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A casino win is not necessarily cash you can withdraw. A pokie with 96% RTP does not repay NZ$96 for every NZ$100 spent, and 35:1 roulette odds describe a payout, not the chance of landing on the winning number. These distinctions matter when reading a game screen or a bonus offer.
In New Zealand, slot machines are pokies. Other casino terms come from blackjack, roulette, baccarat, poker, live-dealer tables and account payments. A stake, a payout, a promotion and a withdrawal each have their own rules.
Casino terminology that changes the numbers
| Term | What it measures | Mistake to avoid |
|---|---|---|
| RTP | Theoretical share of total eligible stakes paid out over very long play | Treating 96% RTP as a guarantee for a $100 session |
| House edge | Expected casino advantage on a defined wager basis | Assuming it predicts the result of a single spin |
| Total bet | Full cost of one spin or round | Reading a small coin value as the entire stake |
| Turnover | Cumulative amount wagered, including restaked winnings | Confusing money wagered with money deposited or lost |
| Wagering requirement | Qualifying turnover specified by a promotional offer | Ignoring the multiplier's base and game contribution |
| Maximum win | Game-level prize ceiling | Confusing it with a bonus cashout or payment limit |
| Pending withdrawal | An unfinished payout request | Assuming a bank transfer has already settled |
| NZD | New Zealand dollars | Assuming every dollar sign on a casino screen means NZD |
Casino terms A-Z
A
- Account balance
- Funds shown on the casino account ledger. Cash, bonus, locked and pending amounts may have different withdrawal conditions.
- Account currency
- The denomination used for bets, balances and transactions. A dollar sign alone does not establish whether an amount is in NZD, AUD or USD.
- Accumulator
- A single bet combining several selections, also called a parlay. Mainly sportsbook language rather than a casino-table wager.
- Aces
- Two dice each showing one, making a total of two; also called snake eyes.
- Action
- Money put at risk through play; at a table it can also mean that betting is open or a player must act.
- Advantage play
- Using information or mathematics to gain an edge where permitted. A venue may restrict methods or service under its rules.
- All-in
- Putting every available poker chip into a hand. Players with larger stacks may create a side pot.
- American roulette
- A wheel with 38 pockets, including 0 and 00. Its standard straight-up payout is 35:1, creating a higher edge than single-zero roulette.
- AML/CFT
- Anti-money laundering and countering financing of terrorism controls, including checks on identity, funds and suspicious transactions.
- Ante
- A required contribution before a poker hand or certain table-game rounds; unlike a blind, it is not a position-specific forced bet.
- Autoplay
- A feature that starts a preset sequence of spins without individual player control. New Zealand's 2026 regulations prohibit licensed online casino operators from offering autoplay.
B
- Baccarat
- A card game comparing the Player and Banker hands, scored by the final digit of their totals; nine is the highest value.
- Back bet
- Staking money on another participant’s position where the game allows it.
- Back counting
- Observing dealt cards and tracking their composition without playing every hand, a technique associated with card counting.
- Bad beat
- Losing a strong poker hand to an unlikely draw. It changes nothing about the next hand’s probability.
- Balance transfer
- Movement of value between account wallets or balances under an operator's rules. Transfers can change which bonus restrictions apply.
- Bank transfer
- Money paid through a bank account. The provider sets processing times and any conversion charges.
- Banker
- In baccarat, the name of one hand and betting position, not the person paying for the game.
- Banker bet
- A wager that the Banker hand wins in baccarat. Many traditional tables charge commission on winning Banker bets; the rate is rule-dependent.
- Bankroll
- Money reserved for gambling, kept separate from essential spending and distinct from any bonus balance.
- Base game
- Normal slot play outside a triggered feature; the paytable covers both base and bonus rounds.
- Bet max
- The control for the largest permitted game stake, which might exceed the maximum stake allowed under a promotion.
- Betting circle
- The marked place on a blackjack table where the main bet goes before the deal.
- Betting limit
- A minimum or maximum stake for a game, table or promotion. It is not a deposit limit.
- Betting spread
- The range between a player's smallest and largest stake, or an advantage-play bet variation under a defined system.
- Betting unit
- A personal reference amount for sizing bets, not a measure of expected profit.
- Big blind
- The larger forced bet posted before cards are dealt in many poker formats.
- Bingo
- A number-matching game where prizes follow announced draw and pattern rules, such as lines or a coverall.
- Blackjack
- A card game where a hand aims to beat the dealer without exceeding 21. An initial ace and ten-value card is a natural blackjack.
- Blind
- A compulsory bet posted before seeing cards, especially the small and big blinds in Texas Hold'em.
- Bonus
- Promotional funds, spins or rewards subject to offer conditions; not necessarily withdrawable cash.
- Bonus abuse
- An operator’s label for conduct it says breaches promotion rules. The actual breach and consequences should be specified.
- Bonus balance
- Promotional funds tracked separately from real-money funds. Wagering, expiry and cashout restrictions may apply.
- Bonus buy
- Paying a separate price to enter a slot feature directly. Availability and legality differ by market.
- Bonus code
- A code identifying a promotional offer. It cannot remove game or withdrawal restrictions.
- Bonus expiry
- The date or time after which unused promotional funds, spins or entitlements expire.
- Bonus round
- A special game feature triggered during play, such as free spins, pick-and-reveal or hold-and-spin. It differs from an account promotion.
- Boxcars
- A craps roll of two sixes, totalling twelve.
- Break-in-play
- A scheduled or voluntary pause intended to interrupt gambling; it does not alter the game’s probabilities.
- Burn card
- A card set aside before more cards are dealt, under the game’s rules.
- Bust
- In blackjack, a hand totalling more than 21, which normally loses immediately.
- Buy-in
- The amount exchanged for chips or paid to enter a poker cash game or tournament. Tournament fees can be charged separately.
C
- Cage
- A physical casino’s cashier counter for chips, payments and cash.
- Call
- Matching the current bet required to remain in the hand. A call differs from a raise, which increases the bet.
- Card counting
- Tracking the changing composition of cards dealt to estimate remaining-card proportions. It applies to physical-card circumstances, not independently reshuffled RNG rounds.
- Cascading reels
- Winning symbols clear and new ones fall into their places; also called tumbling or avalanche reels.
- Cash balance
- Real-money funds shown in an account, as distinct from bonus credits. Verification and pending payments can still restrict withdrawals.
- Cash game
- Poker played with chips representing money rather than tournament points.
- Cashback
- A promotional return based on qualifying stakes, net losses or another defined amount. The base, rate, cap and cash-versus-bonus status determine its value.
- Cashier
- The casino account area for deposits, withdrawals and payment methods. A request shown there is not necessarily paid.
- Cashout
- Taking eligible funds out of an account, not merely winning a round and receiving credit in the balance.
- Cashout cap
- The maximum withdrawable amount permitted under an offer. It is different from the slot's maximum win and a bank's transfer ceiling.
- Chasing losses
- Continuing to bet or raising stakes to win lost money back. Earlier losses do not improve independent odds.
- Chips
- Tokens representing a wager or value at a casino table. Chip colours and denominations differ by venue and game.
- Class 4 pokies
- Electronic gaming machines operated outside a casino, such as in licensed pubs or clubs, under New Zealand's land-based gambling framework.
- Classic slot
- A traditional-style slot, often with three reels and relatively simple paylines. The exact reel structure does not determine RTP.
- Closed-loop payments
- A payment control that returns funds through an approved previously used method where required for verification or compliance.
- Cluster pays
- A pay system rewarding groups of touching symbols rather than matches along fixed paylines. The paytable defines valid cluster size and shape.
- Coin value
- The monetary value of a slot coin or credit. The total stake can be coin value multiplied by coins and active lines.
- Cold streak
- Several losses in succession. In an independent game, they do not make the next win more likely.
- Come bet
- A craps wager placed after a point has been established, with its own number subsequently determined under the rules.
- Come-out roll
- The first roll in a craps sequence when a Pass Line or Don't Pass bet is being resolved or a point established.
- Commission
- A fee deducted from specified winning bets, often the Banker bet in traditional baccarat.
- Community cards
- Shared face-up cards in poker variants such as Texas Hold’em.
- Comp points
- Rewards earned through eligible activity, subject to redemption rules, expiry and local restrictions.
- Comps
- Casino rewards or perks, whose availability depends on the operator and local rules.
- Cooling-off period
- A break from gambling with a defined duration and conditions for returning.
- Corner bet
- Roulette bet covering four adjacent numbers on the layout, paying 8:1 profit under standard rules.
- Craps
- A dice game built around the shooter, come-out roll and point, with numerous optional bets.
- Credit card
- A card that draws on a credit agreement rather than funds already held. NZ's 2026 rules prohibit credit-contract payment methods on licensed online casino platforms.
- Croupier
- The person managing a table game, including roulette spins, chips or settlement. Dealer is a closely related term.
- Crypto casino
- An online gambling platform accepting cryptocurrency. Crypto support and a provably fair label do not establish compliance with NZ licensing rules.
- Cut card
- A card placed in a deck or shoe to mark a reshuffle or separate part of the pack.
D
- Dealer
- The person or software role that deals and settles a game; a live dealer is a streamed human.
- Dealer upcard
- The dealer's visible card in blackjack. It informs player strategy and decisions such as whether insurance is offered.
- Demo play
- A practice mode with non-withdrawable credits.
- Department of Internal Affairs (DIA)
- The New Zealand government department responsible for administering the online casino regulatory framework.
- Deposit
- Money paid into a casino account; fees, currency conversion and bonus eligibility are separate.
- Deposit limit
- A player-set cap on the amount added to an account over a specified period. It does not guarantee a maximum financial loss.
- Deposit match
- Promotional credit calculated as a percentage of a qualifying deposit, usually with a ceiling.
- Don't Pass Line
- A bet against the shooter completing the point in craps, with special treatment for certain come-out outcomes.
- Double down
- Increasing the original stake, usually by the same amount, in return for exactly one additional card under the table rules.
- Double-zero
- The 00 pocket on an American roulette wheel. The extra zero changes probabilities without raising standard straight-up odds.
- Dozen bet
- A roulette outside wager on numbers 1-12, 13-24 or 25-36; standard winnings are 2:1.
- Draw
- A poker hand that needs another card for a target combination, such as a flush.
E
- En prison
- A French roulette rule that may hold an even-money bet for the next spin after zero appears, instead of settling it immediately.
- European roulette
- Single-zero roulette with 37 pockets. Standard straight-up odds are 35:1; rules such as la partage are not offered on every table.
- Expanding wild
- A wild that covers additional positions when the feature rules trigger it.
- Expected value (EV)
- The probability-weighted average net outcome per wager. A negative EV describes long-run loss expectation, not a prediction for one session.
F
- Face card
- Jack, queen or king; each counts as ten in blackjack.
- Fairness audit
- An independent assessment of gambling software or controls against stated testing criteria. A logo alone is not evidence of current approval.
- Fixed jackpot
- A top prize set at a fixed value or by stake, rather than pooled contributions.
- Flat bet
- Keeping the same stake over successive rounds. It does not change negative expected value.
- Flop
- The first three shared cards dealt together in Texas Hold’em.
- Flush
- Five cards of one suit, ranked under the applicable poker rules.
- Fold
- Giving up a poker hand and forfeiting any chips already committed.
- Free spins (game feature)
- Spins awarded by a slot's own mechanics, often through scatter symbols; the paytable determines triggering and payout rules.
- Free spins (promotion)
- Spins granted through a casino offer, often with specified games, stake value, expiry and withdrawal conditions on winnings.
- French roulette
- A single-zero roulette variant that can use rules such as la partage or en prison on selected even-money bets.
- Full house
- A five-card poker hand containing three cards of one rank and two of another.
G
- Gamble feature
- An optional slot feature risking an already-awarded win for a chance at a different result; an unsuccessful attempt can forfeit the amount risked.
- Gambling licence
- Authorisation issued under a jurisdiction's gambling laws. A licence in another country is not automatically a New Zealand online casino licence.
- Gambling session
- A period of play. Its actual return need not resemble a game’s long-run RTP.
- Game contribution
- The percentage of a game's stakes counted towards a wagering requirement. A game with 10% contribution requires more turnover than one counting 100%.
- Game provider
- The studio or technology company supplying casino games to an operator; it is not necessarily the entity holding the gambling licence.
- Geolocation
- A check of a player’s location. Being able to access a website does not establish legal availability.
- GGR (gross gaming revenue)
- Operator-side stakes received minus player winnings paid, before many operating costs. Its denominator differs from the one used for some game statistics.
H
- Hand
- A player’s or dealer’s cards; also one round of card-game action.
- Handicap
- A sportsbook score adjustment used when settling bets, not a standard casino-table term.
- Hard hand
- A blackjack hand without an ace counted as 11. A hand with an ace can be hard if counting it as 11 would bust.
- High roller
- Someone who regularly places large bets; larger stakes do not improve the underlying odds.
- Hit
- Requesting another card for a blackjack hand. A separate slots use of hit refers to a winning outcome.
- Hit frequency
- The proportion of spins that register a payout, including results that return less than the stake.
- Hold
- A casino's retained percentage under a defined accounting basis. It must not be confused with a specific game's house edge or a player's win rate.
- Hold and spin
- A feature that locks selected symbols and grants a specified number of respins, potentially resetting the count when qualifying symbols land.
- Hole cards
- Private cards dealt face down to a poker player, unlike shared community cards.
- Hot streak
- A sequence of wins. On independent random rounds, a streak does not alter the odds of the next result.
- House
- The casino operator or party that accepts bets and pays qualifying wins; in poker, the house can collect rake instead of playing the hand.
- House edge
- The expected casino advantage expressed as a percentage of an initial wager or specified betting basis. It is not the percentage of sessions that lose.
- House rules
- Published playing and settlement conditions, including options such as standing on soft 17.
- House-banked poker
- A poker-branded table game in which bets are settled against a dealer or operator, rather than a player-versus-player pot.
- Housie
- The local term widely used in New Zealand for a bingo-style number-drawing game.
I
- Independent event
- An outcome whose probability is not changed by earlier rounds. Many properly configured RNG slots use independent rounds.
- Inside bet
- A roulette wager on individual numbers or small number groups inside the layout, such as straight, split, street or corner.
- Insurance
- A side wager offered when the dealer shows an ace, paying if the dealer has a natural blackjack; its economics differ from the main hand.
J
- Jackpot
- A featured prize with published qualification conditions. Jackpot eligibility can depend on stake, symbols, game mode or restrictions.
- Jacks or Better
- A video poker variation whose paytable starts winning high-card pairs at jacks and includes stronger poker hands.
K
- Keno
- A numbers game in which a set of player selections is compared with numbers drawn. Match requirements and payout schedules vary.
- Kicker
- A side card used to break ties between hands with the same main rank, such as equal pairs.
- Know your customer (KYC)
- Identity and eligibility checks performed by an operator, commonly including name, age, address and source-of-funds verification.
L
- La partage
- A rule on some single-zero roulette tables returning half of an even-money bet when the ball lands on zero.
- Licence holder
- The legal entity authorised by a regulator to offer specified gambling activity. Its identity can differ from a casino's brand name.
- Licensed operator
- An online casino operator holding the applicable authorisation under New Zealand's licensing system once the relevant stage is operational.
- Line bet
- The amount assigned to a payline when a game calculates stakes per line. Total spin cost can include multiple lines.
- Live casino
- Online table games hosted by human dealers through a video stream with digital betting and settlement interfaces.
- Live dealer
- A human croupier or dealer conducting remotely streamed card or roulette games rather than an RNG-only presentation.
- Loss limit
- A cap intended to restrict net losses over a specified period, defined by the operator's calculation and reset rules.
- Loyalty programme
- A scheme offering rewards based on qualifying play or customer status. New Zealand's online casino regulations restrict loyalty programmes.
M
- Martingale
- A staking progression that doubles a bet after a loss. Finite funds, table limits and the house edge prevent it from guaranteeing recovery.
- Max bet (promotion)
- The highest wager permitted while an offer is active. It can be lower than the game's own maximum stake.
- Maximum win
- A game's largest permitted award, often stated as a multiple of stake. The amount is a cap, not an expected return.
- Minimum deposit
- The smallest amount a cashier accepts for a payment method or offer. It is not necessarily the minimum withdrawal amount.
- Minimum withdrawal
- The smallest amount an operator permits in a withdrawal request. Processing fees and bonus conditions may be separate.
- Multi-hand
- Playing multiple hands within a card game. The New Zealand rules separately prohibit more than one online slot game running at a time on a licensed platform.
- Multiplier
- A factor applied to eligible wins, stakes or prize components. A 3× multiplier triples only the amount defined by the game's rules.
N
- Natural blackjack
- An ace plus a ten-value card in the first two cards, usually paid differently from a later three-card total of 21.
- Net loss
- Stakes minus winnings under a defined time period and accounting method. Deposits alone are not equivalent to net losses.
- No deposit bonus
- A promotion that does not require an initial deposit. Identification, wagering and cashout terms can still apply; availability depends on NZ requirements.
- No-wagering bonus
- An incentive advertised without playthrough turnover. Eligibility, maximum withdrawal and other conditions still need individual checking.
- NZD
- New Zealand dollars. Payment fees and exchange rates matter when an offshore casino denominates balances in another currency.
O
- Odds
- A representation of relative outcome likelihood or prize terms, depending on context. Quoted payout odds are not always the event's true probability.
- Odds bet
- An additional wager placed behind an established Pass Line or Don't Pass position, generally with true-odds payout terms and specific stake limits.
- Operator
- The legal business responsible for offering and administering a gambling platform, including accounts, payments and compliance duties.
- Opt-in
- A required account action acknowledging participation in a promotion. It does not replace the detailed offer rules.
- Outside bet
- A roulette wager on a broader group of numbers, such as colour, odd/even, low/high, dozens or columns.
- Over/under
- A wager on whether a total exceeds or falls below a stated line; it is primarily sportsbook terminology.
P
- Pass Line
- A core craps wager that wins on a come-out 7 or 11, loses on 2, 3 or 12, and otherwise follows the established point.
- Payline
- A defined route across reel positions on which symbol combinations are evaluated. Some slots replace lines with other ways-to-win systems.
- Payoff
- The amount or profit specified by a wager's payout rules; payout conventions determine whether it includes the original stake.
- Payout
- An amount paid on a winning outcome. Some games quote profit odds, while others show a return that includes the original wager.
- Payout percentage
- Often a synonym for theoretical return to player, although an observed payout percentage can instead describe a particular sample of play.
- Paytable
- The official game panel listing symbol awards, trigger conditions, multipliers and feature mechanics at the selected stake.
- Pending withdrawal
- A requested payment awaiting operator review or transfer. It is neither equivalent to a completed bank credit nor necessarily a rejection.
- Pit boss
- A casino-floor supervisor overseeing dealers, tables and gaming procedures at physical venues.
- Player bet
- A baccarat wager that the Player hand beats the Banker hand. Its name identifies a betting position, not necessarily the bettor's own hand.
- Point
- A number established on a come-out roll that the shooter then aims to roll again before seven under Pass Line rules.
- Poker
- A family of games using ranked hands and betting decisions. Player-versus-player poker differs economically from house-banked casino poker.
- Pokies
- New Zealand's common name for slot or gaming machines, used for both land-based electronic gaming machines and online slot discussions.
- Pot
- The combined chips wagered during a poker hand, awarded according to the game's settlement rules.
- Pot odds
- The relationship between the price of a call and the current pot, used to compare with a hand's chance of winning.
- Prize pool
- The fund allocated to winners of a game or tournament, distinct from the amount kept by an operator as fees.
- Problem gambling
- A pattern of gambling that causes harm or loss of control, affecting finances, relationships, wellbeing or other parts of life.
- Progressive jackpot
- A jackpot whose amount grows through eligible contributions until a qualifying win resets or changes it. NZ restricts links to unlicensed platforms.
- Promotion
- A time-bound or conditional offer, distinct from standard game features. Its legal availability and detailed terms vary by market.
- Proposition bet
- A craps wager on a specified dice event or combination, commonly resolved on the next roll and frequently carrying a higher edge.
- Provably fair
- A cryptographic verification arrangement used by some online games. It only verifies what the published mechanism permits and is not a substitute for licensing.
- Push
- A tie outcome in which the standard original wager is returned with no profit or loss, subject to special side-bet rules.
Q
- Qualifying deposit
- A deposit meeting an offer's minimum amount, timing, payment-method and eligibility rules.
- Quick spin
- A feature that shortens reel animation or round presentation. It is not the same mechanism as autoplay.
R
- Rake
- A fee charged by a poker room from cash-game pots or tournament entry, replacing the conventional house-banked game margin.
- Random number generator (RNG)
- Software or hardware used to produce random game outcomes. Independence applies where the game's implementation and rules support it.
- Randomness test
- A technical examination of output distribution and game implementation. Statistical testing alone cannot prove every claim about fairness.
- Real-money balance
- Cash funds credited to an account, contrasted with promotional credits. The displayed value need not be immediately withdrawable.
- Rebet
- Repeating a previously selected wager amount or pattern. It repeats the stake, not the prior result.
- Red/black bet
- An even-money roulette wager on one colour. Zero, and double-zero when present, are neither red nor black.
- Reels
- The columns of slot symbols. The displayed spin animation presents a result determined by the game's mechanism.
- Reload bonus
- A promotion applied to a later qualifying deposit rather than the first deposit, subject to the operator's terms and applicable law.
- Respin
- An extra reel outcome, often with some positions fixed or re-evaluated according to the feature rules.
- Resplit
- Splitting another eligible pair created after an initial split, where the table rules allow it.
- Responsible gambling
- Practices and controls intended to reduce gambling harm, including spend limits, breaks, self-exclusion and access to support.
- Retrigger
- An event that awards additional spins or extends a feature after it has already started.
- Return to player (RTP)
- The theoretical proportion of qualifying stakes a game returns as prizes over an extremely large number of rounds. It cannot predict a short session.
- River
- The fifth and final community card in Texas Hold'em and similar poker variants.
- RNG casino
- A casino game in which software rather than a streamed human dealer generates the gambling outcome under the published rules.
- Rollover
- Another name for a wagering or playthrough requirement; the stated multiplier needs a clear calculation base.
- Roulette
- A wheel-and-ball game with wagers settled by the winning pocket. Wheel layouts and zero rules differ by variant.
- Royal flush
- An ace-high straight flush containing ten, jack, queen, king and ace of the same suit.
S
- Scatter
- A special slot symbol that can trigger wins or features without following ordinary line combinations. Counts and eligible positions vary.
- Self-exclusion
- A control that blocks gambling access for a specified period or on an indefinite basis according to the applicable operator and scheme rules.
- Self-exclusion register
- A system recording people who have opted or been required to stop gambling with participating operators or venues, subject to its geographic scope.
- Session limit
- A maximum play duration set for an account or session. Time limits do not change the odds of individual rounds.
- Settlement
- The process of deciding whether a wager won, lost or pushed and crediting the corresponding payout.
- Seven out
- Rolling a seven after a point is established, ending the shooter sequence and losing standard Pass Line point wagers.
- Shill
- A person engaged by a casino to participate in play under defined venue practices; historical terminology does not prove such conduct is permitted.
- Shoe
- A container or dealing device that holds one or more shuffled card decks for table games.
- Shooter
- The person rolling dice in craps, whose sequence determines outcomes for eligible wagers around the table.
- Sic Bo
- A table game based on the outcomes of three dice, with bets on totals, combinations or specific numbers.
- Side bet
- An optional wager on an additional event, such as a blackjack pair, often with different odds and a separate house edge.
- Single-zero roulette
- Roulette with one zero and 36 numbered pockets. Its standard straight-up odds are 35:1, giving a 2.70% edge without special rules.
- Slot
- A reel-based gambling game, also called a pokie in New Zealand. Game outcomes depend on the paytable and game mechanism.
- Small blind
- The smaller mandatory pre-deal bet, commonly posted by the player immediately to the left of the button.
- Small stakes
- Relatively low wagers set in context of a game's permitted range; small individual bets can still produce substantial turnover when repeated.
- Snake eyes
- Two ones on a pair of dice, producing a total of two.
- Soft 17
- A blackjack total of 17 with an ace counted as 11, such as ace-six. Dealer hit-or-stand rules affect game odds.
- Soft hand
- A blackjack hand with an ace counted as 11 without exceeding 21, allowing more flexibility when taking another card.
- Source of funds
- Information or documents showing where money used for gambling came from as part of financial integrity checks.
- Spin
- A single round of a reel game with the specified total stake; free-feature spins can use different charging rules.
- Split
- Dividing an eligible first pair into two separate hands and placing an additional stake, subject to table rules.
- Split bet
- An inside roulette wager covering two adjacent layout numbers; its standard profit payout is 17:1.
- Stacked symbols
- Multiple consecutive instances of a symbol on a reel, whose value still depends on the full winning combination.
- Stake
- The total money risked on a specified round, spin or wager. It differs from the amount deposited and from total turnover.
- Stake multiplier
- A game setting that scales the total price of a spin or feature. Its effect is determined by the paytable and stake panel.
- Stand
- Keep the current hand and take no further cards, leaving the dealer to complete the hand.
- Sticky bonus
- A bonus type whose principal cannot be withdrawn and can disappear on cashout, subject to the exact offer rules.
- Sticky wild
- A wild symbol that remains in a position for stated spins or during a feature before disappearing.
- Straight
- Five consecutive card ranks that do not all need the same suit; ace-low and ace-high rules depend on the game.
- Straight-up bet
- A wager on one roulette number. Standard profit odds are 35:1 on both 37-pocket and 38-pocket wheels.
- Street bet
- A roulette inside bet on three numbers in a horizontal row, normally paying 11:1 in profit.
- Surrender
- An option to forfeit a blackjack hand and receive part of the initial bet back, commonly half, if the table offers it.
- Sweeps coins
- A virtual-currency mechanism found in some overseas sweepstakes products; it is not interchangeable with ordinary NZD casino cash or NZ licensing.
- Symbol
- A picture, letter or icon occupying a reel position, with awards and features determined by the paytable.
T
- Table limit
- The permitted minimum and maximum stake at a table. Limits can apply separately to main wagers and side bets.
- Tells
- Physical or behavioural clues that other players try to interpret when judging an opponent's likely hand.
- Texas Hold'em
- A poker variant with two private cards, five community cards and several betting rounds, using the best five-card hand.
- Theoretical loss
- Long-run expected net loss calculated from turnover and the game edge, not an amount necessarily lost during any one session.
- Third base
- The last player position to act before the dealer in a conventional blackjack seating arrangement.
- Tie bet
- A baccarat wager that Player and Banker finish with equal totals. Its high stated payout should be assessed against its probability.
- Tilt
- Emotional or impulsive play following a frustrating result, frequently associated with chasing losses or abandoning prior limits.
- Time-out
- A temporary suspension of gambling access, shorter than some formal self-exclusion arrangements.
- Toke
- A gratuity given to a dealer or another casino employee where the venue and local rules permit tips.
- Total bet
- The entire amount charged for a spin, after combining coin value, lines, ways or other stake controls as applicable.
- Tournament
- A competition using tournament chips or scores, with entry, elimination and prize allocation governed by specific rules.
- Turn
- The fourth community card in Texas Hold'em, dealt after the flop and before the river.
- Turnover
- The cumulative value of qualifying wagers placed, even if winnings are repeatedly restaked. It is not a measure of profit.
- Twenty-one (21)
- A hand total equal to 21. A natural blackjack is specifically a two-card 21, which can receive different payout treatment.
- Two-way bet
- A wager with more than one associated settlement possibility or allocation, defined by the relevant game rules.
U
- Upcard
- A visible dealer card used to determine the available blackjack choices and the dealer's eventual play.
V
- Variance
- A statistical measure of how widely outcomes vary around their expected value; it is closely related to volatility but not a guarantee of a specific win frequency.
- Verification documents
- Records used for identity, age or payment checks, such as a valid ID or proof of address. Submission methods should be secure.
- Video poker
- A machine game that pays according to a poker-hand paytable after a draw decision, distinct from poker against other players.
- Video slot
- A screen-based reel game with digital symbols, configurable layouts or bonus mechanics, which can differ markedly from a three-reel slot.
- VIP programme
- A reward tier arrangement sometimes tied to gambling activity. Such schemes are regulated and cannot be presumed available on a NZ-licensed platform.
- Volatility
- A description of the distribution and variability of wins. Two pokies with equal RTP can have very different payout patterns.
W
- Wager
- A specific stake placed on an uncertain outcome according to game rules; the same money can be wagered more than once.
- Wagering requirement
- A defined amount of qualifying stake turnover needed before specified promotional winnings or funds can be withdrawn.
- Wallet
- A stored balance or payment service used to transfer money. Casino wallets, e-wallets and cryptocurrency wallets are distinct systems.
- Ways to win
- A slot payout method using qualifying symbol positions across reels rather than a small set of fixed paylines.
- Welcome bonus
- A first-time customer promotion subject to eligibility, contribution rules and applicable advertising and inducement restrictions.
- Wild reels
- A reel or portion of a reel containing wild symbols, with substitutes and exclusions specified by the game.
- Wild symbol
- A slot symbol that substitutes for specified other symbols to form combinations, according to the paytable.
- Withdrawal
- A request to transfer eligible account funds to an approved payment method; operator review and provider settlement are separate stages.
- Withdrawal fee
- A charge applied to a payout, which can depend on the method, currency conversion and the operator's terms.
- Withdrawal limit
- A cap on payouts by transaction, day, month or payment method. It is different from a promotional cashout cap.
Z
- Zero
- The green 0 pocket on roulette wheels. Even-money colour and parity bets normally lose on zero unless a special rule applies.
- Zero wagering
- An offer condition stating that no qualifying-bet turnover is required; other restrictions can still limit access to money.
How casino odds, RTP and payouts work
RTP is a long-run property, not a session refund
A pokie with 96% theoretical RTP has a 4% long-run house edge on the same wager basis. At NZ$2 per spin, 200 paid spins create NZ$400 in turnover. The expected loss is NZ$16 (4% of NZ$400), not a charge collected at the end of play. The session could finish ahead or well behind. volatility describes how unevenly prizes are distributed.
Hit frequency measures how often a spin pays something, not whether that payout covers the stake. A NZ$2 spin that returns NZ$0.50 is a hit in some game reports and a NZ$1.50 net loss. RTP, hit frequency and prize size answer different questions.
A coin setting can disguise the total cost of a spin
Twenty paylines at NZ$0.05 each cost NZ$1 per spin. At that price, 150 spins create NZ$150 in turnover, even if the player deposited only NZ$40 and reused winnings. A 243-ways game or a coin-multiplier game calculates stakes differently. Check the total bet before each paid spin.
What 30× wagering means in a typical international offer
An overseas offer giving NZ$40 in bonus funds with 30× on the bonus requires NZ$1,200 in qualifying bets. If 30× applies to the NZ$40 deposit and the NZ$40 bonus, it requires NZ$2,400 instead. At 10% game contribution, NZ$12,000 in actual stakes would count as NZ$1,200 of qualifying turnover. Maximum bets, expiry dates, country exclusions and cashout caps matter too.
NZ licensing distinction: Those calculations explain international offer wording; they are not NZ-licensed bonus rules. Regulation 13 of the Online Casino Gambling Regulations 2026 requires licensed operators to let customers withdraw winnings from an inducement without wagering those winnings again. Separate limits govern incentive amounts and timing.
Payout odds are not the chance of winning
A NZ$5 roulette straight-up bet at 35:1 pays NZ$175 profit plus the NZ$5 stake: NZ$180 back in total. The chance is 1 in 37 on a European single-zero wheel, or 1 in 38 on an American double-zero wheel. Both pay 35:1, but the extra zero raises the house edge.
| Roulette wheel | Pockets | Straight-up probability | House edge on standard bets |
|---|---|---|---|
| European, single zero | 37 | 1 in 37 | About 2.70% |
| American, double zero | 38 | 1 in 38 | About 5.26% |
At some French roulette tables, la partage or en prison changes how eligible even-money bets settle when zero lands. The table's own rules decide which applies.
How the same language changes across casino games
Pokies: a special symbol is not a promised payout
A wild substitutes for symbols named in the paytable. A scatter can trigger a feature; a multiplier increases specified payouts. A progressive jackpot grows through contributions, unlike a fixed jackpot. Cascading reels, sticky or expanding wilds, retriggers and hold-and-spin change the game sequence, not its underlying house edge.
Free spins triggered by a pokie's symbols follow the game's paytable. Promotional free spins come with separate eligibility, stake, expiry and withdrawal conditions. A bonus buy is a paid entry to a feature; a bonus round is the feature itself.
Blackjack: a natural 21 is not every 21
A natural blackjack uses exactly two cards: an ace and a ten-value card. A three-card 21 is not a natural. On NZ$10, a 3:2 natural pays NZ$15 profit; a 6:5 natural pays NZ$12. Rules for soft 17, doubling after a split, surrender and insurance can also alter how a hand plays or pays.
Poker: an operator's fee is not a house-banked bet
In Texas Hold'em, blinds and antes start the pot. Players call, raise or fold across the flop, turn and river, combining private hole cards with community cards. A poker room commonly takes a rake; house-banked casino poker works differently. Pot odds and expected value support decisions, not guaranteed profit.
Baccarat, craps and keno use their own settlement language
In baccarat, Player and Banker name the two hands, not the customer and casino. Winning Banker bets often incur commission. Craps uses terms such as shooter, come-out roll, point, Pass Line and Don't Pass. Keno counts matched numbers instead of card combinations. Each game's published rules govern settlement.
Bonus, account and withdrawal language that affects access to money
A single account may show a cash balance, a bonus balance and a pending withdrawal. Their sum may exceed the amount available to withdraw. A game win is a credit to the account; transferring the money out is a separate process.
A promotion may specify a minimum deposit, bonus code, qualifying games, contribution rates, maximum bet and cashout cap. A 100% match on NZ$40 describes NZ$40 in promotional credit, not a guaranteed return. Likewise, 10% cashback on net losses differs from 10% on turnover. Cashback issued as bonus credit is not the same as cash.
KYC checks establish account identity. Before paying a withdrawal, an operator may also verify payment details or request information about the source of funds under AML/CFT controls. A pending request is not necessarily a rejected one; payment status, charges, currency and any document request belong in the cashier record.
Provably fair refers to cryptographic checks used by some crypto casino games. It says nothing by itself about a New Zealand licence, an independent audit or the safety of a payment provider.
Casino terms in New Zealand: regulation, pokies and safer gambling
New Zealanders use pokies for gaming machines. Machines in pubs and clubs fall within Class 4 gambling, which is distinct from online slots. A pit boss, cage, croupier and chips belong to the physical casino setting; a game provider, online cashier and streamed dealer serve different roles.
The Online Casino Gambling Act 2026 is in force as at November 2026. Licensing is being introduced in stages, and the Department of Internal Affairs does not expect the full system to operate until 2027. An overseas licence is not an NZ licence. The online casino framework prohibits gambling by people under 18.
The 2026 online casino regulations ban autoplay and playing more than one online slot game at once on a licensed platform. Network progressive contributions must come from platforms licensed under the Act, apart from the specified human-versus-human poker exception. The payment rules also bar credit-contract methods, including credit cards.
The same regulations restrict incentives and loyalty programmes. A familiar overseas label such as welcome bonus or free spins does not settle what an NZ operator may offer. The licensing stage, terms of the inducement and applicable limits still determine the position.
Safer gambling terms describe different controls. A deposit limit caps money added, a loss or spend limit caps the defined amount, and a session limit addresses playing time. Time-outs and self-exclusion restrict access for different periods. None improves the odds of the next independent spin. Chasing losses, including by doubling stakes in a Martingale progression, can increase losses quickly.
Safer Gambling Aotearoa provides free, confidential support: call 0800 654 655 or text 8006. Help is available to whānau and others affected by gambling harm too.
Common questions about casino terms
Are slots and pokies the same thing?
Yes. Pokies is the usual NZ term for slots or gaming machines. Pub and club machines, casino-floor machines and online slots operate under different legal settings.
Does a pokie with 96% RTP return NZ$96 from every NZ$100?
No. A 96% RTP is a long-run mathematical average, not a refund. Any single session can return much more or much less.
Does a high hit frequency make a game profitable?
No. A NZ$1 spin paying 30 cents counts as a hit under some definitions but loses 70 cents. Hit frequency alone says nothing about profitability.
Are casino free spins always withdrawable?
No. In-game free spins follow the paytable. Promotional spins have separate terms governing qualifying games, expiry and what happens to winnings.
What does a wagering requirement of 30× apply to?
Check the base. At 30×, a NZ$20 bonus alone requires NZ$600 in qualifying wagers; a NZ$20 deposit plus a NZ$20 bonus requires NZ$1,200. These are international examples, not the bonus rules for NZ licensees.
Why is a casino withdrawal still pending after a game win?
A win credits the account before a bank or payment service sends money out. Identity checks, operator review and settlement can keep the request pending. Its current stage should appear in the cashier history.
Can a casino outside New Zealand offer a progressive jackpot?
For NZ-licensed platforms, the 2026 regulations restrict network progressive contributions to other NZ-licensed platforms, except for the specified player-versus-player poker case. An international jackpot label does not override that rule.
Can an overseas casino licence be treated as a New Zealand licence?
No. A foreign licence cannot replace authorisation under New Zealand's regulatory framework, which the Department of Internal Affairs is bringing into operation in stages.
When can a win pay less than the stake?
A payout below the stake is a net loss. New Zealand's online casino regulations require licensed operators to classify returns no greater than the stake as losses, not as celebrated wins.
What is the difference between a time-out and self-exclusion?
A time-out temporarily suspends access. Self-exclusion is a more formal restriction; its duration, return conditions and coverage depend on the relevant scheme.