What Are Wagering Requirements?

I’ve come across a fair share of casino bonuses, including deposit matches, free spins, cashbacks and more. Most have a mandatory wagering requirement, which tells you how many times you need to bet the bonus amount before you can withdraw your winnings. The other kind is no wager bonuses, which allow you to use your bonus and cash out immediately.

If you ask me which type of bonus I’d recommend, I would say both. No wager bonuses, while more convenient, are very rare. You often have no choice but to use bonuses with wagering requirements, but even then, various details require attention.

How do wagering requirements work?

Wagering requirements are usually a part of the fine print, so players can overlook them, but that’s a big mistake. You can never bypass them, so you’ll be left with a bonus you can’t use and winnings that become void. Doesn’t sound fun, does it?! So how does it work? Here's an example:

If you come across a bonus that offers a 100% deposit match up to $100, you can deposit $100 and get an additional $100.
If the bonus has a wagering requirement of 30x, you must bet your bonus cash 30 times before you turn it into real cash.
So you will need to invest: $100 (bonus) x 30x (rollover) = $3,000.

This is why I want to stress the importance of checking the rollover or playthrough on a bonus offer before claiming it. You should also decide whether or not it suits your budget. There's no point in claiming the offer if you can't invest the amount required to complete it.

Why the rollover?

Casinos use wagering requirements to prevent bonus abuse and money laundering. It makes sense when you think about it. Bonuses are a gift from the casino to the user. If not tied to a rollover, players would be free to cash out the bonus immediately and leave the casino with massive losses over time. So, if you ask me, it’s only fair to have a playthrough when you get bonus cash or spins.

What can affect wagering requirements?

Completing the rollover on some bonuses can be quite challenging. Based on my experience, three main factors affected the wagering requirements:

Eligible games: Not all bonuses allow you to use your free spins or bonus cash in the entire casino lobby. Some are tied to specific games, so check the bonus details before using your prize.
Game contributions: Casinos determine how each category of games will contribute towards the playthrough on casino bonuses. Online slots usually contribute 100%, except jackpots, which usually don’t contribute at all. Table games usually contribute about 10%, while live casino games don't contribute (unless you're using a live casino bonus).
Deadlines: Bonuses are only available for a specific time. Sometimes the timeframe is generous, ranging between 10 and 30 days. But keep on eye on this factor because I've seen deadlines as short as 3 days, with 40x wagering. This is very difficult to complete.

Tips to meet wagering requirements

If you qualify for and activate a bonus offer, you’ll have to complete the rollover sooner rather than later. In other words, you can’t avoid it and keep your winnings. If you want to get your winnings easily, here are some tips to help you out:

Select bonuses with lower rollover: If you’re betting on a budget or just don’t want to overspend on a bonus, go for offers with low playthrough. Based on my experience, bonuses with 10x to 30x rollover are more straightforward to release.
Play games with high contribution: Find the list of eligible games for your bonus offer and focus on the ones with 100% contribution. This usually means playing slots, but at least you can explore different themes and mechanics.
Mind the betting limits: I’ve found that most bonuses limit the bets you can make per spin or hand. Make sure you keep those in mind if you want your bets to qualify toward the playthrough.
Meet the deadline: Check the bonus details to learn how long you have before the bonus becomes void, and try to stay within the deadline so you don’t lose your winnings.
Practice responsible gambling: I can’t stress enough how important it is to practice responsible gambling. Not only does it keep your habits in control, but it can also help you spread out the funds. You can set a playtime and personal betting limit per day or per session, which will prevent you from making hasty gaming decisions that would ultimately impact your results.

If wagering requirements aren’t met, the bonus and any winnings are usually forfeited. If you've already claimed a bonus, but realized that you just can't meet the conditions, you can just stop playing it or ask the casino to cancel it.