Online casino sites are full of jargon – RTP, volatility, wagering requirements – and most of it is never explained. This glossary defines the terms Filipino players actually run into, in plain English, including the local games you will not find in an international glossary.
Jump to: B · C · D · E · F · G · H · J · K · L · M · P · R · S · T · V · W
B
Baccarat
A card game where you bet on whether the Player hand, the Banker hand, or a Tie will win. It is popular in live casino lobbies because the rules are simple and the house edge on the Banker bet is among the lowest in any casino game.
Bankroll
The total amount of money you set aside for betting. Good bankroll management means deciding that amount before you play and never topping it up from money meant for bills or savings. Read more →
Bonus (Welcome Bonus)
Extra credit a casino adds to your account, usually when you register or make a first deposit. Almost every bonus carries a wagering requirement, so read the terms before you claim it. Read more →
C
Cashback
A promotion that returns a percentage of your net losses over a set period. Unlike a deposit bonus, cashback is usually paid on losses rather than on money you put in. Read more →
Color Game
A traditional Filipino betting game, originally from the perya, where players bet on which colours will appear on the dice. Online versions keep the same rules with a live or animated host. Read more →
D
Deposit
Money you transfer into your casino account so you can place bets. In the Philippines the fastest options are usually e-wallets like GCash or Maya.
E
E-wallet
A digital payment app such as GCash or Maya that holds money on your phone. E-wallets are the most common deposit and withdrawal method for Filipino players because transfers are near-instant and do not need a bank card.
F
Free Spins
Slot spins you can play without deducting from your balance. Winnings from free spins are usually subject to a wagering requirement before they can be withdrawn.
G
GCash
The most widely used e-wallet in the Philippines. Many licensed casinos accept GCash for both deposits and withdrawals, and small withdrawals through it are typically the fastest option available. Read more →
H
House Edge
The built-in mathematical advantage the casino holds on a given game, shown as a percentage. A 1% house edge means the casino expects to keep about ₱1 of every ₱100 wagered over the long run – not from any single session.
J
Jackpot
A large top prize on a slot or casino game. A fixed jackpot pays a set amount, while a progressive jackpot grows every time someone plays without winning it.
K
KYC (Know Your Customer)
The identity check a licensed casino must run before paying out. You will normally be asked for a government ID and sometimes proof of address. Completing KYC early prevents delays on your first withdrawal.
L
Live Dealer
A real human dealer running a real table, streamed to you in real time. The cards or wheel are physical and the outcome happens on camera before it is processed digitally, unlike an RNG game. Read more →
M
Multiplier
A feature that increases a win by a set factor – a 3x multiplier turns a ₱100 win into ₱300. Multipliers appear most often in slot bonus rounds and free spins.
P
PAGCOR
The Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corporation – the government body that regulates and licenses gambling in the Philippines. A PAGCOR licence is the primary signal that an online casino is legally allowed to operate here. Read more →
Paylines
The patterns across a slot’s reels that produce a win when matching symbols land on them. Some modern slots drop fixed paylines entirely in favour of “ways to win” systems.
Payout
The money returned to a player on a winning bet. It can also refer to a casino’s overall payout percentage, which is the same idea as RTP measured across a game or site.
Perya
The traditional Filipino carnival or fair, home to games like Color Game and Pula Puti. Several of these games now have online versions that keep the original format.
Progressive Jackpot
A jackpot that grows with every bet placed on a linked game or network until someone wins it, then resets to a base amount. These produce the largest slot prizes but hit very rarely.
Pusoy
A Filipino card game, related to Chinese Poker, where players arrange thirteen cards into three hands. Pusoy Dos is a separate shedding game where the goal is to play out all your cards first.
R
RNG (Random Number Generator)
The software that decides outcomes in non-live casino games. Licensed operators must use RNGs that have been independently tested and certified so results cannot be predicted or manipulated. Read more →
RTP (Return to Player)
The long-run average percentage a game pays back across all players combined – a 96% RTP slot returns about ₱96 for every ₱100 wagered over millions of spins. It is a statistical average, never a promise about your session.
Reels
The vertical columns that spin on a slot machine. Classic slots use three reels; most modern video slots use five or more.
S
Sabong
Cockfighting, a long-standing Filipino tradition. Online sabong streams live matches and takes bets on them; its legal status has changed over time, so check the current regulations and that any operator is properly licensed. Read more →
Scatter Symbol
A slot symbol that pays or triggers a bonus round no matter where it lands on the reels, rather than needing to line up on a payline. Scatters most often trigger free spins. Read more →
Sic Bo
An ancient dice game where you bet on the outcome of three dice. It is common in live casino lobbies and offers a wide range of bets at very different odds.
Slot
A reel-based game where you win by landing matching symbols. Slots are the largest category in most online casinos and vary widely in RTP, volatility, and bonus features. Read more →
Stake
The amount of money placed on a single bet or spin. Keeping each stake to a small percentage of your bankroll is the core of sensible bankroll management.
T
Table Games
Casino games traditionally played on a table – blackjack, roulette, baccarat, poker, sic bo. They generally involve more decision-making than slots, and several carry a lower house edge. Read more →
Tongits
A three-player Filipino rummy game where you aim to form melds and empty your hand. It is one of the most popular card games in the country and now has widely played online versions.
V
Volatility (Variance)
How a slot pays out over time. High-volatility slots pay rarely but larger; low-volatility slots pay often but smaller. Two games can share the same RTP and still feel completely different to play.
W
Wagering Requirement
How many times you must bet a bonus before you can withdraw anything from it. A ₱100 bonus at 30x means ₱3,000 in total bets first – this is the single most important number in any bonus offer.
Wild Symbol
A slot symbol that substitutes for other symbols to help complete a win, similar to a joker in cards. Some wilds also expand, stack, or carry a multiplier.
Withdrawal
Moving money out of your casino account and back to you. Expect an identity (KYC) check on your first one, and check the minimum amount and processing time before you request it.
Play informed
Knowing these terms will not change the maths of any game, but it does stop you claiming a bonus you cannot clear or chasing a high-volatility slot expecting steady wins. If gambling stops feeling like entertainment, our responsible gaming page lists the tools and support available in the Philippines.
