Casino Wagering Requirements Explained
Big casino bonuses can quickly lose their appeal if wagering requirements make it hard to withdraw. But what are wagering requirements, and how much do you have to bet to claim a bonus? For this and more, read our full guide on bonus wagering requirements.
What Are Wagering Requirements?
Wagering (playthrough) requirements are a casino bonus term that tells you how much you must bet before you can withdraw bonus winnings. They are commonly presented as a multiplier (20x, 30x, or 50x) applied to the bonus amount or to the bonus and your deposit combined.
For example, if you get a $100 welcome bonus with a 30x wagering requirement, this means you’ll have to bet ($100 x 30 = $3,000) before you can withdraw that $100. Crypto casinos attach wagering requirements to bonuses to prevent players from simply claiming them and withdrawing funds immediately.
Not all casino bonuses come with wagering requirements. When they do, the wagering multiplier and bonus mechanism determine how much you need to wager. Meeting wagering requirements doesn’t guarantee a profit. It just means you can withdraw bonus winnings if you have them.
“I never judge bonuses by the total amount alone. A $5,000 welcome offer might look generous, but if wagering conditions are too demanding, you can lose the whole bonus balance without claiming anything. I always recommend smaller bonuses with realistic terms instead of chasing shiny promotions that are hard to claim.”
How Do Wagering Requirements Work In Practice
Bonus wagering requirements follow similar rules across casinos. Here’s how the whole process works, from claiming a bonus to unlocking your winnings.
Choose a casino bonus you’re eligible for (like a welcome bonus), enter the code, make a deposit or do both and claim the offer. Your bonus funds will be added to your account. Check all the bonus terms before activating the promotion.
The casino usually calculates automatically how much you must wager based on the bonus multiplier, amount and deposit you’ve made. For example, if wagering applies only to the $100 bonus and the requirement is 30x, you’ll need to place $3,000 in qualifying bets.
Start placing eligible bets on available games that count toward your wagering requirements. Bet the minimum required amount and avoid exceeding the maximum cap. Also, play casino games that contribute 100% toward wagering.
If you're unsure how to complete wagering requirements, start by checking the casino's bonus dashboard. Most modern casinos have a dedicated dashboard where you can track your wagering progress. Usually, you can see the completed and remaining wagering.
Once you’ve completed wagering, you can withdraw any remaining bonus balance. Keep in mind that withdrawable bonus funds are also subject to withdrawal terms like cashout limits, verification, etc.
How to Calculate Wagering Requirements
Calculating casino wagering requirements depends on whether the casino applies the multiplier just to the crypto bonus amount, the deposit amount or both. Here’s what you need to know:
Bonus-Only Wagering
With a bonus-only wagering requirement, the multiplier applies to the bonus, regardless of the deposit amount. For example, if you receive a $100 bonus with a 35x wagering requirement, The calculation is simple: $100 (bonus) x 35 = $3,500. That means you must wager $3,500 before you can cash out any bonus winnings.
Deposit + Bonus Wagering Requirement
Some casinos apply wagering requirements to the deposit and bonus combined. For example, if you deposit $100 and get a $100 bonus with a 35x wagering requirement, you’ll have to bet 200 x 35 = 7,000. Always check what the wagering requirement is attached to so you know what to expect.
Deposit-Only Wagering Requirement
Although this is extremely rare, some casinos attach the wagering requirement only to the deposit. Deposit wagering can also refer to a 1x playthrough requirement on all deposits. Casinos add this requirement for all withdrawals to prevent money laundering.
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Wagering Requirements and Game Contributions
The game contribution percentage shows how much each bet counts toward wagering requirements, whether you’re playing low- or high-RTP slots. In other words, if a game contributes 100% toward wagering and you bet $1, that full amount counts toward wagering. Not all games contribute 100% toward wagering, so check this before activating a bonus.
Here are the common game contribution rates:
| Casino Game Type | Common Wagering Contribution |
| Slots | 100% |
| Table Games | 0–25% |
| Live Casino Games | 0–20% |
| Crash Games | 0–100% |
| Provably Fair | 0–25% |
Keep in mind that these are general ranges you can expect at casinos, not universal rules. Wagering contribution greatly affects how easily you can clear your bonus. If you are playing a game with a 10% contribution, you will clear $0.10 for each $1 you bet. In other words, if the total amount required is $3,000, you’ll need to bet $30,000 to clear it with 10% wagering.
“No matter what, I always choose a game with 100% wagering contribution to clear my bonus as quickly as possible. Even a game with 50% contribution doubles the amount you’ll have to bet, so it really doesn’t make sense to play it. If there’s no game with 100% contribution for a specific bonus, I recommend skipping it.”
Other Casino Bonus Restrictions Beyond Wagering
Just because a bonus has wagering requirements doesn’t mean it has no other terms or restrictions. Here are some common conditions that affect wagering and withdrawing bonuses overall. Check them before claiming a casino bonus.
| Bonus Term | What it Represents |
| Maximum Cashout | Limits how much of the bonus winnings you can withdraw. |
| Minimum Deposit | Welcome bonuses usually require a minimum deposit to activate. |
| Maximum Bet | Limits how much you can bet per round or spin when using bonus funds. |
| Restricted Games | Tells you which games are excluded from wagering or bonus play. |
| Bonus Expiry Date | Tells you how much time you have to clear playthrough requirements. |
Always read all the bonus terms, as low or no wagering requirements can be misleading. For example, if you get a 5x playthrough requirement but the maximum bet is $0.1 it can be difficult to clear the bonus.
How to Beat Casino Wagering Requirements
No strategy guarantees you'll beat wagering requirements. However, understanding how to meet wagering requirements without breaking bonus rules can improve your chances. Here’s what you should do.
“One thing I recommend to every player is to check if the casino unlocks bonus funds progressively as you complete wagering. Some bonuses release funds as you play into your cash balance or reach wagering milestones. In my opinion, this structure is more flexible, but it’s less common at online casinos.”
What If You Don’t Meet Wagering Requirements?
In most cases, if you fail to meet wagering requirements, you won’t be able to withdraw any bonus funds or associated winnings. Here are the three common scenarios you should know.
The Bonus Expires
If you let the bonus expire, all of your unfinished wagering requirements become void. In most cases, the casino will remove any remaining bonus balance and winnings. The original deposit is usually still available, and you can withdraw it to your crypto wallet.
You Lost Your Bonus Balance
If you lose your entire bonus balance before completing the playthrough requirements, the promotion ends. Any wagering progress you’ve made is irrelevant, and you can’t withdraw anything. In most cases, you won’t be able to withdraw partially completed playthrough requirements.
You Canceled the Bonus
Some casinos let you cancel active promotions, whether they are no-deposit, cashback or free spins. Whether you do this on purpose or by accident, you’ll forfeit all the bonus funds or any winnings derived from them. The real funds you deposited will still remain in your balance.
Bonus Wagering Requirements FAQs
What are the wagering requirements for bonuses?
What are wagering requirements in slots?
Can I withdraw before completing wagering requirements?
Do all casino bonuses have wagering requirements?
Vladimir is a senior iGaming writer and editor, adept at breaking down the key details of crypto casinos and sportsbooks so players don’t have to, delivering honest, player-focused information that actually matters.
