A Simplified Guide to Wagering Requirements
Are you unsure how to work out the wagering requirements? Maybe you don’t know what it means? Or maybe you want to know how best to satisfy them and win real money? Whatever your concern, we will address it here in this comprehensive guide to online casino wagering requirements. Let’s get into it.
Table of Contents
What Are Wagering Requirements?
Wagering requirements are rules that online casinos and betting sites have to make sure people don’t cheat. The rule basically says that when you get a bonus you have to bet a certain amount of money before you can take out any winnings.
This is to make sure people don’t just take the bonus and leave, which would be like getting free money without doing anything. So, the rule makes sure the casino isn’t just giving money away to anyone looking for a quick cash-grab.
Types of Wagering Requirements
How the wagering requirements work depends on what bonus you receive. Let’s go over the different ways a casino can use wagering requirements.
If you get bonus credits – such as when you claim a no deposit bonus – working out the wagering requirements is easy.
For example, let’s say you claim a no deposit bonus worth $20 and the wagering requirements are 20x. To work out the sum total you need to wager, just take that $20 and times it by 20. Thus you will have to stake a sum total of $400.
Working out the wagering requirements for free spins follows more or less the same process. The only difference is that the wagering requirements apply to your free spins winnings.
So, if you claim a no deposit free spins bonus worth 20 free spins, the first thing you have to do is use your free spins.
Let’s say, for instance, that you win $5 with your free spins and the wagering requirements is set at 10x. Ultimately, you would have to wager ($5 x 10) $50 before you could withdraw your winnings as real cash.
Here’s where it becomes important that you really scrutinize the T&Cs.
With deposit bonuses you may get either free spins or bonus credits. In either case, you work out the wagering requirements based on the methods we’ve just discussed.
However, casinos sometimes implement a rule that requires you to wager not only your bonus value / free spins winnings, but also the value of your deposit.
So let’s say that you get a match deposit bonus worth 100% up to $50 and you deposit $50. Rather than the wagering requirements applying only to the $50 bonus, it will also apply to your $50 deposit.
Therefore, if the wagering requirements were set at 10x, you’d have to stake a sum-total of 10 x ($50+$50) $1,000, rather than the $500 you would otherwise have to stake.
Expert Tips & Tricks For Beating The Wagering Requirements
Once you understand how wagering requirements work, you can leverage your knowledge to your own advantage.
Here are our tips:
It may be self-evident that a bonus with low wagering requirements is better than a bonus with high wagering requirements. However, it’s worth repeating.
A bonus with high wagering requirements makes it almost impossible to win real cash using your bonus.
Here’s a table that illustrates the difference:
| Bonus Value | Wagering Requirements | Sum-Total |
| $100 | 10x | $1,000 |
| $100 | 70x | $7,000 |
As you’ve seen in our section on the Types of Wagering Requirements, the small print of how the wagering requirements apply can make a big difference.
Our advice is simple: prioritise bonuses where the wagering requirements only apply to your bonus value. In other words, avoid bonuses that apply the wagering requirements to your bonus and your deposit.
To illustrate the difference this can make, let’s say you are looking to claim a match deposit bonus worth 100% up to $100. Let’s also say you find two identical bonuses (Bonus A & Bonus B) with wagering requirements of 10x.
The only difference between Bonus A and Bonus B is that:
- Bonus A applies the wagering requirements to the value of your bonus.
- Bonus B applies the wagering requirements to the value of your bonus plus the value of your deposit.
If you wanted to make a deposit of $100, you’d get the following results:
| Deposit Value | Bonus Value | Wagering Req. | Sum-Total | |
| Bonus A | $100 | $100 | 10x | $1,000 |
| Bonus B | $100 | $100 | 10x | $2,000 |
If you’re planning to use a casino bonus to play table games, you might want to think twice! Here’s why:
Some casinos allow you to play a wide variety of casino games using their bonus. However, these games all have different odds. To ensure that players don’t win too easily, casinos use a rule called “Game Contribution” to rebalance the odds.
Game contribution rates are the percentage of each bet you make that counts towards meeting the wagering requirements. For example, if a game has a contribution rate of 50%, that means only half of your bet will count towards the requirements. The other half won’t count at all.
Now, here’s the catch: when you use a casino bonus to play table games like blackjack, roulette, or baccarat, the game contribution rates are usually much lower than for slots. That means it will take you much longer to meet the wagering requirements if you play table games instead of slots.
Let’s use a hypothetical example to illustrate. Say you claim a bonus worth $100 in bonus credits.
Depending on the game you play, here’s how much you’ll have to wager:
| Game | Contribution Rate | Wagering Req. for $100 Bonus |
| Slots | 100% | $3,000 |
| Blackjack | 10% | $30,000 |
| Roulette | 20% | $15,000 |
So, if you want to meet the wagering requirements quickly and efficiently, it’s usually best to stick to playing slots with a high contribution rate. That way, you can meet the requirements in less time and with less money.
So if not table games, which games are the best to play? Well, if you’re looking to maximize your chances of winning, you might want to consider playing high RTP (Return to Player) and low volatility slots.
Here’s why:
RTP is the percentage of all the money that a slot machine pays back to players over time. A high RTP means that you’re more likely to win money over the long run.
On the other hand, volatility refers to the risk level of a slot machine. Low volatility slots pay out more frequently, but the payouts are usually smaller. High volatility slots pay out less frequently, but the payouts are usually larger.
Now, when you use a casino bonus to play slots, you want to make sure you’re meeting the wagering requirements as efficiently as possible. That’s where high RTP and low volatility slots come in. Since these slots pay out more frequently and have a lower risk level, you’re more likely to meet the wagering requirements without losing too much money in the process.
The wagering requirements are only one bonus term. There are many others that will influence your chances of winning real cash, such as:
- Maximum bet size: Some casinos limit the maximum bet size when playing with bonus funds. Be sure to check the terms and conditions to avoid forfeiting your bonus and winnings.
- Game restrictions: Certain games may be excluded from bonus play, so check the terms and conditions to see which games are allowed and which ones are restricted.
- Time limits: Many bonuses come with a time limit to fulfill the wagering requirements. Make sure to keep track of the time limit to avoid forfeiting your bonus and winnings.
It is vital you consider the wagering requirements in combination with the other bonus terms. For instance, you should ensure that your bonus gives you enough time to satisfy the wagering requirements.
Conclusion
Unfortunately, the wagering requirements of your bonus are a frustrating yet necessary rule. Fulfilling them can be difficult. However, if you utilise the tips and tricks provided in this article, you will improve your chances significantly.
Good luck!
FAQs
Online casinos and sportsbooks use wagering requirements to protect themselves from bonus abuse. Without these requirements, players could easily sign up for a bonus, withdraw their funds and leave, which could lead to significant financial losses.
Bonus money is the money that online casinos and betting sites offer to new and existing players as an incentive to play on their platform.
It is another word for “bonus credits,” which is used to signify the difference between the real money you deposit and the funds given to you when you claim a casino bonus.
No, you cannot withdraw your winnings before meeting the wagering requirements. Attempting to do so will result in the forfeiture of your bonus and any associated winnings.
The time frame for meeting the wagering requirements varies from one operator to another. Some operators give you 7 days, while others give you up to 30 days or more to meet the requirements.
A lot depends on the type of bonus you claim. If you claim a no deposit bonus, for instance, you may only get between 2 and 7 days.
No, not all games contribute equally to the wagering requirements. Usually, slots contribute 100% towards the requirements, while table games, such as blackjack and roulette, contribute only a fraction, if any at all.
Make sure to read the terms and conditions to know which games count towards the wagering requirements.
If you don’t meet the wagering requirements within the given time frame, your bonus and any associated winnings will be forfeited.
Not always! But this is where we come in. Our team here at BonusBridge77 is tasked with finding bonuses that are fair and give you a genuine opportunity to win real cash.
Before you feature a bonus, we test it using our own funds to ensure it is fair and works as advertised.
… but what is a wager?
A wager is just another term for a “bet” or a “stake”. When you play a casino game, you place a wager on the outcome of an event. If your prediction is correct, you win! If it isn’t, you lose.