Wagering requirements are one of the most important terms and conditions that come with online casino bonuses. They determine how much you need to play through your bonus funds before you can withdraw any winnings. This article provides a comprehensive guide to understanding wagering requirements, how they work, and tips for clearing them.
What Are Wagering Requirements?
Wagering requirements, also sometimes called playthrough requirements, refer to the amount you need to bet before you can access your bonus funds and any winnings from them.
For example, if an online casino like KingBilly offers a 100% deposit match bonus up to $200 with 25x wagering, you would need to bet a total of $5,000 (25 x $200 bonus amount) before cashing out. This ensures players don’t just deposit, get the bonus, and immediately withdraw without playing.
Wagering requirements are usually shown as a multiplier number, but can also be shown as a set cash amount. They can range from 10x to 100x the bonus received, depending on the generosity of the casino.
Why Do Casinos Have Wagering Requirements?
There are a few key reasons why online casinos institute wagering requirements:
- To prevent bonus abuse – Deters players from signing up just for the bonus funds without intending to play.
- Discourage bonus hunters – Wagering requirements make it harder for players to profit from bonuses at multiple sites.
- Recoup bonus costs – Ensures the casino recoups some of the costs of offering bonuses.
- Increase customer play time – Players have to play more to unlock their bonus money.
Essentially, wagering requirements allow casinos to provide attractive bonuses while still running a profitable business.
Common Examples of Wagering Requirements
Here are some common real money wagering requirement examples at online casinos:
- 20x deposit + bonus amount: Low end of average, player-friendly.
- 30x – 40x bonus amount only: Industry standard.
- 50x bonus amount: High-end wagering requirement.
So for instance, with a standard 30x requirement, a Casino Review Website player who receives a $100 bonus would need to wager $3,000 in order to withdraw winnings from that bonus.
| Type of Bonus | Wagering Requirement | Description |
| No Deposit Bonus | 20x to 50x | Players must wager the bonus amount (e.g., $20) 20 to 50 times before withdrawing any winnings. |
| Deposit Match Bonus | 30x to 40x | Players need to wager the total amount of deposit and bonus (e.g., deposit $100, get $100 bonus) 30 to 40 times. |
| Free Spins | 20x to 40x | Winnings from free spins are treated as a bonus and must be wagered 20 to 40 times. |
| Cashback Bonuses | 5x to 10x | Cashback received (e.g., 10% of losses) must be wagered 5 to 10 times. |
| Loyalty/VIP Bonuses | Variable, often lower | Wagering requirements for VIP players are often lower, but vary greatly depending on the casino. |
Tips for Clearing Wagering Requirements
Here are some proven tips to speed up the playthrough process:
- Opt for bonuses with lower wagering: Clearly, the lower the better.
- Use high RTP slots: Games with 96-98% RTP clear faster long-term.
- Play max bet: Max betting speeds up the playthrough significantly.
- Choose low variance slots: Lesser risk means clearer requirements.
- Avoid side games and table games: These rarely count 100% to WR.
Making smart choices allows you to clear requirements faster and cash out your winnings sooner.
Contribution Percentages Matter Too
One other key factor is each game’s contribution percentage towards wagering requirements. While most online slots contribute 100%, other games like blackjack may only contribute 5-10% of the amount wagered.
This means you would need to wager 10x as much playing blackjack to clear the same bonus WR amount. Checking the contribution percentages in the terms before playing is vital.
Final Thoughts
While wagering requirements sometimes get a bad rap from players, they are a necessary mechanism that makes the lucrative bonuses possible in the first place.
Understanding exactly how they work, shopping for lower WR deals, and using the right gaming strategies allow you to get the most value from your bonus funds. Clearing requirements swiftly means bigger real money withdrawals on exciting slot and casino games.