Education8 min read

Casino Glossary – All Gambling Terms You Need to Know

Complete glossary of casino and gambling terms. From RTP and volatility to wagering requirements and licenses – every term explained clearly.

Bankroll

Your total gambling budget — the money you've set aside for playing. Good bankroll management means setting limits on how much you can afford to lose in a session without affecting your everyday finances.

Cashback

A refund of a percentage of your losses over a given period. For example, 10% cashback means you get 100 kr back if you lose 1,000 kr. Common as a loyalty offer at Swedish casinos.

Expected Value (EV)

The mathematically calculated value of a bonus after wagering requirements are met. Positive EV means the bonus returns more than it costs to wager through. Casinodise calculates EV for all bonuses we list.

Free Spins (Gratisspins)

Complimentary slot spins without your own stake per spin. Common as part of welcome bonuses or promotions. Winnings from free spins are often subject to wagering requirements before they can be withdrawn.

House Edge

The casino's mathematical advantage, calculated as 100% minus RTP. A game with 96% RTP has a 4% house edge — the share of every krona wagered that the casino expects to keep over the long run.

Deposit (Insättning)

Transferring money to your casino account to play with. Common deposit methods at Swedish casinos include Swish, Trustly, debit cards, and e-wallets.

Jackpot

A large prize that can be fixed (set amount) or progressive (grows with every bet until someone wins). Progressive jackpots like Mega Fortune can reach tens of millions of kronor.

Max Win

The maximum amount a game can pay out on a single spin, often expressed as a multiplier of the bet (e.g., 10,000x). High max win combined with high volatility means rare but massive payouts.

Wager-Free (Omsättningsfritt)

A bonus with no wagering requirements — winnings can be withdrawn immediately without having to be wagered a set number of times. Rare but highly valuable from the player's perspective and always means positive expected value.

Wagering Requirement (Omsättningskrav)

How many times the bonus amount must be bet before winnings can be withdrawn. A 30x wagering requirement on a 500 kr bonus means you must wager 15,000 kr total. Lower wagering requirements yield higher expected value.

RTP (Return to Player)

The percentage of wagered money a game pays back to players over time. An RTP of 96% means the game theoretically returns 96 kr of every 100 kr wagered — calculated over millions of spins.

Scatter Symbol

A special symbol that triggers bonus features regardless of position on the reels. Usually three or more scatter symbols are needed to activate free spins or a bonus game.

Random Number Generator (RNG)

A computer algorithm ensuring every spin or game round is completely random and independent of previous results. Certified by independent testing labs such as eCOGRA or iTech Labs and required for licensing.

Spelinspektionen (Swedish Gambling Authority)

The Swedish authority that regulates and supervises gambling in Sweden. All legal Swedish online casinos must hold a license from Spelinspektionen. The authority can issue fines and revoke licenses for violations.

Gambling Limit (Spelgräns)

A restriction you can set on deposits, losses, or playing time at a casino. All Swedish-licensed casinos must offer the option to set limits — an important tool for responsible gambling.

Gambling License (Spellicens)

A permit issued by an authority allowing a casino to offer gambling services. In Sweden, licenses are issued by Spelinspektionen under the Gambling Act (2018:1138). A license guarantees player protection, deposit limits, and self-exclusion options.

Spelpaus (Self-Exclusion)

Sweden's national self-exclusion service. Via spelpaus.se you can block yourself from all licensed gambling operators for 1, 3, 6, or 12 months. The exclusion takes effect immediately and cannot be reversed during the chosen period.

Swish

A Swedish mobile payment service linked to your BankID. The most popular payment method at Swedish casinos, with real-time deposits. Withdrawals via Swish typically take a few minutes to a few hours.

Withdrawal (Uttag)

A request to move money from your casino account to your bank or e-wallet. Processing time varies by method — Swish and e-wallets are fastest, while bank transfers can take 1–3 business days.

Paylines (Vinstrader)

The lines across the reels where matching symbols must land to create a win. Classic slots often have 1–5 paylines, while modern video slots can have up to 100,000 ways to win (Megaways).

Volatility

A measure of how a game's payouts vary. High volatility means large but rare wins and requires a bigger bankroll. Low volatility gives smaller but more frequent wins and longer play sessions on the same budget.

Welcome Bonus (Välkomstbonus)

A bonus offered to new players upon registration and/or first deposit. Typically a match bonus (e.g., 100% up to 1,000 kr) that doubles your deposit. Always check wagering requirements and terms.

Wild Symbol

A special symbol that substitutes for other symbols to create winning combinations, like a joker in card games. Some wilds have extra features such as multipliers, expanding wilds, or sticky wilds.

Disclaimer: This guide is for educational purposes only. Gambling involves risk and should be approached responsibly. Always set limits and never gamble with money you cannot afford to lose.

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