Casino language can feel like a foreign dialect the first time you encounter it. Wagering requirements, RTP, volatility, sticky bonuses — none of it is explained on the page where it matters most. I put this glossary together for exactly that reason. If you're playing at Cocoa and something in the terms, the cashier, or the game lobby doesn't make sense, this is where to look. Plain English, no filler, organised so you can find what you need fast.
What do the most common bonus terms actually mean?
Bonuses are where the terminology gets dense — and where misunderstanding costs real money. These are the terms I see confuse players most often.
| Term | Definition | Example | Player Impact | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Wagering requirement | How many times you must bet the bonus before withdrawing | £100 bonus × 35x = £3,500 to wager | High | Lower number = better deal |
| Sticky bonus | Bonus funds that can't be withdrawn — only winnings generated from them can | £50 sticky bonus: you keep profits, not the £50 itself | Medium | Common in free chip offers |
| No-wagering bonus | Winnings are yours to keep immediately, no playthrough required | Win £30 from free spins — withdraw it straight away | High (positive) | Rarer but far more valuable |
| Bonus expiry | The deadline by which you must use or clear a bonus | 7-day window to complete 35x wagering | High | Unmet bonuses are forfeited |
| Match bonus | Casino matches your deposit by a set percentage | 100% match on £100 deposit = £100 bonus | Medium | Cap applies — check max bonus amount |
| Cashback | A percentage of net losses returned to your account | 10% cashback on £200 losses = £20 back | Medium | Often paid weekly or monthly |
| Wagering contribution | How much each game type counts toward clearing the bonus | Slots: 100%, Blackjack: 10% | High | Always check before playing table games on a bonus |
| Free spins | Complimentary slot spins awarded as part of a promotion | 50 free spins on a nominated slot | Medium | Often restricted to one specific game |
Author's tip from Oliver Bennett, Online Casino Content Writer: "When comparing bonuses, divide the bonus amount by the wagering requirement and then multiply by the game's RTP. That gives you the expected value — and it's almost always negative. The real question is whether the entertainment is worth the cost."
RTP, volatility, and house edge — how do they affect your play?
These three terms determine how a game actually behaves over time. Understanding them won't change your luck, but it will change your expectations — which matters a lot when you're deciding where to put your money.
RTP (Return to Player) is the percentage of all wagered money a game pays back to players over a very large number of spins. A slot with 96% RTP theoretically returns £96 for every £100 wagered — in aggregate, across millions of spins. For any individual session, results vary wildly.
Volatility (also called variance) describes how a game distributes its payouts. High volatility slots pay out less often but in larger amounts. Low volatility slots pay smaller wins more frequently. Neither is objectively better — it depends entirely on your bankroll and playing style.
House edge is the flip side of RTP. A 96% RTP slot has a 4% house edge. Blackjack played with optimal strategy typically has a house edge under 0.5%. That gap between games is significant over time.
Game mechanics glossary — terms you'll see in the slot lobby
Slots have their own vocabulary. Providers pack feature names into game descriptions and it can feel like alphabet soup. Here's what the most common mechanics actually mean in practice.
| Term | What it means | Example game type | Volatility effect | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Megaways | Dynamic reel system with up to 117,649 ways to win | Big Time Gaming titles | High | Licensed mechanic used by many providers |
| Buy bonus / bonus buy | Pay a fixed amount (e.g. 100x stake) to trigger the bonus round immediately | Most Pragmatic Play slots | High | Not available in UK due to regulations |
| Scatter | Symbol that pays regardless of position and often triggers free spins | Nearly all video slots | Varies | 3+ scatters usually needed to trigger |
| Wild | Substitutes for other symbols to complete winning combinations | Nearly all video slots | Reduces volatility slightly | Can be expanding, sticky, or multiplier wilds |
| Multiplier | Boosts your win by a set factor (e.g. 5x multiplier on a £10 win = £50) | Free spins rounds | Increases max win potential | Progressive multipliers grow with each spin |
| Cascading reels | Winning symbols disappear, new ones fall in — allowing chain wins on one spin | Gonzo's Quest, Reactoonz | Medium–high | Also called avalanche or tumble |
| Max win | The highest possible payout a slot can pay on a single spin, expressed as a multiplier | High variance slots | Higher = more volatile | e.g. 5,000x your stake |
| Hit frequency | How often a spin results in any winning combination | All slots | Higher = lower volatility | Not the same as profitability |
Author's tip from Oliver Bennett, Online Casino Content Writer: "Don't chase high max-win slots with a small bankroll. A 50,000x max win sounds amazing, but those games are built for infrequent, massive payouts — your £50 session budget will evaporate long before you get close. Match the volatility of the game to the size of your bankroll."
Payments and account terms you need to know
The cashier and account sections of a casino come with their own vocabulary. These are the terms that directly affect how you deposit, withdraw, and manage your balance at Cocoa. Some are straightforward. Others — like pending periods and source of funds checks — catch players off guard.
- KYC (Know Your Customer) — identity and address verification required by regulators before large withdrawals are processed. Standard across all licensed casinos in England.
- Pending period — a window (typically 24–48 hours) during which a withdrawal request is held before processing begins. Some casinos allow reversal during this period.
- Source of funds — a check requiring you to demonstrate that money deposited came from a legitimate source (payslip, bank statement). Triggered at higher deposit thresholds.
- Chargeback — disputing a transaction with your bank or card provider. Doing this on a casino deposit will typically result in permanent account closure.
- Responsible gambling limits — voluntary controls on deposit amounts, session times, or loss limits. Set from within the account dashboard. 18+ only — gambling should always stay within what you can afford to lose.
- Self-exclusion — a formal request to be blocked from a casino, either temporarily or permanently. Regulated casinos in England are required to honour these. See the login and account guide for how to access these tools at Cocoa.
- KYC freeze — a temporary hold on withdrawals while identity verification is being completed. Submitting documents proactively avoids this.
Author's tip from Oliver Bennett, Online Casino Content Writer: "The pending period on withdrawals isn't just an admin delay — some casinos use it as a window to encourage you to reverse the withdrawal and keep playing. Once you've requested a payout, leave it alone. The money is yours."
What do live casino terms mean?
Live casino has its own layer of terminology on top of the standard game rules. If you're new to playing against real dealers via video stream, these are the phrases you'll encounter at Cocoa's live tables.
RNG vs. live dealer — RNG (Random Number Generator) games are software-based; outcomes are generated by algorithm. Live dealer games use physical cards, wheels, or dice operated by a human dealer on camera. Both are fair when properly certified, but the experience differs substantially.
Squeeze — a baccarat feature where the dealer slowly reveals the card, building tension. Purely theatrical — it doesn't affect the outcome.
Side bet — an additional wager on a secondary outcome at a table game. For example, betting on a "perfect pair" in blackjack alongside your main hand. Side bets usually carry a higher house edge — worth knowing before placing them.
Bet behind — a live blackjack feature allowing players to wager on another player's hand when seats are full. You follow their decisions, so pick someone who plays correct strategy.
Game show games — live casino titles like Crazy Time or Monopoly Live that blend game show formats with casino mechanics. High entertainment value, typically higher house edge than traditional table games.
For a broader look at what Cocoa offers — bonuses, payment methods, game library — the homepage overview covers everything in one place. And if you need help with your account login or security settings, the login guide walks you through it step by step.
Bookmark this page. Terminology comes up when you least expect it — mid-session, mid-withdrawal, mid-bonus claim. Having a reference you actually trust makes the difference between a frustrating experience and an informed one. If there's a term you've encountered at Cocoa that isn't covered here, the support team can clarify it — and plain English is always the right thing to ask for.
