Glossary

This glossary is written for the people who make the content, not for clinicians. Each entry gives a plain-language definition and, where the source provides it, a short note on how Playbook positions the term — the difference between “restrict your deposits” and “set your deposit limit.” For the complete preferred-versus-avoided language guide, see Voice & Tone.

A

Accumulator (Acca)

A single bet that combines several selections — every one must win for the bet to pay out. Known as a parlay in the US and a multi in Australia.

Playbook frame Prime myth-busting territory. A ten-leg accumulator at even odds has roughly a 1-in-1,024 chance of landing. The bookmaker knows that; Playbook makes sure the player does too.

Activity summary

A report of a player’s gambling over a period — deposits, wagers, wins, losses, and time played.

Playbook frame Use “activity summary” or “play summary.” Avoid “loss report” or “spending report,” which frame the experience around deficit.

B

Bankroll

The money a player has set aside for gambling.

Playbook frame Fine in everyday content; “entertainment budget” works for broader audiences. Example: “Your bankroll planner shows how far your budget goes.”

Bookmaker margin (Vig / Juice)

The profit margin built into sports-betting odds — the gap between the true probability of an outcome and the odds offered. A typical margin runs 5–10%.

Playbook frame Explain it as a commission on every bet: “That’s simply how sportsbooks make money.” See the Sports Betting guide for the full breakdown.

C

Cool-off period

A short, voluntary break from gambling — typically 24 hours to 30 days — during which the player’s account is temporarily inaccessible.

Playbook frame Use “cool-off period,” “short break,” or “pause.” Avoid “temporary ban” or “suspension,” which read as punishment.

D

Deposit limit

A cap a player sets on how much they can deposit over a chosen period — daily, weekly, or monthly.

Playbook frame Frame it as a feature, not a restriction: “Set your deposit limit,” never “Restrict your deposits.” It’s a budget tool, like a spending cap on a credit card.

E

Expected value (EV)

The average outcome of a bet if it were placed an infinite number of times. A negative EV means the house holds the edge.

Playbook frame Explain the long-run nature: “Most casino bets have a negative EV — that’s the house edge. It doesn’t mean you lose every time, just that the math favors the house over the long run.”

G

Gambler’s fallacy

The mistaken belief that past random events affect future ones — for example, “red hasn’t hit in ten spins, so it’s due.”

Playbook frame Core myth-busting material: “Each spin is independent. The wheel has no memory. Red isn’t ‘due’ — the odds are exactly the same every spin.”

H

House edge

The casino’s mathematical advantage over the player, shown as a percentage. A 5% house edge means the casino expects to keep $5 of every $100 wagered over time.

Playbook frame One of the most important concepts to teach. Always translate the number into practical terms: “The house edge on American roulette is 5.26% — over time, about $5.26 of every $100 you bet.” See the Game Guides for the real numbers by game.

I

In-play betting (Live betting)

Placing bets on a sporting event while it’s underway, with odds that move in real time as the game unfolds.

Playbook frame Good educational territory: “In-play bets move fast — often under 30 seconds between wagers. When the pace climbs, analysis drops and impulse rises.”

Informed play

Naming specific helpful behaviors — setting a budget, knowing the odds, checking session time, reading the terms before claiming a bonus — rather than hiding behind umbrella labels.

Playbook frame Don’t write “play responsibly” or “play smart.” Write “set your budget before you start,” “know the house edge,” or “check your session time.” Specificity drives action; generic labels don’t.

L

Limit (Deposit / Loss / Session / Wagering)

A boundary the player sets on their own play. Deposit limits cap what you add to your account, loss limits cap what you can lose, session limits cap how long you play, and wagering limits cap how much you can bet.

Playbook frame Always player-owned: “your limits,” never “restrictions on your account.” The player sets the limit; the system simply enforces their decision.

O

Odds

The probability of an outcome, written as a ratio. Common formats are decimal (2.50), fractional (3/2), and American (+150).

Playbook frame Always name the format in use: “Odds of 2.50 mean you’d win $2.50 for every $1 bet — a $1.50 profit plus your $1 back.”

P

Parlay

The US term for an accumulator — a single bet combining multiple selections that all must win. See Accumulator.

Playbook frame Use whichever term your market knows. The myth-busting angle is identical: the more legs, the longer the odds.

Paytable

The chart on a slot or video-poker game that shows the payout for each winning combination.

Playbook frame Encourage reading it: “Every slot has a paytable. It tells you what each combination pays and what the special features do. It takes 30 seconds and changes how you think about the game.”

Player

A person who gambles.

Playbook frame Always use “player” in everyday content, never “gambler.” It is inclusive, neutral, and frames the activity as entertainment.

R

Random Number Generator (RNG)

The software or hardware that produces random outcomes in digital games, ensuring every spin, hand, or draw is independent.

Playbook frame Core educational content: “The machine doesn’t know you exist. It doesn’t know what happened on the last spin or how long you’ve been playing. Every result is random.”

Return to Player (RTP)

The theoretical share of wagered money a game returns to players over time, and the inverse of the house edge. An RTP of 96% returns $96 of every $100 wagered on average.

Playbook frame Stress the long-run average: “96% RTP doesn’t mean you’ll get $96 back from a $100 session. It’s an average across millions of plays. In any single session, anything can happen — that’s what makes it entertainment.”

S

Self-exclusion

A formal process in which a player voluntarily restricts their own access to gambling for a set period — typically six months to five years, sometimes permanent.

Playbook frame For light, everyday references, use “take a break” or “pause your account.” Reserve “self-exclusion” for support and regulatory contexts. Never use “self-ban” or “blacklisting.”

Session reminder

A notification telling players how long they’ve been playing, configurable to their preference.

Playbook frame Use “session reminder” or “time check.” Avoid “reality check,” which implies the player has lost touch. Frame it as helpful: “Session reminders keep you aware without killing the vibe.”

T

Tilt

A state of emotional frustration that leads to poor decisions. Borrowed from poker but applies to all gambling; common triggers are losing streaks, near-misses, and chasing losses.

Playbook frame Strong self-awareness content: “Tilt is the most expensive thing in gambling — it’s when emotion takes over from math. Recognizing it is the first step to avoiding it.”

Tools

The suite of features available to players — deposit limits, session reminders, activity dashboards, bankroll planners, and cool-off periods.

Playbook frame Always “tools” or “features,” never “interventions,” “measures,” or “controls.” Tools are things players choose to use; interventions are things done to them.

V

Volatility (Variance)

How much a game’s outcomes swing in the short term. High-volatility games pay out less often but bigger; low-volatility games pay out smaller amounts more frequently.

Playbook frame Present it as a neutral choice: “High volatility means bigger swings — longer dry spells, bigger wins. Low volatility means steadier play. Neither is better; it depends on the experience you want.”

W

Wagering requirement

The number of times a bonus must be wagered before it can be withdrawn as cash. A 30x requirement on a $50 bonus means you must wager $1,500 before cashing out.

Playbook frame Essential transparency content: “At a 3% house edge, you’d statistically lose about $45 of that $1,500 in play — so the ‘free’ $50 can cost nearly as much to unlock.”

Jurisdiction-specific terms

Several terms are tied to a specific market or a trademarked program. Use them only in the right place — and only with the right name. The Compliance section covers the regulatory detail behind each market — for example, UK Gambling Commission rules for GambleAware and GAMSTOP, or the GameSense program. In the US, the National Council on Problem Gambling operates the national helpline.