Playthrough Requirements For Online Casino Bonuses, Explained

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All online casino bonuses are tied to playthrough requirements (also called rollover requirement or wagering requirement). This is to prevent players from creating an account or making a deposit, then withdrawing the bonus money without actually playing at the casino.

But there is no standard playthrough requirement across online casinos in the US. The good news is that you can find playthrough requirements as low as 1x the deposit and bonus amount. The bad news is that you can also find it as high as 30x or more.

What Are Playthrough Requirements?

The playthrough requirement is the number of times you have to wager your bonus before you can make a withdrawal. In most cases, the playthrough applies to your deposit and bonus added together, not just the bonus funds.

For example, a 5x rollover requirement means you have to wager your deposit and bonus amount five times before you can withdraw. If you were to deposit $100 for a 100% deposit bonus, you would have $200 in your account. 

With a 5x rollover, you would have to bet a total of $1,000 before you can withdraw.

That doesn’t mean you have to lose $1,000, it’s just how much has to be wagered. The goal at the end of the playthrough is that you have plenty of money left in your account to make a withdrawal.

However, if the bonus and deposit are lost in the process, you’re no longer tied to the playthrough requirement when you make an additional deposit. 

So, essentially, a 5x playthrough requirement is complete when you wager five times the bonus and deposit or lose all the funds in your account.

Which Bonuses Have Playthrough Requirements?

Every bonus has a playthrough requirement. The most common include:

  • No-Deposit Bonus: Betting credits received for signing up at the online casino like the $25 signup bonus at BetMGM Casino.
  • Deposit Bonus: The online casino matches a deposit by a certain percentage up to a maximum amount. For example, the WynnBET welcome bonus of 100% up to $250.
  • Free Spins: A number of freebet that apply to specific slots. Any money won from free spins is usually considered bonus money that’s tied to a playthrough.

Which Bonuses Don’t Have Playthrough Requirements?

When you opt-in for a promotion, it’s crucial to read all the terms and conditions. The following bonuses usually don’t have playthrough requirements, and “usually” is the keyword there.

But, in general, these bonuses don’t have playthrough requirements:

  • Comp Points: Credits earned from placing bets at the online casino as part of its loyalty program.
  • Cashback: If an online casino refunds net losses up to a certain amount, like the risk-free day with the Bally Casino deposit bonus, the cashback should be available for instant payout.

Do All Games Contribute To The Playthrough Requirement?

No, not usually. At most online casinos, some games don’t contribute to the playthrough requirement at all. Some will usually contribute less than others as well.

For example, slots almost always contribute 100% to playthrough requirements. But games like blackjack and video poker might only contribute 10%. And live dealer games probably contribute 0%. 

That’s incredibly important if you’re deciding whether or not to utilize a bonus. A 5x playthrough requirement is good, but if you only play a game that contributes 10%, the playthrough is essentially 50x. That’s terrible.

At the same time, if you only play the slots, you’re good to go. There may be certain games that don’t contribute, like the newest releases, but that’s relatively rare.

Time Requirement

The number one overlooked addition to the playthrough requirement is the time requirement. You usually have to complete the playthrough within 90 days, but some real money online casinos make you do it within 60 days or even 30 days.

Keep this in mind when you’re deciding about a bonus. If you don’t complete the playthrough in time, the remaining bonus balance and other associated funds can be reclaimed by the casino.

The Best Playthrough Requirements In The US

Two online casinos in the US offer a 1x rollover requirement. While additional terms and conditions apply, no online casinos offer better bonus terms than BetRivers Casino and WynnBET Casino.

Interestingly, both offer the same welcome bonus as well: 100% up to $250 with a 1x playthrough.

WynnBET and BetRivers are available in Michigan and New Jersey; however, BetRivers is listed as SugarHouse in the New Jersey market.

Both BetRivers and SugarHouse are also available at online casinos in Pennsylvania.

Can Playthrough Requirements Be Too High?

Yes, absolutely. Anything over 10x is probably not worth it, but it depends on your level of play. If you’re planning on betting a considerable amount before you withdraw, even a 30x rollover requirement could be worthwhile.

Consider how many rounds of a game you’d have to play to complete the playthrough requirement. Also, consider depositing a smaller amount to ensure you can achieve the playthrough within the time restriction.

If the rollover is 5x on $100 in funds, that’s 100 rounds of $5 blackjack. If you play one hand per minute, you could complete the rollover in fewer than two hours.

What If You Change Your Mind About The Bonus?

You can usually opt out of the bonus after the fact. That may not be true for all online casinos, but the vast majority will let you do it. You’ll just need to reach out to the online casino’s customer care. 

Unfortunately, you’ll usually have to play through your deposit before the bonus funds. If you’re at that point when you request a cancelation, you’ll lose all the funds in your account.

Even still, this might be a good move if you want to deposit again without the playthrough requirement. For example, perhaps you want to place a bet at the sportsbook, but the funds in your account are tied to an online casino bonus. 

By opting out, you can deposit and bet on sports without feeling concerned about the playthrough requirement.

However, the best thing to do is to make sure you want to meet the terms and conditions before you opt-in.

About the Author
Mike Epifani

Mike Epifani

Casino Content Manager
Mike Epifani is a gambling expert and professional writer. His current role is Brand Content Manager at Bonus.com, part of the Catena Media network. Mike spoke on the affiliate marketing panel at G2E 2022 in Las Vegas and won "Casino Affiliate of the Year" at the 2022 SBC Awards North America in NYC.

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