Overlay
An “overlay” in the context of casinos, especially in poker tournaments or promotions, refers to a situation where the guaranteed prize pool exceeds the total amount of money collected through player buy-ins or entries. Essentially, the casino or organizer has to make up the difference between the guaranteed prize and the actual money generated by the players.
This occurs when there aren’t enough participants to cover the prize pool, offering players added value since they compete for more money than what was contributed. Overlays are considered a positive opportunity for players, as they face less competition for the same or larger rewards.