Wagering requirements (also called playthrough or rollover) are the single most important condition attached to any casino bonus, and the most misunderstood. They decide whether a bonus can become real, withdrawable money or stays a number on your screen. The idea is simple once you see it with numbers, so that is what this guide does.

What Are Wagering Requirements?

A wagering requirement is the total amount you have to bet before your bonus balance, and anything you win with it, turns into cash you can withdraw. It is written as a multiplier: 30x, 35x, 40x and so on.

Casinos use it to protect themselves from players who would sign up, take the bonus and leave without playing. The requirement makes you actually use the bonus. It is the first thing to look for in the bonus terms and conditions.

How It Works: Worked Examples

Example 1: Deposit Bonus, Wagering on the Bonus Only

You take a 100% bonus up to $100 with 35x wagering on the bonus amount.

  • You deposit $50.
  • The casino adds a $50 bonus. You now have $50 of your own money and $50 of bonus money.
  • The requirement is $50 (bonus) x 35 = $1,750.
  • You need to place $1,750 in total bets, using both balances, before the bonus winnings can be withdrawn.

Example 2: The Same Bonus With Deposit Plus Bonus (D+B)

Some terms apply the multiplier to deposit plus bonus. Same offer, same deposit:

  • ($50 deposit + $50 bonus) x 35 = $100 x 35 = $3,750.

Same headline, more than double the work. Always check which amount the multiplier applies to.

Example 3: Free Spin Winnings

You get 20 free spins with 40x wagering on the winnings.

  • The spins pay out $15. That $15 is credited as bonus money, not cash.
  • The requirement is $15 x 40 = $600.
  • You need to bet $600 in total before what is left of those $15 can be withdrawn.

Game Weighting: The Detail That Changes Everything

Not every game counts the same towards the requirement. Games with a low house edge, like blackjack, are usually weighted down. A typical table looks like this:

  • Slots: usually 100%. Every dollar bet counts as a dollar towards the requirement.
  • Table games (blackjack, roulette): often around 10%. A $10 bet counts as $1.
  • Live casino and video poker: often 5 to 10%, sometimes 0%.
  • Excluded games: some slots, usually jackpot games or titles with a very high RTP, may not count at all.

In practice: to clear $1,000 of wagering on slots at 100% you bet $1,000. On blackjack at 10% you would need to bet $10,000.

Other Rules That Come With Wagering

  • Time limit. The requirement has to be met within a set number of days. Miss it and the bonus is removed.
  • Maximum bet. While the bonus is active there is usually a cap per bet or per spin. Going over it can void the bonus and its winnings.
  • Maximum cashout. Some offers, especially free spins, cap how much you can withdraw from them.

How to Judge a Bonus in Ten Seconds

Look at two numbers before anything else: the multiplier and what it applies to (bonus only, or deposit plus bonus), and the weighting of the games you actually play. A requirement around 30x or lower on the bonus only, with full weighting on your games, is a good offer. Then remember that wagering is only half the picture: how fast a game eats your balance while you clear it depends on its RTP and volatility.

Never deposit more than you can afford to lose to clear a bonus. If it stops being fun, read our responsible gambling page.