Last updated: October 10, 2023
Whether you are new to the world of online casino gambling or a seasoned player, you’ll no doubt have come across bonuses at one point or another. The question of whether or not to use a bonus will depend on the rules associated with them. We’ve compiled this guide to wagering and playthrough requirements (the rules of bonuses).
Promotions and bonuses that are offered to players through online casinos are very generous. So, to counteract just how much cash these sites are throwing to their players, they include rules or restrictions on how you use them and make a withdrawal from. These are the wagering and playthrough requirements – which mean the same thing.
Think of these as the terms and conditions for using promotions.
They can be a little over the top at times. However, it really depends on which site you play through. Most of the top sites are player-friendly in this regard.
The requirements are rules that must be followed at all times, being an amount that a player must have bet or wagered through the casino before being allowed to request a withdrawal.
Typically these will include conditions, which might be:
Some bonuses will include requirements that limit the games that can be played by reducing the amount contributing to the playthrough. For example, some promos might stipulate 100% of slots gameplay, but only 25% of the wager on table games will count.
This means that:
Table games like blackjack, poker, and roulette will often have reduced percentages for bonus play because these games are more lucrative than slots in terms of winning potential.
Understandably, many players have a strong disliking towards wagering requirements. Often this is because players misunderstand the reason why these requirements exist. It’s a common misconception that they’re part of a plot to extract more money out of players – which isn’t true.
The real reason that wagering requirements exist is to combat criminal activity. These requirements help casinos to comply with their obligations under anti-money laundering and fraud regulations.
This stops players from depositing illegal cash and then withdrawing from the casino.
In terms of casino bonuses, typically, all promotions will feature these wagering requirements. This is so that players can’t simply cash a bonus and then withdraw the first big winnings from the money.
There are specific promotions that offer no rules, meaning no wagering requirements. These bonuses will typically feature lower bonus cash amounts, but the lack of structured gameplay makes up for the smaller boost.
Here are the best online casinos that offer bonuses without wagering requirements.
To truly make the most of casino bonuses, you will need to learn how to calculate those promotions’ wagering requirements. Once you know this, you can easily find out which are the best offers for your bankroll.
The calculation is very simple – just a straightforward multiplication.
For example, consider a scenario where you receive an email from one of the top online casinos offering you a 200% deposit bonus if you deposit $20. This promotion includes wagering requirements of 7x.
So, in this example, you have your $20 deposit plus the $60 bonus amount and a 7x wagering requirement. Therefore you’d need to bundle together your deposit plus the bonus and multiply it by seven – which would be $420.
Thus, after claiming your bonus, you need to have wagered a total of $420 with the casino before you can make a withdrawal.
Online casinos are regulated differently depending on where the company operates the website and obtains its online gaming license. Generally, the laws and regulations are tight-knit – ensuring the wagering requirements are transparent for players.
This information is all found in the terms and conditions of the casino, which can be found through various means, including:
Realistically you won’t be able to duck and dodge wagering requirements when playing with casino bonuses. However, you can take advantage of the shortlist we’ve created, giving you the best sites with player-friendly playthrough requirements.
