Casino glossary A, Z

Every term you'll meet in an Irish casino review or T&Cs page, explained in plain English. If a word is missing, email editors@synch.ie and we'll add it.

AML (Anti-Money-Laundering)

The compliance regime every licensed casino must follow. In practice it's the reason you're asked for ID, address and, on larger withdrawals, a payslip or bank statement. AML is not the casino being nosy; it's the licence condition that lets you keep your winnings.

Autoplay

Setting a slot to spin automatically for a defined number of rounds. In Ireland, licensed operators must let you set win/loss stops and cannot lock you into autoplay for more than 100 rounds without a re-confirmation.

Bonus abuse

Breaking a bonus term, the most common being the max-bet clause. Operators can void a bonus for abuse months after the fact, so read the T&Cs before you spin.

Cashback

A small percentage of net losses returned to your account, usually weekly. Real cashback is credited as cash (no wagering); ‘bonus cashback’ carries wagering. Always check which one you're getting.

Curaçao licence

A remote-gaming licence issued from the Caribbean. Legal for Irish players to use, but consumer protection is thinner than under MGA or UKGC. We mark Curaçao operators explicitly on Synch.ie.

Cooling-off

A short account lock, usually 24 hours to 6 weeks, that blocks new deposits and marketing. Different from self-exclusion because it ends automatically. A useful reset button when a session ran hot.

Deposit limit

A daily, weekly or monthly ceiling on how much you can deposit. Lowering the limit is instant. Raising it triggers a 24-72 hour cooling delay, by design.

Free spins

Spins issued at a fixed stake, usually €0.10 or €0.20, on a specified slot. Winnings normally convert to bonus balance and carry wagering. ‘Cash spins’ or ‘no-wager spins’ are the exception, not the rule.

GRAI

The Gambling Regulatory Authority of Ireland, established under the Gambling Regulation Act 2024. Rolling out remote-gaming licences through 2026-2027. See our Irish gambling handbook for the current status.

House edge

The mathematical percentage the casino keeps over a long series of bets. Slots run 2-8% depending on the title; European roulette 2.7%; blackjack under 1% with good strategy. RTP is the mirror image of house edge.

IBAS / eCOGRA

Independent complaint services used by UKGC-licensed operators. Free to the player. If you can't resolve a dispute at the operator, this is the second step.

Instant Banking / Trustly

Pay-by-bank flows that use SEPA rails directly. Fast, no card block, and increasingly the default first-deposit method at Irish-facing casinos.

KYC

Know Your Customer, the identity checks that release your first withdrawal. Photo ID, proof of address and payment-method proof. See our KYC checklist.

Live dealer

Real dealers on real tables streamed from a studio. Evolution, Pragmatic Live and Playtech dominate the Irish market. Live tables typically contribute 0-10% to wagering, check before you claim a bonus.

Max-bet clause

The single most-triggered bonus term. While bonus funds are active you cannot stake more than a stated amount per spin, usually €5. Break it once and the entire bonus balance can be voided.

Max-cashout

The ceiling on what you can withdraw from bonus winnings, regardless of how much you actually won. Common on no-deposit and free-spin offers. If it's below 5× the bonus, we drop the bonus score.

MGA licence

The Malta Gaming Authority, the most common EU regulator for Irish-facing casinos. Strong player-fund segregation, a working dispute process, and mandatory responsible-gambling tools.

No-deposit bonus

A small credit, usually €5,€25 or 20-50 free spins, issued after signup and before any deposit. Wagering is high (x50, x60) and max-cashout is low. Fun to try, not a strategy.

Pending / Reverse withdrawal

The window (usually 0-24h) during which the operator can cancel a requested withdrawal and return funds to the playable balance. Legitimate operators either remove this feature or make it opt-out. If your review flags a long pending window plus a reversal option, that's a red flag.

Reload bonus

A recurring bonus for existing customers on subsequent deposits. Terms are usually softer than the welcome offer (lower wagering, higher max-bet). We rank operators partly on the quality of their reload calendar.

RTP (Return to Player)

The theoretical long-run payout percentage of a game. A 96% RTP slot pays out €96 of every €100 wagered across billions of spins, not per session. Always look for the published RTP on the game info screen.

Self-exclusion

A hard, longer-term account lock (6 months to permanent). Once set, marketing must stop and the operator cannot invite you back. Ireland does not yet have a national register, the GRAI has committed to launching one by 2027.

SOF (Source of Funds)

Documentation you may be asked for on withdrawals typically above €2,000 in a rolling period. Payslip, contract, business invoice or inheritance letter. Required by AML rules, not by the casino's whim.

Sticky vs non-sticky bonus

A sticky bonus is locked to your balance and cannot be withdrawn until wagering completes. A non-sticky bonus sits separately: withdraw your deposit any time, and only forfeit the bonus. Non-sticky is dramatically more player-friendly and rare.

Verification (soft vs full)

Soft verification checks a name/DOB against a database and passes many Irish players instantly. Full verification is the KYC document upload. Both are separate from source-of-funds.

Wagering requirement

The multiplier you must turn over before a bonus becomes cashable. x40 on a €100 bonus = €4,000 in wagers on qualifying games. See our wagering guide.

Withdrawal cap (daily / monthly)

The maximum you can take out per period. Written into the T&Cs and often overlooked. A €5,000/day cap on a jackpot win means a big prize is paid over multiple months in instalments.

Related: Irish gambling law · how we rate · responsible gambling.