It’s a condition tied to a casino bonus that needs to be fulfilled before the awarded bonus money becomes withdrawable cash. In simpler words, how much you need to play for before you can cash out your prize.
The wagering requirement appears as a multiplier value, for example, x25, x40, or x60. It can be any number the casino has assigned, and it tells us how to calculate the total based on the amount of bonus money we have received.
Wagering requirement can be a part of any bonus, not only a casino one. It’s also a common occurrence in sports betting and poker. However, it always means the same for the player.

Let’s look at a few examples of different kinds of bonus offers.

The calculation is always based on the same rules. Take the bonus money awarded, be it a fixed cash sum, free spins winnings, or a deposit match. Multiply it by the wagering requirement value. The result is your total which needs to be turned over.

By playing. It’s as simple as that. Every bet you place while your bonus is active will contribute to lowering the wagering. Once that value drops to zero, any remaining bonus funds on your account will convert to real money. It may seem extremely difficult to do when you look at numbers like €4500 when there’s €200 in your balance. And it is. Otherwise, casinos would be losing money left and right.

But before you start losing hope, think about some facts:

• Every game round you play carries a possibility of delivering wins.
• The wagering requirement does not increase along with your balance when you win, and it can only go down.
• Most slots’ RTP (Return To Player) varies between 94-97%.
• You may try different betting tactics. Either spread out your balance with small bets and stay “afloat” until you complete the wagering, or try larger bets (but beware of potential max bet limits) and hope for a big hit that will allow you to turn over quicker.

Wagering requirement is not the same in every casino bonus. Although it’s always based on the same principles, some details may vary and significantly affect the offer’s appeal. Here are several points to remember when deciding whether to participate in such a promotion.

When you accept a bonus, it’s technically split into two separate wallets. One contains your funds, and the other bonus funds granted by the casino. However, both are “restricted” until the wagering completes.

It’s important to know which funds the casino starts using first, as it can make a difference if you decide to cancel your bonus.

If it’s bonus funds first, any winnings acquired until this amount depletes will also be bonus funds. If you cancel the bonus, both the money from the casino and the winnings will disappear. Only your initial deposit amount will remain.

The situation reverses when the bonus uses your funds first (and it’s a non-sticky variant). In such case, any winnings acquired until this amount depletes will be yours and will remain on the account even if you cancel the bonus.

There may be exceptions to those two rules. A casino might cancel your winnings along with the bonus even if your funds were used first. That’s what we call a “sticky bonus”. Always refer to the terms and conditions of the offer before accepting it.

When you see an offer like “100% deposit bonus“, always check whether the wagering applies only to the bonus amount or the total. The latter is very unfavorable, as it effectively doubles your wagering requirement. If you deposit €100 and receive another €100 as a bonus, that’s €200 in your balance. Assuming the wagering value is 50x, your total applied only to the bonus money will amount to €5000, but if applied to the entire balance, it grows to €10,000.

Many casinos introduce a limit to the maximum bet value that can contribute to the wagering. For example, if €2 is the cap, and you’re trying to place a €5 bet, one of two things can happen:

• Your bet will not be counted towards the wagering at all.
• Only €2 of your €5 bet will count towards the wagering.

Remember to check if there are any limitations regarding the maximum bet during wagering to avoid overbetting unnecessarily, which may sometimes even result in forfeiting the bonus.

Here is a real life example from Betsson Casino:

In most cases, you will have to complete the wagering within a specific time frame. It’s usually somewhere between 7 and 90 days. If you exceed the designated period, the casino will cancel all available bonus funds on your account.

Even though it’s common for most games to contribute to the wagering in full, casinos often reduce the contribution percentage on some of the products. Slots are usually the safest choice, as the majority would be set to 100%, but there may be exceptions that are lowered or even excluded. Such titles will be listed in the terms and conditions of the bonus.

Pay special attention to the contribution of table games, lotteries, live casino, and bingo. The percentage of those products is the most likely to be significantly lower. Make it a habit to check your wagering progress after switching a game to make sure you’re contributing the possible maximum.

Here’s a real example from Unibet Casino:

Pay special attention to the contribution of table games, lotteries, live casino, and bingo. The percentage of those products is the most likely to be significantly lower.
Make it a habit to check your wagering progress after switching a game to make sure you’re contributing the possible maximum.

Yes, you can cancel such a bonus at any moment. However, check how the casino approaches the priority of used funds. If you already used your own money and only bonus funds are available in your account, it’s better to keep trying to complete the wagering.

Canceling the bonus in this situation would leave you with an empty balance. If you prefer only to use bonus money after the deposit and not risk your own funds, some casinos allow you to withdraw while the wagering is in progress.

Here is a real-life example from LeoVegas Casino:

There isn’t a definitive answer to this question because it depends on the approach you want to take. You may use predominantly low-volatility slots to “tread the water” and keep your balance stable until the wagering is complete. Such games offer more frequent but not high-value wins on average. That might maintain the capacity of your wallet for longer.

The other strategy is to use high-volatility games that deliver big wins less frequently, but when they do, it’s more likely to be a sizeable one. If you manage to score a prize that exceeds your balance a few times over, then you can switch to the first strategy and work your way towards finishing the bonus. This approach is, of course, riskier because you might as well drain your balance entirely before hitting a big win.

Yes. However, they are not very common and may contain other limitations preventing instant withdrawal. Please refer to our comparison list for the complete list of no wagering bonuses.

Because casinos are a business, and business is about making money. If there were no such bonus restrictions, many people would just register, accept the bonus, and withdraw without taking any risk.

Additionally, it would attract abusers trying to register multiple accounts to secure easy cash. Even if operators decided to do so, the bonus size would be significantly smaller. It just would look less attractive.

Yes. Although, as we’ve explained, a lot depends on the conditions of the offer itself. Bonuses are essentially money that needs to be “freed”, so there is always a chance to withdraw it.

Especially if it’s a no deposit bonus, the risk is practically non-existent. It’s just a free opportunity to enjoy casino games and potentially take something away. Wagering requirement is a reasonable condition that makes bonuses fair for both casinos and the players.