- Action — The total amount of money wagered. Casinos track “action” to measure how much play a player generates.
- Advantage Play (AP) — Legal strategies that reduce or reverse the house edge (e.g., card counting). Casinos may restrict or back off AP players.
- Aggregator — A platform that bundles many game providers into one integration for online casinos. It simplifies onboarding slots, live games, and jackpots.
- Ante — A forced initial bet required to start certain games (common in poker variants). It creates a pot before any decisions are made.
- Anti–Money Laundering (AML) — Rules and controls to detect and prevent laundering via gambling. Includes monitoring, reporting thresholds, and customer checks.
- Auto-Spin — Slot feature that automatically spins a set number of times. Often includes stop limits for loss, win, or time (depending on jurisdiction).
- Bankroll — The amount of money a player sets aside for gambling. Managing bankroll helps limit risk and control spending.
- Banker — In baccarat, “Banker” is one of the two main hands to bet on. It typically has a small commission in traditional rules.
- Baccarat — A popular table game where players bet on Player, Banker, or Tie. The goal is a hand total closest to 9.
- Back Off — When a casino tells a player they can no longer play certain games (often advantage players). It’s a casino policy action, not necessarily a legal penalty.
- Bad Beat Jackpot (BBJ) — A poker jackpot paid when a very strong hand loses to an even stronger hand. Usually requires specific hand ranks and table rules.
- Balanced Book — Sportsbook goal where bets are spread so the operator earns margin regardless of outcome. In practice, books also manage risk and exposure.
- Base Game — The normal game mode before bonus rounds or free spins trigger. Most slot spins occur in the base game.
- Bet Builder — Sports betting feature that combines multiple selections from one match into a single bet. Often used for same-game parlays.
- Bet Limit — The minimum and maximum allowed wager for a game or table. Limits manage risk for both the casino and the player.
- Bet Slip — In sportsbooks, the “cart” where selections and stake are set before placing a wager. Shows odds, stake, and potential return.
- Big Blind (BB) — A forced bet in poker posted by a player each hand. It helps create action and defines betting sizes.
- Blackjack — A card game aiming to beat the dealer by getting closer to 21 without going over. Rules like splitting and doubling affect strategy and house edge.
- Bonus — A promotion like free spins, matched deposits, or cashback. Bonuses often come with conditions like wagering requirements.
- Bonus Buy — Slot feature letting players pay to enter a bonus round directly. Availability depends on local regulations and operator policy.
- Bonus Round — A special feature in a slot (free spins, pick-and-win, hold-and-spin). Bonus rounds often have higher volatility than base spins.
- Book (Sportsbook) — The operator that takes sports bets and sets odds. “The book” manages pricing, limits, and risk.
- Breakage — Rounding down payouts to the nearest unit (historically in horse racing). Less common today due to digital payouts.
- Brick-and-Mortar Casino — A physical, land-based casino property. Often contrasted with online casinos (iGaming).
- Bullseye / Centre Bet — A single-number bet in roulette (straight-up bet). Payout is high but probability is low.
- Burn Card — In card games, a card discarded before dealing to prevent cheating patterns. Common in poker and blackjack shoes.
- Bust — Exceeding the allowed total and automatically losing (e.g., over 21 in blackjack). In baccarat, there’s no bust concept.
- Buy-In — The amount paid to enter a poker game or tournament. In cash games, it’s the chips you bring to the table.
- Cage — The cashier area where chips are bought/cashed and markers handled. It’s a high-security operational hub.
- Call (Poker) — Matching an existing bet to continue in the hand. Calling keeps you in without raising.
- Card Counting — Tracking high/low cards in blackjack to estimate when the deck is favorable. It’s legal but casinos may counter it.
- Carryover Jackpot — A jackpot that rolls over when not won. The prize grows until the winning conditions are met.
- Cash Game — Poker where chips represent real money and players can join/leave anytime. Different from tournaments with fixed entry fees.
- Cashout (Sports) — Feature that lets bettors settle a bet early for a set amount. Offered price depends on live odds and margin.
- Check (Poker) — Choosing not to bet when no bet is required. You stay in the hand without adding chips.
- Cheating — Illegal manipulation of games (marked cards, device use, collusion). Casinos use surveillance and controls to prevent it.
- Chips — Casino tokens used instead of cash at tables. Chips have controlled denominations and security features.
- Churn — Repeated wagering of the same money over time. Used in analytics to measure play volume and bonus turnover.
- Cold Deck — Slang for a poker run of bad cards. Not a formal term, but common player language.
- Commission — A fee charged on certain bets or wins (e.g., baccarat Banker commission). It’s how some games preserve the house edge.
- Comp (Complimentary) — Free items/services given to players (rooms, meals, show tickets). Comps are typically based on theoretical loss (“theo”).
- Comp Points / Loyalty Points — Points earned from play that can be redeemed for rewards. Systems vary: some are spendable, others tier-based.
- Continuous Shuffling Machine (CSM) — Device that shuffles cards continuously in blackjack. Reduces counting effectiveness and speeds up dealing.
- Corner Bet — Roulette bet covering four numbers that meet at a corner. Medium risk and payout compared to straight-up bets.
- Credit Line / Marker — Casino credit extended to a player. A marker works like a short-term loan, settled at the cage.
- Crippled Wheel — Roulette wheel with bias or defect (historical term). Modern casinos maintain wheels to prevent predictable outcomes.
- Croupier / Dealer — Staff member who runs a table game. In roulette, “croupier” is widely used globally.
- CSR (Customer Support Representative) — Online casino support agent handling player issues. Covers payments, verification, responsible gaming, and technical queries.
- CTR (Click-Through Rate) — Marketing metric for how often users click an ad or link. Common in casino affiliate and acquisition campaigns.
- D’Alembert — A betting progression system adjusting stake up/down after losses/wins. It doesn’t change the house edge, just variance.
- Dead Spin — Slot spin that can’t lead to a meaningful win due to symbol layout. Players use it to describe “no chance” outcomes.
- Deal (Poker) — The act of distributing cards; also used for the start of a hand. Dealers follow strict procedures for fairness.
- Deposit Bonus — Extra funds or spins awarded when you deposit. Usually comes with wagering requirements and time limits.
- Double Down — Blackjack option to double the bet in exchange for one additional card. Strongly impacts strategy and expected value.
- Drop — Total cash/chips collected by the casino from tables. “Drop box” systems secure money for counting rooms.
- Dual Rate — Staff who can function as both dealer and supervisor (common in some regions). Used for flexible staffing.
- Edge Sorting — Advantage technique exploiting card back imperfections to identify values. Highly controversial and often treated as cheating/fraud in disputes.
- Electronic Table Games (ETG) — Digital versions of table games (roulette, baccarat, blackjack) often with terminals. They reduce labor and allow lower minimums.
- En Prisón — European roulette rule where some even-money bets “imprison” on zero. It lowers the house edge compared to losing outright.
- Expected Value (EV) — The long-run average outcome of a bet. Positive EV means advantage for the bettor; negative EV favors the house.
- Fairness / Provably Fair — System (mainly crypto casinos) where outcomes can be verified via cryptographic methods. Different from regulator-certified RNGs.
- Fast Pay / Instant Withdrawal — Payout method designed to process withdrawals quickly. Speed depends on KYC status, payment rails, and operator review.
- Fill / Credit Fill — Chips delivered to a table from the cage when a dealer needs more. Logged and verified for security.
- Fixed Odds — Odds set at the time of bet placement (common in sports betting). Potential return is known upfront.
- Flat Betting — Betting the same stake each time. It’s a simple way to control volatility and track results.
- Float (Cage/Bank) — Cash reserve used to make change and handle transactions. Carefully balanced and audited.
- Free Bet — Sportsbook promo where the stake is not returned (often only winnings are). Terms vary and can be restrictive.
- Free Spins — Slot spins granted as a bonus with specific games and rules. Winnings may be capped or subject to wagering.
- Front Money — Cash deposited with the casino before play, often for high-limit players. Safer than carrying large amounts on the floor.
- Game Provider — Company that creates casino games (slots, live tables, RNG tables). Providers must often be licensed and certified.
- Gambling Commission / Regulator — Government or authority that licenses and oversees gambling. Sets rules for fairness, AML, and consumer protection.
- Geolocation — Tech used to confirm a player’s physical location for legal compliance. Critical for regulated online gaming markets.
- Gross Gaming Revenue (GGR) — Revenue after paying out winnings, before operating costs (stakes minus payouts). A key metric for casinos and regulators.
- Hand Pay — A large slot win paid manually by staff rather than automatically. Triggers verification and paperwork in many jurisdictions.
- Hard Hand (Blackjack) — A hand without an Ace counted as 11 (or where Ace must be 1). Strategy differs from soft hands.
- High Roller / VIP — Player who wagers large amounts and receives premium service and comps. VIP programs often include hosts and exclusive offers.
- Hit — In blackjack, taking another card. The decision to hit depends on your total and dealer upcard.
- Hold (Hold Percentage) — The portion of money wagered that the house keeps over time. For slots, closely related to RTP and actual play variance.
- House Edge — The built-in mathematical advantage of the casino. It’s the primary reason casinos can profit over many bets.
- iGaming — Online gambling industry including casino, sportsbook, and sometimes poker. Often used in regulatory and business contexts.
- Jackpot — A large prize triggered by specific outcomes. Can be fixed, progressive, or feature-based (must-hit-by, mystery, etc.).
- Junket — Travel/marketing arrangement (often for VIP players) where an agent brings high-value players to a casino. Common in some global markets.
- Keno — Lottery-style casino game where players pick numbers and win based on matches. Offered in many casinos and online platforms.
- KYC (Know Your Customer) — Identity verification process for online gambling. Helps prevent fraud, underage gambling, and money laundering.
- Lay Bet — Betting against an outcome (common in betting exchanges). You act like the “book,” risking more to win the other party’s stake.
- Live Dealer — Casino games streamed from a studio with real dealers. Combines real-time play with online convenience.
- Live Odds — Sports betting odds that change during an event. They reflect game flow, market action, and operator risk.
- Lock / Freeze Account — Temporary restriction due to verification, AML checks, or responsible gambling triggers. Usually lifted after review.
- Losing Streak — A run of losses; common term describing variance. It doesn’t prove a game is “due” for a win.
- Low Volatility / High Volatility — Describes how often and how large wins occur (especially slots). Low volatility pays smaller wins more often; high volatility pays big wins less often.
- Margin / Vig / Juice — The sportsbook’s built-in profit margin in odds. Even with balanced action, the vig helps the book earn.
- Max Bet — The highest stake allowed on a game or promo. Bonus offers often limit max bet size to control risk.
- Mini Game — A smaller bonus feature inside a slot (pick a chest, spin a wheel). Adds variety and can influence volatility.
- Mystery Jackpot — Jackpot that triggers randomly within a defined range (e.g., “must hit by”). Not tied to a specific symbol combo.
- Over/Under — Sports bet on whether a statistic (total points/goals, etc.) is over or under a number. Very common worldwide.
- Parlay / Accumulator — A combined bet where all selections must win for payout. Higher potential return, but lower probability.
- Progressive Jackpot — Jackpot that grows as players wager, shared across machines or online games. Can become extremely large over time.
- RNG (Random Number Generator) — Core technology that generates outcomes for digital casino games. Regulators require testing/certification for fairness.
- RTP (Return to Player) — Theoretical percentage a game pays back over the long term (e.g., 96%). It’s not a guarantee of short-term results.
- Wagering Requirement (Playthrough) — The amount you must bet before a bonus (and sometimes winnings) can be withdrawn. Common in online casino promotions and varies by offer.
Group these into categories (Slots / Table Games / Sportsbook / Operations / Compliance)
Slots (25)
- Auto-Spin — Automatically spins a set number of times. Often includes stop limits (loss/win/time) depending on rules.
- Base Game — Normal slot mode before any features trigger. Most spins happen in the base game.
- Bonus Buy — Pay to enter a bonus round directly. Availability depends on jurisdiction/operator policy.
- Bonus Round — Slot feature mode like free spins, pick-and-win, hold-and-spin. Often higher volatility than base spins.
- Carryover Jackpot — Jackpot rolls over when not won. Prize grows until triggered.
- Cold (Slang) — A period where a slot “seems” not to pay. It’s player language, not a proven pattern.
- Dead Spin — A spin that can’t realistically produce a meaningful win. Common term for “no chance” outcomes.
- Hand Pay — A large win paid manually by staff rather than auto-paid. Often triggers verification/paperwork.
- Hit Frequency — How often a slot pays any win. Separate from RTP and doesn’t guarantee profit.
- Hold (Hold Percentage) — Portion of total wagers the house retains over time. Actual results vary with volatility.
- Jackpot — Large prize triggered by specific outcomes or random triggers. Includes fixed, mystery, and progressive types.
- Low Volatility — Smaller wins more often. Usually steadier bankroll swings.
- High Volatility — Bigger wins less often. Higher bankroll swings and variance.
- Max Bet — Highest stake allowed on the game. Often also capped on promo play.
- Mini Game — Smaller bonus feature within a slot (wheel spin, pick items). Adds variety and win paths.
- Mystery Jackpot — Randomly triggers within a range (often “must-hit-by”). Not tied to specific symbols.
- Paylines — The paths where symbols must land to form wins. Modern slots may use “ways” instead.
- Progressive Jackpot — Jackpot grows as wagers are placed (shared network or local). Can reach very large sums.
- RNG — Random Number Generator powering digital slot outcomes. Must be certified in regulated markets.
- RTP — Return to Player (theoretical long-run payback %). Not a short-term promise.
- Scatter — Symbol that often triggers free spins/bonuses regardless of position (game dependent).
- Sticky Wild — Wild symbol that remains in place for multiple spins/features. Increases feature potential.
- Wild — Symbol that substitutes for others to complete wins (usually not for scatters/bonus icons).
- Free Spins — Bonus spins awarded via promos or game triggers. Terms may include caps or wagering.
- Win Cap — Maximum payout allowed in a bonus/promo context. Common in some offers and free spins.
Table Games (25)
- Ante — Forced initial bet to start certain games (common in poker variants). Builds action immediately.
- Banker — Baccarat betting option (Banker/Player/Tie). Often has a commission under classic rules.
- Baccarat — Simple comparing-hands game aiming for totals closest to 9. Popular globally.
- Blackjack — Beat the dealer by getting close to 21 without busting. Strategy options affect edge.
- Bust — Exceeding the limit and losing automatically (e.g., over 21 in blackjack).
- Buy-In — Amount exchanged for chips to play. In poker it’s your starting stack.
- Call (Poker) — Match an existing bet to continue. Keeps you in without increasing pressure.
- Check (Poker) — Pass action with no bet when allowed. You stay in the hand for free.
- Chips — Tokens used at tables instead of cash. Controlled denominations and security features.
- Corner Bet (Roulette) — Roulette bet covering four numbers. Middle-risk, middle payout.
- Croupier / Dealer — Staff running table games and enforcing procedures. “Croupier” is common in roulette regions.
- Double Down — Blackjack option doubling stake for exactly one more card. Key strategic decision.
- En Prisón — European roulette rule “imprisoning” even-money bets on zero. Lowers house edge.
- Hard Hand — Blackjack hand where Ace can’t be counted as 11 (or no Ace). Strategy differs vs soft hands.
- Hit — Take another card in blackjack. Decision depends on dealer upcard and your total.
- Poker (Cash Game) — Chips represent real money; join/leave anytime. Different from tournaments.
- Poker (Tournament) — Fixed buy-in, blind levels rise, last players win prizes. You can’t cash out early.
- Big Blind — Forced poker bet defining baseline bet sizes. Rotates around the table.
- Burn Card — Card discarded before dealing to prevent cheating patterns. Used in poker/shoe games.
- Split — Blackjack option to split a pair into two hands. Usually requires an additional equal bet.
- Shoe — Device holding multiple decks in blackjack. Speeds dealing and standardizes play.
- Side Bet — Optional extra bet with separate payouts (blackjack/roulette/etc.). Often higher house edge.
- Straight-Up Bet — Roulette bet on a single number. High payout, low probability.
- Table Limit — Min/max bets allowed at a table. Changes by game, time, and property rules.
- Rake — Poker room fee taken from pots or time. The house revenue model for poker.
Sportsbook (20)
- Bet Builder — Combine multiple selections from one match into a single bet. Often called same-game parlay.
- Bet Slip — Where selections, stake, and payout are set before placing a bet. Like a shopping cart.
- Book / Sportsbook — Operator that sets odds and takes bets. Manages pricing and exposure.
- Balanced Book — Target state where wagers are spread so operator profit is less outcome-dependent. Still managed dynamically.
- Cashout — Settle a bet early for an offered amount. Price depends on live odds and margin.
- Fixed Odds — Odds locked at bet placement. Potential return known upfront.
- Live Odds (In-Play) — Odds that shift during the event. Updated based on action and risk.
- Margin / Vig / Juice — The built-in sportsbook profit margin within odds. Key concept for bettors/operators.
- Over/Under (Totals) — Bet on whether a statistic is above/below a line (points, goals, etc.). Very common.
- Parlay / Accumulator — Multiple selections combined; all must win. Higher payout, lower probability.
- Spread / Handicap — Bet that applies a points/goals advantage to level teams. Common in US and global markets.
- Moneyline — Bet on who wins outright. No spread involved.
- Push — Tie result on a line that returns stake (e.g., total exactly equals the number).
- Price Change / Line Move — Odds shift due to action, news, or liability. Bettors track movement for value.
- Stake — The amount wagered. Determines win/loss size.
- Return — Total payout including stake (depending on market). Some promos exclude stake return.
- Lay Bet — Bet against an outcome (betting exchanges). You take the role of the book.
- Free Bet — Promo bet where stake may not be returned; often winnings only. Terms vary.
- Same-Game Parlay (SGP) — Parlay within one event. Higher variance; may have correlation rules.
- Void Bet — Bet canceled (e.g., event canceled, player doesn’t start). Stake returned per rules.
Operations (20)
- Action — Total money wagered. Used to measure play volume and player value.
- Aggregator — Integrates many providers into one feed for online casinos. Speeds content expansion.
- Bankroll — Player’s gambling budget. Also used operationally in risk/limits discussions.
- Bet Limit — Min/max allowed bet per game or player segment. Controls risk and experience.
- Cage — Cashier hub for chips, markers, payouts. Highly secure and audited.
- Comp (Complimentary) — Free perks awarded based on play value. Usually tied to “theo” loss.
- Comp Points / Loyalty Points — Rewards points from play. Can convert to perks or tier status.
- Credit Line / Marker — Casino credit extended to a player. Managed through cage and approvals.
- Drop — Cash/chips collected from tables into secured drop boxes. Counted in the count room.
- ETG (Electronic Table Games) — Terminal-based table games. Lower operating cost and lower minimum bets.
- Fill — Chips delivered from cage to table. Logged for controls and audits.
- Float — Cash reserve held to make change and fund transactions. Balanced daily.
- Front Money — Funds deposited ahead of play for convenience/security. Common for high limits.
- Game Provider — Company producing RNG or live dealer games. Needs licensing/certifications.
- High Roller / VIP — High-value player segment with special service, limits, comps, and hosts.
- Junket — VIP travel/host arrangement where an agent brings players to a casino.
- Churn — Recycled wagering volume over time. Used in analytics and bonus measurement.
- Hold — House retention rate vs wagers. Monitored across games and segments.
- CTR (Click-Through Rate) — Marketing metric used in acquisition/affiliate tracking.
- CSR — Customer Support Rep for player assistance across deposits, gameplay, KYC, and disputes.
Compliance (10)
- AML — Anti–Money Laundering controls to detect suspicious activity. Includes monitoring and mandatory reporting in many regions.
- KYC — Identity verification (age, identity, sometimes address/source of funds). Often required before withdrawals.
- Regulator / Gambling Commission — Authority that licenses and oversees operators/providers. Enforces fairness and player protection.
- Geolocation — Confirms player location for legal access. Critical in regulated online markets.
- Account Freeze / Lock — Temporary restriction pending verification, AML review, or responsible gaming checks.
- Responsible Gambling (RG) — Tools like deposit limits, time-outs, self-exclusion, reality checks. Often legally required.
- Fraud — Abuse like stolen cards, bonus abuse, identity spoofing. Operators use detection and chargeback controls.
- Cheating — Illegal manipulation (devices, collusion, marked cards). Tracked via surveillance and audits.
- Game Certification — Independent testing of RNG, RTP behavior, and fairness. Often required by licensing bodies.
- Dispute Resolution — Process for complaints and payout disagreements. May involve ADR services or regulator escalation.
Below are 50 casino-industry keywords specifically tied to software, hardware, systems, and security (land-based + iGaming). Each includes a few lines of practical meaning.
Top 50 Casino Software, Hardware, Systems & Security Keywords
- Casino Management System (CMS) — The “brain” of a casino property that connects slots, loyalty, promotions, and reporting. Often integrates with cage, marketing, and surveillance systems.
- Slot Management System (SMS) — Manages slot floor devices, configurations, events, and performance. Helps operators monitor uptime, faults, and game availability.
- Table Games Management System (TGMS) — Tracks table game activity (buy-ins, ratings, game performance). Supports pit operations, player ratings, and analytics.
- Player Tracking System (PTS) — Captures player activity via card-in/card-out and game sessions. Used to calculate comps, tiers, and targeted offers.
- Player Account Management (PAM) — Core iGaming account layer handling player profiles, wallets, limits, and permissions. Often the main hub for responsible gaming controls.
- Casino CRM / Marketing Automation — Tools for segmentation, campaigns, offers, and reactivation. Runs email/SMS/push promotions and tracks conversion and churn.
- Loyalty / Rewards Engine — Calculates points, tier levels, and reward redemptions. Usually ties into PTS and comps tracking.
- Bonusing Engine — Controls bonus rules (free spins, cashback, match bonuses) and eligibility. Critical for both player experience and fraud control.
- Progressive Jackpot System — Hardware/software controller that grows and triggers jackpots. Can be local (one bank) or networked across many machines.
- Wide Area Progressive (WAP) — A progressive jackpot shared across multiple venues or online networks. Requires strict synchronization, auditing, and certification.
- TITO (Ticket-In Ticket-Out) — Slot tickets used instead of coins for cashing out and inserting value. Reduces cash handling and speeds floor operations.
- Ticket Validation Unit (TVU) — Validates and redeems TITO tickets securely. Prevents duplicate redemption and logs every transaction.
- Redemption Kiosk — Self-service machine to cash tickets or convert to vouchers/cashless value. Reduces cage lines and improves throughput.
- Bill Validator / Note Acceptor — Hardware that authenticates currency and inserts credit into machines. Includes anti-counterfeit detection and sensor monitoring.
- Ticket Printer — Prints TITO tickets and vouchers with secure formatting. Often includes anti-fraud features like barcodes and auditing.
- Player Card Reader — Device on slots/tables that reads loyalty cards or digital IDs. Enables tracking, offers, and player authentication.
- EGM (Electronic Gaming Machine) — The slot machine itself (cabinet + game logic + peripherals). EGMs report meters, events, and status back to casino systems.
- Game Server / Remote Game Server (RGS) — Back-end server hosting game logic/content for online casino. Delivers outcomes and features to the player client.
- iGaming Platform — End-to-end online casino stack (PAM, wallet, games, bonuses, reporting). Often includes compliance controls per jurisdiction.
- Game Aggregator — Integrates many game providers into one feed for the casino. Speeds content rollout and reduces integration overhead.
- SAS (Slot Accounting System protocol) — Legacy but widely used communication standard between slots and the casino system. Used for meters, events, and accounting data.
- G2S (Game-to-System) — Modern protocol for richer data exchange between gaming devices and management systems. Enables deeper device control and telemetry.
- S2S (System-to-System) — Standard for system integrations (e.g., linking CMS, kiosks, accounting, promotions). Helps reduce custom point-to-point connections.
- Slot Floor Network (Slot LAN) — Dedicated network connecting EGMs to CMS/SMS. Designed for high reliability and strict access control.
- Network Segmentation (VLANs) — Separates sensitive systems (slots, cage, surveillance) from general networks. Limits blast radius if any device is compromised.
- API Gateway — Central gateway controlling API traffic between systems and partners. Enforces authentication, throttling, and monitoring.
- Middleware / ESB (Integration Layer) — “Plumbing” that connects multiple casino systems and normalizes data. Helps with routing, transformation, and orchestration.
- Real-Time Event Monitoring — Tracks live device faults, jackpot triggers, cage events, and system health. Used by operations teams to reduce downtime.
- Data Warehouse / BI — Central analytics store for revenue, player behavior, and operational metrics. Supports dashboards, forecasting, and compliance reporting.
- Cashless Gaming Wallet — Digital wallet enabling card/mobile-based play without cash. Requires strong security, limits, and audit trails.
- Payment Gateway — Routes deposits/withdrawals through cards, bank transfers, and local methods. Handles authorizations, risk checks, and settlement flows.
- PCI DSS — Security standard for handling cardholder data. Casinos and processors use it to reduce payment fraud and compliance risk.
- Tokenization — Replaces sensitive payment data with tokens. Reduces exposure of raw card data and improves security posture.
- Multi-Factor Authentication (MFA) — Extra login verification for staff/admin and sometimes players. Reduces account takeover risk.
- IAM (Identity & Access Management) — Controls who can access which systems and features. Often includes SSO, permissions, and lifecycle management.
- RBAC (Role-Based Access Control) — Permission model where roles (cage cashier, slot tech, surveillance) get only necessary access. Helps enforce least privilege.
- Audit Logging — Immutable records of actions (logins, configuration changes, payouts). Critical for investigations, compliance, and dispute resolution.
- SIEM (Security Information & Event Management) — Collects and correlates security logs across systems. Helps detect suspicious patterns and supports incident response.
- SOC (Security Operations Center) — Team/process that monitors alerts and responds to threats. In casinos, it often collaborates with surveillance and IT.
- IDS/IPS (Intrusion Detection/Prevention) — Detects or blocks malicious network traffic. Useful for protecting slot networks and core services.
- WAF (Web Application Firewall) — Protects online casino web/apps from common attacks and abusive traffic. Often used with bot protection and rate limiting.
- DDoS Protection — Shields online services from traffic floods that cause outages. Important for uptime during peak events and promotions.
- EDR (Endpoint Detection & Response) — Endpoint security on servers/workstations to detect malware and suspicious behavior. Helps contain incidents quickly.
- Patch Management — Controlled process to update OS and software safely. Casinos prioritize stability and certification needs while reducing vulnerabilities.
- Vulnerability Scanning — Regular security scanning to find known weaknesses in systems. Used for compliance and proactive hardening.
- HSM (Hardware Security Module) — Specialized hardware to store and use cryptographic keys securely. Common in payment and high-security environments.
- KMS (Key Management System/Service) — Central management for encryption keys and rotation policies. Supports encryption at rest and secure access controls.
- KYC / Identity Verification (IDV) — Verifies player identity (and age) for legal compliance and safer withdrawals. Often required before higher limits or payouts.
- AML Transaction Monitoring — Systems that detect suspicious deposits/withdrawals and unusual patterns. Supports regulatory reporting and risk controls.
- Surveillance VMS (Video Management System) — Central platform managing IP cameras, recording, and evidence retrieval. Often integrates with access control and incident tracking.