Bonus Wagering Requirements
Casino bonuses can make an offer more appealing, but the headline rarely tells the whole story. Wagering rules can determine when—or whether—bonus-related funds can be withdrawn.
Casino bonus winnings commonly come with playthrough conditions that must be met before a withdrawal is allowed. These wagering requirements are rules set by online casinos that spell out how much qualifying play is needed before a reward can be claimed.
How Casino Bonuses Work
Online casino bonuses take several forms, including bonus cash, deposit matches and free spins. A casino might include one in a welcome package or offer a separate reward to a returning customer. Bonus funds can extend your play with extra opportunities after your original deposit is gone, but they do not guarantee a win.
Common types of casino bonuses include:
- Deposit bonus: The bonus amount is based on the player’s deposit. For example, an offer might match 100% of a deposit up to $200.
- No deposit bonus: Players seeking an offer without an initial deposit can look at no deposit bonuses. As the name suggests, you do not need to deposit to claim this type of reward.
- Free spins: A free spin offer provides a set number of spins on selected popular slot machines.
- Cashback bonus: A cashback bonus returns some of a player’s losses as an incentive to keep playing.
- Loyalty bonus: Members of an online casino loyalty program may earn loyalty rewards and other benefits, such as higher game limits.
Standard Bonus Conditions
Most casino bonuses have a wagering requirement, often around 30/35x, though the multiplier may be higher or lower. It tells you how many times the relevant amount must be wagered before a withdrawal is allowed. For example, a $50 cash bonus with a 10x requirement calls for $500 in wagers on eligible games (50 x 10) before bonus winnings can be withdrawn.
Some casinos break playthrough into stages, allowing players to meet wagering conditions step by step. This can make the required play easier to manage, but these offers usually have deadlines and lower requirements tied to smaller bonuses.
Other conditions may have to be met before bonus winnings can be withdrawn. Usually, only one bonus is allowed per person, IP address, household, email address, bank account or credit card. Repeated claims could void winnings or lead to account suspension. Identity checks are also required, and some casinos ask players to scan and submit documents such as a driver’s licence or passport.
Bonus eligibility may depend on the player’s country or status. Check the offer terms to see whether your location is eligible and whether you need to take steps such as entering a promotional or bonus code when depositing. Some offers, including no-deposit bonuses, may also cap withdrawals. For example, if a no-deposit bonus limits withdrawals to $200 and you win $300, you can withdraw only $200; the rest is removed from your account.
Deposit Bonus Wagering Requirement
Some wagering calculations include both your deposit and the bonus. Add the two amounts, then multiply their total by the stated wagering requirement to work out the qualifying wager needed before cashing out.
For example, a $200 deposit with a $100 bonus and a 30x wagering requirement means a total of $9,000 in wagers is required. This is often called a D B (deposit bonus) wagering requirement.
A high wagering requirement can make a full bonus less appealing. Every offer has a minimum deposit, and players concerned about meeting the bonus terms may choose to claim less than the maximum available.
Wagering Free Spins
Free spin promotions have conditions too. Winnings are commonly converted into bonus funds, which must then meet a wagering requirement before you can withdraw. Requesting a withdrawal beforehand may mean giving up those bonus winnings.
Free spin bonuses often carry wagering multipliers from 25x to 45x; 35x and 40x are described as the most common requirements.
Review the other free spin conditions as well. Spins often expire after a set period, a maximum stake of $5 per bet may apply, and different games can contribute different amounts towards wagering.
Wagering Contributions
The way wagers count towards a bonus depends on the casino. Some operators use bonus funds first, so qualifying play starts as soon as the bonus is credited. For example, with a 100% match of up to $200, a player depositing the max $200 would start wagering with their first bet.
Some casinos divide each bet between your cash and bonus balances in proportion to the amounts in each. For example, with $50 in bonus funds and $50 in real money, a $10 wager uses $5 from the bonus balance and $5 from your real money. Because only part of each bet counts towards the bonus wagering requirement, it takes longer to clear. You would need to wager twice as much before you could withdraw the bonus.
Other casinos require you to play with your real-money balance first; bonus funds become available only when that balance reaches zero.
A casino may also set a maximum stake while a bonus is active—perhaps $5. The bonus terms may also limit how much you can withdraw in winnings.
Real-money funds are not subject to bonus wagering rules, so they can be withdrawn at any time. However, if you request a withdrawal before meeting the requirements on bonus funds, those bonus funds will be forfeited.
A pending bonus is credited in a restricted state and cannot be used for play until released. The funds gradually move into the player’s real-money account as bonus points accrue. An immediate bonus is restricted too, but can be wagered straight away unless its terms and conditions state otherwise.
Game contribution rates differ, so casino games do not all count equally towards bonus wagering requirements. Slots are often the only games credited at the full 100%, though there are exceptions. Other games typically contribute between 0 and 90 percent. Here is an example of how the rates might look:
- Slots: 100%
- Blackjack: 20%
- Roulette: 20%
- Craps: 10%
- Video Poker: 0%
Some promotions are limited to certain games. For example, a bonus might apply only to a specific slot, such as Starburst.
Suppose you wager $100 on an eligible slot. With a 100% contribution rate, the full $100 counts towards the wagering requirement.
Now imagine a $100 wager on blackjack. At a 20% contribution rate, only $20 counts towards the required playthrough.
In the contribution example above, video poker has a 0% rate, so wagers on it would not count towards the bonus requirement.
Wager-Free Casino Bonuses
Wagering rules are common, but some casinos offer wager-free bonuses. These promotions let players skip a playthrough requirement and withdraw eligible winnings straight away, making them an increasingly popular option.
A deposit may not be required for a wager-free offer. It might be a no-deposit promotion or free spins without wagering conditions. These offers are usually small, but their simpler terms may appeal to some players.
The key feature of a wager-free bonus is that eligible winnings—including free spin winnings—can be withdrawn immediately without completing a wagering requirement.
Choosing the Best Games
Researching a casino and the games eligible for a bonus can help you understand its requirements, but it cannot guarantee that you will meet them. The review recommends looking for an operator licensed by a reputable gaming authority, since licensing is one factor to consider when assessing security and trustworthiness.
Bonus conditions differ widely between online casinos. The review describes 35 times as the average playthrough requirement, while noting that individual offers may be higher or lower. A lower requirement at a reputable casino means less qualifying play is needed before bonus winnings may be available for withdrawal.
Read every bonus condition before accepting an offer. Alongside the wagering target, check for a winnings cap and a deadline for using the bonus. If the deadline passes, the bonus and related funds may no longer be available.
No-wager bonuses exist but are uncommon, so wagering conditions can be hard to avoid. A bonus may double, triple or further increase the balance available for play, but that does not guarantee you will meet the requirement or keep your balance from running out.
Meeting Wagering Requirements
Bonuses can extend your play and may give you a chance to increase winnings without adding to your initial deposit. Before opting in, read the conditions carefully and steer clear of bonus hunting: deliberately exploiting promotions for profit can breach casino rules.
Check the fine print for winnings limits, the bonus expiry date and the maximum permitted stake. Meeting the requirement may make bonus funds available for further play, but the amount and timing depend on the offer terms.
If you do not want wagering rules, you may be able to decline a bonus when opening an online casino account. If a bonus with unwanted conditions is added automatically, contact customer support to ask them to remove it. Once removed, you can play with your deposit funds without that bonus requirement.
