Casino Glossary at CasinoShamrock☘️ Ireland
Whether you’re new to online gambling or a seasoned Irish player, this guide explains the key terms you’ll encounter at online casinos. From bonuses to betting limits, we’ve got you covered with clear, concise definitions to help you play with confidence at CasinoShamrock.com☘️. Use the links below to jump to any section.
A
- Action: The total amount of money wagered by a player over a gaming session.
- All-In: Betting all your remaining funds in one go, common in poker or high-stakes games.
- Ante: A small mandatory bet placed before a game begins, often in poker.
- Auto-Play: A slot feature allowing spins to run automatically for a set number of rounds.
B
- Bankroll: The total amount of money a player sets aside for gambling.
- Bet Max: The maximum wager allowed on a single spin or hand, often unlocking bonus features.
- Bet Min: The smallest wager permitted in a game.
- Bonus: Extra funds or spins offered by a casino, like a welcome bonus or free spins.
- Bonus Code: A special code entered to claim a promotion (e.g., SHAMROCK50).
- Buy-In: The entry fee or minimum bet required to join a game or tournament.
C
- Cashback: A percentage of losses returned to a player as a bonus, often weekly or monthly.
- Cascading Reels: A slot feature where winning symbols disappear, and new ones drop in.
- Chips: Virtual or physical tokens used to place bets in casino games.
- Cold Streak: A prolonged period of losses in a game.
- Comp Points: Loyalty rewards earned by playing, redeemable for cash or perks.
D
- Dealer: The person (or software) managing a table game, like blackjack or roulette.
- Deposit: Funds added to your casino account to play real-money games.
- Double Down: Doubling your bet in blackjack after seeing your initial cards, with one extra card drawn.
- Drop: The amount of money a casino takes in from players over a period.
E
- Edge: The casino’s statistical advantage over players, also called the house edge.
- eCOGRA: An independent testing agency ensuring game fairness and player protection.
- Encryption: Security technology (e.g., SSL) protecting your data during transactions.
- Expected Value (EV): The average outcome of a bet over time, factoring in odds and payouts.
F
- Face Card: In card games, a king, queen, or jack—each worth 10 in blackjack.
- Feature Buy: An option to pay upfront for instant access to a slot’s bonus round.
- Fixed Jackpot: A set prize amount that doesn’t increase, unlike progressive jackpots.
- Free Spins: Bonus spins on slots, often awarded as part of a promotion.
G
- Gambling Regulatory Authority of Ireland (GRAI): Ireland’s regulator overseeing licensed gambling as of 2024.
- Game Provider: Companies like NetEnt or Microgaming that develop casino games.
- Gamification: Adding game-like elements (e.g., missions, leaderboards) to enhance casino play.
- Gross Gaming Revenue (GGR): The casino’s earnings after paying out winnings.
H
- High Roller: A player who wagers large amounts, often receiving VIP perks.
- Hit: In blackjack, requesting another card to improve your hand.
- Hot Streak: A run of consecutive wins in a game.
- House Edge: The mathematical advantage a casino has over players in any game.
I
- Instant Play: Games accessible directly in your browser without downloading software.
- Insurance: A side bet in blackjack offered when the dealer’s upcard is an ace.
- iGaming: The online gambling industry, including casinos, poker, and betting.
- In-Game Currency: Virtual coins or credits used in free-play modes.
J
- Jackpot: A large prize, either fixed or progressive, won in slots or other games.
- Joker: A wild card in some games, substituting for other cards to form wins.
- Juice: Another term for the casino’s commission or vigorish, often in betting.
K
- Keno: A lottery-style game where players pick numbers for a random draw.
- KYC (Know Your Customer): Verification process requiring ID to ensure legal play and prevent fraud.
L
- Live Casino: Real-time games streamed with human dealers, like live roulette or blackjack.
- Lobby: The main menu or homepage of an online casino, listing available games.
- Low Roller: A player who bets small amounts, opposite of a high roller.
- Loyalty Program: A rewards system offering perks for regular play.
M
- Match Bonus: A deposit bonus where the casino matches a percentage of your funds (e.g., 100% up to €100).
- Megaways: A slot mechanic with variable reels and thousands of ways to win.
- Multi-Hand: Playing multiple hands at once, common in video poker or blackjack.
- Multiplier: A feature that boosts winnings by a set factor (e.g., 2x, 5x).
N
- No-Deposit Bonus: Free funds or spins given without requiring a deposit.
- Net Win: A player’s total winnings minus their total bets over a session.
- Non-Sticky Bonus: A bonus that can be withdrawn after meeting wagering requirements, separate from your cash balance.
O
- Odds: The probability of winning a bet or game, expressed as a ratio or percentage.
- Online Slot: A digital version of a slot machine with reels and paylines.
- Overlay: A situation where a casino offers more prize money than collected entry fees in a tournament.
P
- Payline: A line across slot reels where matching symbols must land to win.
- Payout Percentage: The average amount a game returns to players over time (e.g., 96% RTP).
- Progressive Jackpot: A prize pool that grows with each bet until won.
- Provably Fair: A system (often in crypto casinos) letting players verify game fairness.
Q
- Quads: Four of a kind in poker or video poker, a strong hand.
- Quick Spin: A slot setting to speed up reel spins for faster gameplay.
R
- Random Number Generator (RNG): Software ensuring random, fair game outcomes.
- Reload Bonus: A bonus offered on subsequent deposits after the welcome offer.
- Return to Player (RTP): The percentage of wagered money a game pays back over time.
- Roll: A single round or spin in a game, like dice or slots.
S
- Scatter: A slot symbol that triggers bonuses or payouts regardless of paylines.
- Session: A continuous period of play, from start to finish.
- Soft Hand: In blackjack, a hand with an ace counted as 11 (e.g., A-6 = 17).
- Stake: The amount wagered on a single bet or spin.
T
- Table Game: Traditional casino games like blackjack, roulette, or baccarat.
- Tilt: Emotional play after losses, often leading to poor decisions.
- Tournament: A competition where players vie for prizes based on performance.
- Turnover: The total amount wagered, often tied to bonus wagering requirements.
U
- Underage Gambling: Illegal play by those under 18, strictly prohibited in Ireland.
- Upcard: The dealer’s visible card in blackjack, influencing player decisions.
V
- Variance: The level of risk in a game—high variance means bigger but less frequent wins.
- VIP Program: Exclusive rewards for loyal or high-spending players.
- Virtual Reality (VR) Casino: An immersive online casino using VR technology.
W
- Wager: Another term for a bet placed on a game.
- Wagering Requirement: The amount you must bet to unlock bonus winnings (e.g., 30x).
- Wild: A symbol substituting for others to create winning combinations in slots.
- Withdrawal: Cashing out winnings from your casino account.
X
- Xtra Feature: A branded bonus or special mechanic unique to certain slots.
Y
- Yield: The profit or return a player earns from gambling over time.
Z
- Zero Bet: A rare promotional offer allowing a free wager with no deposit.
