Glossary

Words we actually use on the comparison pages.

These definitions are for reading Chip District, not for passing a dealer exam. Licence terms sit first because that is the spine of this site.

Account number (UKGC): The public identifier for a licensed business on the Gambling Commission register. We print it so you can search the same record we used. It is not a secret PIN and it is not a player-account ID.
Affiliate link: A tracked URL from this site to an operator. If you register, Chip District may be paid. You do not receive that fee. See the disclosure.
Alternative dispute resolution (ADR): An independent body named in an operator’s terms for unresolved complaints after the operator’s own process. Chip District is not an ADR.
Casino (remote): A UKGC activity permission covering online casino games. An operator can hold betting permissions without casino, or both. We only list brands whose register entry shows active remote casino where we discuss casino products.
Deposit limit: A cap you set in the operator account on how much you can add over a day, week or month. UKGC-licensed sites must offer such tools. Set them before you play, not after a chase.
Game weighting: How much a stake on a given game counts toward wagering a bonus. Slots often count 100%; many table and live games count far less or zero. Always read the operator’s bonus table.
GamStop: The national online self-exclusion scheme for Great Britain. Once active, UKGC-licensed remote operators should refuse you for the period you chose. It does not automatically cover every overseas site or every land-based venue.
House edge: The statistical advantage built into a game’s rules. Over time it funds the operator. It is why gambling is not a wage.
KYC: Know Your Customer checks: identity and age verification licensed operators must complete. Expect them; they are a player-protection requirement, not a snub.
Licensed domain: The website name attached to a UKGC account. The address in your browser should match that list. A similar-looking domain is a reason to stop.
Live casino: Table games and game shows streamed from a studio with a human dealer, using the operator’s software overlay for bets. Outcomes still sit inside a licensed, tested system — they are not a private arrangement with the dealer. See live casino explained.
Match score: Chip District’s percentage against our brief (licence clarity, live depth, app, studios, offer type, support, usability). Editorial, not a regulator mark, not a forecast of winnings.
Payline: A pattern on a slot reel grid that can return a prize if matching symbols land. Some games use ways-to-win instead of fixed lines. The rules panel in the title states which.
ProgressPlay / white-label: A licensed platform that supplies many consumer brand names under one UKGC account. Play Magical is an example on this site. The licensee is still the legal operator; the front-end name is the shop sign.
Reality check: An on-screen reminder of session length. It does not stop you by itself; it is a prompt to notice time passing.
RNG: Random number generator used for slots and other non-live games. UKGC-licensed products are expected to use tested RNG implementations. Live dealer games use physical equipment plus studio procedures instead of a reel RNG.
RTP: Return to player: a long-run theoretical percentage of stakes a game is designed to pay back. It is not a promise for your session. A 96% RTP still includes losing nights.
Self-exclusion (operator): A block on one brand’s account, separate from GamStop. Useful for a single site; insufficient if you will simply open another UKGC brand.
Studio / provider: The company that builds the game (Evolution for many live tables, Play’n GO or NetEnt for many slots). The operator licences the catalogue; the studio is not your account holder.
UK Gambling Commission (UKGC): The regulator for commercial gambling in Great Britain. A remote operating licence is permission with conditions. The Commission can sanction licensees. Chip District is not the Commission.
Volatility: How lumpy a slot’s results tend to be: lower volatility pays smaller amounts more often; higher volatility pays less often with larger swings. It describes pace, not a secret setting you can beat.
Wagering requirement: How many times a bonus (and sometimes the deposit) must be staked before you can withdraw related funds. A 30× requirement on a £20 bonus means £600 of qualifying stakes, subject to game weighting. Read it before you opt in.