Gambling offers glossary
The words operators use, in plain English. Last reviewed 9 July 2026.
- Wagering requirement
- The number of times you must bet a bonus (and sometimes the deposit too) before winnings from it can be withdrawn. Written as a multiple such as 30x. Lower is better.
- Significant terms
- The conditions that materially change the value of an offer: wagering requirement, minimum deposit, maximum bet, expiry and any cashout cap. UK rules require these to be shown up front, not hidden in the full T&Cs.
- No-deposit bonus
- A bonus you receive without paying in, usually small and with a low maximum cashout. Good for trying a site with no financial outlay.
- Matched deposit bonus
- A bonus that mirrors a percentage of your deposit, for example "100% up to £50" doubles a £50 deposit to £100 in playable funds, subject to wagering.
- Free bet
- A sports-betting credit staked on a selection. The stake is usually not returned with the winnings, so a winning £10 free bet at even money returns £10 profit, not £20.
- Free spins
- Set spins on a named slot at a fixed stake per spin. Winnings are normally paid as bonus funds carrying a wagering requirement.
- Minimum deposit
- The smallest amount you must pay in to qualify for an offer. A high minimum deposit raises the real cost of claiming a bonus.
- Maximum bet
- The largest single stake allowed while a bonus is active. Exceeding it can void the bonus and any winnings from it.
- Maximum cashout
- A cap on how much you can withdraw from a bonus, regardless of how much you win. Common on no-deposit and free-spin offers.
- RTP (return to player)
- The percentage of total stakes a game is designed to pay back over the long run. A 96% RTP means the house keeps about 4% on average. It describes long-run averages, not any single session.
- Game weighting
- How much a bet on a given game counts toward a wagering requirement. Slots often count 100%; table and live-casino games often count 10% or 0%.
- Accumulator (acca)
- A single sports bet combining several selections. All must win for the bet to pay, and the odds multiply, raising both the potential return and the risk.
- Each-way bet
- A bet split in two: half stakes the selection to win, half stakes it to place (finish in the top few). Common in horse racing.
- Cash out
- An option to settle a sports bet early for a value the bookmaker offers before the event finishes, locking in a profit or limiting a loss.
- Void bet
- A bet cancelled and refunded, for example when an event is abandoned. A voided qualifying bet can invalidate a linked offer.
- UKGC (UK Gambling Commission)
- The regulator that licenses and supervises gambling in Great Britain. Every operator serving British players must hold a UKGC licence.
- GAMSTOP
- A free self-exclusion scheme. One registration blocks your access to every UK-licensed online gambling site for the period you choose.
- Self-exclusion
- A voluntary block you place on your own gambling, at a single operator or across all UK-licensed sites via GAMSTOP. Operators must honour it.