Reference · 1baraban
UK iGaming Glossary
A plain-English reference for UK players. Every entry is written for the British market — UKGC, GamCare, BeGambleAware, the January 2026 bonus reforms — and is aligned with the language used in our operator reviews.
79terms
7categories
75UKGC-anchored
A
- ADRRegulationThe independent body a UK player can escalate a complaint to if their operator has not resolved it within 8 weeks.
- Affiliate disclosureRegulationThe requirement that any commercial relationship between a review or comparison site and a gambling operator is clearly and prominently disclosed.
- Affordability checkRegulationA frictionless or documented review of whether a player can sustainably afford their gambling activity — used by UKGC operators as part of customer interaction.
- Age verificationRegulationThe check that confirms a customer is 18 or over before they can deposit, play or claim any free-play offer at a UKGC operator.
- AMLRegulationThe legal framework requiring gambling operators to detect, prevent and report money laundering and terrorist financing.
- Apple PayPaymentsApple's mobile wallet, accepted as a deposit method at many UK casinos — drawing from the user's underlying bank card.
- ASARegulationThe UK's independent advertising regulator — it enforces the CAP code on gambling marketing across paid media, social and affiliate channels.
B
- BeGambleAwareResponsible gamblingThe UK's leading gambling-harm awareness brand — operated by the GambleAware charity, providing information and a 24/7 helpline run by GamCare.
- Bonus abuseBonusesOperator term for player behaviour that violates bonus T&Cs — including multi-accounting, low-variance pattern play and breaching max-bet rules.
- Bonus buyGamesA slot feature that lets players pay an extra premium (typically 50-100x stake) to instantly trigger the bonus round.
- Bonus expiryBonusesThe deadline by which bonus funds must be wagered or used — after which the bonus and any associated winnings are forfeited.
- Brand vs operatorOperator typesThe distinction between the consumer-facing casino brand and the company that holds the UKGC licence and runs operations.
C
- CAP codeRegulationThe UK Code of Non-broadcast Advertising — the rulebook the ASA enforces on gambling marketing across websites, social, email and affiliate placements.
- CashbackBonusesA bonus that returns a percentage of net losses over a defined period — sometimes as cash and sometimes as wagering-locked bonus credit.
- Complaint volumeMethodologyA 1baraban.com sub-score input measuring the volume and pattern of public complaints against an operator across ADR rulings, AskGamblers, Trustpilot and forum sources.
- Contribution ratesBonusesThe percentage of each bet that counts toward clearing a bonus's wagering requirement — varying by game type.
- Cooling-offResponsible gamblingA short delay (typically 24 hours) imposed before any change that would increase a player's exposure — such as raising a deposit limit.
- Customer interactionRegulationThe UKGC obligation on operators to identify customers at risk of harm and intervene proactively — not just react to player complaints.
D
E
- E-walletPaymentsA digital wallet (PayPal, Skrill, Neteller, MuchBetter) that holds funds and processes deposits and withdrawals without exposing card details to the operator.
- Enhanced due diligenceRegulationA heightened set of AML and risk checks applied to higher-risk customers, including politically exposed persons and high-rollers.
F
G
- Gambling Act 2005RegulationThe primary statute governing commercial gambling in Great Britain — it created the Gambling Commission and the modern licensing regime.
- GamCareResponsible gamblingThe UK's largest gambling-harm support charity — operating the National Gambling Helpline, online chat, and a network of treatment partners.
- GAMSTOPResponsible gamblingThe UK's national multi-operator self-exclusion scheme. Registering blocks the user from all UKGC-licensed gambling sites for 6 months, 1 year or 5 years.
- GGYRegulationThe amount staked by customers minus the amount paid back as winnings — used as the base for tax, levy and licence-fee calculations.
- Gordon MoodyResponsible gamblingA UK charity providing residential treatment for severe gambling addiction — including dedicated programmes for women.
H
K
L
- Last-verified dateMethodologyThe most recent date on which 1baraban.com manually checked an operator review's bonus terms, payment options, withdrawal SLA and licensing status.
- LCCPRegulationThe detailed UKGC rulebook every licensee must follow — covering marketing, customer interaction, AML and complaints handling.
- Live dealerGamesCasino games streamed in real time from a studio with a human dealer — including blackjack, roulette, baccarat and game-show formats.
- Loss limitResponsible gamblingA self-set cap on the amount a player can lose over a defined period — distinct from a deposit limit because it accounts for wins and re-stakes.
M
- Max bet during wageringBonusesA cap on the per-spin or per-bet stake while a bonus is active — designed to prevent players from clearing wagering with a few large bets.
- Max winGamesThe cap on the largest possible payout from a single slot session — expressed as a multiple of the stake.
- MegawaysGamesA slot mechanic licensed from Big Time Gaming where the number of symbols on each reel varies on every spin — producing up to 117,649 ways to win.
- Methodology refresh cycleMethodologyThe fixed cadence on which 1baraban.com revisits its scoring methodology, sub-score weights and checklist inputs.
- Mixed-product incentives banRegulationA 2026 UKGC rule prohibiting bonus offers that require players to use multiple gambling products (e.g. casino + sportsbook) to unlock or wager a single reward.
- Multi-licence operatorOperator typesA gambling group that holds licences in several jurisdictions and runs the same brand or different brands under each.
N
- Network casinoOperator typesA casino or poker brand whose game liquidity is shared across multiple sites operating on a common platform — most visibly in poker rooms.
- No-deposit bonusBonusesA free credit (cash, free spins or free bet) given to new players without requiring a deposit — usually with strict wagering and low max-cashout caps.
P
- Pay-N-PlayPaymentsA casino sign-up model that uses an open-banking deposit (usually via Trustly) to verify identity and create an account in a single step.
- PayPalPaymentsA widely supported e-wallet that allows fast UK casino deposits and withdrawals — with strong consumer protection and a separate PayPal verification step.
- PaytableGamesThe on-game reference showing the value of each winning symbol combination — plus rules for wilds, scatters and bonus triggers.
- Pending withdrawalPaymentsThe status of a withdrawal between request and payment provider settlement — during which the funds remain in the player's casino balance and can sometimes be reversed.
R
- Reality checkResponsible gamblingA pop-up message that appears after a self-set play interval — summarising elapsed time, total stakes and net position.
- Reload bonusBonusesA deposit-match promotion targeted at existing customers — typically smaller than a welcome bonus but available repeatedly.
- RETRegulationThe three-pillar framework the UK statutory levy funds: research into gambling harm, prevention and education, and treatment services.
- Reverse withdrawalPaymentsA feature allowing players to cancel a pending withdrawal and return the funds to their playable balance.
- Reviewer credentialsMethodologyThe named author and their disclosed background on each 1baraban.com review — allowing readers to assess editorial accountability.
- RNGGamesThe certified random-number engine that determines the outcome of every digital slot, RNG-table game spin, hand and card draw.
- RTPGamesThe theoretical percentage of total stakes a game pays back to players over a very large number of plays.
- RTSRegulationThe technical rulebook for UK-licensed online gambling software — covering RNG fairness, game display and session controls.
S
- Section 17RegulationThe section of the Gambling Act 2005 that requires every remote operator serving Britain to hold a UKGC licence — regardless of where it is headquartered.
- Segregated fundsRegulationA UKGC requirement that customer balances are kept in accounts separate from operating funds — with disclosure of the protection level offered.
- Self-exclusionResponsible gamblingThe umbrella term for tools that block a player from accessing one or more gambling accounts for a fixed period — ranging from operator-level to national (GAMSTOP) coverage.
- Significant conditionsRegulationThe bonus terms that materially affect a player's ability to claim or keep a promotion — which CAP requires to be disclosed clearly and up front.
- Slot mechanicGamesThe structural design of how a slot pays — ranging from classic three-reel paylines to Megaways, cluster pays, infinity reels and pay-anywhere.
- Source of fundsRegulationDocumentation showing where the specific money you are gambling with came from — requested by operators under AML rules.
- Source of wealthRegulationDocumentation showing the broader origin of your overall wealth — requested for higher-spending players or those flagged for enhanced due diligence.
- Stake limitRegulationA statutory cap on the maximum stake per spin on UK online slots — £5 for adults aged 25 and over, £2 for adults aged 18-24.
- Statutory levyRegulationA mandatory charge on UK gambling operators — introduced 6 April 2025 — that funds research, education and treatment for gambling harm.
- Sticky vs non-sticky bonusBonusesA sticky bonus cannot itself be withdrawn (only winnings from it can); a non-sticky bonus is treated as separate from your real-money balance and is forfeited only if you withdraw before clearing wagering.
- Strong appeal testRegulationThe 2022 ASA standard that prohibits gambling marketing from using anyone or anything likely to be of strong appeal to under-18s.
- Sub-scoreMethodologyOne of the six component scores that combine into 1baraban.com's trust index — each scored independently and visible on every operator review.
T
- Tier-1 vs offshore licenceOperator typesIndustry shorthand distinguishing operators licensed in well-regulated 'Tier-1' jurisdictions (UK, Sweden, Denmark) from those in lighter-touch offshore jurisdictions (Curaçao, Anjouan).
- Time-outResponsible gamblingA short, voluntary self-imposed break from a single operator — typically lasting 24 hours to 6 weeks.
- Trust indexMethodology1baraban.com's headline composite score for each operator — combining sub-scores for licensing, payments, complaints, bonus fairness, responsible gambling and editorial transparency.
- TrustlyPaymentsA Swedish open-banking payments provider widely used by UK casinos for fast, account-to-account deposits and withdrawals.
W
- Wagering requirementBonusesThe total amount a player must stake before bonus funds — and any winnings from them — become withdrawable.
- Welcome bonusBonusesA first-deposit promotion offered to new account holders — typically a percentage match on the initial deposit and sometimes paired with free spins.
- White-label operatorOperator typesA casino brand that operates under another company's UKGC licence — paying a fee for licensed access in exchange for the brand owner running marketing and customer service.
- Withdrawal timePaymentsThe total elapsed time between a player requesting a withdrawal and the funds arriving in their payment method.