iGaming Glossary 2026: 60 Terms Every Operator Must Know

iGaming has its own language. Investors, operators, platform providers, affiliates, and regulators all speak it — and missing a term in a contract or pitch meeting can cost you real money. This glossary covers the 60 terms that come up most in operator conversations, licensing applications, platform negotiations, and industry conferences.

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Financial and Business Terms

GGR (Gross Gaming Revenue)

The total amount wagered by players minus winnings paid out. If players bet €1,000,000 and win back €950,000, GGR is €50,000. GGR is the primary revenue metric for the industry. Every percentage fee and revenue share in your contracts is calculated on GGR.

Example in use: "Our platform takes 35% GGR share for the first 12 months."

NGR (Net Gaming Revenue)

GGR minus bonuses and promotions awarded to players. If your GGR is €50,000 but you gave out €8,000 in bonuses, NGR is €42,000. NGR is the truer measure of operational revenue because it accounts for the real cost of acquisition bonuses.

Why it matters: Affiliate RevShare deals are often calculated on NGR, not GGR. A 40% NGR share is different from a 40% GGR share — know which one you are signing.

RGR (Real Gross Revenue)

Sometimes used interchangeably with NGR. Varies by jurisdiction and contract — always clarify the exact definition in any agreement.

Turnover / Handle

The total value of bets placed, before any payouts. Distinct from GGR. A sports betting operator might process €10,000,000 in turnover (total stakes) while generating only €600,000 in GGR (6% gross win margin).

RTP (Return to Player)

Expressed as a percentage, RTP is the theoretical amount a game pays back to players over time. A slot with 96% RTP returns €96 for every €100 wagered on average. The operator's theoretical margin is 100% minus RTP. Regulators often mandate minimum RTP levels (typically 85–92% depending on jurisdiction). The MGA publishes RTP requirements for all licensed operators.

House Edge

The mathematical advantage the operator holds on any given game or bet. Equivalent to 100% minus RTP for slots, or the overround for sports betting. American Roulette has a house edge of 5.26% (two green pockets). European Roulette has 2.7% (one green pocket). These differences compound dramatically over volume.

GGY (Gross Gambling Yield)

Term used by the UK Gambling Commission (UKGC) for what others call GGR. Same concept, different terminology in UK regulatory filings.

Revenue Share (RevShare)

An affiliate compensation model where the affiliate earns a percentage of the GGR or NGR generated by players they refer. Lifetime RevShare agreements mean the affiliate continues earning from a player for the entire duration of that player's relationship with the casino. Calculating long-term RevShare liability is a critical exercise before launching an affiliate program.

CPA (Cost Per Acquisition)

Flat fee paid to an affiliate for each new depositing player. Ranges from €80–€400 depending on market quality. Predictable cost structure, but you bear the risk on player value — a CPA player who deposits once and churns costs more than they generate.

LTV (Lifetime Value)

The total revenue expected from a player over their entire relationship with your casino. Calculated differently by operator, but typically: average monthly GGR per player × average active months. High-LTV player segments (slots VIPs, live casino regulars) are the foundation of a profitable casino business.

ARPU (Average Revenue Per User)

Total GGR divided by total active players in a period. A useful benchmark for player quality. Declining ARPU with growing player count often indicates acquisition of low-value players.

Chargeback

When a player disputes a transaction with their bank or card issuer, resulting in the funds being reversed from the operator's account. iGaming chargebacks are common — players who lose money sometimes fraudulently claim unauthorized use. Chargeback rates above 1% trigger penalties from Visa and Mastercard and can result in merchant account termination.

Rolling Reserve

A percentage of processing volume (typically 5–15%) held by the payment processor as a buffer against chargebacks and fraud. Released after a defined period (typically 90–180 days). New operators should budget for rolling reserve as a cash flow impact — it ties up real capital.

MDR (Merchant Discount Rate)

The percentage fee charged by a payment processor on each transaction. In iGaming, MDR ranges from 3.5–8% for card payments, significantly higher than the 1–2% available to low-risk merchants.

Licensing and Regulatory Terms

B2C License

Business-to-Consumer license. Required for operators who offer gambling services directly to players. What you need to run an online casino.

B2B License

Business-to-Business license. Required for companies providing gambling services to licensed operators — platform providers, game studios, payment processors. Your platform provider needs a B2B license in your jurisdiction for you to use them legally.

Sublicense

Authorization granted by a master license holder to operate under their license. Common in the old Curaçao system (now being phased out under CGA). If you hold a sublicense, your operation is dependent on the master license holder maintaining their own license and compliance.

UBO (Ultimate Beneficial Owner)

The actual human being(s) who ultimately own and benefit from a company, even if ownership goes through multiple corporate layers. All gaming licenses require disclosure of UBOs, who are subject to background checks. Attempting to hide UBO identity is grounds for immediate license refusal.

MLRO (Money Laundering Reporting Officer)

Required by MGA, UKGC, and increasingly Curaçao CGA. The designated person responsible for receiving internal reports of suspicious activity, investigating them, and filing reports with the relevant financial intelligence unit.

SAR (Suspicious Activity Report)

A formal report filed with a national financial intelligence unit when an operator identifies transactions or player behavior that may indicate money laundering or terrorist financing. Filing obligations, thresholds, and procedures vary by jurisdiction.

KYC (Know Your Customer)

The process of verifying player identity. Standard KYC includes: government-issued photo ID, proof of address (utility bill or bank statement), and sometimes proof of payment method. Enhanced Due Diligence (EDD) applies to high-value players and politically exposed persons.

EDD (Enhanced Due Diligence)

More thorough KYC process for higher-risk customers — PEPs, high-volume depositors, or customers from high-risk jurisdictions. Includes source of funds verification and may require source of wealth documentation.

PEP (Politically Exposed Person)

Current or former senior government officials, their family members, and close associates. Considered high-risk for money laundering due to potential corruption exposure. Require EDD and ongoing monitoring. Accepting a PEP without proper controls is a compliance violation.

AML (Anti-Money Laundering)

The framework of policies, procedures, and controls designed to detect and prevent money laundering through the casino. Regulatory requirement in all licensed jurisdictions. Inadequate AML controls are the most common reason for license revocation.

CTF (Counter-Terrorism Financing)

Alongside AML, a mandatory compliance obligation. Procedures to detect and prevent the use of gambling services to finance terrorist activities.

Responsible Gambling (RG)

The suite of tools and policies designed to identify and support problem gamblers. Includes: deposit limits, session time limits, reality checks, self-exclusion, and links to support organizations. Increasingly mandated by regulators and increasingly scrutinized by payment processors.

Self-Exclusion

A player-initiated mechanism to voluntarily ban themselves from a casino for a defined period (often 6 months to lifetime). Operators are required to honor self-exclusion requests and prevent re-registration of excluded players. GAMSTOP (UK) and CRUKS (Netherlands) are national self-exclusion registers that licensed operators must check.

Geoblocking

Technical restriction of access to your casino from specific IP addresses and geographic locations. Regulatory requirement — you must geoblock jurisdictions where you are not licensed to operate. Sophisticated players use VPNs to bypass; your T&Cs should prohibit this and you should have detection mechanisms.

Platform and Technology Terms

White-Label

A ready-built casino product that operators license and rebrand. Provider manages the technical infrastructure; operator handles marketing and player acquisition. See our full guide: White-Label vs Turnkey explained →

Turnkey

Licensing the casino platform technology while maintaining independent operations and your own gaming license. Higher upfront cost, better long-term economics. Full comparison here →

API (Application Programming Interface)

The technical protocol for integrating different systems. Game aggregators provide game content via API. Payment processors integrate via API. Understanding API quality, documentation, and latency is important when evaluating platform providers.

RNG (Random Number Generator)

The algorithm that ensures game outcomes are random and unpredictable. Regulators require RNG certification from approved testing laboratories (GLI, iTech Labs, BMM) to confirm games are fair.

Latency

Time delay between two events. In iGaming context: the delay between a bet being placed and odds being updated (in-play betting), or the delay between a game action and the outcome being displayed. High latency creates arbitrage opportunities and poor player experience.

PWA (Progressive Web App)

A website that can be installed on a mobile device and functions like a native app. Increasingly important in iGaming because app stores (Google Play, Apple App Store) heavily restrict or ban real-money gambling apps in most jurisdictions. A good PWA is often the mobile strategy for licensed operators.

Aggregator

A company that provides access to game content from multiple studios through a single API integration. Instead of integrating Pragmatic Play, Play'n GO, and Nolimit City separately, you integrate one aggregator and access all three (and hundreds more) through that single connection.

CMS (Content Management System)

The backend system for managing website content, game listings, promotions, and pages. In iGaming, the CMS is typically part of the casino platform rather than a standalone system.

CRM (Customer Relationship Management)

The system for managing player data, segmentation, and communication. Good CRM enables automated lifecycle marketing — welcome bonuses for new players, re-engagement campaigns for churning players, VIP management for high-value players.

Bonus Engine

The technical system that manages bonus creation, award, and wagering requirement tracking. A sophisticated bonus engine allows real-time personalized bonuses triggered by player behavior. A basic one handles only standard welcome bonuses.

Game and Content Terms

Slot (Video Slot)

The dominant casino game format. Digital slot machines with spinning reels and various symbols. Players bet credits, spin, and win based on symbol combinations. Slots generate 60–75% of GGR for most online casinos.

RTP (Return to Player)

See Financial section above — applies specifically in game context to the theoretical payout percentage of a slot or table game over millions of spins/hands.

Variance / Volatility

Describes the risk profile of a slot game. High variance: rare but large wins, long losing streaks. Low variance: frequent small wins, steady bankroll depletion. Player preferences vary — high-variance slots attract bonus hunters and high-rollers; low-variance suits casual players.

Live Casino

Casino games (blackjack, roulette, baccarat, poker variants) streamed live from a studio with real human dealers. Evolution Gaming is the market leader. Players interact with dealers in real time. Highest GGR per active player of any casino vertical.

Crash Game

Fast-growing game format where a multiplier increases until it "crashes." Players cash out before the crash to win. Aviator by Spribe is the definitive example. Extremely popular in emerging markets and with younger demographics.

Provably Fair

A cryptographic mechanism in crypto casinos that allows players to independently verify that game outcomes were genuinely random and not manipulated by the operator. Used primarily in crypto-native casinos.

Game Studio

Companies that develop casino games. Tier-1 studios: Pragmatic Play, Play'n GO, NetEnt (Evolution subsidiary), Nolimit City, Hacksaw Gaming. Studios license their games to casinos via aggregators or direct integration.

Acquisition and Marketing Terms

Affiliate

A marketing partner who drives traffic to your casino in exchange for commission (CPA, RevShare, or hybrid). Affiliates operate review sites, comparison tools, bonus databases, and SEO content. Affiliates drive 40–60% of new player acquisition for most operators.

FTD (First Time Deposit)

The first real-money deposit a player makes. The standard affiliate conversion event for CPA payments. Operators track FTD rate (visitors to depositing players) as a core acquisition funnel metric.

Welcome Bonus

Incentive offered to new players at registration or first deposit. Typically a deposit match (100% up to €200) plus free spins. Wagering requirements determine how much the player must bet before withdrawing bonus winnings.

Wagering Requirement (Playthrough)

The multiple of bonus amount a player must bet before withdrawing bonus-related winnings. A €100 bonus with 30x wagering requires €3,000 in bets. Lower wagering requirements attract more players but increase bonus cost.

Churn

The rate at which players stop being active. Monthly churn of 20–30% is typical for online casinos. Retention strategies (bonuses, VIP programs, personalized communication) aim to reduce churn and extend player LTV.

DAU / MAU (Daily/Monthly Active Users)

Metrics tracking player engagement. DAU/MAU ratio (stickiness) indicates how often monthly players return daily. A DAU/MAU of 20%+ indicates a healthy, engaged player base.

Organic Traffic

Players who find your casino through unpaid channels — primarily search engine results (SEO), direct navigation, and word of mouth. Organic traffic has the best economics over time because there is no per-player acquisition cost.

Paid Traffic

Players acquired through paid channels — affiliate CPA/RevShare, PPC advertising, paid social, display. Has immediate cost attached to each player.

Sportsbook-Specific Terms

Overround

The bookmaker's built-in margin on a betting market. Total implied probability across all outcomes exceeds 100%. The overround percentage is the theoretical profit for a perfectly balanced book. See How to Launch a Sportsbook →

In-Play / Live Betting

Bets placed after an event has started, with real-time odds. The fastest-growing sports betting format, generating 60–75% of sportsbook GGR.

Accumulator (Parlay)

A single bet combining multiple selections where all must win for the bet to pay out. Odds multiply across legs, creating potentially large payouts. Highly profitable for operators due to compounding overround.

Sharp Bettor

A professional, sophisticated sports bettor who consistently wins over large samples. Poses a risk to sportsbook profitability. Identified by bet timing, market selection, and win rate patterns.

MTS (Managed Trading Service)

Outsourcing odds compilation and risk management to an odds provider. The provider handles liability; the operator receives GGR net of the provider's fee. Standard choice for new sportsbook operators.

Quick Reference: Key Metrics at a Glance