- A wagering requirement is how much you must bet before bonus money becomes withdrawable cash.
- 35x the bonus is far lighter than 35x deposit + bonus — always check which one applies.
- Games count differently: slots usually 100%, roulette and blackjack often 0–10%.
- Watch for withdrawal caps, max-bet rules and time limits — they matter as much as the multiplier.
- What counts as normal depends on the market: in Great Britain wagering is capped at 10x since 19 January 2026; US state-regulated casinos often use 1x–20x; at offshore/international casinos under 20x is generous, 30–40x common, 50x+ heavy and 200x a warning sign.
Casino bonuses are advertised with big numbers: "100% up to $1,600!" The number that actually decides what a bonus is worth is smaller and easier to miss: the wagering requirement. Learn to read it and you'll never be fooled by a headline again.
What is a wagering requirement?
A wagering requirement (also called playthrough or rollover) is the total amount you must bet before bonus money — and anything you win with it — can be withdrawn as cash.
It's written as a multiplier: 35x, 50x and so on. Multiply it by the amount it applies to, and that's how much you need to bet.
$100 bonus × 35 = $3,500 in bets before you can withdraw.
That doesn't mean you lose $3,500. You bet it — over and over — and wins go back into your balance. But every bet carries the house edge, so the more you must wager, the more the bonus costs you on average.
Bonus only vs deposit + bonus
This is the single most important line in any bonus terms. Compare two offers that both say "35x":
| 35x bonus only | 35x deposit + bonus | |
|---|---|---|
| You deposit | $100 | $100 |
| Bonus | $100 | $100 |
| Wagering basis | $100 | $200 |
| Total to wager | $3,500 | $7,000 |
Same headline, double the work. Most of the Super Group casinos we review — such as Jackpot City and Spin Casino — use 35x on the bonus only, which is why we rate their offers as fair.
What does it actually cost?
You can estimate the average cost of clearing a bonus with one simple formula:
Average cost = total wagering × house edge
On a 96% RTP slot (4% edge), wagering $3,500 costs about $140 on average. If your bonus was $100, you'd expect to lose it — and a bit more — before cashing out. On a 98% slot, the same wagering costs about $70, so you'd expect to keep around $30 of the bonus.
| Bonus | Wagering | Total bets | Avg. cost at 96% RTP | Avg. cost at 98% RTP |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| $100 | 15x | $1,500 | $60 | $30 |
| $100 | 35x | $3,500 | $140 | $70 |
| $100 | 50x | $5,000 | $200 | $100 |
| $100 | 200x | $20,000 | $800 | $400 |
That's why a 200x requirement — like the one at Lucky Nugget — makes a bonus close to worthless. Try any offer in our wagering calculator.
Game weighting (contribution)
Not every game counts fully towards wagering. Casinos publish a contribution table. A typical one, from the Super Group casinos' terms:
| Game type | Counts towards wagering |
|---|---|
| Most slots, keno, scratch cards | 100% |
| NetEnt slots | 50% |
| Roulette, most blackjack, video poker | 8% |
| Classic blackjack, some video poker | 2% |
| Baccarat, craps, progressive jackpots | 0% |
So a $10 bet on roulette clears just $0.80 of wagering. Low-edge games like blackjack and baccarat are weighted down precisely because they'd make bonuses too easy to clear. Practical rule: clear bonuses on slots.
The other rules that matter
- Maximum bet. Most bonuses limit your stake while wagering — commonly $5–$8 per spin. Break it and the casino can void your winnings.
- Time limit. You might have 7, 30 or 60 days to finish. Unfinished bonuses (and their winnings) are forfeited.
- Withdrawal cap. Some casinos cap what you can withdraw from bonus play — for example 6x your first deposit. A $20 deposit then means a $120 cap, however much you win.
- Excluded payment methods. Some casinos exclude bonuses for deposits made with certain e-wallets.
- Excluded games. Progressive jackpots and some high-RTP slots may not be playable with bonus funds at all.
How to compare bonuses quickly
- Turn the offer into total wagering in dollars.
- Multiply by the house edge of the games you'll play to get the average cost.
- Compare that cost with the bonus amount.
- Check the cap and the time limit.
A $50 bonus at 15x often beats a $500 bonus at 50x — because you'll actually clear it. Our casino bonuses page ranks current offers on exactly this basis.
Wagering rules by market
There is no worldwide "standard" multiplier — local rules decide what's allowed:
- Great Britain: since 19 January 2026, UK Gambling Commission licensees can't attach wagering above 10x to a bonus, and can't mix products (for example casino and betting) in one bonus.[1] A 35x offer is simply not allowed for British players.
- US state-regulated casinos — like BetMGM or DraftKings — tend to use lighter requirements (often 1x–20x) but smaller or spin-based offers.
- International (offshore-licensed) casinos usually offer bigger headline amounts with 30x–50x wagering. The 35x figures used in the examples above come from this market.
Neither low nor high is automatically better; do the maths above.
When to skip a bonus
Saying no is often the smartest move:
- you want to play table games or live casino,
- you'll only deposit a small amount (caps hit hardest),
- you might want to withdraw quickly,
- the wagering is 50x or more.
Without a bonus, there's no wagering, no cap and no max-bet rule — your winnings are simply yours. For bonuses that pay cash immediately, see our guide to free spins and look for "no wagering" offers.
FAQ: wagering requirements
What does 35x wagering mean?
You must place bets totalling 35 times the bonus amount (or deposit plus bonus, depending on the terms) before you can withdraw bonus winnings. A $100 bonus at 35x means $3,500 in bets.
What is a good wagering requirement?
It depends where you play. In Great Britain, licensed operators can't set wagering above 10x the bonus since 19 January 2026. US state-regulated casinos often use around 1x–20x. At international (offshore-licensed) casinos, under 20x is generous, 25–40x is common and 50x or more is heavy.
Do all games count towards wagering?
Rarely. Slots usually count 100%, some slots 50%, and table and live games often count 0–10%. A $10 roulette bet that counts 8% only clears $0.80 of wagering.
Can I withdraw my deposit before finishing wagering?
It depends on the casino. Some let you withdraw your real-money balance and forfeit the bonus; others lock both until wagering is done. Read the terms before you opt in.
What is a no-wagering bonus?
Winnings from the bonus — often free spins — are paid as cash straight away. They're usually smaller, but you keep what you win.
Sources
- Gambling promotions to be safer and simpler — UK Gambling Commission ↩