If you’ve ever taken advantage of an online casino bonus, then you will almost certainly, by now, be familiar with the concept of wagering requirements. These are often referred to by various names, including playthrough, rollover, or turnover requirements, which all mean the same thing.
Before we break down the mathematics of online casino bonus wagering requirements, we can start by finding out exactly what they are and why they are attached to bonuses. Let’s dive straight in and take a closer look.
Understanding Online Casino Bonus Wagering Requirements
The wagering requirement that you often find attached to online casino bonuses, such as free spins bonuses or matching deposit bonuses, essentially tells us the number of times we must wager our bonus money that we received from the casino before we can withdraw those funds (or how much of our winnings we must wager from the bonus we just claimed).
Generally, the lower the wagering requirements, the faster you can complete them. Here’s a breakdown of the most common wagering requirements you will most likely encounter online today on the world’s safest iGaming platforms:
- Extremely low: 0x to 4x the bonus amount
- Low: 5x to 19x the bonus amount
- Medium/Average: 20x to 49x the bonus amount
- High: 50x to 69x the bonus amount
- Extremely high: 70x or higher (with some reaching up to 200x)
Typically, players can expect to wager between 25x and 50x their bonus, which is now considered standard practice.
Most players will avoid claiming bonuses in the digital realm with high or above-average wagering requirements and will only claim them with medium or below-average wagering requirements, which is a great strategy to have if you plan on claiming lots of bonuses.
The Purpose Behind Wagering Requirements
Online casino operators include wagering requirements with their bonuses primarily to safeguard their business. These requirements help prevent what is known as ‘bonus misuse,’ where players might withdraw bonus funds immediately after receiving them.
Instead of allowing players to withdraw their bonus funds directly to a payment method such as PayPal, NETELLER, Apple Pay, or a credit or debit card, operators require that the bonus amount be wagered a specific number of times beforehand.
After fulfilling the wagering requirements, any winnings in a player’s account can be withdrawn without restrictions. While not every player may succeed in winning, many do, making bonuses extremely worthwhile.
If there were no wagering requirements, players could easily withdraw any bonus money as soon as they received it, which could financially strain casino operators. The inclusion of these requirements ensures that operators can balance the provision of bonuses with their need to maintain a sustainable business model.
While wagering requirements might seem frustrating from a player’s perspective, they serve an essential role in protecting the interests of casino operators and allowing them to continue offering bonuses without the fear of significant losses.
Key Points On Online Casino Bonus Wagering Requirements
When exploring online casino promotional offers, one crucial aspect to keep in mind is the wagering requirements associated with them.
Typically, the amount of your initial deposit is also required to be wagered. In other words, if the terms specify a 30x wagering requirement plus the deposit amount, it indicates that you must wager the bonus funds at least 30x times, in addition to the initial deposit, before you can withdraw any remaining winnings.
Furthermore, be aware that wagering requirements generally need to be met within a specified timeframe, often between 24 hours to two weeks. This timeframe will be clearly outlined in the bonus terms and conditions, which is why you should read these details carefully when claiming any online casino bonus.
You can find out exactly how much you have left to wager before your bonus expires by heading to the ‘My Bonuses’ section. If you can’t seem to find this section when logged in to your favourite online casino account, the best thing to do is to contact the toll-free player support via email or live chat.
You may also be able to reach the customer service/player support agents via toll-free telephone. The friendly and professionally trained support will be able to point you in the right direction by telling you how much you have left to wager to complete your wagering requirements, and how much time you have left to complete them.
Final Thoughts
Reading the terms and conditions will also clarify whether certain payment methods, like Neteller, Skrill, or cryptocurrencies, are eligible for the bonus. Also, don’t forget that it’s important to note that not all games contribute equally towards fulfilling wager requirements.
For example, many table games, card games, progressive jackpot games, and live dealer games might only contribute between 0% to 20% of the wagered amount.
To effectively meet your wagering requirements, consider focusing on games like online scratch cards and slot machines, as these typically contribute 100% of the amount wagered towards completing the requirements. 
The Ts and Cs will tell you exactly which games will help you clear your wagering requirements in as little time as possible. Many players fail to read the Ts and Cs, which often leads to disappointment, so don’t forget to read them when claiming bonuses to ensure that you get the most out of any bonuses that you decide to claim.