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Casino bonuses are great, but most of them come with strings attached called wagering requirements. This guide explores everything you need to know about casino bonus wagering.
What are Wagering Requirements?
Wagering requirements are conditions set by online casinos that players must meet before they can withdraw bonus funds or winnings.
These specify the number of times you must bet the value of your bonus or free spin winnings to convert your bonus funds into real withdrawable cash.
How Bonus Wagering Works
Exactly how wagering requirements work, depends on the type of casino bonus you receive.
With a cash bonus, you'll need to bet the bonus a certain number of times before you can cash out any bonus funds and the winnings they generate.
For instance, if you receive a deposit bonus with a 30x wagering requirement, this means you must bet the bonus amount thirty times before you can withdraw both the bonus and the associated winnings.
Note that some deposit bonuses require you to wager both the bonus and the deposit amount before you can withdraw it.
Wagering requirements also come into play when you use free spins. Since free spins don't come with a cash value, the wagering multiplier is applied only to the winnings you obtain from them.
How often you must wager your bonus varies depending on the casino and the bonus type.
Below, we list the industry standards:
Deposit Bonus: 20-50x bonus amount or bonus + deposit amount
No Deposit Bonus: 35-50x bonus amount
Free Spins: 5-20x winnings.
Calculating Wagering Requirements
A simple formula is used to calculate a bonus’ wagering requirement:
(bonus amount) x (stipulated wagering requirement) = Total wagering amount
Let’s look at an example below:
You’re playing with a match deposit bonus and you’ve deposited $50. You will receive a $50 bonus which must be wagered 35x.
The formula will look like this: $50 x 35 = 1,750
This means that you must bet 1,750 before you can cash out your bonus.
How to Wager a Bonus
To help you understand how wagering a deposit and free spins bonus works, we’ve provided step-by-step guides below.
Wagering a Deposit Bonus
Study the bonus terms
Don’t just look at the bonus amount. Take some time to read what is required to successfully complete the wagering requirements.
Make a deposit
Make a deposit keeping in mind the wagering requirements, as they impact the bonus amount and your ability to meet those requirements.
Claim the bonus
The bonus amount will now be added to your account.
Start playing
Start playing through your bonus on the eligible games. Ideally, these should be low volatility games so you can make frequent small wins, just enough to continue playing until the requirements have been met.
Don’t withdraw until you meet the wagering requirements
If you withdraw your wins before you have fulfilled the wagering, your bonus will be forfeited.
Cash out
Once the requirement is met, you can withdraw your bonus funds and winnings.
Wagering a Free Spins Bonus
Read the bonus terms
Familiarize yourself with the bonus conditions, in particular the expiration date, allowed bet size and qualifying slots.
Use the Spins
Play the amount of free spins you’ve been awarded on eligible slots.
Meet Wagering Requirement
To be able to cash out any winnings derived from these free spins, you must place bets totalling the sum of your wagering.
Withdraw Winnings
Once the requirement is met, you can withdraw your winnings.
Wagering Restrictions
Wagering your bonus money or winnings a certain number of times isn't the whole story; there are extra rules to follow.
For example, wagering must be fulfilled within a specific time frame, and not all games or game types are eligible.
We'll explore the most common restrictions below.
Time Limit: Casinos often impose a time limit within which you must fulfill the wagering requirements. If not completed in time, your bonus will expire.
Game Contribution: Different games contribute differently to wagering requirements. Slots typically contribute 100%, while table games may contribute only 10%, 5% or less. Some games don’t contribute at all. This is often the case with live dealer casino games.
This is mainly because casinos need to manage their financial risk and ensure they maintain a profit. Games with higher player odds, like many table games, often contribute less because players are more likely to win.
Restricted Games: Some bonuses exclude specific games from contributing to wagering requirements.
Free spins bonuses in particular only apply to a select few slots.
With this restriction, online casinos guide players toward specific games. This can be either because they have a partnership with the game provider, or they want to promote a new or popular game.
Before claiming a bonus, always check the terms to know which games are eligible.
Maximum Bet Limit: Casinos put a maximum bet limit on playing with bonus funds to manage their risk and prevent players from winning big prizes with the casino's bonus money.
This way, even if a player hits a big win, the casino's loss is limited because the bet size is capped. This helps the casino stay profitable while still allowing players to win with bonus funds.
Maximum Winnings: Some online casinos cap the amount of winnings a player can withdraw from their casino bonus. If you win more than this limit, you may only be allowed to cash out the specified maximum amount.
What Must be Wagered: With some bonuses, you have to bet the bonus amount a certain number of times before you can withdraw any winnings.
With other bonuses, both the bonus amount and the amount you deposited must be wagered.
Another scenario is that you must wager both the bonus funds and any winnings.
Note that with most deposit bonuses, you must play with your own money first before you can play with the bonus money.
Always read the specific bonus terms to fully understand the wagering requirements.
Tiered Wagering: In some cases, bonuses have tiered wagering requirements, where different parts of your bonus have separate playthrough conditions.
This is usually the case with welcome bonus packages where the bonus is divided over multiple deposits. This is also called a “stacked bonus.”
Thus, each deposit might have separate playthrough conditions.
For example, the first deposit might offer a 100% bonus with 20x wagering requirements, while the second deposit might provide a 50% bonus with 30x wagering requirements.
Fulfilling Wagering Requirements - Useful Tips
The most important thing to keep in mind when wagering a bonus is that you must gain funds while playing. This is because the wagering amount is higher than the bonus you’ve received.
If you don’t win any rounds, you will run out of funds before completing the playthrough.
To help you fulfill a bonus’ wagering amount, read our tips below.
Read the bonus terms & conditions
Take time to familiarize yourself with the bonus terms and wagering restrictions. Knowing these is essential to succeeding in fulfilling the wagering requirements.
Play games with low volatility
These will keep you playing for a long time, making frequent wins, just enough to meet the wagering criteria.
Play slots only
Avoid games with a lower contribution to the wagering requirements, as it will take you even longer to meet them. In other words, play only games that contribute 100%, which typically means slots.
Bet small amounts
Not only because of the maximum bet limit mentioned in the bonus terms, but also because you'll enjoy more play time, as you will have a lower chance of losing all your money during a losing streak.
Don’t breach the bonus terms
If you do, at most casinos, your bonus and derived winnings will be forfeited.
Wagering FAQ
What are wagering requirements?
Wagering, or "playthrough,” requirements are rules that online casinos use to ensure players gamble a certain amount of money before they can withdraw any winnings from bonuses or promotions.
How are wagerings calculated?
The wagering amount is calculated using a very simple formula: (Bonus amount) x (Wagering requirement) = Total bet amount.
Why do I need to wager a casino bonus?
Wagering requirements make players gamble more, increasing the chances of the casino making a profit. Without wagering, the casino would virtually be giving away money.
Which bonus has the lowest wagering?
Playthrough requirements can differ between casinos and bonus types. At most casinos, free spins bonuses commonly have lower wagering requirements compared to deposit or no deposit bonuses.
Is it hard to wager a bonus?
The achievability of a bonus playthrough can vary depending on the bonus terms. These include the wagering requirement but also other restrictions, such as maximum bet amount, expiry date and game contributions.
