Wagering Requirement

A wagering requirement, also called a playthrough requirement, specifies how many times a bonus (and sometimes the deposit too) must be staked before any associated winnings can be withdrawn. It is the single most important term attached to almost every casino bonus, because it determines whether an offer is genuinely valuable or effectively impossible to convert into cash. The requirement is expressed as a multiplier — 30×, 40× and so on. Worked example: a £100 bonus with a 30× wagering requirement obliges the player to place £3,000 in total bets (100 × 30) before withdrawing. If the terms apply the multiplier to bonus and deposit combined — '40× on bonus plus deposit' on a £100 bonus from a £100 deposit — the requirement balloons to 40 × £200 = £8,000, a far stricter hurdle from an identical-looking headline. Game weighting matters just as much: slots typically count 100% toward the requirement, so £1 wagered clears £1, whereas table games such as blackjack or roulette often count only 10–20%, meaning £1 wagered clears just 10–20p and the £3,000 target effectively multiplies several times over. Why it matters: the wagering requirement, the game weighting, the maximum-bet cap and the time limit together decide the real worth of a bonus. A large bonus with punishing terms can be worth less than a small one with fair terms. The common mistake is reading only the headline figure ('100% up to £200!') and ignoring the playthrough, then being unable to withdraw apparent winnings. Always calculate the true required turnover, check which games contribute and at what rate, and confirm the deadline. Compare with the welcome bonus, the sticky bonus and cashback.