Glossary: casino bonus terminology
25 terms around casino bonuses, RTP, wagering, and EV. Click a term to link directly.
- EV (expected value)
- The long-run average outcome of a bonus, expressed in euros. Positive means the bonus earns you money on average; negative means it costs you money on average.
- Why it matters: EV is the only fair way to compare one bonus to another.
- Wagering requirement
- The total amount you must wager before you can cash out bonus winnings. Expressed as a multiple of the bonus or deposit, for example 30x.
- Why it matters: The higher the wagering, the more expected loss before you can cash the bonus out.
- RTP (return to player)
- The percentage of wagered money a slot returns to players on average across millions of spins. A 96% RTP means 96 cents back per euro wagered.
- Why it matters: RTP determines how much you expect to lose during wagering. A 1% difference changes bonus EV meaningfully.
- House edge
- The percentage the casino keeps on average. Equal to 100% minus RTP. At 96% RTP, the house edge is 4%.
- Effective bonus
- The actual amount you receive after the match percentage and max-bonus cap are applied. With 100% match up to €100 and a €50 deposit, effective bonus is €50.
- Max cashout
- A cap on the winnings you can withdraw after clearing a bonus. A 5x max cashout on a €20 bonus means you can withdraw at most €100.
- Why it matters: Low max cashouts cap the upside of variance and can turn an apparently positive bonus negative.
- Game weighting
- The degree to which wagers on a game count toward wagering. Slots typically count 100%, blackjack often 10%, roulette 10% or 0%.
- Why it matters: Non-slot games usually make wagering impractical unless contribution is 100%.
- Welcome bonus
- The bonus a casino offers on your first deposit (or first deposits). In the Netherlands, capped by KSA rules.
- Reload bonus
- A bonus on a subsequent deposit, usually a smaller match percentage than the welcome bonus.
- Cashback
- A percentage of your net loss returned to you, often with no or very low wagering.
- Why it matters: Cashback is often the best-EV bonus type mathematically because there is no or minimal additional wagering.
- No deposit bonus
- A bonus you receive without depositing, such as free spins on registration. Rare in the Netherlands and almost always with high wagering.
- Free spins
- Free spins on a slot, usually at a fixed bet per spin. The winnings portion almost always carries its own wagering.
- Sticky bonus
- A bonus you cannot cash out separately. You can only withdraw what you win on top of the bonus. The bonus balance itself stays with the casino.
- Non-sticky bonus
- A bonus where you play your deposit separately first and only touch the bonus once the deposit is used up. Gives players more variance control.
- Match percentage
- The percentage of your deposit the casino matches as a bonus. 100% match means a €50 deposit yields a €50 bonus.
- Tiered bonus
- A bonus structure where different deposit amounts unlock different bonuses (e.g. Bronze/Silver/Gold/Platinum).
- Choice bonus
- A welcome bonus where you pick from multiple variants, for example 100% match OR 250 free spins. EV can differ significantly per option.
- Multi-deposit bonus
- A welcome package that spans multiple first deposits. You must make every deposit to unlock the full value.
- Additive bonus
- A bonus structure where you can claim multiple bonus components simultaneously, unlike a choice bonus.
- KSA (Dutch Gambling Authority)
- The regulator of the Dutch gambling market. Responsible for licensing and enforcement since KOA came into force in 2021.
- KOA (Remote Gambling Act)
- The Dutch law regulating online gambling. In force since October 1, 2021. Determines which bonuses are allowed and under what conditions.
- Responsible gambling
- Keeping gambling behavior under control: setting a budget in advance, setting time limits, not chasing losses, and seeking help when needed.
- Slot
- A gambling machine where you spin symbols on multiple reels. The outcome is entirely random, determined by a random number generator.
- Live casino
- Table games (blackjack, roulette, baccarat) streamed from a studio with a live dealer. Higher RTP than slots but often lower game weighting for bonuses.
- Sportsbook
- The sports-betting arm of a gambling operator. In the Netherlands, sports bonuses work differently than casino bonuses: usually free bets or profit boosts instead of match + wagering.