Wagering requirements explained, with worked examples

The formula

Total to bet = base amount × wagering multiple. That is it. The skill is in finding the right base.

• Bonus only: a $50 bonus at 30x means $1,500 of bets.
• Deposit plus bonus: deposit $50, receive $50, 30x on the total of $100 means $3,000 of bets. This version is twice as expensive for the same headline.
• Winnings from free spins: the base is what the spins won, not what they were worth.

A step-by-step example

1. You deposit $100 and receive a 100% match: a $100 bonus.
2. The terms say 40x on the bonus only. Turnover: $100 × 40 = $4,000.
3. You play a slot at $1 a spin: 4,000 spins to clear it, in principle.
4. If the slot returns 96% on average, the expected cost of that play is $4,000 × 4% = $160.
5. Your bonus was worth $100 and your expected cost was $160. The offer is negative on average, although the real result could be well above or below.

Now repeat with 20x: turnover $2,000, expected cost $80, a positive $20 on average. That swing is why the multiple is the number to read first.

Game weighting

Not all bets count equally. Slots usually count 100%. Table games, live dealer games and some video poker often count 10% or less, or are excluded altogether. If blackjack counts 10%, a $4,000 requirement needs $40,000 of blackjack bets. Games with RTP near 99% are weighted low for exactly this reason. Check the weighting table in the terms before choosing what to play.

The other limits that run alongside

• Max bet: a ceiling per spin or hand while a bonus is active. Exceeding it can void winnings.
• Time limit: a window from days to a few weeks.
• Max cashout: a ceiling on what can be withdrawn from the bonus.
• Excluded games: usually high-RTP or jackpot slots.

Rules of thumb

Under 20x on the bonus only is generous. 30x to 40x is common. Above 50x, or any multiple applied to deposit plus bonus, needs a large cash value to make sense. No wagering at all is rare and usually comes with a smaller headline; see our no-wagering guide. For your own numbers, open the wagering table.

Common traps

• Bonus plus deposit base: sold as '30x' but twice the turnover of a bonus-only 30x.
• Contribution rates: a game that counts 10% needs ten times the stake.
• Max bet while wagering: breaching it voids winnings, not just the bonus.
• Partial progress lost: withdrawing mid-wagering usually cancels the bonus.
• Hidden exclusions: the slot you like may be excluded or contribute less.

Three worked examples side by side

Same 30x, different base. You deposit $100 and receive a $100 bonus. If the 30x applies to the bonus only, you must bet $3,000 and the average cost at 96% RTP is $120. If it applies to deposit plus bonus, you must bet $6,000 and the average cost is $240, more than the whole bonus.

Free spins winnings. Twenty spins win $15 and the terms say 35x on winnings. Turnover is $15 × 35 = $525, and the average cost is $525 × 4% = $21, which is more than the $15 you won. That is why a cap and a low multiple matter more than the number of spins.

Weighting. A $50 bonus at 30x needs $1,500 of slot bets. If blackjack counts 10%, the same requirement needs $15,000 of blackjack bets.

Against the clock. If $2,000 of turnover is due in 7 days, that is about $286 of bets a day. Ask whether you would play that much anyway; if not, the expiry is part of the cost.