Beginners Guide to Bonus Wagering Requirements

Casino bonuses and bonus codes are easy to read as well as understand when you see them advertised on the home page and within the casino’s bonus/promotion sections, but they also come with unseen terms and conditions. These T&Cs are easy to overlook if you do not know what to look for.

The purpose of this guide is to help you understand exactly how these casino bonuses work and in particular look at the wagering requirement. We will also talk about other T&Cs you should look out for with some of the other commonly seen casino bonuses.

What Is A Wagering Requirement (Playthrough)

Wagering requirements (aka the playthrough amount) are occasionally advertised on the main page alongside the casino bonus. Although, the majority of casinos only mention the playthrough in the bonus T&Cs section.

It is a number that is advertised like this:

• 30x wagering requirement
• 30 times wagering requirement

What this means is that when the casino gives you let’s say $100 for free that cash, you need to wager 30x that amount on real money casino games before that bonus cash is available for withdrawal. In this example 30x of $100 means that you will need to make $3,000 worth of bets before your bonus cash can be converted to real cash.

• Deposit Match Bonus 100%
• You deposit $100
• You get $100 bonus cash and $100 real cash
• 30x wagering requirement (Playthrough)
• $100 bonus cash x 30 playthrough = $3,000

As you can see from this step-by-step example, only your bonus money is restricted by the wagering requirement.

Our Casino Reviews Cover Wagering Requirements For You

To make life easier for you, nearly all of our casino reviews mention the wagering requirement for the casino’s welcome bonus at the time of writing. However, every bonus you have available to you comes with its own wagering requirement. Therefore, the welcome bonus playthrough is often not the same as a no deposit casino bonus or a free spins bonus offered by the casino.

Even though we have provided you with the welcome bonus wagering requirement in our casino reviews, we still encourage you to look at the terms and conditions before you sign up. Look at the welcome bonus T&Cs as well as all other bonuses offered before you sign up to any casino to make sure you have the most up to date playthrough amount as well as so you understand how the bonus works.

What Are Wagering Requirement Restrictions?

Wagering requirement restrictions are easy to overlook, but essential to understanding how your playthrough applies to different games on the casino. The wagering restriction table can be found in the terms and conditions for every bonus.

It looks like this:

You can see blackjack bets only contribute 10% of the cash value to the wagering requirement. That means if you bet $10.00, then only $1.00 is counted towards your wagering requirement.

• 10% of $10.00 = $1.00 contributed to playthrough
• A 30x playthrough on a $100 bonus requires $3,000 worth of bets
• You would need to 3,000 $10.00 bets on blackjack to meet the playthrough restrictions

As you can see from the bullet-pointed example, you would need to wager $10.00 multiplied by 3,000 times, so $30,000 worth of blackjack bets, to meet the casino’s playthrough requirements and have your bonus cash converted to cash you can withdraw.

Does Bonus Cash Have An Expiry Date?

All casino bonuses are different. Some bonus cash will expire within 2 weeks while others will last up to and over 6 months. Some do not expire at all. Once again, the only surefire way to know is by looking at the casino’s T&Cs. All this means is that your bonus cash will no longer be available for real money play.

Free Spins Bonus Wagering Restrictions

If a casino you sign up to gives you a free spins bonus as part of its welcome bonus, then you will need to look closely at its T&Cs.

 Free spins often come with a variety of conditions attached to them:

1. They are usually only available for selected slot games
2. Check how much each spin is worth in cash value
3. Check the playthrough requirement for any cash won via the free spins
4. Check the maximum win paid out when using free spins

Number 4 is the most noteworthy point here. You may win a $1,000.00 spin, but then only $25.00 is credited to your bonus account. If this happens, it is because the maximum win per spin set by the casino is $25.00 when using bonus free spins.

Loyalty/Comp Points Terms & Conditions

Comp points, which are basically loyalty points rewards or complimentary points, are given to members of a casino that bet real money (Cryptocurrency bets count as real money in case you were wondering).

They can be exchanged for cash once you build up a certain amount, or in some casinos, they are exchanged for tournament tickets, merchandise, and prize draw entry. Comp points are also used to raise your VIP level at a casino. VIP levels come with additional bonuses, VIP treatment, and more red carpet treatment for those that spend a lot of money on the casino’s games.

One condition that always comes with comp points is that they will expire. You will need to check the terms and conditions to find exactly how long they last for. In addition to this, different games contribute a different number of points as per the table below.

Always Read Bonus Terms & Conditions

Although bonuses look like you are getting free cash and other added benefits, they are not always as clear cut as they may seem. In general, slot players get the best deals with little restrictions, but if you are a blackjack player and 0% of blackjack bets count towards the wagering requirement, then you may want to look for another casino that gives you a better deal. At the end of the day, you should always check the terms and conditions attached to any online casino’s promotions section so you understand exactly how it may or may not work in your favour.