Guide to Bonuses: Wagering Requirements Demystified

Casino bonus pages look generous: matches, free spins, reloads. The catch is usually hidden in a few words, such as wagering requirements. If rollover isn’t clear, every offer is just a nice banner.

Understanding rollover is what separates “nice extra playtime” from “why can’t I withdraw?” This guide breaks down the math, the rules that matter, and the practical checks smart players use before activating any casino bonus.

What Are Wagering Requirements?

Wagering requirements (also called rollover or playthrough) are the amount of betting volume that must be completed before bonus funds, and often any winnings tied to them, become withdrawable. 

In plain terms, the casino is saying: you can play with this extra balance or these free-spin winnings, but you need to generate X amount of qualifying bets first.

Why They Exist

From the casino’s point of view, a bonus is an incentive, not a gift. Wagering rules are the constraints that prevent abuse, keep risk under control, and protect margins.

From the player’s side, bonus wagering requirements are the cost of taking a reward: you agree to more spins, more sessions, and more exposure to variance in exchange for extra balance, free spins, cashback, or loyalty points. 

How to Calculate Wagering Requirements

Once you know the math, it’s easier to see whether an offer fits your time and bankroll. The formulas below apply to most big brands.

Basic Formula

Most of the time, the rule is:

Required wagering = bonus amount × wagering multiplier

If you receive $100 with a 30x multiplier on the bonus, you must place $3,000 in qualifying bets before full redemption is possible. That number is about volume, not about how much you win or lose along the way.

When Deposit + Bonus Are Included

Some offers use:

Required wagering = (deposit + bonus) × multiplier

Deposit $100, get $100, 30x on both → $6,000 in total bets. Same headline, double the workload. This distinction determines whether an offer is “fair” or “heavy.”

Example Calculations 

Here is what typical structures look like in practice:

The last row is the “contribution reality check”; it’s why a table-game preference often makes bonuses not worth it.

Key Terms & Conditions to Watch

This section covers the three areas where people most often get surprised.

Eligible Games and Contribution Rates

Wagering isn’t just about the multiplier. It’s also about which games count, and how much each bet counts. Most casinos use a contribution rate system:

• Standard video slots count 100% toward wagering requirements.
• Many table and live games contribute less, or are completely excluded.
• Some high-risk features or jackpot games are removed from the eligibility list.

If a game only has a 10% contribution, a $10 bet counts as $1 toward rollover. That makes a huge difference for anyone who prefers blackjack, roulette, or other table games.

Example: You have $3,000 left to wager.

• On a slot that contributes 100%, you need $3,000 in bets.
• On a game that contributes 10%, you’d need $30,000 in bets to clear the same requirement.
  

That’s why a bonus that looks “fine” on paper can become pointless if you mainly play blackjack, roulette, or live tables.

Time Limits for Meeting the Requirement

Every bonus has an activation moment and an expiration time. Common patterns include:

• A few days to claim after you deposit.
• A week or so to finish wagering after activation.

If your normal routine is one short weekend session, an aggressive clock will quietly kill the bonus. Time pressure is as important as the multiplier itself when you think about bonus wagering requirements.

Maximum Bet Limits and Other Constraints

Most offers set a maximum bet per spin or hand during wagering. If you cross that limit, the casino can void the bonus. There can also be:

• Caps on payout or prize from specific promos;
• Lists of banned strategies (for example, low-risk hedging);
• Thresholds where extra checks apply before withdrawals.

Bonus Abuse Detection, What Casinos Flag

Casinos don’t just apply wagering rules, they also monitor for promo abuse. Common red flags include:

• Multiple accounts, same household, same device, or shared payment methods (multi-accounting).
• VPN / location masking used to claim region-specific promos.
• Deposit patterns that look like “promo extraction”, for example depositing only when bonuses are available, then withdrawing as soon as possible. 

This connects directly to why casinos enforce max-bet rules, restricted games, time limits, and verification checks. The stricter the bonus, the more the operator is trying to control abuse risk.

Types of Bonuses and Their Wagering Rules

Most casinos use the same bonus formats. What changes is the fine print: what the multiplier applies to (bonus vs deposit+bonus), which games qualify, contribution rates, max bet limits, expiry windows, and cashout caps. That’s what decides whether a promo is actually playable.

Deposit Match Bonuses

A deposit match adds a percentage on top of a deposit. The key question is always the wagering base:

• Bonus-only wagering: (bonus × multiplier)
• Deposit + bonus wagering: ((deposit + bonus) × multiplier)

Example (real numbers): A published 20Bet welcome offer breakdown lists 100% up to $120 + 120 free spins, with 40x wagering on bonus funds (and usually on free spin winnings), plus a $5 max bet rule. If you take the full $120 bonus at 40x, that’s $4,800 in qualifying bets.

If you’re the kind of player who prefers online casinos with low wagering requirements, you’ll naturally gravitate toward the lower end of that band.

Free Spins and Their Winnings

Free spins are usually tied to specific slots. Winnings often convert into bonus funds, and then those winnings get their own playthrough requirement. Cashout caps are also common on “free” promos, even after wagering is met.

Example (real numbers): Slotbox has been listed with 25 no-deposit free spins, a €300 max cashout, and wagering on winnings (exact multiplier depends on the promo version). If free spins win €40 and the WR is 25x, that’s €1,000 in qualifying bets.

Wager-Free Bonuses

A true online casino without wagering requirements is rare. What you sometimes see instead are small offers where the win is paid in cash with no extra rollover. Those moments are the closest you will get to a wager-free experience at a mainstream brand. 

Strategies for Evaluating and Meeting Wagering Requirements

You can’t change the rules, but you can choose when to accept them. This part is about practical filters, not loopholes.

What Is “Fair” in Real Terms

There is no law that says “30x is fair, 50x is not,” but regulars tend to see:

• Bonus-only wagering in the 25x–40x band as reasonable;
• Deposit + bonus wagering at similar levels as heavy;
• Anything with a very short expiry and tight game lists as high-risk.

Choosing the Right Games

The realistic version of how to beat wagering requirements is simple:

• Stick to eligible, 100%-contribution slots with solid RTP;
• Avoid side games that contribute little or nothing;
• Don’t chase progressive jackpots while tied to strict terms.

You are still gambling, but at least you aren’t fighting the small print as well.

Managing Your Bankroll

Bonuses don’t protect you from variance. Decide in advance:

• How much bankroll are you’re willing to lock under the bonus;
• How many sessions should that money cover;
• At what point do you walk away, even if wagering is unfinished.

If you regularly ignore your own stop lines “because of the bonus,” the promotion isn’t working for you.

How Bonus Rules Interact With Withdrawals

• Withdraw mid-wager: some casinos block it; others cancel the bonus and remove bonus-linked winnings, terms decide.
• First withdrawal friction: KYC is common, especially after bonuses.
• Most common delays: name mismatch, payment method mismatch, max bet breach, or unusual play patterns triggering review.

Verification and Withdrawals, The Part People Forget

A bonus can be fully wagered and still not cash out smoothly if verification is incomplete. Most operators use KYC (Know Your Customer) checks to confirm identity and reduce fraud risk, and it often shows up right when a player tries to withdraw for the first time.

What verification typically asks for:

• Photo ID (passport, driver’s licence, national ID)
• Proof of address (recent utility bill or bank statement)
• Sometimes payment method proof, depending on the deposit method and operator rules 

Responsible Gambling

Bonuses can push play time upward because rollover rewards persistence. If wagering pressure starts changing behavior (chasing, irritation, ignoring budget), the bonus is not “value”; it is a problem.

• Treat every bonus as optional; your well-being is not optional.
• Be honest about whether the pressure of wagering is making you restless or irritable.
• If gambling starts to hurt your finances or relationships, step back and look for help in your province or state (helplines, counseling, blocking tools).

A guide to casino bonuses is only useful if you remain in control of your own play.

By Alyona Laptieva

Updated: 12 Jan 2026, 10:58