“Wagering requirements” is a common phrase in the Terms & Conditions section of any online betting promotion. This term indicates how many times you have to wager bonus funds before you can withdraw any associated winnings.
Wagering requirements are also often called playthrough requirements or rollover requirements. It is up to the online casinos whether they refer to this section of terms and conditions as “playthrough requirements” or “wagering requirements,” and the terms can generally be used interchangeably. That being said, you may find the term “wagering requirements” utilized more frequently for sports betting. The term “rollover” is used most frequently outside of the US.
How Wagering Requirements Work
A wagering requirement is how much you must bet to convert bonus funds into cash. For example, if you have $100 in your account but $50 of that is bonus funds, you’ll need to complete the wagering requirement to make that $50 in bonus funds eligible for cashout, like the rest of your account balance.
Wagering requirements can range from 1x to 25x, and sometimes even more, for online casino bonuses. To complete the wagering requirement, you must wager the bonus funds (and possibly the deposit amount) that many times.
Let’s say you joined an online casino with a no deposit bonus that is granted in bonus funds. After registering and verifying your account, you receive $20 in bonus funds with a 1x wagering requirement. Those bonus funds must then be wagered one time (1x) to turn them into real money for cashing out.
Real Examples Of Wagering Requirements
The DraftKings Casino promo code gets new players $35 in casino credits on sign-up with 1x wagering requirements. You’d need to wager those $35 in casino credits one time in order to convert them to withdrawable cash.
That’s the most straightforward example. However, wagering requirements for larger bonuses or other types of bonuses can vary based on the games you decide to play. For example, the Caesars Palace Online Casino promo code gets players a 100% deposit match up to $2,500 with wagering requirements that depend on the games you decide to play. In this case, wagering requirements are 15x on slot games, 30x on video poker games, and 75x on all other casino games excluding craps. (Craps wagers do not count toward wagering requirements.)
At online casinos in US online casino states, deposit match bonuses and no deposit bonuses are some of the most common types of offers with a wagering requirement above 1x. That being said, some online casinos, such as DraftKings and FanDuel, offer a 1x wagering requirement on all bonuses.
There are some additional terms and conditions related to wagering requirements that you should know about.
Other Wagering Requirements
Wagering requirements are often tied to the following additional terms and conditions.
- Eligible Games: Often, only some games count toward your wagering requirements. A good example of this is mentioned above, where craps wagers do not count toward meeting the wagering requirement for the Caesars Palace Online Casino promo code.
- Time Limit: Most introductory offers expire between seven and 90 days. If the wagering requirements aren’t met in that timeframe, the casino will revoke the remaining bonus credits.
- One Bonus at a Time: In most cases, wagering will only count toward clearing one bonus at a time. In other words, your play won’t be contributing to the wagering requirements for multiple bonuses that you have claimed in your account balance.
Each online casino has its own terms and conditions for promotions. Be sure to read them before opting into any deals.
Bonus Funds vs. Cash
Some of the more generous online casino bonus offers will pay out in withdrawable cash, with no wagering requirement necessary. These bonuses are usually small, no deposit bonuses. After all, casinos want you to play with bonuses, not take the money and walk.
In almost all other cases, you’ll be dealing with bonus funds and their associated wagering requirements.
Which Bonuses Have Wagering Requirements?
Almost all deposit match bonuses will hold wagering requirements. If a deposit match up to $1,000 gave you that $1,000 in cash, it would be perhaps the most generous (and unheard of) bonus in online casino history.
Free spins may seem quite straightforward, but often, any wins attained by utilizing those free spins are paid out in bonus funds, which hold a wagering requirement to withdraw. Always read the terms and conditions, as there are some outliers here that pay out free spins in cash.
Cashback and rebate offers could go either way, so make sure to read into how they pay out. In many cases, the rebates are paid out as bonus funds with wagering requirements, which is why the language “risk-free” is not really usable or accurate for online casino cashback bonuses. In some other cases, rebates may be paid out in cash.
No deposit bonuses almost always hold wagering requirements unless they are very small. This is to prevent players from simply claiming them and withdrawing them right away without playing at all.
Which Bonuses Have No Wagering Requirements?
It sounds like it’s too good to be true, but no wagering casino bonuses exist, and aren’t as uncommon as one might think.
Bonuses from redeeming loyalty points via casino reward programs usually don’t hold wagering requirements, as you don’t directly wager reward credits. These will simply be added to your loyalty account for you to utilize as you wish.
Bespoke loyalty comps granted manually by hosts at the casino themselves are generally granted as cash. These can be granted to show appreciation, as gestures of goodwill, or any other of a plethora of reasons.
Leaderboards are another example of a bonus that may or may not have wagering requirements and require a close reading of the terms and conditions. Some leaderboard prizes will pay out in bonus funds that do have wagering requirements, while other special leaderboards may pay directly in cash.
Sweepstakes are quite straightforward, and it’s obvious why sweepstakes that grant physical prizes do not have wagering requirements. After all, you can’t wager through a car or luxury prize (if you’re lucky enough to win one).
Looking for more expert insights? Check out our list of the best tips on online casino bonuses.
Check Wagering Requirements Before Claiming a Bonus
Now that you’ve read about wagering requirements, what they entail, and what other terms and conditions they are tied to, it should come as no surprise that we recommend checking those wagering requirements before claiming a bonus. The truth is that not all bonuses are worth claiming, even if (and sometimes especially if) the advertised playthrough number is massive.
In general, you should always seek out bonuses that hold a 1x wagering requirement. Any higher than that, especially those that sit around the 10x+ wagering requirement amount, may push you to wager more than you’re comfortable with and probably won’t end with you holding any withdrawable cash. It goes without saying that you should only play within your comfort zone and always practice responsible gambling, even when playing with bonus funds.
Opting Out of a Casino Bonus
If you did claim a bonus you’re no longer interested in pursuing, it’s important to know how to cancel an online casino bonus. Opting out of a bonus with wagering requirements that are too high or stressful is the best way to ensure your play remains fun and responsible. You shouldn’t feel upset about the need to opt out. After all, there will be another excellent online casino bonus right around the corner with terms and conditions that better fit your play style and give you a better opportunity to walk away with some withdrawable cash.
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