Canadian Online Casino Glossary A - Z

If you’re new to the world of online casinos and sportsbooks, it can often feel a little bit overwhelming. For some, there is a whole collection of new lexicon of Casino and betting terms to get your head around. It’s important that you understand the terms that are laid out in front of you.

You may be trying to wrap your head around the rules of a game, when the ‘gibberish’ language it is explained in doesn’t appear to make any sense to you. To make the process an easier one, we’ve prepared a glossary of the most frequently used terms in online casinos and sportsbooks.

As daunting as it may be, whether you’re placing a bet on your favourite NHL team at 888 or playing Live Video Poker at Jackpot City Casino, these simple explanations to some key terminology will soon have you on your way from merely deciphering the gibberish to becoming a professional player;

Accumulator:  (Sports Betting) A multiple bet that requires the player to place a single bet on the outcome of simultaneous games, sometimes even across different sports. In order for the player to win the bet, all of the selected outcomes must occur.

Action: The total of money wagered by a player during an entire playing session.

Add-on: (Online Poker), the facility to buy additional chips.

Ante:  (Online Poker) The obligatory bet that all players must stake in order to play the game.

Banker:  (Card games/Sports Betting) In a Card game, the Dealer is frequently referred to as the Banker – the person in charge of the bank. However, in Sports Betting, a Banker refers to the team/greyhound/horse/athlete etc. anticipated to win (i.e. a sure bet).

Bankroll:  (Online Casino) The total sum of money a player brings into the Online Casino and is content to play with.

Betting Limits: (Casino/Sports Betting) The minimum and maximum amounts of money that a player can wager on one bet. You cannot wager less than the minimum or more than the maximum amount (e.g. When playing an online slot, you will be allowed to place bets of certain coin denominations from a minimum up to a maximum bet).

Bonus: Money or Free Spins possibly given to you for free usually when signing up to an online casino or sportsbook.

Bonus Game:  (Online Slots) The Bonus Game is a special round within a Slot game that is often quite different from the central part of the game and usually gives players chances to win extra money.

Call: (Online Poker) to call is to match the current bet.

Croupier:  (Online Casino) A traditional name for a Dealer in popular table games at online casinos including Craps, Baccarat and Roulette. The term Croupier comes from the French meaning someone who supports the player.

Daily Promotions:  (Online and Sports betting) Promotions are updated daily to attract new players and provide perks for existing Casino and Sportsbook members. These can include limited competitions, special bonuses and exclusive tournaments.

Double Down:  (Online Blackjack) This term is used to indicate that the house is allowing you to make a second bet on a single Blackjack hand. After the additional bet, you will receive one more card.

eCOGRA: (E-Commerce Online Gaming Regulation and Assurance) eCOGRA is an independent body provides player assurance and online casino regulation by ensuring that approved online casinos deliver honest and professional service and are committed to player protection, fair gaming and responsible conduct. The eCOGRA logo is prominently displayed on aligned online casino sites.

Free Spins:  (Online Slots) Free Spins are an online slots feature that doesn’t require players to wager any money. Free spins may be offered either as part of a promotion or as a Bonus round within the game.

House Edge:  (Online Casino) House Edge is the cut that the Casino retains as a percentage of each bet. The House Edge is the difference between the probability of an outcome (the true odds) and the odds offered to players by the Casino. It is the Casino’s inbuilt advantage and it can differ between different casino games.

Live Dealers:  (Online Casino) In order to recreate a more authentic Casino experience many online casinos have table games in which there are real dealers, filmed live, dealing at a simulated land-based casino. Players can interact with the dealer via live video stream.

Odds:  (Online Casino/Sports Betting) The Odds inform players of the probability that a certain outcome may occur. In Online Casinos, the Odds will be given in the form of a percentage or ratio of the money that could be won to the bet place, whilst many sportsbooks using decimal odds.

Payline: (Online Slots) The line on a slot machine window on which the symbols from each reel must line up in order to win. Slot machines may have as many as 20 paylines, whilst classic versions may have only one.

Payout Percentage:  (Online Casino) The Payout Percentage is the percentage of total money bet that is returned to players. (e.g. if the Payout Percentage at a particular online casino is 96% for every dollar bet, 96 cents are paid out as winnings). The Payout Percentage is much higher at online casinos than at land-based casinos.

Progressive Jackpot:  (Online Casino) A Progressive Jackpot is a feature mainly found on Slot games which offers enormous Jackpot prizes to players. As the name suggests, the Progressive Jackpot is a pot of money which progressively grows larger and larger as more money is put into the game. The Jackpot is triggered when a player hits a very specific and difficult to achieve combination. Life-changing sums of cash can be won – sometimes as much as CAD$23 million.

Table Games:  (Online Casino) Table Games are online versions of games you’d find played on a table at a land-based casino, including Blackjack, Poker, Craps, Baccarat and Roulette.

Weekly Promotions:  (Online Casino/Sports Betting) Weekly promotions are often offered by Casinos and Sports Betting sites to add an extra element of excitement and to give players opportunities to win extra cash. and include special offers as: prize draws, free tournament entry, huge jackpots and deposit match bonuses.