Understanding Wagering Requirements

Expert Guide • Updated January 2026

Understanding Wagering Requirements: The Complete Guide

Casino bonuses look attractive, but wagering requirements determine their real value. This guide explains how playthrough works, how to calculate true bonus value, and when bonuses are actually worth claiming.

Key Takeaways

Wagering requirements typically range from 20x to 50x the bonus amount

25x or lower is generally considered player-friendly

Different games contribute different percentages toward clearing

Calculate expected value before claiming any bonus

What Are Wagering Requirements?

Wagering requirements (also called "playthrough" or "rollover") specify how many times you must bet your bonus before you can withdraw any winnings. They exist to prevent players from simply claiming a bonus and immediately withdrawing it, casinos need some mechanism to ensure bonuses are actually used for playing.

Simple Example

Bonus: $100 Wagering Requirement: 30x Total Bets Required: $100 × 30 = $3,000

You must place $3,000 in total bets before you can withdraw any winnings from this bonus. This doesn't mean you need to lose $3,000, each bet counts toward the total regardless of outcome.

Understanding this math is crucial: a "generous" 100% bonus might actually be terrible value if it comes with 50x wagering, while a modest 50% bonus with 20x wagering could be excellent value.

Game Contribution Percentages

Not all games count equally toward wagering requirements. Casinos use weighted contributions because different games have different house edges, slots have higher edges than blackjack, so they contribute more.

Game Type Typical Contribution Notes

Slots 100% Most efficient for clearing

Scratch Cards 100% Usually full contribution

Roulette 10-25% Varies by casino

Blackjack 10-25% Sometimes 5% or excluded

Video Poker 5-10% Low contribution typical

Baccarat 5-15% Often restricted

Live Dealer 0-10% Often excluded entirely

Excluded Slots 0% Check terms carefully

Calculate Your Bonus Value

Use our free Bonus Calculator to determine the true value of any casino bonus offer based on wagering requirements, game contributions, and RTP.

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Important: Check Specific Terms

Contribution percentages vary by casino. Some exclude popular high-RTP slots entirely. Always review the specific bonus terms before playing, using excluded games means zero progress toward clearing your bonus.

7-Step Guide to Evaluating Bonus Value

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How to Calculate Wagering Requirements: Step-by-Step Examples

Understanding the exact math behind wagering requirements helps you make informed decisions. Here are detailed calculator-style examples showing how to work through common scenarios.

Example 1: Bonus-Only Wagering

Given:

• Bonus Amount: $100

• Wagering Requirement: 30x (bonus only)

• Game: Slots (100% contribution)

• Time Limit: 30 days

Calculate:

Total Wagering Required:$100 × 30 = $3,000

**Effective Contribution:**Slots = 100% × $3,000 = $3,000

Daily Wagering Needed:$3,000 ÷ 30 days = $100/day

Result: You must place $3,000 in total bets on slots within 30 days. At $1 per spin, that's 3,000 spins, or 100 spins per day if you spread it evenly.

Example 2: Bonus + Deposit Wagering

Given:

• Deposit Amount: $100

• Bonus Amount: $100 (100% match)

• Wagering Requirement: 35x (bonus + deposit)

• Game: Slots (100% contribution)

• Time Limit: 14 days

Calculate:

Combined Amount:$100 + $100 = $200

Total Wagering Required:$200 × 35 = $7,000

Daily Wagering Needed:$7,000 ÷ 14 days = $500/day

Result: Wagering on bonus + deposit doubles your total requirement to $7,000 (vs. $3,500 if bonus-only). Combined with a shorter timeframe, you need to wager $500 per day, significantly more aggressive than Example 1.

Example 3: Playing Table Games

Given:

• Bonus Amount: $200

• Wagering Requirement: 25x (bonus only)

• Game: Blackjack (20% contribution)

• Time Limit: 30 days

Calculate:

Total Wagering Required:$200 × 25 = $5,000

**Effective Contribution:**Blackjack = 20%

Actual Bets Needed:$5,000 ÷ 0.20 = $25,000

Daily Wagering:$25,000 ÷ 30 = $833/day

Result: Playing blackjack with 20% contribution means you must actually wager $25,000 to clear the $5,000 requirement, 5x more than if you played slots. This dramatically changes the math and time investment.

Example 4: Mixed Game Strategy

Scenario:

• Total Wagering Required: $5,000

• Wagering Progress:

• $2,000 on slots (100%) = $2,000

• $1,000 on roulette (25%) = $250

• $500 on blackjack (20%) = $100

Calculate Progress:

Total Contributed:$2,000 + $250 + $100 = $2,350

Remaining Required:$5,000 - $2,350 = $2,650

If All Slots:$2,650 more in bets needed

If All Blackjack:$2,650 ÷ 0.20 = $13,250 more

Result: Mixing games slows your progress significantly. The roulette and blackjack bets contributed only $350 despite wagering $1,500. Stick to slots for fastest clearing.

Real Casino Bonus Comparisons

Here's how wagering requirements stack up across different casino types and bonuses. These examples use typical bonus structures from sweepstakes and crypto casinos.

Casino Type Bonus Offer Wagering Total Required Time Limit Value Rating

Sweepstakes 5,000 Gold Coins free 1x playthrough 5,000 coins No limit Excellent

Sweepstakes 600K Gold + 600 SC 1x playthrough 600K coins / 600 SC 30 days Excellent

Crypto Casino 100% match up to $500 25x bonus $12,500 30 days Good

Crypto Casino 200% match up to $1,000 35x bonus $35,000 14 days Average

Crypto Casino 50% cashback No wagering $0 Instant Excellent

Traditional Online 100% up to $200 40x bonus+deposit $16,000 7 days Poor

Traditional Online 150% up to $1,500 50x bonus $75,000 14 days Very Poor

Best Value

Sweepstakes bonuses typically offer 1x playthrough or no wagering, making them the most player-friendly. You get genuine value without unrealistic clearing requirements.

Good Value

Crypto casino bonuses at 25-30x on bonus-only are competitive. Look for 30-day timeframes and no deposit+bonus wagering.

Poor Value

40x+ on bonus+deposit with short timeframes are often mathematically negative-value, especially with 7-day limits and strict max bet rules.

Common Wagering Requirement Scenarios

Real-world situations you'll encounter when claiming casino bonuses, with specific calculations and recommendations.

Scenario 1: "No Deposit Bonus"

Offer: $25 free chip, 60x wagering, $100 max cashout

Total Wagering: $25 × 60 = $1,500

Expected Cost (4% house edge): $1,500 × 0.04 = $60

Analysis: You must wager $1,500 to potentially win $100 max, with expected cost of $60. Since you're not risking your own money, the $25 free chip has value if you complete wagering, but the 60x requirement is steep.

Recommendation: Worth claiming if you enjoy the casino and have time. The freeroll nature makes up for high wagering.

Scenario 2: "First Deposit Match"

Offer: Deposit $100, get $100 bonus, 30x wagering (bonus only)

Total Wagering: $100 × 30 = $3,000

Expected Cost: $3,000 × 0.04 = $120

Analysis: You get $100 bonus but expect to lose $120 clearing it, negative $20 value. However, you also have your $100 deposit to play with.

Recommendation: Marginal value. Better to decline bonus and play with your deposit if you want lower variance.

Scenario 3: "High Roller Bonus"

Offer: Deposit $1,000, get $2,000 bonus (200% match), 25x wagering (bonus only)

Total Wagering: $2,000 × 25 = $50,000

Expected Cost: $50,000 × 0.04 = $2,000

Analysis: $2,000 bonus with $2,000 expected cost = break-even mathematically. Large bonuses with reasonable wagering can be valuable for high rollers who were going to wager large amounts anyway.

Recommendation: Good value if you planned to deposit and play $1,000+ anyway. Neutral expected value with upside variance.

Scenario 4: "Reload Bonus"

Offer: 50% match up to $250, 20x wagering (bonus only), no max cashout

Deposit $500: Get $250 bonus

Total Wagering: $250 × 20 = $5,000

Expected Cost: $5,000 × 0.04 = $200

Analysis: $250 bonus, $200 expected cost = +$50 expected value. Low wagering (20x) and no cashout cap make this player-friendly.

Recommendation: Excellent value. Take this bonus if you're depositing anyway.

Scenario 5: "Weekend Cashback"

Offer: 25% cashback on weekend losses, 1x wagering

Example: Lose $400 over weekend, get $100 cashback

Total Wagering: $100 × 1 = $100

Expected Cost: $100 × 0.04 = $4

Analysis: Get back $100 on losses, cost only $4 to clear. Cashback bonuses with low/no wagering are among the most valuable promotions.

Recommendation: Always claim cashback offers. They provide genuine loss rebates.

Calculating Expected Value

To determine if a bonus is truly valuable, calculate the expected cost of clearing it versus the bonus amount itself.

Expected Value Formula

Expected Cost = Total Wagering × House Edge

Good Value Example

$200 bonus, 25x wagering, 96% RTP slots (4% edge) Cost: $200 × 25 × 0.04 = $200 Value: $200 bonus - $200 cost = Break-even

Marginal Value Example

$100 bonus, 35x wagering, 96% RTP slots (4% edge) Cost: $100 × 35 × 0.04 = $140 Value: $100 bonus - $140 cost = -$40 (negative)

Poor Value Example

$50 bonus, 50x wagering, 95% RTP slots (5% edge) Cost: $50 × 50 × 0.05 = $125 Value: $50 bonus - $125 cost = -$75 (very negative)

This math explains why experienced players are selective about bonuses. A mathematically negative-value bonus costs you money in the long run, regardless of how "generous" the headline percentage appears.

Signs of a Player-Friendly Bonus

Green Flags

25x or lower wagering requirement

Wagering on bonus only (not deposit+bonus)

30+ days to complete wagering

No or high withdrawal caps

Clear, transparent terms

Reasonable max bet limits ($10+)

Red Flags

40x+ wagering requirement

Wagering on deposit + bonus combined

7 days or less to complete

Low win caps (5x bonus or less)

Vague or hard-to-find terms

$2-3 max bet during wagering

Find the Best Casino Bonuses

Use our reviews to find casinos with player-friendly bonus terms. We analyze wagering requirements and highlight the best value offers.

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