Bonus wagering requirements explained: how to read the terms

Bonus terms decide what an offer is really worth. This guide is consumer education about how those terms are usually built. It does not recommend any offer, and the main advice is simple: read the full terms before accepting anything. A bonus is not free money.

What a wagering requirement is

A wagering requirement, or playthrough, is the amount you must bet before bonus funds, or winnings made from them, can be withdrawn. It is normally written as a multiple. Check whether it applies to the bonus alone or to the deposit plus the bonus, because the second is much larger.

Here is a worked example with made-up numbers. A bonus of 100 units has a 30x wagering requirement on the bonus amount. The total you must bet is 100 x 30 = 3,000 units. That is the total of all bets placed, not the amount you must lose.

Every casino game has a house edge, so every bet loses on average. Suppose, purely for illustration, that the game has a 3% edge. Betting 3,000 units gives an expected loss of about 3,000 x 0.03 = 90 units, close to the whole 100-unit bonus. With a higher-edge game the expected loss can exceed the bonus. The requirement does not change the odds of any bet. It only makes you place more of them, and each carries the edge.

Other terms to look for

• Game weighting. Games count towards the requirement at different rates. At 10% weighting, only a tenth of each bet counts, so the 3,000 units above would need 30,000 units of bets. Some games are excluded.
• Maximum bet. Many offers cap single bets while a bonus is active. Going over the cap can void the bonus and any winnings from it.
• Expiry. Bonuses usually expire after a set number of days, and unmet requirements may mean the bonus and related winnings are removed.
• Withdrawal caps. Some offers limit how much can be withdrawn from bonus winnings.
• Sticky or non-sticky funds. The terms should say whether your own deposit is used first and whether withdrawing early cancels the bonus.

Questions to ask before accepting

Does the multiple apply to the bonus only, or the deposit as well? Which games count, and how much? What is the maximum bet and the deadline? Can you decline the bonus, and what happens to your own funds if you do?

If the terms are hard to find or follow, be cautious. A bonus can make a session longer, more bets mean more expected loss, and nobody has to accept a bonus in order to play.

This guide is for information only and is for adults aged 18 or over, or the legal age where you live. Set a time and spending limit in advance and take a break if gambling stops being fun.

18+ only. This article is for information, not advice to gamble. Responsible gambling.