A calculation method where different components contribute unequally to the final result based on assigned importance weights. Casino Compare AU weights game quality at 25% and mobile at 10%, reflecting their relative importance to most players.
Withdrawal Limit
The maximum amount a player can withdraw within a specified timeframe, typically expressed as a weekly or monthly cap. Exceeding the limit means remaining funds are queued for processing in subsequent periods.
This glossary covers the key terms used across our comparison tool. For methodology-specific terminology, visit our scoring methodology page. For questions not covered here, check our FAQ section.