Reading the Fine Print in Wagering Requirements

Picture of by David Spangler
by David Spangler

When it comes to casino bonuses, gamblers like them big. And why not? The larger the bonus, the more free funds to spend on games. That’s until you consider the wagering requirements, of course.

Wagering requirements take all the fun out of casino bonuses. Because, at some point, you’re spending some part of your deposit bankroll to claim your winnings. So much for free money, eh? 

But it’s critical to understand how these conditions work if you’ll get the most out of any casino bonus. In this blog post, we explore wagering requirements alongside some terms attached to them, like expiration  dates and game contribution. 

Breaking Down Online Casino Wagering Requirements: How Do These Conditions Work? 

100% matched deposit bonus up to $2000!

That’s a pretty huge offer up there, and you’ll find a multitude of online casinos giving away something of this sort. But then somewhere along the line, you’re reading the T&Cs and come across this bullet point that says the bonus amount has to be wagered 30x before withdrawing winnings.

What does this actually mean? It’s pretty straightforward. Say you make a $500 deposit to take advantage of this bonus offer. You’ll get another $500 in bonus money added to your account.

A 30x playthrough would require you to spend $15,000 ($500 x 30) to convert your winnings into withdrawable cash.

Many casinos also include the deposit amount in wagering requirements. In such a case, that will mean your total wagers to complete the rollover conditions will be $30,000. Let’s break it down for you:

  • Deposit Funds: $500
  • Bonus Funds: $500
  • Total Bankroll: $1000
  • Wagering Requirements: $1000 X 30 = $30,000

Sounds simple enough, right? You can apply this logic to any casino playthrough requirement. 

How About Expiration Timelines?

Wagering requirements are rarely ever standalone. In other words, they come with some extra terms, like expiration dates. You might encounter a bonus with a 30-day period to fulfil the playthrough requirements. 

However, some casinos are not so generous. It’s possible to see wagering requirements with seven-day timelines. If you fail to meet the rollover conditions within this period, you’ll lose the bonus funds and all your winnings. What a way to ruin the fun!

Game Contributions: Another Tricky Requirement

You’ve claimed the bonus funds and calculated the rollover requirements. Now, it’s time to play games to fulfil the terms, right? You might want to hit the brakes for a bit, though. There’s something else you’ve probably missed. 

Usually, not all casino games count equally towards the wagering conditions. In many cases, only slot machines contribute 100% of all wagers to the rollover requirements. 

Table game wagers might only count as 50% while other titles contribute less or are restricted from being played with the bonus funds. 

To avoid any confusion, let’s explain what we mean by saying table games will only contribute 50% to the wagering requirements. Using the bonus example from earlier, if you played Baccarat with a $200 bet, only $100 (50% of the bet amount) is counted as part of the rollover conditions. 

Wrapping Up 

Wagering requirements are the least fun side of casino bonuses. But, even though players might find them quite unnecessary and annoying, they are there to protect casinos from losses. 

In an online casino world without playthrough conditions, gamblers would deposit funds to claim a promo and simply walk away without playing games. 

Rollover requirements ensure players show some commitment to the casino before withdrawing winnings. Think of it like a mutually-beneficial relationship. To fully take advantage of casino bonuses, though, we recommend that you only accept promotions that offer reasonable wagering terms.

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