Online casino bonuses are designed to be grand, flashy and a promise of free riches in the form of money, free spins or cashback. But are they really? Underneath all of the exciting offers, lies one of the most misunderstood and overlooked concepts in online gambling: casino bonus wagering requirements.
Most players come to a casino assuming they can deposit, win and automatically withdraw all of their winnings. Then the dreaded mail from Customer Support or Security comes quoting the terms and conditions, restrictionsand hidden clauses. In this guide, we’ll break down how wagering requirements work, share real stories we found from players affected by them and try to guide you to casinos considered fair.
Regardless if you are a seasoned player or a newcomer on the scene, understanding these rules is crucial to protect your funds and making the most out of all the offers out there. We recently started rolling out a comprehensive list of available bonuses out there and noticed that the available information varies from casino to casino. We hope this guide will help you on your gaming journey. Let’s get started.
- What Are Casino Bonus Wagering Requirements?
- Why Are Wagering Requirements So Important?
- Bonus Terms That Can Void Your Winnings
- Real Players, their Stories & their Losses.
- How to Evaluate Casino Bonus Terms Like a Pro
- Casinos with Fair Bonus Terms (Updated March 2025)
- Best Practices For Zero Surprise
- Final Thoughts
- FAQ: Casino Bonus Wagering Requirements
- Related guides
What Are Casino Bonus Wagering Requirements?
Wagering requirements, sometimes called rolloveror playthrough requirements, give you a limit on how many times (at least) you have to bet the bonus amount before you’re allowed to withdraw your winnings. Sounds complicated? Let’s look at an example.
You just received 100 EUR bonus with a 30x wagering. That means, you have to bet a total of 3,000 EUR before cashing out.
100 x 30 = 3,000
Now there’s a catch. Some casinos tie their wagering requirements to deposit + bonus amount, not just bonus. In this example that would then mean the 100 EUR you received, plus the 100 EUR you deposited, making your wager requirement 6,000 EUR.
(100 + 100) x 30 = 6,000
Why Are Wagering Requirements So Important?
First and foremost what you need to understand is, to casinos, bonuses are not giveaways. They are pure marketing tools. Wager or no wager, deposit or no deposit, that is a fact. This is where wagering requirements come in. They are there to protect the casino’s best interest from bonus abuse, to prevent players from depositing, winning once and leaving. The question we have been faced with is, why go all the way up to 60x?
The online casino industry is, or at least was, a go-to place for money laundering, however, since then license authorities have all implemented a strict 5x Wager requirement on all deposits in the form of the Anti-Money Laundering clause.
With that in mind, some casinos have added additional, steep and restrictive requirements that make winning almost impossible. Understanding what you are getting yourself into when choosing a bonus could be the key difference between a good time and a waste of time and money.
Bonus Terms That Can Void Your Winnings
You managed to complete the wagering requirement? Fantastic! But, that doesn’t mean you are completely out of the woods just yet. Most online casinos put a maximum bet limit on how much you can wager per spin while playing with bonus funds. Going over that limit just once can cancel your bonus and possible winnings.
Maximum Bet Limits
Be very careful on what bets you place and how big they are. As already mentioned, having just one bet out of all of them be over the allowed limit can void your bonus. Additionally, we advise you to check if you are able to buy features with your bonus.
Game Restrictions
We all know that the fastest way to clear a wagering requirement would be to go to a high return live casino game and be done with it in a couple of bets. Since the casino operators are aware of this as well, in most cases live casino games are therefore restricted. In most cases, if not specified otherwise, your bonus will be tied exclusively to Slots.
Time Limits
You’re trying to stay in your lane in terms of the maximum bet and you’re sticking only to permitted games. Now, pay attention to the timer. Most online casinos offer their bonuses with a deadline for completion which can be as low as 7 days and, in some cases, can be 30 days. After the deadline has passed, your bonus and winnings are gone.
Maximum Win
Another safeguard for the casinos is setting a cap on your winnings. In most cases, the max is set to 5x your deposit amount. Which means, even if you managed to win 2,000 EUR out of your 100 EUR deposit, you will only be eligible to withdraw 500 EUR. The good thing about winning 2,000 EUR in this case is, you have more funds to help you fulfill the required wager and not be worried about your profits going to waste.
Real Players, their Stories & their Losses.
While some may think this topic doesn’t require any additional explanation, one simple Google search showed us that there are still quite a few people out there that get caught in this trap. While we cannot save everyone, we will always try to help as best we can. Here are some real life examples of player complaints. Read some of the reviews we found on Trustpilotand other relevant websites.
How to Evaluate Casino Bonus Terms Like a Pro
Before you do anything or attempt to make a deposit, we would advise you to make sure all of the below checkboxes are done and dusted. While these are purely our recommendations, players may still choose to do as they wish.
Check for Wagering Multiplier
- Advice: Only go for 20x–35x bonuses
- Avoid anything with 50x wager on deposit + bonus
Is Live Casino Available?
- Before even opening the live casino tab, make sure you have this information.
Check Max Bet Limits
- Usually capped at 3 – 5 EUR
- This information can be found on the bonus page or Terms and Conditions
How Long Have You Got?
- Check how long before the bonus expires.
Read the Terms and Conditions
- We cannot stress this enough, please read the Terms and Conditions so you don’t run into any additional bumps along the road.
Casinos with Fair Bonus Terms (Updated March 2025)
Some casinos stand out by offering transparent, player-friendly bonuses. Here are three we recommend, based on firsthand testing and user reviews:
Welcome Offer up to
2.000 EUR
& 200 Free Spins.
Get up to
100% Bonus
up to 300 EUR.
Welcome bonus up to
1.000 EUR
Wager free
Welcome Package
up to 1.000 EUR
Wager Free.
Best Practices For Zero Surprise
- Stick to slots if you’re clearing a wagering requirement.
- Track your wagering using a spreadsheet or check the casino’s tools (if there are any)
- Avoid features and progressive jackpots
- Cash out small wins AFTER completing wagering to secure your profits
- Play responsibly
Final Thoughts
Don’t get us wrong, online casino bonuses can absolutely add value! But only if you understand how they work, what casino bonus wagering requirements are and all of the other bulk fine print attached. It happens way too often that players accept bonuses, do not read the terms and end up having a bad experience in the end. Don’t let the flashy marketing promotions fool you. With just a bit of knowledge and the right casino, you can enjoy bonuses without any surprises at the end of the road.
FAQ: Casino Bonus Wagering Requirements
What are casino bonus wagering requirements?
Casino bonus wagering requirements are conditions that specify how many times you must bet a bonus amount before you can withdraw any winnings. For example, a 30x wagering requirement on a €100 bonus means you must wager €3,000 before cashing out.
How do wagering requirements work?
Wagering requirements apply to either the bonus only or both the deposit and bonus combined. If a bonus has 30x wagering on a €100 bonus, you must bet €3,000 (30 x 100). If it’s on deposit + bonus, and you deposited €100, it becomes 30 x €200 = €6,000.
What happens if I don’t meet the wagering requirement?
If you don’t meet the wagering requirement within the specified time, the casino will remove your bonus and any winnings generated from it. Always check the time limit to avoid losing funds.
What is a max bet rule in casino bonuses?
A max bet rule is a limit on how much you can wager per spin or round when playing with bonus funds. Common limits are €3–€5. Exceeding this limit can result in your bonus and winnings being voided.
Why are some games excluded from wagering contributions?
Casinos often exclude live casino games, table games, and progressive jackpots because they have lower house edges. Most wagering requirements can only be cleared by playing eligible slot games, which usually contribute 100%.
Can I withdraw bonus winnings instantly?
No. You must first meet the full wagering requirement before withdrawing any winnings from bonus funds. Attempting to withdraw early may result in losing your bonus balance.
Are there any casinos without wagering requirements?
Yes, some casinos like PlayOJO offer no wagering bonuses, meaning whatever you win is yours to keep — no strings attached. These are ideal for casual players who want hassle-free rewards.
What is a fair wagering requirement?
A fair wagering requirement is typically between 20x and 35x bonus-only. Requirements above 50x or on both deposit + bonus are considered high and difficult to clear.
Can bonuses have withdrawal limits?
Yes. Many no-deposit or free spin bonuses have a maximum win cap (e.g., €100). Even if you win more, you can only withdraw up to the capped amount as defined in the bonus terms.
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